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.
