Where life meets memory: Discovering seven southern sites of resilience, nature, and rebirth

What remains of a person after they are gone? Sometimes it is the photographs and stories, sometimes family and friends, and sometimes it is a specific place. A single tree in the desert, a walking trail winding through the landscape that tells the story of someone who lived here, a vineyard planted years ago that continues to yield fruit, and even a coffee cart where people sit together and talk about life. These places are not all the same, and the stories behind them differ as well, but they all serve as a reminder that commemoration does not have to be a place where one stands with bowed heads. In the South, following October 7, several of these locations took on new meaning. To mark three years since the great tragedy, we chose a route between memory and life - not among monuments, but among places that continue to tell the stories of the people who were here, lived, and created.

In the heart of Nahal Nitzana, amidst the desert landscape of the Shunra-Agur Sands Dunes Nature Reserve, stands a large and impressive acacia tree estimated to be hundreds of years old. For years, the tree served as a stop and meeting point for travelers, and the late Liran Almosnino used to visit it during the Tomcar tours he led.

Liran, who fell on October 7 while defending Kibbutz Holit, was a member of Moshav Kmehin and part of the Nitzana counterterrorism standby squad. He was a shepherd who raised sheep, worked to establish the Hashomer Hachadash commune in the area, and was a significant figure for many youths under his guidance. He is survived by his wife, Efrat, and five children.

The tree, which was dear to him and became a symbol for him, now serves as a commemoration point in his memory. A large KKL-JNF table was placed at the site, making it suitable for a coffee break or a light meal facing the desert scenery. The tree can be reached via guided EasyRaider tours departing from Moshav Kadesh Barnea, independently by off-road vehicle via a short navigation route from Be'er Milka along Nahal Nitzana, or on foot via a 15-minute walk from the gate of Moshav Be'er Milka along a path crossing Nahal Nitzana toward the tree, which is clearly visible from the road.

The South is fertile ground for cycling routes and singletracks, and in the Nitzana Region, you will find a bicycle singletrack named after the late Yiftah Gorni, one of the founders of Moshav Be'er Milka, who fell in battle on October 7. The circular singletrack, approximately 15 kilometers long, connects desert landscapes with heritage sites, viewpoints, and stories of regional settlement.

The route begins and ends at the Leah Orchard, passing through the Nitzana Cave, the Nitzana Chalk Hills, a reconstructed agricultural farm, and the Way of Peace - the well-known environmental sculpture by Dani Karavan. Further along, it encircles historical Tel Nitzana and passes through Auja al-Hafir before returning to the starting point.

One of the stopping points along the trail is located at the Ha'of Outpost, which offers a panoramic view toward Sinai. A seating area with benches and a pergola was built at the site by volunteers from the Azrieli Group alongside youth from Ramat Hanegev. It is also accessible by car.

Yiftah, 51 at the time of his death, was a native of Kibbutz Na'an, one of the founders of Be'er Milka, married to Sivan, and a father of three. On the morning of October 7, he set out with Team Peled toward the southern communities. During the battle near Moshav Yated against terrorists making their way toward the Hevel Shalom communities, Yiftah remained with female soldiers who were behind one of the vehicles, secured them, and acted to prevent the terrorists from taking over the vehicle. He was hit and killed on the spot.

The singletrack was established on the initiative of his family and friends, with the assistance of residents from Be'er Milka and the region, the Ramat Hanegev Regional Council, and numerous volunteers.

Trail details: Approximately 15 km, circular | About two to two and a half hours | Easy-to-moderate difficulty level. Starting and ending point: Leah Orchard, Nitzana Region.

In the Central Arava as well, locals chose to commemorate October 7 through a walking trail. Near Moshav Idan, you will find the Lilies Trail, dedicated to the memory of the late Ohad (Bodi) Cohen, a native of the moshav and a soldier in the Shaldag Unit who fell on October 7, 2023, in the battle at Kibbutz Be'eri. The unit's soldiers were among the first military forces to arrive at the scene that day.

Ohad's family marked out the trail with the assistance of Moshav Idan residents out of a desire to commemorate his memory in the place he loved. Ohad loved hiking in the desert, and the trail aims to turn that love into a route that travelers can experience.

Along the route, a memorial sign was installed detailing his life story, alongside a quote identified with him: "In every crisis or challenge in my life, I love going out to the desert, to the marl formations near home, and simply coping when it's just me and the desert with my personal truth, without any masks." Additionally, explanatory signs regarding local geological phenomena, a trail map, and a drinking fountain for hikers were installed.

It is a circular trail approximately 2.5 km long, winding between the marl ridges surrounding Moshav Idan. The area is characterized by an impressive concentration of Negev lilies that bloom from late October through mid-November.

The trail offers views of the marl cliffs descending into the Nahal Idan channel, the acacia trees characteristic of the Arava, the Hatzera Ridge, and the opening of the Small Crater, alongside the date orchards of Moshav Idan.

