The third stop of Orientation

Day 6: So that morning we left Stay Boker and headed to Ketura. We all settled in for a pretty long drive and slept most of the way there. We arrived on the Kibbutz and met our tour guide as well as woman named Leah who had been there almost since the founding of the Kibbutz. This Kibbutz was founded by a group of students back in the 1970's who spent a year after high school on Young Judea's year course. The loved the country, returned to the U.S to get support for their idea (to found a Kibbutz) made Aliya, went through the Army then founded the Kibbutz. So we watched a video about the day the Kibbutz was founded and learned about the founders. Interesting Fact: None of the original founders still live on the Kibbutz. All but one are still alive (one died in a car accident) but the rest have moved away from the community. After this we had lunch, and some relaxation time, and then another hike! This one was up a nearby mountain, but the terrain was very very steep, and one wrong step could have sent someone to a very sorry end. We ended up leaving for the hike a little later than planned, and had to hike that last portion of it as the sun was setting. Then we had a barbecue planned for us by the Kibbutz as well as time to swim, although the water was pretty cold, and no wanted to get in.
Day 7: The next morning we woke up very early to begin a three hour hike that would take us to the top of a mountain from which you could see Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and of course Israel. The hike on the way up was pretty easy, it was more getting down this very rock mountain that took time, concentration and effort. But the view from the top was awesome. It was also the last day of Sukkot, so we shook the lulav and etrog from the top.

views from the top of the mountain overlooking several countries

Later that day we returned to the Kibbutz to get ready for shabbat, and Simchas Torah. Simchas Torah on the Kibbutz was an incredibly joyous and very very spirited celebration, with hours and hours of dancing, and singing, and punch and food, and all around fun. They repeated a certain portion of the prayers seven times, and each time took probably twenty minutes with all the dancing and such, so it got a little tiring by the end, but it was certainly a really engaging and exciting thing to be able to see and be a part of. Then was Shabbat dinner with the entire Kibbutz. It felt a bit like camp, all sitting around waiting for the chicken to be passed down the table. But don't worry, I'm still a vegetarian, there are plenty of foods to eat here. And lots and lots of vegetables. But back to Shabbat, after Shabbat we all just hung out.
Day 8: Shabbat morning services were not mandatory but it was mandatory that we go to Kiddush around 11. When we showed up for Kiddush though, there were still in the midst of round 4 or 5 of the Simchas Torah dancing and singing and it was quite a while before they took a break for Kiddush, let alone finished the service. We had lunch at one, and they were still going. After lunch was just hang out time, and some group activities, and then later that night, it was scheduled that the entire KIVUNIM group go to the Kibbutz pub. Before there are shocked minds: it's Israel, and being 18 means being legal.
Day 9: The next morning we left Ketura and headed to Jerusalem!