Michigan State Hillel: Masada and the Dead Sea

4:30am. Most of us were already awake in the Bedouin tent on this early morning. After a groggy start we drank some warm tea and ate some cookies provided by the Bedouin’s. We drove the bumpy road to Masada in the pitch black darkness and arrived before the sun came up. The sky got lighter as we climbed the Roman Ramp, and the landscape around us slowly became illuminated. The hazy desert slowly filled with color as we ascended Masada. Once on top, we heard some of Masada’s history as the sun rose. We toured the baths and saw the synagogue, full of people praying in Hebrew, a beautiful sound. After walking around, and hearing more stories we witnessed the naming ceremony for our bus. Several of our group received Hebrew names they had chosen. I was struck by silence atop Masada and often turned my ears away from the group to experience the calm grace of the mountain. After a short regrouping at the water fountain we started down the backside on the Snake Trail. The windy rocky trail gave amazing views of the Dead Sea and the valley below the mountain. Some of us were scared; others enjoyed the concentrated walk down Masada. Each step required an extraordinary amount of intent and I couldn’t help think about the euphoric state that one would experience upon the top of the mountain after they climbed this side.

After a short bus ride to the Dead Sea, we got to indulge and relax in the sun and salty water at the beach. Floating in the water was surreal, and many of us slathered on the special black mud of the Dead Sea to purify and treat our skin. We were told that many come from all over to treat their skin there and that several insurance companies in Israel provide time for people to treat themselves to the restorative healing qualities of the Dead Sea. We relaxed waterside and did as we pleased: eating, tanning, and enjoying our time outside of the bus. Shortly thereafter we drove to Arad were we relaxed and prepared for Shabbat.

~Jason Maze