1986-1987 Rothberg Yearbook

The Sataf spring had given life before. Throughout the centuries, the site had
supported inhabitants who directed the water and worked the land. However, not too long
ago, the people left and the land was abandoned.
Abandoned, that is, until the JN F came along. They knew the history of Sataf, and
thus, its potential as well. Their goal: to rediscover the hidden springs, to revitalize the
deserted land and to erect there a new Jewish settlement.
In addition to the JN F regulars, volunteers were encouraged to get involved w ith the
project. Volunteers?... enter the Rothberg School! The OSA has adopted Sataf as an annual
project, w ith the hope of bringing overseas students closer to Eretz Yisrael. Twice a month
the students are expected to travel to Sataf and, doing their best impression of modernday
Halutzim, personally aid in the redevelopment of the land.
This year, as in previous years, the program had its problems. The time commitment,
the numerous vacations, and the great number of potential volunteers th at knew nothing
about Sataf, all were obstacles in the strive for a bi-weekly delegation.
Yet, in spite of all this Sataf lives on. During the tim e that we spent at Sataf, we
accomplished many things, including: building support walls for the terraces, clearing
plots of land, constructing water canals and eventually, planting, watering and weeding
the fields.
The work wasn’t easy, but, the rewards were great. We not only had a good tim e at
Sataf, but we also got something from it. We got a feeling of accomplishment and the
satisfaction of knowing that we helped to develop the land of Israel.
by Brett Singer