It’s hard to believe that our CRS Israel Family Trip began just a few short days ago—and yet look at all the wonderful things they’ve experienced! Here’s their update from Days 8 and 9:
Hi everyone!
Our day began early with a hike up Masada, the ancient fortress of King Herod and the site of a tragic end to a group of religious zealots at the end of the first century. While some of our group went up early to catch the sunrise, the rest of us hiked the Snake Path just as they did 2,000 years ago. We all met on top by 9am for some touring under the hot Negev sun.
After learning about the history of Masada, we took a much more comfortable cable car ride down the mountain and headed to the Dead Sea, for some rest and relaxation. The Dead Sea—the lowest point on Earth at 1,400 feet below sea level—is famous for its mineral rich waters which allow you to float on its surface. It was a cool 113 degrees in the shade, so many of us made our way to the pool before heading off to Tel Aviv.
After checking in at our hotel, we enjoyed a traditional Georgian meal at Racha in Neve Tzedek, the SoHo of Tel Aviv. The restaurant owner spoke to us about her family and experience moving to Israel—it was a reminder of the many diverse communities that call this country home. Day nine began with a hot air balloon view over Tel Aviv, where we could see from Jaffa to Herzilya and from the sparkling Mediterranean Sea to the bustling city center. From there, we headed to Independence Hall, the spot where David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister) declared the State of Israel in 1948.
We walked down Rothschild Boulevard, a main thoroughfare of the city, where we viewed much of the Bauhaus architecture from which Tel Aviv gets its name as The White City. After shawarma and falafel for lunch—a typical Tel Aviv experience—we did our best to enhance the Israeli economy with some shopping time in the Carmel Market and Nachalat Binyamin, a local artisan street fair. Some of our group continued on to Jaffa for a walking tour of the historic city, while others stopped by the beach for a dip in the Mediterranean Sea.
Tonight we head to Meshek Barzilay, a renowned vegetarian restaurant, as we continue to eat our way through Israel. It’s with mixed emotions that we look forward to tomorrow, our last day together as a group.
Rabbi Weitzman, Lyndsie, and the CRS Congregational Trip
A sunrise hike up Masada? A hot-air balloon ride over Tel Aviv? A dip in the Mediterranean Sea? Amazing! Here are some of our favorite photos—it was tough to pick, though!
