Last month Partnership 2000 - Beit Shemesh - Mateh Yehuda - Washington - South Africa of the Jewish Agency sponsored participation of 4 women from the partnership region in the Desert Queen journey.

Jewish Women from Israel and abroad came together to symbolize their involvement and support in bringing back Gilad Shalit.

Chaya Esh from Moshav Zafririm shared her memos with us:

"We went on an amazing journey across the Negev. We started with a very difficult ceremony at Erez Military crossing, and in a quick shift, as we are accustomed to, we started our journey - full of amazing experiences with an extraordinary interaction of women.

30 Women, adolescents, mothers and grandmother… 7 days across the Israeli desert, with no pampering! We slept under the starry sky while every "toilet break" started off a dancing party. Off-road driving, abseiling, tracks, ecological projects, a "cooking" competition, a visit to Kibbutz Shizafon and many many more.. and of course the amazing Shabbat we had in Moshav Hazeva, candle lighting ceremony, the festive meal and of course, dancing! We also had a wonderful reunion activity with "Masa" girls.

We completed our journey like Queens, in a Hotel in Eilat.

The journey was special, the mix of the women was suitable, the amazing Negev and the wonderful staff that guided us and took care of our health and welfare.

I warmly recommend to every woman that wants to take some time for herself in an unusual way, to disconnect a little from her natural environment and connect to something different and extraordinary - go on this Journey, Queen of the Desert, and in Israel!

Because there nothing like the views of Israel."