Last week I went down to Eilat for a few days with the Yeshiva I work for. Eilat feels like Ocean City in Israel. Its a beach town, without a lot of permanent residents. Its a place for Israelis to get away, though it also attracts tourists from abroad. It even has its own airport. It has also historically been a central port for world trade, as it connects Africa, Asia and Europe. For example, when the Japanese want to export their cars to Europe, the bring them to the port of Eilat, drive them through Israel, then pick them up on a boat in Ashkelon.
While it is not contested whether Eilat is part of the Modern state of Israel, there debate as to whether it is really within the borders of the land of Israel. Eilat definitely has biblical significance, it is mentioned in the bible and was conquered by King David. However, it was not inhabited by Jews during the second temple. For Jewish laws specific to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel), the boarders during the second temple are the basis according most poskim (main authorities in Jewish law) as to where Israel starts and stops.
We went on a 3 day trip. The first day me hiked Mitzpe Ramon, an beautiful hike along a crater in the Negev. We then drove farther south and camped out under the stars. The following morning we got up before dawn to hike Har Shlomo. On a clear day on the peak of Har Shlomo, its possible to see 4 different countries: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. How many places in the entire world can you see 4 countries at once? We got to the top just after sunrise and said our morning prayers there. Afterwards we drove down to Eilat and rested up at the youth hostel for a couple hours. In the evening we planned a fun activity for them and took them out bowling. The next morning we went out on a boat in the Red Sea and got to have some fun. The Eilat area is a great place to get away, and you dont have to be a beach lover to enjoy it.
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