Aug 28, 20212 min read

We Live in Paradise Five Minutes From Hell

Wow the time has come!

After my Aliyah flight on the 17th of August, I was ready to jump into Israel head first. But, as we all know, the coronavirus had different plans for me, plans that entailed living in quarantine for a week. Tel Aviv was nice, and I made the quarantine the best it could be with the people I was with. However, I was ready to come to Erez, I was ready to come to my new home.

And here I am!

So, after not more than two days in this beautiful community, let me introduce you a little to where I am, and about this place I'll be living in for at least the next year and a half.

Kibbutz Erez is in the southern region of Israel, five minutes from Sderot and about ten minutes from Ashkelon. Situated along the coastal region of the country, Erez enjoys the same sunny weather as Tel Aviv, and the slight arid nature of the Negev. Five minutes down the road is the Erez crossing, which is one of the biggest checkpoints between Israel and Gaza. During times of peace, and when there isn't a global pandemic, one can see trucks of humanitarian aid crossing the border to help people in Gaza. Between the Kibbutz and Gaza, there is about 800 meters of farms and agricultural life. Yes, we aren't even a kilometer away from the border, but you wouldn't even know.

Erez is situated under a hill that blocks us from any direct view of Gaza. The hill itself is still a part of the Kibbutz, and you can easily head to the top of the hill to see the border, but the houses and the community lives at the base of the hill. If one were to come to Erez, and not know where they are, through looking at the landscape around them, they would have no idea Gaza was just down the road.

Within Erez, from what I've learned over the past two days, we have a pool, cows, honey factory, a little coffee shop, a small grocery store, paths to walk on, an old/abandoned zoo, fruit trees all around, a basketball and tennis court, a soccer field, and just under 600 people. This place is beautiful in every way, and I can't wait to explore the area more, meeting new people along the way.

I think this guy at the pool yesterday summed up Erez best. As we were sitting around the beautiful pool, after a nice refreshing swim under the summer heat, this guy asks me how I'm liking Erez, as it was only my first day there. I responded by saying how beautiful this place is and how nice it is to be here. He responded by saying "we live in paradise five minutes from hell," a phrase I will probably never forget about this place.

And with that, I guess Erez is just about summed up.

*Below are just a few pictures I have taken of Erez*