Mt Arbel, Tzfat, and Independence Hall | Shorashim - Israel with Israelis

Mt Arbel, Tzfat, and Independence Hall

Robert Babus

After our second night on the kibbutz in Golan Heights, we departed for an early morning hike on Mt. Arbel. I have never been to Israel before and have only seen pictures of the country when studying in Hebrew school. I was blown away by the scenic views atop the mountain and didn't realize how beautiful northern Israel was. The hike took a little over two hours as we climbed through the rocky and at times challenging path. Selfies were a plenty as the entire group appreciated the site, culminating with a brief meditation session.

We then made our way to the religious city of Tzfat, the birthplace of Kabbalah. Our guide, Itay, explained the origin of the Kabbalah practice, its significance, and its impact on the city. When walking through the city, it was apparent that Tzfat had a different atmosphere than other areas in Israel we have already encountered. The visit ended with a stop at a local synagogue then we made our way to Tel-Aviv.

Our first stop in Tel-Aviv was Independence Hall, the location of Israel's independence signing in 1948. We watched a brief film describing the context of the signing as well as its implications for Israel. We then joined another birthright group, as we gathered in the room where the signing took place to listen to a speaker elaborate on the knowledge we gained from the earlier video. I was taken aback by the passion the speaker had for Israel, and it was apparent she was an expert on all things Israel. The session ended with us listening to the iteration of the Israeli national anthem that was sang during the signing in 1948; this was truly a moving experience for the group.

The day ended with a night out in Tel-Aviv!

-Number 21