Giant Spiders and the City That Never Goes to Bed
After a great Shabbat in Jersualem it was time to head south and the part that most people were either really looking forward to or really dreading: The Negev Desert. After arriving at our hotel at 11 p.m., we quickly got ready for bed since we had a 3 a.m. wakeup call the following morning. After peeling ourselves out of bed, we managed to make it over to Masada, a massive mountain in the middle of the desert. The race against the clock was on if we were going to reach the top by sunrise.
To say the hike was difficult does not do it justice. The hike, which a few group members were able to complete in just over 15 minutes (show-offs) was literally straight up the side of the mountain and contained more than 700 stairs and numerous uphill slopes. It was by far the hardest hike of the trip but definitely the most rewarding. By the time the last group members were finishing the just had just peeked its head out from the horizon and the scene was unforgettable. We then spent the next two hours learning about the temples and history of Masada and the bloody battles that took place there thousands of years ago.
The hike down was much easier and led us to a hard-earned breakfast. From there we took a short break at the hotel pool and then drove to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea was an amazing experience and it is unbelievable how salty and warm the water is. It is the lowest place on Earth and is definitely worth a stop should you visit Israel sometime.
After about an hour at the Dead Sea (any longer and your body begins to burn in places you don't want it to), we headed even farther south and had lunch at a mall in Dimona. Another 20 minutes south and we reached our final destination for the night: The Bedouin (BED-OH-WIN) camping ground. The Bedouins are a fascinating group of Arabs that live in the South. The are extremely welcoming and live very simple lives. We learned a lot about their culture and how they survive such extreme conditions.
THEN IT WAS TIME TO RIDE CAMELS! It is safe to say that everyone loved riding the camels and there were no major injuries or accidents (just a lot of camel poop). After the ride, the Bedouins prepared a delicious meal for us that left us stuffed through the night. That night's activity was an introduction to the Israeli Army Basic Training. Our soldiers led the training and showed us what it was like to go through basic training. I think it is safe to say, none of us will be joining the IDF anytime soon.
Sleeping in a 50 person tent was actually much more comfortable and enjoyable than most people originally thought. Minus the huge scorpion spider and scorpion in the bathroom, there were no major complaints. In the morning, we ate one final meal in the desert before setting out for our final hike of the trip.
We hiked through the desert for about an hour and then started to travel north. We went to a Biblical Gardens and learned how Israel is trying to restore gardens and forests like they had during the Biblical period. We saw ancient wine presses and even made our own spices. Before we knew it, we were on our way out to a very special stop in Oranit.
Oranit is a small town over the green line in the West Bank. However, the neighborhood is extremely nice and Daniel - one of our Israeli soldiers - invited us to his house, a first for a birthright trip. His house was amazing and the hospitality his family showed was even better. We thank Daniel and his family for showing and explaining what it is like to live in Israel, especially so close to Palestinian territories.
Finally, we ended the night in Tel Aviv. After dinner, the group went to banana beach where we all watched some soccer and had a good time. But of course, we all went to bed early to prepare for our long day in the city that never goes to bed.
Tel Aviv is the most liberal city and almost one of the most fascinating. We started our day learning about Yitzhak Rabin in Rabin square and talked to loal Israelis about their thoughts on his assasination nearly 15 years ago. We then walked through the city and over to Independence Hall where the leaders of the country made it possible for Israel to become a Jewish State. We had lunch on Nachalat Bin Yamin Street which also had great shopping and arts and crafts. We then borded the bus and headed back to Jerusalem to the old city and the Kotel.
The Kotel, or the Western Wall, is quite possible the most religious place in the world and the group definitely felt the emotion and power of being there. We definitely took the time to appreciate where we were and how it was made possible for us to be there. We also took in some sites of the old city and then headed to our final hotel.
Our last day on Birthright will consist of a neighborhood tour of Jerusalem (Yemin Moshe) going shopping in the city, visiting Har Hetzel (a famous cemetary) and our final group meeting. We leave at 1 a.m. Thursday morning to make our 5 a.m. flight back to the United States.
The trip has been absolutely amazing and better than anything we could have imagined. We want to thank Birthright and Shorashim for making this all possible and hope you have enjoyed following our progress across the great land of Israel.
