From November 5th to 12th, the 2019 Israel Ride participants went on a journey to discover the country while riding on bikes. This Israel Ride counted 150 riders, 9 non-riding participants, and over 50 crew members. The Israel Ride is held yearly by the Arava Institute and Hazon, an organization working to create a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community, to raise support for the Institute’s mission and collect vital resources for the continuation of its programs.
The riders made their way from the Jerusalem area to Eilat, getting to know various places in the country through an extraordinary experience, facilitated by a crew made up of Arava Institute alumni. Like in previous years, the most memorable part of the Ride was Arava Day, during which participants spend the afternoon and evening at Kibbutz Ketura to enjoy the opportunity to visit the Arava Institute and meet with staff and current students. This year’s activities also included the dedication of the “Visitor’s Center for the Biblical and Ancient Date Grove” donated by the Pilchen Family in memory of Bernard and Erna Pilchen.