Articles by Ed

It seems long ago
That our adventure began
But it ends too soon

Wednesday morning was the last day we would wake up in Israel. After breakfast we went to Tzvat (or Safed, or Zefat). After a visit to a Sefardic synagogue, where we heard some of the history of Kabbalah, it was time for some final shopping at the wonderful shops in the artists’ colony.

Then, as if to help us adjust for our impending return to America, we stopped for lunch at a shopping mall  …

Our final stop before a farewell dinner in Tel Aviv was the ancient Roman city of Caesaria.

Wednesday became Thursday … our flight left after 1AM Thursday Israel time, we arrived in Newark at 6AM EST and stepped off the plane at O’Hare just before noon Chicago time.

There is just one word
To describe this twelve day trip
Unforgettable

Remember to check the Temple Chai Israel Journey blog for more about this wonderful adventure.

First thing this morning
We’re floating in the Dead Sea
Lowest place on earth

Then a long bus ride
Golan Heights IDF Base
Kibbutz Maagan

On Tuesday we woke early so that we could float in the Dead Sea. After breakfast and waiting for the buses to be loaded with our luggage, we began the long bus ride north into the Golan Heights.

We visited an IDF base, where we gave gifts of Chicago sports gear to the men and women who bravely protect Israel. Then it was on to a former Lebanese outpost, where we saw how vulnerable Israeli villages were when Golan was part of Lebanon before the Six Day War in 1967.

Finally, we settled into Kibbutz Maagan for the last night of Chanukah, and our last night sleeping in Israel. As the day ends on Wednesday we’ll be boarding our ElAl flight for the long trip back to Chicago.

Be sure to check the latest entries from other trip participants at the Temple Chai Israel Journey blog.

Five B’nei Mitzvah
On Monday in the Negev
Where Moses once walked

On Monday morning we celebrated the B’nei Mitzvah of five Temple Chai students. They read from our congregation’s “baby” Torah, which Rabbi Hart had brought to Israel As you can see from the photo above, the service took place at an awe inspiring site.

After a safari jeep trip deep into Machtesh Katan (the small crater) and a short archeological lesson about the prehistoric rock formations, we returned to a place near where the B’nei Mitzvah service was held.

A desert party
Like none we had seen before
It was quite a day

Sunday was our day to post on the Temple Chai Israel Journey blog, so this entry is a bit longer than what I’ve previously posted during this trip.

Jerusalem? – Rain
When we get to Masada
The weather’s perfect

On Sunday, our guides were a little concerned about the rain in Jerusalem while we were visiting the Knesset and Supreme Court. Sometimes the downpours cause flash floods along the highway to Masada. But a call to the police confirmed there would be no problems, and when we got to the ancient fortress, it was sunny with temperatures in the 50′s or 60′s.

Cold cuts on pita
To provide some nourishment
For the climb ahead

Once again, Etty’s husband Dou Dou brought lunch – this time cold cuts, pita bread, soft drinks and dessert. Then, about half our group took the challenge of climbing the snake path up Masada, while the rest of us took the cable car. We met at the top, and our guides told us about what happened centuries ago, right where we were standing.

Herod built the place
Until some Jewish rebels
Took it for themselves

Masada (in Hebrew “Metzada” – מצודה) was originally built by King Herod in the late first century BCE as a refuge in case of a revolt. But in the mid-first century CE, the Sicarii rebels took the fortress from the Romans, and after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70CE, many other Jews fled to Masada.

Google “Masada”
If you want more history
But here’s what we did

Many climb early
So they can see the sunrise
We saw the sunset

You’ve probably heard from people who get up in the middle of the night, climb Masada, and watch the sun rise over the Dead Sea. We arrived in the early afternoon and ended out time atop the mountain being treated to a beautiful sunset.

Gathered on a ledge
We screamed the battle cry
And heard the echo

A highlight of our visit to Masada came just before we began out climb down. Our guides had us gather on a long ramp near the southeast corner of the fortress. Facing the Roman camp to the south, we yelled the motto, “Shenit Metzada Lo Tipol” (Never Again Shall Masada Fall). Our voices bounced off the mountains in front of us and echoed back from behind us. An awesome display of Divine “magic” – G-d created the mountains that provided the echo, after all, and a reminder of the courage of those who defended Masada almost 2000 years ago.

Wasn’t suicide
The Jews there killed each other
To avoid capture

We’ve all heard about the mass “suicide” at Masada – but suicide is against Jewish law. We learned that the Jewish rebels at Masada, when they realized their choices were to die or become Roman slaves, began to systematically engage in “merciful” killing of others. Only the last remaining rebel actually killed himself.

Can you imagine
Chanukah at Masada?
We didn’t have to.

The final event of our day was lighting the Chanukah candles at the foot of Masada. Almost two thousand years after Jews died instead of submitting to Roman prohibitions – like one against kindling the lights of Chanukah – a group of more than 80 Jews from Long Grove IL celebrated the sixth night of Chanukah together. In a place where courageous Jews made the ultimate sacrifice instead of giving up their ability to practice their faith.