Masada and the Negev

By Bus 181

We probably got up before you went to asleep today. Arising at approximately 4am from the Bedouin tents, we prepared to hike Masada. Surprisingly, the hike up was around 10 minutes. After climbing numerous steps, we were able to have the once in a lifetime privilege of watching the sun rise on the top of Masada. After we took our pictures and soaked in the view, we learned about the history of Masada and all it had to offer to Israel. It was very hot, but extremely rewarding. Shortly after learning about the history, we hiked down deep, dark stairs to a cave. We all circled up as a group and sang Hallelujah. It was a special moment that we will never forget.
-Alana Weitz

After singing Hallelujah in the cave, we went to another spot on the top of the mountain in which 5 of us had our bar or bat mitzvahs! Each of these 5 individuals read their own Torah portions (in English) while admiring the view of the rising sun and the mountains that surrounded us. Each bar and bat mitzvah also shared their Hebrew name as well as why they wanted to have this experience. No celebration would be complete without the Horah - so, as a bus, we danced, sang, and celebrated this joyous occasion.
-Melanie Rosen

It was time to begin the journey down Masada. With hungry stomachs and sun shining in our faces, we were all eager to get down. The beginning of the journey down did not seem that difficult, but with the heat and all the stairs it soon became more of a challenge. After about a half hour, we finally made it to the bottom and I was thrilled to see that breakfast was being served. We all gathered back on the air conditioned bus awaiting the next step in our journey.
-Rachel Lazar

We took a brief bus ride over to the Dead Sea. The sun was shining bright and the air was warm. We unloaded the bus and made our way onto the beach. The sand was soft and hot to the touch. Some people were eager and quickly made their way into the Dead Sea. Others hesitated with caution, as they may have had cuts or scrapes that we were told might be irritated by the salt in the sea. The water was clear and the bottom of the sea was rocky. Many of us just leaned back into the water and began to float with ease. Some were even able to find some mud to rub into their skin, as the mud from the Dead Sea is known to soften skin. After some moments in the sea, many made their way onto the beach to sun bathe or lay in the shade. After a couple hours, we were able to check one more site off our to-see list and loaded the bus.
-Molly Sklare

On our way to the next stop - Ben Guion's grave - we stopped to get lunch at a mall where people chose from falafel, kosher McDonald's, pizza, and even a cafe. I ended up getting Israeli salad, which was really tasty and even included an entire loaf of bread! After enjoying our lunch, we headed to Ben Gurion's grave. There, we did an activity where we chose what information we thought was correct regarding the life of Ben Gurion. It was done like a trivia game and was very fun. Many of us were surprised to learn that Ben Gurion could speak eight different languages. In addition, we were surprised that his traditional meal was apple porridge (not by his own will, but because his wife was a nurse and wanted him to be healthy). We were all very surprised by this. Even when his wife passed away, Ben Gurion continued this tradition in her memory. We each put stones on the grave, then took off towards the kibbutz where we would be staying that evening. Everyone was excited to head to the pool and take a nap before dinner. Evening activities included finding out how time restricted it is to put on soldiers uniforms presented by the Israelis as well as other games. An anticipated end to a exciting and action packed day.
-Danielle Amdur