For some, today was one of the most dreaded days of the trip. For others (including myself), today was one of the most anticipated and exciting. We started our very LONG day with a 4 am wake up call to prepare for the ascent to the top of Masada. Despite their being a cable car to the top, we decided to take the difficult but rewarding way up: climbing a ridiculous amount of stone stairs. While the ascent to the top was definitely a challenge, we were all rewarded by reaching the top, just in time to watch one of the most amazing sunrises I’ve seen in my life. Particularly exciting for myself was getting to lead the group in a series of sun salutations at sunrise to stretch out after the hike. I’m so happy I had the chance to share my love of yoga with the group at the top of a mountain
After the hike, in a gorgeous spot on top of the mountain, six of us had the once in a lifetime opportunity to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. We each selected a torah portion that we personally connected to and shared our selection with the group as well as what it meant to us. Although I know we were all nervous about learning Hebrew in about 24 hours, we had amazing group members, leaders, and Israelis that were more than happy to help us prepare. I shared with the group the story of my own reason for coming to Israel; how I picked my Hebrew name in honor of my grandmother and used this trip as the opportunity to find a deeper connection to my Jewish heritage. I was genuinely overwhelmed by the love and respect I felt in return from the group. After sharing celebratory sweets and receiving lots of Mazels, we explored the remains of the fortress at Masada and learned the story of the people who created a home on top of a mountain in the desert.
Despite being exhausted and sweaty, we continued our journey with a visit to the Dead Sea. After slathering ourselves in Dead Sea mud (saving a lot of money by avoiding a spa trip) we spent a few minutes strangely floating in the incredibly salty water. And yes, it does burn as much as they say it will.
After we all feel asleep on the bus (and I‘m sure Tahli got a few more incredibly flattering photos of us all drooling and sleeping in awkward positions), we spent some time in the markets of Jerusalem, experiencing unique foods and shopping. After seeing the empty market on the Sabbath, it was great to see how vibrant and busy the market can be.
Finally, we ended the day with an amazing group activity. Megad, one of the fantastic Israelis traveling with us, introduced us to a game where each person randomly selects another on the trip and gives three compliments to that person, based on their experiences over the past nine days. The love and respect shown to each and every person, and the thought everyone put into describing specific and genuine examples, was amazingly heartwarming. It made me realize just how much each and every person on this trip truly has shaped my experiences in unique and positive ways, and for that I thank you all! Shorashim has given us the once in a lifetime opportunity to spend 10 days with not just our American peers but also our Israeli peers, and this game really highlighted how much we all appreciated this facet of the program. It made for a great end to a truly special day.
