#8 - Traveling the Length of the Land from Masada and the Dead Sea to the Upper Galilee

I am writing this evening’s entry from the Hula Valley, where we are staying at the Kibbutz Gonen’s beautiful guest house, in the Upper Galilee. Peacocks strut throughout the grounds and pathways are lined with flowering bushes of all kinds. Having finished dinner, our students are enjoying social time together on the guest house grounds, before heading to bed for a good night’s rest.

 

Was it only this morning that we were in the desert? I am struck by how we have been able to, within one action-packed day, travel between the southernmost and northernmost parts of our itinerary. From the majestic desert to the lush hills of the Galilee, Israel has offered us in one day the beauty of her full and varied terrain. I digress…back to the day’s events!

 

We awoke in our big tent at 4:00 a.m. and, after some sweet tea and biscuits, boarded our bus and drove the short distance to Masada. We climbed up via the Roman ramp, the very same ramp built by the Romans on the western side of the mountain, as they prepared to breach the defenses of the Jewish rebels. As the sky began to brighten, taking on multiple shades of pink, we gathered at one of the eastern-facing lookout points in plenty of time to enjoy (and photograph) a spectacular sunrise over the Dead Sea and the mountains of Jordan.

 

With the sun in the sky, it was time for tefillat shacharit, the morning prayer service. Together, we settled into a room-shaped nook, focusing our attention on the prayers and melodies that have accompanied our 8th graders throughout their years at Brandeis. As the chaperone groups took turns leading us all through the morning service, I was filled with gratitude for the spiritual, prayerful space we were able to create together. Later in the day, a couple of students shared that this tefillah was one of their favorites in all their time at Brandeis!

 

After concluding with “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu” (“May Peace Yet Come Upon Us”), we set out in our tour groups to explore Masada, visiting Herod’s palace, the bathhouse, the water cistern, and the ancient synagogue. Our guides shared with us the story of Masada as recounted by Josephus Flavius, the Jew turned Roman historian, inviting our students to engage in the moral questions inherent in the story and in the meaning the story took on in different periods of Israel’s history. As stomachs began to grumble and rumble, we descended Masada by the snake path, heading straight to a delicious breakfast at the Masada Youth Hostel, right at the foot of the great mountain.

 

Tired but happy, and with our bellies full, we headed to the Ein Gedi Spa, eager to soak in the Dead Sea’s mineral-rich water. This year’s visit was spectacular. The blue of the sky was matched by the bright colors of the water. The majestic mountains of the Judaean desert were a feast for the eyes. The students spent stretches of time in the water, interspersed with mud fests on the beach. Many wrapped up their Dead Sea visit with spending time at the spa’s pool and mineral baths. The end result: happy and relaxed teens and adults!

 

After a late lunch, we parted reluctantly with this beautiful spot, and set off north to our next adventure. Students passed the time with a combination of singing, sleeping, card playing, snacking, and chattering. And, here we are! Up in the beautiful, green, rolling hills of the Galilee, home to our partner school, Eynot Yarden, whose students are so excited to welcome us to their community. We will all sleep in a bit tomorrow, followed by time in our chaperone groups, checking in, reflecting on the past couple of days, and preparing for our time together with our Israeli hosts, as we get to be “locals” instead of tourists for the next two days.

 

Laila tov (goodnight),

 

Israel Trip Leader