In September 2015, with the support of our generous partners, including JNF UK and Hagshama, Derech Eretz opened its third campus in Kmehin, a moshav located in the western Negev desert. These first 23 students took pride in being the first cohort in Kmehin, and with a pioneering spirit, arrived determined to help build a Derech Eretz campus. Their ceaseless motivation began even before the program, when they came to assemble their bunk beds and paint the caravans – all the way to the end when they paved a path in the desert moshav, where dirt roads are not uncommon, leaving their mark for both local residents and future Derech Eretz students.

Our students spent half a year on campus during which they learned about Israeli society, Judaism and the Middle East, they traversed the country meeting people from all walks of society and had the opportunity to hear their perspective and ask them questions. They visited sites and hiked across the country, learned to navigate, and physically prepared to enter the IDF, while also visiting army bases and were made aware of the various units and options. By living together in a heterogeneous group they learned tolerance, and acceptance, and created memories and friendships to last a lifetime.

Participants also volunteered 5 weekly hours of community service in which they assisted the elderly, helped with pre-school aged children, or with agriculture, based on local needs. We also held several joint community activities with the residents of Kmehin such as the campuses initiation ceremony and planting trees together on Tu B’shvat, while Kmehin families hosted Derech Eretz students on weekends or late afternoons, serving as an extended family. Participants were able to experience, firsthand, the importance of being part of the community in which they reside.

Kmehin Mechina Manager Asaf Fried expresses great pride in Derech Eretz’s first cohort at Kmehin, 100% of which are now entering the army. The few who are still waiting for their June draft date, came out on April 13th to greet new participants in a trip to Lahav Forest.

The number of new participants in Kmehin has now multiplied due to large demand, and thanks to our generous partners, we are now expanding our Kmehin campus in order to accommodate for this need and be able to provide the benefits of Derech Eretz social-educational programs to additional Israeli youth.