Ride for Yerucham 2018

March 18 - 22, 2018
(Optional Extension for Shabbat in Yerucham, March 17-18)
Co-Chairs: Robert Weiss

Join us in the charming town of Yerucham for a five-day mountain bike excursion through the spectacular scenery and history of the Negev.

Ride through 3,000 years of desert history in one of the top seven places in the world for mountain biking in support of JNF projects in the City of Yerucham.

The Ride for Yerucham is for everyone, regardless of skill level, with route options and full support for recreational riders and experienced off-road cyclists. This inspirational experience offers our riders a unique way to explore Israel and the Negev, meet diverse communities, enjoy delicious local cuisine, and discover the secrets of navigating in the desert, the mystery of the desert at night.

In addition to the cycling, riders will enjoy additional recreational activities coordinated by JNF’s partner, Green Horizons, such as:

• • A welcome dinner with Yerucham Mayor (and expert cyclist) Michael Biton.
• • A festive and traditional desert dinner, a meal with the Culinary Queens of Yerucham, visits to the increasing variety of reslaurants around the newly renovated Town Center.
• • A private tour, before riding, of Ben Gurion’s home at Sde Boker.
Come meet Yeurcham’s award winning Robotics Team, visit the new Design Center, share the vision of Yerucham from its leaders.
• • Guided hike in the spectacular Avdat National Park.
• • After sunrise in Masada, and breakfast at the base, a bike ride through the spectuacular Dead Sea canyons, ending the ride in an Oasis.
• • Learn desert skills, including navigation, edible (and non-edible!) plants. See the stars like you’ve never seen them before under the desert skies.
• • Participate in a breath-taking, traffic-protected downhill ride from the rim to the floor of the Yerucham Crater, on excellent paved roads.
• • Enjoy a day of departure visit to a Dead Sea Spa before farewell luncheon.

Pricing :
Riders are asked to commit to a minimum contribution, donated or raised by supporters, of $3,995. Registered members of JNFuture are asked to commit $2,695. The Ride for Yerucham 2018 covers all costs in Israel, including hotels, food, mountain bike and helmet rental, and ride support and transport to and from the airport and Yerucham.

We are inviting friends and families to join the 2nd annual Yerucham Bike Ride as Yerucham Fans.

Not a rider? Friends and families are invited to join us as Yerucham Fans. Yerucham Fans will have opportunities to hike through the desert, explore the ancient Nabataean city of Avdat, learn first-hand about the indigenous flora and fauna, enjoy a cooking workshop, and take a 4X4 Jeep tour through the Yerucham Crater, all while supporting their loved ones participating in the ride.

Since 1974, Green Horizons, known in Israel as Hugey Sayarut (Hebrew for “scouting groups”), has been the leading outdoor educational youth movement for Israeli youth in grades 5-12. This transformative program takes participants on hiking and camping trips throughout the country, with the goal of building interpersonal and leadership skills and fostering a strong connection to themselves and the land of Israel.

Information about Yerucham:
Yerucham is a small municipality of 10,000 citizens. It is dramatically situated on a ridge between the large Lake Yerucham Park and the Yerucham Crater (formerly the Large Crater), surrounded by the stunning southern Negev desert, three breathtaking craters, and beautiful biking and hiking trails.

Yerucham is a unique and inspirational community, characterized by an array of ethnic and visionary Zionist groups, guided by the principle “Arevim ze la-ze” (mutual community responsibility).

New construction projects and agricultural initiatives, combined with economic growth, strong leadership and government support, makes Yerucham an amazing opportunity for development and the realization of Jewish National Fund’s vision to bring 500,000 new residents to the Negev and the south of Israel through its Blueprint Negev campaign.

Learn from Yerucham officials and JNF staff about the progress being made in plans for the city’s future, and JNF’s role in building the spectacular new Central Park project.

Itinerary subject to change.

For more information, contact itzik Becher at ibecher@jnf.org or 480.447.8100 x982.