Winter Israel Seminar Cohort 7: North American Kennes and Masada and the Dead Sea

Massada and the Dead Sea

By Adam Kaufler

It was 5:30 in the morning, the sun was yet to shine, and we were on our way for a jampacked day of meaning and fun. We made our way from the blooming desert at Sde Boker to the historical site of Masada. There, we soon learned that this was no typical trip to Masada. Our guide immediately began challenging us all with tough questions regarding the importance of Masada in particular as opposed to the six other Jewish hideouts that ended with tragic stories. Why Masada? As we hiked up and went along our journey we all pondered what made Masada a site for over a million visitors each year. 

As we got to the top, the answer began to come clear. After years of escaping religious persecution throughout the land, Masada was the very last place keeping Jews isolated and secure from the enemy Roman forces. It was the last thing they had to hold on to. And then, after being besieged by the Romans, the Jews at Masada realized they were about to be brutally murdered or tortured and used as slaves. It was then that they made the impossible decision to commit a mass suicide, dying with dignity on their own terms. The message now becomes clear. Masada is no longer the site of a historical tragedy. It has become a true symbol for the State of Israel in and of itself. With nowhere else to turn, Jews all over found solace with the establishment of a Jewish state, and standing there atop the fortress and  hearing echoes of Hatikvah being sung at a bar mitzvah taking place was living testament to the strength and perseverence of the Jewish people. Understanding the significance of being there brought goosebumps to us all. 

After the pride infusing hike at Masada, we headed down to the Dead Sea for some relaxation and enjoyment. We lathered ourselves in the slimy mud, washed it off in the horribly smelling sulfur water, and went to float about in the salty sea. If only I remembered to wear my flip flops in the water so that I don't step on the painfully pointy salt buildup on the sea floor. After the action packed day filled with meaning and fun, no one was complaining about the early wake up time. Instead, we were giggling and discussing highlights of the day amongst each other on the lengthy bus ride back to Tel-Aviv.