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| Ezuz is a new 12-family settlement in the general area of Kadesh Barnea, dedicated to ecotourism. The Hirschfeld temporary residence is in one corner of the village. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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| The Hirschfeld temporary residence, with solar water heater, is 2 40-ft shipping containers welded together and stuccoed to give an adobe appearance. The bus on the left is converted to a guest room, with complete bath. Joanne slept in the tent. Mike slept in the schoolroom, between the tent and the house. |  |
| The Hirschfeld family obviously awaits the messiah. |  |
| Hammocks on the front porch await use on Shabbat, and any other resting time. |  |
| Two imas relax together on Shabbat, and await a second and fifth child, to be delivered at home. |  |
| Across the road, the route of a never completed Turkish railway approximates the ancient trading route, which was a dotted line between wells, one of which is nearby in the wadi or valley. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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| On a short hike into the wilderness across the road, a few classic desert erosion patterns are prevalent. "The Negev" by Evenari, Shanan and Tadmor describe them in detail. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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| Ditto. (Click on picture for larger image.) |
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| Depressions, natural or manmade as this one, often collect enough runoff water, even from the 1 - 4 inches of annual rain, to support vegetation in the midst of barrenness. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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| The desert rat finds snails and brings them to his den to suck moisture from them as his water supply. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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| A grove of Tamerisk trees near the well in the wadi. A wadi is usually dry, but floods during rains. Until a recently drilled well nearby was pumped to supply brackish irrigation water for a nearby olive grove, the ancient well had water 1 meter below the ground. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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| The Ezuz Convention Center sleeps visitors in private and dormitory rooms, has excellent showers and a common mess hall. Camel, donkey and jeep transportation is available for exploration of the surrounding wilderness. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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| Kosher kitchen is kept. |  |
| Electricity is supplemented by oil lanterns. |  |
| Dormitory style sleeping. Bedrolls are furnished. Private rooms are also available. (Click on picture for a larger image.) |
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