Oh Jerusalem: Negev

Last semester Hannah went with the students to see the women at Lakiya Negev Weaving. Abby and I went this time. The rugs, pillow coverings and bags are hand woven by Bedouin women. Established in 1991 this project gives Palestinian Bedouin women an opportunity to preserve there heritage and have income to support children and help to educate them. It is a wonderful opportunity for these women and there family.

Beautifully colored yarns are dyed and mothproofed, dried in the sun and wrapped into balls

Fleece is spun into yarn by drop spindles. To prepare the yarn for weaving two strands of yarn are skeined together.

They had a cozy little fire going. They talked to us out side in a tent that was made from sewing long strips of weaved cloth together. These Bedouin tents can keep the temperature 10-15 degrees warmer than the outside air. It is as if time stood still. Women in this part of the world have been doing this for thousands of years.

A corner of the tent. The tassels show some of the many colors the yarn can be colored.

Using traditional ground looms and local sheep wool they can weave a particularly tight, strong and durable rug. They use traditional and modern designs in the rugs.

Off we go to Arad. Arad is an ancient Canaanite city. It is mentioned in the Bible as fighting against Israel and taking some of them captive(Numbers 21:1). Later it appears to be conquered by Joshua(Joshua 12:14). Sometime after this Israelites inhabited the area and built on the highest part of the site. It included a temple complex patterned after the one in Jerusalem. It is very likely that Lehi and his family came by here and may have even worshiped at the temple.

It was a chilly and windy day!! The girls sit atop of a wall next to the large alter that was used to sacrifice animals.

This is the Holy of Holies. Two incense burners flank the entrance. A standing stone is inside the chamber. In other archaeological finds around the area some of these stones have arms and hands raised up to the sky carved on them. Interesting.