SEDE BOQER (or SDE BOKER)

Founded in 1952, it became a dateline for journalists filing stories around the world when David Ben-Gurion, then Prime Minister, made this his second home in 1953. His hut, which includes his library, is open Sun. - Thurs. 8.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m., Fri., Sat. & holidays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Entrance to the museum is free. Tel. (07)560378/9.

About 400 people live here, including rotating groups of visiting youngsters who come from abroad to further their knowledge of Judaism and the Hebrew language.
There is a children's zoo (entrance fee) and a restaurant/snack bar/gift shop selling kibbutz-grown nuts, fresh fruit and hand-made jewellery.

Sede Boqer has remained an agricultural kibbutz (with chicken houses and an adhesive tape factory) at a time when many kibbutzim are changing and abandoning some of the ideals of equality.

Leave the kibbutz and turn left. Within minutes you arrive at the turn-off to Midreshet Ben-Gurion (College of the Negev). The buildings on your right make up an environmental education high school and a school of field studies on the rim of the Zin Crater. The buildings on your left make up the Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research and the residential quarters. Ben-Gurion and his wife, Paula, are buried nearby. The college shows an audio-visual presentation about the life of David and Paula Ben-Gurion. Sun.-Thurs.: 8.30, 9.30 and 10.30 a.m., and 2.30 p.m. Fri. 8.30, 9.30 and 10.30 a.m. Sat. and holidays 9.30, 10.30, 11.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tel. (07)560155.

Drive 3 km. down the gravel path until you reach the parking area of the National Parks site of En Avdat.