Daily Podcasts Video Research

Spy Out the Land

JL;DR SUMMARY Cindy Scarr's narrative traces the historical and spiritual journey from the biblical days of Bnei Yisrael in the desert to the modern development of Kadesh Barnea in the Negev. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish HistoryJewish ImmigrationFaithNegevBorder SecurityCommunity BuildingDesertSpiritual RevivalKadesh Barnea

Places mentioned

Kadesh Barnea, Southern District, Israel
"The journey of Sarah Yifrach to modern-day Kadesh Barnea, a dusty desert community in the western Negev near the Egyptian/Gaza border, really began in 1879."
Holon, Central District, Israel
"They first lived in Holon, with other Moroccan families."
Chatzor HaGlilit, Northern District, Israel
"From there the family moved to Chatzor HaGlilit in the north, yet they longed for the desert and warm farming weather."
Yamit, Southern District, Israel
"A few days later, sometime in 1975, the family joined others in founding the new town of Yamit in Sinai."
Moshav Yesha, Southern District, Israel
"The family moved to Moshav Yesha, a non-observant yet traditional agricultural community located in the northwestern Negev near the border with Gaza."
Amioz, Southern District, Israel
"Tzion Yifrach, from the neighboring secular moshav of Amioz, also established in the 1950s by Jewish immigrants."
Southern District, Israel
"In order to experience more of the off-road desert sites, we met up for a desert EZ rider tour with Chen, who lives in Kadesh."
Kibbutz Holit, Southern District, Israel
"Liran and eight others from the area got into their cars and headed out in the direction of the Gaza Envelope toward Kibbutz Holit."
Lehavim, Southern District, Israel
"Lior, who raises chickens and markets their eggs, welcomed us in to his home, his bookshelf crammed with an assortment of all the traditional seforim."
Ezuz, Southern District, Israel
"That was what it said on the sign as we approached the small village of Ezuz: Sof haolam smolah, and it truly felt that way."

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Cairo Item ID 84814
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Retrieved 2026-06-14 18:00:32 UTC
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