Published in Pnima Magazine

Community | Shira Segal

Yehudit Shamchuvitz (29), married to Yehuda and mother of 2, living in the Negohot settlement. Her main occupation is motherhood and body psychotherapy practitioner.

What led you to move to the settlement?

"A pull of the heart. I love the Hebron Hills, and for a period I had a hidden dream to live in the area. Yehuda and I felt that Negohot is the place in terms of 'Lech Lecha' - go to yourself. We didn't know what the move would bring with it and how we would manage. We left our comfort zone but with a feeling of spreading wings and faith that Negohot belongs to our life story. I also really love the open spaces and the sense of primordial nature that remained here. Credit also to Yehuda's cousin and his family who lived here, and Yehuda's brother with his wife, who made us want to join".

What do you do for work?

"I am self-employed, a body psychotherapy practitioner for women and young women. I opened the business in Negohot recently, during the war, when I felt how precious my life here is, and that there are people fighting for me. This made me feel entitled to be among the living here in the world, and an inner obligation to live to my fullest, and to give my gifts to the world.

The therapeutic session combines conversation, the patient shares her desires and pains, and this allows deepening and exploring the connection with the body that is a partner in the journey, it is a helpful tool in any situation she is in. We expand the connection with the body and learn different tools that will help during depression, stress or emotional flooding, and will lead her to a feeling of relief and peace. For example, through breathing: awareness of how and how much I breathe, in which situations more and when less. Through movement: how to move in a way that will cause a pleasant feeling inside, to release energy or to move in a way that regulates emotional flooding".

Business VS Family

"My routine is divided into days of work at the clinic and business development and days when I am at home taking care of the girls. For me, the order of priorities is first of all my mental health for my sake and for my family's sake. From this, also comes the attraction, desire and power for business development. I see how the more I am connected to my resources and qualities, the work in the business in Negohot is also more successful and greater".

Community life

"In Negohot there are organized and initiated women's gatherings: to sit and study together or to cook over the fire. There is significant community support in many areas. Thanks to the work of people in positions and people from their good initiative, for example: new mothers, enlisted women. A special needs club once a week with volunteers, a warm corner for soldiers 24/7, a charity fund, kollel, weekly Torah study for children, blood donations and an annual hosting Shabbat of an organization led by the youth movement".

Only in Negohot there is...

Landscape and land of the Hebron Hills on one side and on the other side the lowlands with beautiful sunsets.

Employment in the area

"In Negohot there are many small independent businesses and also an apiary. A winery, vineyards, a farm and daycares where you can work as employees. We are in the Har Hebron Council where there are employment opportunities in welfare, education and more. We are close to the Lachish Regional Council where there is no shortage of employment opportunities, such as: schools, kindergartens and clinics".

Nearby city: Kiryat Gat 30 minutes and Be'er Sheva 40 minutes, close to Highway 6.

Educational institutions: Daycares and kindergartens

Families in the settlement: 109 families

Special project: The farm of Hagai and Emuna Nissim.