Judean Desert

Let us tell you the inspiring story of Boaz Ido, the founder of Carma, who connects people to Israel’s biblical heritage through his high-quality olive oil. From Ancient Stumps to Flourishing Orchards Boaz Ido: A Mission Begins Boaz Ido didn’t just start a business; he embarked on a mission. Living in Alon, he founded Eretz Bereshit, or the “Land of Genesis,” an educational farm that brings the ancient world to life. Visitors are greeted in the style of Abraham, sitting on the floor in oriental tents, sipping herbal tea, and snacking on dates and almonds. Boaz’s connection to the Bible...

​ Boaz Ido, who lives with his wife and family in the nearby community of Alon, always loved walking through the olive groves, and it pained him to see the once-beautiful trees destroyed. As a devout man of G-d, he was also keenly aware of the Torah’s teaching against cutting down trees. With the blessing of the community, Boaz took upon himself the mission of replanting the olive grove and making it flourish again. He sought counsel from the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, and they advised him to cut down the old, non-fruit-bearing trees and start from scratch with new...

Nahal Prat is made up of 3 natural water springs that run all year round. Its course cuts through the rocky Judean mountains, and its shores are home to a rich variety of plant and animal life. The stream runs for a total of 28 km and has several rock pools where visitors can take a cool dip in the desert heat. It’s only been in recent decades, since the site came under Israeli governance, that Israeli excavations have uncovered the canyon’s incredible history and made it accessible to the public. Nahal Prat is mentioned several times in the Bible. It marked the border between the Tribe of Judah to the south and the Tribe of Benjamin to the north.In 1 Kings 17, the Prophet Elijah flees Mount Carmel after his showdown with King Ahab and seeks refuge by the Cherith Brook, which is widely believed to be Nahal Prat. In Jeremiah 13, the Lord tells Jeremiah to take the sash from his waist and hide it in a hole in the rock by the River Euphrates. Many scholars believe the Hebrew word ‘Prat’ actually refers to Nahal Prat and not the Euphrates at all. During their digs, Israeli archeologists found several ancient aqueducts along the stream. The oldest can be dated to the second century BC, during the rule of the Hasmoneans. These aqueducts were used to transport water down to the plain of Jericho. The Hasmonean kings and Herod the Great built their winter palaces near Jericho in the Nahal Prat valley. The remains of a synagogue uncovered in the Hasmonean winter palace is believed to be one of the oldest synagogues in the world. In more recent times, the streams of Nahal Prat were channeled to supply water to parts of Jerusalem. The purification and pumping station that was in use from the 1920s to 1970s has now been converted into offices and facilities for the Ein Prat National Park. Thanks to the vision and tireless work of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the buried history of this desert site has been restored and displayed for thousands of visitors to experience each year. Nahal Prat truly is a hidden oasis in the Judean desert. What are your experiences? Have you been inspired by any off-the-beaten-track sites in Israel?

​ “My husband is a tour guide who likes guiding tourists but mostly he enjoys guiding solider groups. As he was instructing everyone to put their bags back on the bus – a truck came and hit him. The terrorist killed the soldier he was talking to instantly and my husband was thrown back, he rolled on the grass. He was surprised to discover he could get up and understood it was a terrorist attack and right away ran to shoot at the terrorist; he just shot his whole magazine and shortly was joined by others. A few seconds later,...