Israel Ride

To sponsor my ride go to the JNF website. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

This coming November I’ll be doing a bicycle ride from Jerusalem to Eilat in Israel. Why? Good question.

The reasons are several. Firstly, the chance to go back to Israel. I was there in 2008 for a few months and just loved it. The food, the sites, the people, the culture. Plus I’m hanging out for some more of the best hummus in the world in Yafo.

The second reason is that I love bike riding. In most cases I ride from home to work and pass most of the cars stuck in gridlocked traffic on the way, ultimately getting to work quicker than I would if I were driving. At best I’m 10-15 minutes quicker riding than driving. Riding is great exercise. It get’s you out in the open, under the sun, the wind in your face (or back!), and sometimes a bit of rain and cold. But you feel great once you get where you’re going.

Thirdly, I like a challenge and what better challenge is there than a 5 day ride, 480 kms, through one of the best landscapes in the world. Ok, most of the way is the Negev Desert, and there’ll be a lot of sand to look at, but I’ve been told it’s very scenic sand. But I kid, there’s more than just sand to see on the way.

Last but not least, it’s for a good cause. Money raised goes towards the Arava Institute and Hazon.

About the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies -

The Arava Institute is the premier environmental teaching and research program in the Middle East, preparing future Arab and Jewish leaders to cooperatively solve the region’s environmental challenges.

Together, faculty and students are advancing a critical common cause: a sustainable future for the region’s human and natural resources. Established in 1996, the Arava Institute is a non-profit organization located on Kibbutz Ketura in Israel’s Arava Valley near the Jordanian and Egyptian borders and the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat. The Arava Institute is a unique oasis of environmental education, research, activism, and international cooperation. More info.

About Hazon -

Hazon Hazon means vision. As America’s largest Jewish environmental organization, we create healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond.

Hazon is a leader in meaningful immersion experiences and in engaging individuals to be active in their communities. In aggregate, we are seeking to shift the nature of what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century—enabling and encouraging Jewish people to have an impact in the world, and fostering innovative, meaningful Jewish life in the process. More info.

Where the money goes -

Donations to the Israel Ride are divided as follows:

• approximately 1/2 of the minimum fundraising commitment helps cover the costs of the Ride on the ground in Israel.
• 70% of the net proceeds support the Arava Institute
• 30% of the net proceeds support Hazon

So a great opportunity and a great cause and one I’m looking forward to with great excitement. I’ve already started training by riding more and doing longer rides here in Melbourne. I do need a new bike seat though. One that’s a bit more comfortable for riding several hours a day. I may also need to give in and invest in some lycra bike shorts and top. I won’t shave the legs just yet.

I’ll be joining riders from Israel and around the world as we start in Jerusalem, making our way down through the Negev towards Eilat, arriving 4 days later. We have a support crew with us and we will have overnight accommodation on the way.

For more information about the ride go to the Israel Ride website – www.israelride.org.

For Australian sponsorship please go to to Jewish National Fund (JNF) website – jnf.com.au making sure the Arava IsraelRide is selected in the project field. Enter my name, Elahn Zetlin as the rider, and then your details and donation amount in numerical value (eg, $30.00). Donations over $2 are tax deductible. I need to raise $3600 so your donations are very much appreciated.

Elahn.