Today, we woke up at 3:00 AM to experience the wonder of the celebrated Israeli landmark of Masada. I had always thought of Masada as little more than another hike with access to breathtaking views— an obligatory item on the American tourist’s itinerary, a foreigner’s introduction to the aesthetic marvels of the Israeli land. But I found today, while climbing Masada, that the site is much more than a hotspot for tourism; rather, it offers an opportunity to experience Jewish history in a physical, almost visceral way. At around 4:30 AM, with its undulating curves of rock illuminated against a still dark sky, the mountain looked surreal, and I was struck by a feeling of timelessness. And as we began to climb, my notion of Masada as a tourist attraction began to dissipate. With little more in sight other than rocky terrain, sky, and the sea, it was easy for me to imagine myself as another person in another century. It suddenly struck me that this was the same path that King Herod traversed as well as the same path that other Jews would follow in years to come. I realized then that Israeli tourism does not adhere to the stigma of conventional tourism. On this trip alone, I have heard time and time again that as American Jews, this land is ours as well, that we are not here on vacation but rather that we are “coming home.” It has taken me a while to get a grip on that concept. With an oversized camera and little understanding of the Hebrew language, I’ve certainly felt like a vacationer in this place. This morning though, with nothing to do but walk and think, the concept began to make sense to me. Climbing Masada felt less like a stop on an adventure-packed agenda, and more like an opportunity for us to hike across the scars of history, to involve ourselves in a tradition of Jews that have attempted to relive their own history through physically engaging with the land. And, as our group reached the top and witnessed the sun’s dramatic debut over the horizon line, I sensed that we all felt more connected to the land—physically, conceptually, maybe even spiritually. Amanda