How to get there: Search Waze for Ohad (Bodi) Cohen Lilies Trail. Park the car between the date trees at the trail entrance. Trail length: Approximately 2.5 km | Duration: About an hour and a half | Moderate difficulty, suitable for families.

In the heart of Kibbutz Re'im, within an open green space, operates Ameet Cafe - a coffee cart established following the events of October 7 in memory of the late Amit Gabay, who was murdered in the kibbutz's young adults' neighborhood just before turning 18.

Behind the cart is Amit's mother, Adi, who established it together with his close friend Kobi. The idea was to create a space that would not merely be a memorial corner, but a living place that continues the things identified with Amit: A great love for life, people, and gatherings between friends. Therefore, the choice of a coffee cart was no coincidence. In a place where loss is an integral part of the community's story, a space was created where one can simply arrive, sit, meet, talk, or pause for a moment amidst the green landscape of the kibbutz.

The menu includes coffee alongside fresh sandwiches, pizza-focaccia, salads, pastries, and desserts, making a visit a suitable stop during a trip to the region.

Opening hours: Thursday 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | For details: 077-7295836.

There are places where the story of revival begins precisely in what was left behind. At Kibbutz Nir Oz, the vineyard planted by the late Gideon Pauker and the winery he established became a new starting point for his family after his death. The Pauker family has been engaged with the land, agriculture, and settlement for four generations. Gideon, son of Ya'akov Pauker, one of the founders of Nahariya, was among the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz and held key positions in the kibbutz and the Negev throughout his life. Alongside his public and community work, he also had a personal dream: To plant a small vineyard and produce wine from it.

In 2006, he turned that dream into reality. Together with his friends, he established Nir Oz Winery, which became a space of creation for him. He grew and cultivated the grapes himself, produced wine from them, and dedicated the place to his own enjoyment and that of his friends and partners.

October 7 changed everything. Gideon was murdered, and the vineyard and winery were left behind amid destruction and evacuation. However, his family members chose to return to the site and to what he had created. They began restoration work on the vineyard and winery in an effort to salvage what was possible and bring his life's work back to life. Out of this restoration process, Pauker Winery was born - a family boutique winery currently managed and operated by Gideon's children and grandchildren. Thus, the vineyard he planted and the wine that was a personal dream for him became a place that continues his path even without him.

Today, visitors can come to the winery and experience not only the wine, but also the family story behind it - the story of a man, a vineyard, and a life's work that were harmed on October 7, and of a family that chose to return, restore, and continue.

Visiting times: Fridays, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., no prior coordination required. On other days of the week – prior coordination is required | For details: 077-7295874.

In the heart of a mature grove in Kibbutz Tze'elim, outside the kibbutz fence and near the spot where the kibbutz's first settlers lived, lies a memorial site whose underlying concept is simple and precise: To leave the footprints of Shiri Bibas and her children, Ariel and Kfir, in the terrain, making the memory part of the landscape.

At the center of the site is a circular plaza containing concrete casts of the hands and feet of the three. Surrounding the footprints are closed circles that emphasize the sense of lives cut short and the memory that remains. A concrete path leads from the entrance to the plaza, with benches scattered along the way that allow visitors to stop and reflect.

The signage at the site is minimalist, displaying their names, ages, and date of death, alongside visual cues connecting the text to the footprints at the center. The site was designed by architect Zvika Pasternak to be a space accessible for personal, quiet visits.

The location itself adds another layer to the story: On one side, the grove and open view, and on the other, the look toward Kibbutz Tze'elim and the history of the location. There is no large structure or detail-heavy site here. The simplicity itself focuses attention on the three pairs of footprints and the story they carry.

How to get there: The site is open to the public and is located outside the Kibbutz Tze'elim fence.

On the edge of the fields of Kibbutz Kfar Aza stands a memorial commemorating the members of the kibbutz who were murdered on October 7. Sixty-four kibbutz members were murdered, and 19 were abducted to the Gaza Strip. The memorial integrates into the BAMAH Trail - a 30-kilometer tourist route traversing the western Negev that tells the story of water, security, and settlement in the region. The BAMAH Trail was initiated by Ofir Libstein, head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, who was killed on October 7 when he went out to defend Kfar Aza.

At the center of the memorial is a 17-meter-long concrete path reminiscent of the kibbutz's pathways. Alongside it are replicas of the kibbutz's benches, and at its end is a metal outline diagram of the kibbutz through which the homes of Kfar Aza and Gaza City are visible.

One of the prominent elements is the names of the victims: They are not written in a uniform font, but in letters based on their own handwriting, collected from letters and documents they left behind.

In the middle of the path, a fissure opens up, serving as a metaphor for the fracture of October 7. At the entrance stands a "water camel," the element identified with the BAMAH Trail, which tells the story of the site.

Ultimately, these places offer a slightly different way to encounter the story of October 7 - not only through a monument or a memorial sign, but also through an encounter with nature, or sitting over a cup of coffee or wine. Memory is present in each of them, but alongside it, nature, community, and life itself continue to exist - just as only in Israel people manage to create.