Kosher and Jewish Life in Beer Sheva

Beer Sheva is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev," it is the seventh most populous city in Israel with a population of 105,588. Beer Sheva is located on the northern edge of the Negev desert 115 kilometres (71 mi) south-east of Tel Aviv and 110 kilometres (75 mi) south-west of Jerusalem. The city is located on the main route from the center and north of the country to Eilat in the far south. The Beer Sheva Valley has been populated for thousands of years, as it has available water, which flows from the Hebron hills in the winter and is stored underground in vast quantities. Beersheba has a hot semi-arid climate. Beersheba is one of the fastest-growing cities in Israel. Though it has a population of about 200,000, the city is larger in size than Tel Aviv, and its urban plan calls for a population of 450,000–500,000. Landmarks in the city include Abraham's Well and the old Turkish train station, now the focus of development plans. The Artists House of the Negev, in a Mandate-era building, showcases artwork connected in some way to the Negev. The Negev Museum of Art reopened in 2004 in the Ottoman Governor's House, and an art and media center for young people was established in the Old City.