Massada

After staying at a hostel in Ein Gedi, we woke up at the nice early hour of 4:45 to begin our ascent to the top of Massada. As we hiked up the side of the mountain, with everybody pretty tired and sweating, we watched as the sun began to peek out from behind the clouds. After the hike, which was about 30 to 40 minutes, we reached the top. It looked familiar because I had been there before, but I never remember the hike being as hard as it was. Guess I need to get in better shape. Either that or the slope got steeper while I was gone.

Once atop Massada, we spent SIX hours learning about the 967 Zealots who spent their days living in the small houses and buildings that we saw. On each building, there were lines drawn where the real structures had been discovered and where parts of the foundation had been restored. We saw a palace with some amazing mosaics on the floor and saw the ben knesset that even faced Jerusalem, as well as the mikvek that was of kosher specifications. Even though the Jews on Massada were surrounded by 25,000 Roman soldiers, they still managed to maintain a somewhat normal and Jewish lifestyle.

We had a debate about whether or not the Jews on Massada should have committed mass suicide. I argued that it was the right thing to do, mostly because the captured Jews might have to be slaves for the Romans and aid them in the conquest of other Jews. It was kind of intense, but I thought the discussion was interesting and I understand both sides of the discussion. Finally, we went down Massada. Most people decided to take the cable car down, but I decided to run. It took ten minutes tops, but really did a number on my legs again.

Second Time In Jerusalem

Woke up real early, on our way to Jerusalem once again. Nice. First place we went was this museum that had a scaled down model of Herod's Jerusalem and it was really detailed and pretty amazing. Herod was this really violent and paranoid ruler who killed his own family and strategically set up his whole kingdom so that his own people couldn't revolt against him. We saw relics from the temple and it was all pretty elaborate and amazing that such things were preserved so well.

We next went to the Southern wall in Jerusalem and we saw how the wall was built with rocks from different eras. We reenacted the siege of Jerusalem and my teacher carried me on his back like I was a dead soldier and ran with me and produced a really funny picture that's now on facebook.

We then went into the desert and meditated. I actually did a decent job and I kind of zoned out for the full ten minutes. It was such a beautiful location and the first time I've ever just tried to fully relax since we got here.

The next day we woke up at 3. Not fun. We loaded onto the bus and made the 45 hike up Masada. Once at the top, sweating and exhausted, we stayed up there... for six hours. Kind of a long time. We saw mosaics and ancient architecture, and tried our best to get into the mindframes of the hundreds of people on Masada who had to take their lives. I personally understood the sacrifice and agreed with the decision for mass suicide because the people wanted to resist slavery and maintain honor.

After our six hour study session, and a lot of sitting on the ground in the hot sun, I just felt like running. So I ran all the way down in ten minutes flat. My quads still haven't forgiven me.