1. Desert Queen Expedition September 2008 We envisioned the bonding of women from our Partner Federations and the local Israeli Partnerships participating in a joint journey of discovery of self and each other in the remarkable desert setting of the Negev to acknowledge the 60 th anniversary of Israel’s Independence Are dream came to fruition when the Jewish Agency, in conjunction with the Geographic Society of Israel, launched the first-ever Israeli "Desert Queen" expedition in September 2008

2. Sixty brave, bold and beautiful women from Israel and abroad in16 all-terrain vehicles set out from the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem one Wednesday morning for a week-long adventure against the backdrop of the picturesque Negev desert. Desert Queen Expedition Raring to go

3. Desert Queen Expedition

5. Women aged 21 to 65 from Miami, Pittsburg, Germany, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, and corresponding Partnerships from Eilat in the south to Kiryat Shmona in the north, spent a week together in the severe desert terrain discovering the wealth of historical and archeological sites the Negev has to offer.

6. Desert Queen Expedition We laughed, we sang, we danced and cried. We helped, encouraged, supported and shared. Welcoming the Sabbath in Nitzana Youth Village Dancing after a long day of driving Learning a new song at Mamshit Archeological site

7. Desert Queen Expedition We challenged ourselves and pushed our individual limits, while learning and sharing our individual experiences Morning exercises Amazing views

8. Desert Queen Expedition

9. Breakfast after a morning bike ride Team Spirit

10. Desert Queen Expedition Sunrise at Nizana Rappelling at Ramon Crater It’s not as high as it looks!

11. The 2008 Pilot Desert Queen expedition in Israel was such a huge success that the Jewish Agency and Geographic Society decided to make it an annual event. You too can be part of this once- in-a-life-time experience. Registration is now open. Contact your Federation or Partnership 2000 offices www.jewishagency.org/desertqueen