I see Hashem here. Maybe it’s because I’m from Colorado. I feel like I see God in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains, and I absolutely feel divine presence when staring out into the vastness of the Zin Valley and the Negev desert. This is where David Ben-Gurion, upon seeing the expanse, proclaimed he wanted to be buried.

Today, with side-by-side tombs of Ben-Gurion and his wife, Paula, the area has been designated a national park. It’s a pilgrimage site for many. It’s where Americans for Ben-Gurion University takes our Zin Fellows for their graduation ceremony after nearly two years of study focusing on the Negev and the University that carries Ben-Gurion’s name.  In this awe-inspiring space, when we invite our Zins up to read quotes of David Ben-Gurion, few can resist tears.

Depending on the time of day, the light across the landscape is a moving rainbow of desert colors; the untouched rugged valleys and clefts easily convince you that you are looking straight into ancient history. After all, this is the same valley where Moses sent his scouts to check out the Promised Land. Indigenous plant and animal life thrive here in the arid climate. It’s a place to walk, hike, and contemplate the meaning of life.

Nearby, on Kibbutz Sde Boker, is the humble retirement hut Ben-Gurion lived after leaving politics. Preserved as it was on the day he died, it remains open to visitors. One truly hasn’t visited Israel until you spend time in this place.

TO LEARN MORE about Ben-Gurion’s life and connect to his vision,  visit the information center and gift shop, take a tour, have a picnic in the park, and enjoy a little hiking and camping. Next to the tomb, the Institute for the Heritage of David Ben-Gurion features an audio-video show that tells his life story.

The National Park is located 3 kilometers south of Kibbutz Sde Boker, near Midreshet Ben Gurion. The park can be reached from route 40, from Beer-Sheva or Mitzpe Ramon.

Our Zin Cohort IV Zin Fellows and staff, against the backdrop of the awesome Zin Valley, near the gravesites of Paula and David Ben-Gurion.