Attire: Casual (no jackets, no ties), walking shoes. Evening may get cold.
Breakfast at Kedma Hotel
Guide: MCLN Fellow and Director of Midreshet Sde Boker (Educational Institute), Eitan Dunitz
Travel to Nitzana Youth Village (43 km/26.7 miles)
Travel to Kibbutz Gvulot (82 km/81 miles)
Participants:
Graduates: Yaniv Belhassen, Rotem Benovich, Batel Salfati, Na`ama Shaked Levy and Miryam Twizer
Faculty and Staff: Adi Nir Sagi, Rotem Bresler-Gonen, Hagit Damri, Israel Sorek, Einav Aizikovitsh-Udi, Smadar Ben-Asher, Hadas Kedar, Iris Nehemia, Yair Varon, Gili Zivan and Inbal Eshed
Introduction: the Western Negev before, during and since October 7th, with Director of the Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in the Western Negev Communities (2024-2025) Rotem Bresler Gonen.
Conversation with MCLN Graduates:
Na`ama Shaked Levy, graduate of the Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in the Gaza Border Communities (2020-2022), and Rotem Benovich, graduate of the Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in the Western Negev Communities (2024-2025).
Travel to Mishor HaGefen neighborhood in Ofakim, where intense battles were fought and dozens of residents were murdered on October 7th.
(29 km/18 miles)
Tour of Mishor HaGefen neighborhood, led by Cochy Abuharon, Graduate of the Mandel Program for Social Leadership in Ofakim (2010-2012), accompanied by Graduates of MCLN who live and work in Ofakim and the Western Negev.
Introduction // Yaniv Belhassen, graduate of the Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in Eilat and Eilot (2017–2019).
Sarit Ohayon, Graduate of the Mandel Program for Social Leadership in Ofakim (2010-2012).
Participants: Nadav Mish’ali and Miryam Twizer
Closing Remarks // MCLN Graduate Community Facilitator Inbal Eshed
Travel to Nova Memorial (22 km/13.6 miles)
Tour of the Nova Music Festival massacre site in the Re’im Forest
Guide: Dana Avidan
Director of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev Adi Nir Sagi
Travel to Zichron Yaakov (175 km/108.7 miles) with a stop for dinner at Aresto Restaurant in Caesarea.
Overnight at Elma Hotel in Zichron Yaakov