Women Initiatives in the Bedouin Society
An Empowering and Inspiring tour for Creativity and Success
The new Bedouin woman – a fascinating journey to the world of the Bedouin women, who tread between preserving the tradition and integrating in the modern age. We will get to know women who were integrated in the family economic circle, without breaking the norms of the culture, and educated, assertive young women.
Is the role of the new Bedouin woman different than this of the women in the past? Is it possible to integrate the need to provide and work and the desire to maintain the values of tradition and culture?
The tour starts at a meeting point in Dvira junction, in Alon gas station. Recommendation: to allow the group to be organized and have a breakfast in the gas station. להזמנת הסיור התקשרו לסאלם או מלאו טופס הזמנה בלחיצה כאן.
Touring on the footsteps of women initiative in the desert:
Medical Herbs Farm in Tel Sheva
A short tour around the farm to see and feel the scents of the desert herbs.
Convening in the palace of Bat Hamidbar, a short lecture featuring explanations about herbs, natural cosmetics and their uses, in the past and today.
We will hear the fascinating story of Bat Hamidbar, and have a steamy cup of herbal tea. During the lecture, you will be able to get samples of various products to relieve pain. The visitors receive a leaflet with the names of the desert herbs and their uses, in accordance with the explanations.
Among the various products you can find soaps made of camel milk for cosmetics and healing purposes. This soap is unique for the desert and has known healing properties.
At the end of the tour, it is recommended to allow some time to shop for products in the farm.
Desert Loom and "Sadrah" the Women's Organization in Laqiya
The carpet looming factory in Laqiya, which sells various sizes of rugs, pillows and a large selection of authentic hand made Bedouin products.
The tour shows the entire looming process, from processing the wool and painting it, up to the loom that serves to make the carpet.
"Sadrah" organization takes care of the occupation of Bedouin women, who don't go to work outside their homes, from traditional reasons. The organization sends sheep wool to the women, and enables them to work at home.
Once a month, the women arrive to the organization, to bring their works. On this day, the organization prepares a convention for these women. Each time there is a lecture on a certain topic, to empower the women and enrich their world.
The presence of the women is mandatory, this is how they are paid for their work.
The tour ends by a visit in the factory shop of the carpets. In the shop, you can find carpets of various sizes, pillows and additional looming products. It is recommended to buy things in the shop, and assist the promotion of Bedouin women. The hand loom is high quality, and the carpets are sold in Israel and abroad.
Visiting "Desert Embroidery" – A Women Empowerment Association
Embroidery takes a special honorary place in the Bedouin society. The embroidery featured on the woman's dress, in various points of her life, has various meanings.
During the tour, we shall hear an extensive explanation about the great diversity of the Bedouin embroidery, the meaning of colors, and the significance of each color. We shall learn about the meaning of the young girl's dress, the single woman's dress, the married woman's dress and the widow dress. Every woman will have a special embroidery on her clothes in every stage of her life. We shall discover the differences between the patterns and the importance of each of them.
Embroidery allows women to create, to care for clothing. It also provides a source of income for women who don't leave their house, for traditional reasons. The Bedouin society is a traditional society, and it is unaccustomed for women to leave their house for work. The "Desert Embroidery" association also allows women empowerment, professional knowledge and provision of an additional income source for the family.
Desert embroidery preserves the traditional embroidery, whose main designation was to decorate the dresses of women. The colors and the patterns have social meanings and they testify the woman's tribe, her age and marital status.
The association has many activities. It sends children to summer camps, has a mobile library in the town and around distant tribes, and it takes the women to trips, in spite of the objections from their family members.
After hearing the women's explanation, it is possible to visit the bazaar and buy souvenirs embroidered by hand, in an international level.
Back to Rahat, for Authentic Bedouin Hospitality in Salem's Tent
Bedouin Hafla – Mansaf Maglubeh
The Mansaf is a "large tray" for four diners.
In the menu:
Rice with five types of vegetables, slowly cooked, with layers of rice, pieces of chicken with spices, "Farika soup", Bedouin vegetable salad, eggplants, cabbage, hummus, pickles, special sauce for the Maglubeh, Bedouin pita bread, various cold drinks, coffee and tea, and special home-made sweets for dessert.
Sitting in a tent on mattresses with pillows, carpets and rugs (you can also dine next to modern chairs and tables, upon request).
The tour will end with a bus tour
Along AlHazan stream, which pours into the Gerar river, a scenic route. These days, they begin working and preparing a park along the river, to separate the older parts of Rahat to the expansion "Mithamim". The eastern part of the stream reaches the industrial area of "Idan HaNegev", common to Rahat Lehavim and Bney Shimon Regional Council.
* During the bus ride and throughout the tour you will hear explanations about the various Bedouin settlements, their traditions and customs.