Living on the Edge: Real Estate, Tech, and Wartime Reserves in Kelahim

Life in the southern cooperative moshav of Kelahim carries a unique blend of rural community spirit and the heavy toll of ongoing conflict. Adi, 47, and Aviv, 49, moved to the Negev community 19 years ago, acquiring a 600-square-meter plot for 130,000 shekels when basic infrastructure like electricity and paved roads was entirely absent. Today, properties in Kelahim regularly command values around 3.5 million shekels, reflecting a dramatic surge in regional real estate value, though housing remains scarce.

Community and Local Economy

Social life in Kelahim revolves around grassroots initiatives rather than commercial centers. With no local grocery store, a second-hand shop functions as the communal hub and makeshift synagogue, complemented by Friday coffee carts and communal dinners. The nearby city of Netivot serves as the commercial anchor for shopping and fitness classes, while impromptu neighborhood gatherings known as bar-hava—where residents block a street with chairs and shared food—strengthen local ties.

Career Shifts and Wartime Reserves

Professionally, Aviv works as a researcher at IBM, having transitioned from cyber security to artificial intelligence products designed to protect corporate and national infrastructure against fraud. However, his civilian career has been heavily disrupted by military service. Aviv has served over 500 days in reserve duty as a deputy battalion commander in an armored corps since the outbreak of the war.

The burden of reserve duty is exceptionally heavy, and the economic toll on our family and career has been immense. We missed opportunities to scale our businesses into larger ventures, but stepping up remains a civic duty despite the lack of structural support.

Adi runs a private college specializing in therapeutic styling and group facilitation, a methodology she developed in 2012 to address body image and self-identity through clothing. She is also an active member of 'Metamranot', an organization representing hundreds of homefront women whose partners are deployed on the front lines.

Real Estate and Investments

Despite the economic strain and missed entrepreneurial milestones, the family maintains a long-term investment strategy. Alongside their moshav home, they purchased an investment apartment on the 29th floor of a tower offering sea views, fulfilling a personal aspiration. While other locations might have yielded higher immediate rental yields, lifestyle preferences guided the choice.