We pried off our sheets and dragged ourselves from our beds at 4:30 am - a wake up that was by far the earliest on IST. We headed downstairs, anticipating a smorgasbord of snacks which would energise and motivate us to conquer Masada before sunrise. As we reached the hotel’s lobby, our lethargic eyes were met by a handful of wafer packages. Despite the minimal disappointment, a crowd begun to form around the food and half an hour later we were on route to Masada.
As we advanced swiftly up the mountain, everyone removed their North Face puffer jackets and Kathmandu fleeces which they had layered at Masada’s base. After reaching the mountain’s summit, a sense of accomplishment consumed us.
By the time we had scaled Masada, the orange hues that stained the sky had receded into blue. At Masada’s crest, we prayed Shacharit while overlooking the valley below. The environment, steeped in history and spirituality, enabled me to immerse myself in prayer and my Judaism.
At 7:00 am, our tour of Masada commenced. The idea which the guide shared that remained with me was that power can corrupt the most moral people, such as the Maccabees - a family that had originally inhabited Masada - whose wealth depraved them, causing them to meet their ultimate demise. King Herod, a close associate of the esteemed family usurped power and enhanced the Maccabees’ palace through extending their palace. In a shallow attempt to emulate the Roman Empire - a dominant civilisation characterised by its patriarchal nature and promotion of materialism - King Herod commissioned Jewish artists to produce mosaics, similar to those of the Romans. While both Roman and Jewish artworks revolves around their God(s), the way in which the artists depicted their subject matter reflected each civilisation’s respective ethos. The Romans sanctified the physical body whereas the Jews viewed the body as a vessel which harboured their souls - divine pieces of God. Therefore, the Roman’s values manifested in the form of faces, which featured in their mosaics, whereas, the Jewish concept of an infinite God was conveyed through seemingly perpetual geometric patterns.
When the tour concluded, we descended the mountain via the Snake Path. Once we reached the bottom, we ate a long-awaited breakfast. Afterwards, we drove south towards the Dead Sea. As we neared the lowest point on earth, the mountainous terrain flattened and a coastal landscape emerged. The beach was isolated, salt crystals blanketed the shore and the water was a light aqua. Upon entering the water, our skin was coated in an oily film and the water’s buoyancy allowed us to float. The sensation of bobbing above the water was surreal.
Later, we travelled to Ein Gedi Reserve. The name, Ein Gedi, meaning, “the spring of the kid (goat)” suggests that ibex have always resided by the freshwater springs of Ein Gedi. Upon arrival, we ate lunch which consisted of schnitzel and shawarma before embarking on a hike through the rainforest, in which King David took sanctuary in 1000 BC while hiding from King Saul.
Overall, today was incredible and was a testament to the diversity of the activities offered by the program. IST has been unparalleled, providing us the opportunity to forge new friendships, enhance pre-existing ones and unravel Israel’s rich tapestry.
Sara Max