Masada and More!
Masada
Getting up the crack of dawn usally isnt my thing, however for something as magical as this I would do it everyday. We had to be up at 3:15 and on the bus by 3:45 for our long, hot hike. It started off pitch black. Even at 4:00 it was about 85 degrees outside. The hike was long and hard. I personally went through two and a half litres of water just on the way up. It was a neverending twisty dusty staircase. Honestly it was one of the toughest workouts I have ever had. By the time I got to the top I understood exactly why I did this. Its the reason I came to Israel. Its my reason for getting out of bed. Its the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I am truly fortunate to have gotten this experince. I have been all over the U.S. looking for beauty like this. Maybe its the Land of Israel, maybe its the amazing group of people I was with, or maybe its just too amazing for words.
After the sun rose a little more we did a B'Nai Mitzvah for those who that either never became a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or those who wanted to have a second chance, a more meaningful chance. I'm not the religous type however after watching my new amazing friends stand up for what they belive in and become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah it was inspiring and made me feel extermely proud that this is the group of people I get to be in Israel with.
They really are amazing and I love everyone here, and as our trip winds down I find myself overcome with sadness. I have never in my life been people for 10 days and become this close. We know everything about each other and really have a real bond that you can't fake. There is nothing synthetic about this group, we are all real pepole and we arent afraid to be who we are.
Post-Masada
Somehow, everyone was still pumped up after masada. Really, really tired and with muscle aches, but pumped up and happy.
From there we headed down to the dead sea. Soon we where there, ready to put on some mud! What an outstanding experience, floating around without feeling any weight, but feeling every little cut on my body burning from the salt, cuts in places i didn't even know existed! Of course, I unintentionally got salty water in my eyes, came out half blind to wash it out...but had a lot of fun! Everybody bought some mud, started rubbing themselves in mud, looking all muddy and sexy...chilled out in chairs with their feet in the sea, thinking about nothing...and we even got a little show from the israeli airforce that was training in the area.
Later on, we went to Ben Gurion's grave, the first prime minister of israel. What a personality and a leader. Had a little game show, a couple of fun facts about him, paid our respects to this great man, and move on deeper in the negev desert for some Bedouin hospitality.
Good hosts, the bedouin people as they took us camel riding. This is quite similar to riding a horse, but less smooth and really high, those camels were huge! Me and my riding partner Emma had a lot of fun, with the camel brutally stading up, and going side to side with every step the camel took. You really can't leave the Negev without riding a camel...
Then they started up by an explanation about bedouin tradition from an english speaking bedouin (you could have up to 4 wives!), had some bedouin coffee, grounded some coffee beans, and headed out for dinner.
Dinner was served on huge plates, with 5-6 people sitting around the table and sharing food. Great way to bring people together, sharing a plate of rice and of course, Hummus!
After that we had some free time, taking showers after such a long, hot, and sweaty day! We all sat around a fire, playing cards, roasting marshmallows...an amazing ending to THE most amazing day on birthright. So many experiences and stories to tell when we get back home.
-Aaron Rosenfeld and Clement Thibault, IAF
