Monday, November 17

Negev and Zichron Yaakov

Attire: Casual (no jackets, no ties), walking shoes. Evening may get cold.

7:15 am – 8:00 am

Breakfast

Breakfast at Kedma Hotel

8:00 am – 8:45 am

Visit Ben-Gurion Cottage at Kibbutz Sde Boker

Guide: MCLN Fellow and Director of Midreshet Sde Boker (Educational Institute), Eitan Dunitz

9:00 am – 10:00 am

Travel to Nitzana Youth Village

Travel to Nitzana Youth Village (43 km/26.7 miles)

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Visit Nitzana Youth Village and the Mandel Agricultural Education Program

Participants:

  • MSEL Graduate and Mayor of the Ramat Negev region, Eran Doron
  • MSEL Graduate and Director of the Nitzana Youth Village, Avi Cohen
  • Students of the Mandel Agricultural Education class

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Travel to Kibbutz Gvulot

Travel to Kibbutz Gvulot (82 km/81 miles)

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch with Graduates and Faculty of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev (MCLN)

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

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Introduction: The Western Negev and October 7th

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).

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Travel to the city of Ofakim

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)

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Tour of Mishor HaGefen, Ofakim

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

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Travel to Nova Memorial

Travel to Nova Memorial (22 km/13.6 miles)

3:30 pm – 4:20 pm

Nova Memorial

Tour of the Nova Music Festival massacre site in the Re’im Forest
Guide: Dana Avidan

4:20 pm – 4:30 pm

Conclusion

Director of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev Adi Nir Sagi

4:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Travel to Zichron Yaakov

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