Yesterday after noon, Pardes took a mini-tiyul/trip, to Gush Etzion. It is a group of settlements that fell into Jordanian hands on May 13, 1948, the day before Israel declared independence. The dates that they were re-established are listed below. (Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gush_Etzion#Re-establishment)
Name | Founded | Population (EOY 2008)[28] | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Alon Shvut | 1970 | 3,400 | Communal settlement |
Bat Ayin | 1989 | 900 | Communal settlement |
Beitar Illit | 1985 | 38,800 | Independent municipality |
Efrat | 1983 | 8,300 | Independent municipality |
Elazar | 1975 | 1,706 | Communal settlement |
Karmei Tzur | 1984 | 700 | Communal settlement |
Kedar | 1984 | 960 | Communal settlement |
Kfar Eldad | 1994 | 120 | Communal settlement |
Kfar Etzion | 1967 | 820 | Kibbutz |
Gva'ot | 1984 | 75 | Communal settlement |
Har Gilo | 1968 | 570 | Communal settlement |
Ibei HaNahal | 1999 | 50 | Outpost |
Ma'ale Amos | 1982 | 270 | Communal settlement |
Ma'ale Rehav'am | 2001 | 40 | Outpost |
Metzad | 1984 | 380 | Communal settlement |
Migdal Oz | 1977 | 440 | Kibbutz |
Neve Daniel | 1982 | 1,883 | Communal settlement |
Nokdim | 1982 | 1300 | Communal settlement |
Pnei Kedem | 2000 | 100 | Outpost |
Rosh Tzurim | 1969 | 560 | Kibbutz |
Sde Boaz | 2002 | 90 | Outpost |
Tekoa, Gush Etzion | 1975 | 1600 | Communal settlement |
Me coming out of the mikvah! All clean and pure!! ;-)
After our fun hike/stroll, we got to eat dinner at our teachers' houses in the area. I got to eat at Michael Hattin's house. He is my Tanakh teacher and my academic advisor for PEP. I had Shabbat at their home before, so I knew their family. It was such a wonderful opportunity to return with my classmates (about 10 of us) and have a discussion about how Michael and his wife ended up in Israel and how Michael made his way to Pardes! (Such a great story and such luck for the Pardes students!) As before, Michael's home was warm and welcoming and overflowing with Torah! I can't wait to go back for another visit! Thanks Michael and Rivka for hosting us!