"Zman Hamidbar" - Desert Time is a mountain top oasis overlooking a magnificent view of the desert hills of Arad and the Dead Sea!

A dream made possible with the help of the Economic Development Unit of Arad, sponsored by the Jewish Agency.

Sephi Hanegbi and Ephrat Shar Shalom are the pioneers with the vision for the future in the middle of the Arad hills. As you drive up the rocky road, the view before you is breathtaking! High up on a hill, overlooking the Dead Sea, Sephi and Ephrat have been constructing a spiritual oasis.

Ephrat, a unique woman, teaches and guides spiritual renewal, had a dream to build a getaway and healing center for people to come and be uplifted through her guidance. The intensely natural surroundings and nurturing atmosphere creates the perfect balance for introspection and healing. Her partner, Sephi, is a professional guide, specializes in desert jeep and camel tours, and hikes through the desert terrain. The good-natured soul is at one with the landscape and its dwellers. Sephi has a wonderful rapport with his Beduin neighbors in nature and has helped them on many occasions.

This truly unique couple combined their dreams and formed "Zman Hamidbar - Desert Time", which is an all-encompassing complex of several tents and earth-based structures for a total spiritual and uplifting experience. They have a main tent where workshops are held and meals are served Beduin style (on mats on the floor) with fragrant incense burning in the background. In the surrounding area, they are building several additional units which will house a music room (with special emphasis on acoustics), a tea room with over 70 different types of herbal teas and much more.

The entire complex is being built with ecologically friendly technology. The structures are built using a new system, which combines wood and compressed dirt. The energy used for the structures is solar-powered. The land they plan to cultivate for vegetable and herb farming will use recycled water (using purification methods on sewage water).

Sephi and Ephrat's main goal is to live in unity with nature in every way and every aspect of life and to teach others how to reap its benefits.

"Desert Time" was a dream that took a very long time to fulfill! Three years ago the couple started their long journey to reach the desert's peace. The Economic Development Unit, sponsored by Partnership 2000 of the Jewish agency, and their wonderful staff were instrumental during every step of the way. Ephrat and Sephi encountered numerous obstacles in almost every governmental department and through the diligent and patient guidance of the E.D.U. the final papers were signed. Their oasis paradise was underway!!

"As I reluctantly drove away from the tent of tranquility, I knew I'd be back, to feel the peace and harmony. The atmosphere on the top of that hill was intoxicating and you really feel like you've become part of a little bit of heaven on earth."

Iyyar 5764 - May 2004