Truly Experiencing Israel | Shorashim - Israel with Israelis

Truly Experiencing Israel

By Peggy Herman

Just when I thought we couldn't possibly do more in one day, we did. Our day began bright and early at 4:30 AM. With full water bottles and morning jitters, we began our ascent of Mt. Masada. In true Birthright Israel fashion, we took the scenic route, the snake path. Path is a generous name, a sky scraper's worth of stairs is more accurate. :)

About an hour later, with dampened t-shirts and wobbly legs, everyone in our group made it to the top. Together, we watched the beautiful sunrise over the dead sea and desert. Four AM was tough, but the views, colors, and sense of accomplishment made it more than worth it!

Following Masada, we floated our hearts out in the dead sea and covered ourselves head to toe in mineral mud. It was so cool!

After the dead sea, glowing skin and all, we headed back to Jerusalem to Machaneh Yehuda --- one of the largest and most historic markets in Jerusalem. Walking through the market, I started to feel alive. The vibrant colors, buzzing sounds and strong smells made me feel like we were truly experiencing Israel. My friends and I treated ourselves to exotic spices, freshly squeezed juice, and dried fruits. I even tried a new fruit -- an Israeli friend shared his fresh figs and they were delicious!

Today was a long day, but full of adventures and new experiences...so it was well worth the early morning!

Photo Credits: Header Image and Image 1-@missaliss1340, Image 2-@srosenbloom