June 29, 2007

Tammuz 13, 5767

 

Israel, Day 9

Judean Desert

 
Day 9 began far too early at the hour of 4 am. We woke up in our Bedouin tents and stumbled towards the bus. We made the short desert drive to Masada, and once there we began the walk up the Roman ramp towards the mountain’s summit. We arrived just in time to watch the sun rise over the desert and enjoyed a tour of Herod’s ancient palace with our Israeli counterparts. After we had our fill of ruins, we made the lengthy descent down the ‘snakepath’ to the bus. Masada was both a physical and emotional experience.
 
After a quick lunch we headed to the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Composed of thirty percent salt, the Dead Sea is truly a natural phenomenon. The Fellows and Israelis enjoyed a relaxing float in the sea. We then coated ourselves in nutrient-enriched mud, known for its healing properties. We also enjoyed a nearby pool and the Israeli sun.
 
Finally, exhausted from our active day, the Fellows were dropped off at the homes of their Israeli hosts for a Shabbat experience. Although each home-stay was unique, all the Fellows received more food than imaginable. Some Fellows went to orthodox services consisting solely of Hebrew. Others stayed with less religious families that did not attend synagogue. Some Fellows stayed in homes that kept Shabbat, and lived without lights and electricity for 24 hours.
 
The Israeli teens were outgoing and friendly. The Fellows immediately felt welcomed into the caring Netivot community. The Israeli hospitality was overwhelming, despite the language barrier they made every effort to make us feel at home. And after only one day, communication was not a problem as we bonded with both our host families and the Israeli teens.
 
Love,
Mrs. Anna and Mr. Ben Stein