So many pictures to share with you all I need to break this in to two posts.
Today was another incredible day of touring Israel. We boarded our bus earlier than ever before on the trip and made the journey outside Jerusalem towards Jordan and the Dead Sea basin, the lowest point on earth, almost 450 meters below sea level. We drove right past the security fence that was constructed to prevent homicide bombers from entering Israel from Palestinian Territories threatening the lives of Israelis. We crossed over the Green Line into Palestinian territory and were truly driving through the desert. One thing was made clear during this drive, Jerusalem is an oasis, a beautiful, green city full of life. The desert was just like you would expect, barren and harsh. We passed through many Bedouin villages and couldn't believe how people could live in these conditions. It made all of us feel grateful for the homes we have back in California. We drove alongside the Dead Sea, right passed the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls we had seen yesterday were originally found. Finally, after about an hour and 15 minutes we arrived at Masada.
We waited patiently for our cable car that would take all of us up to the top of Masada.
At the top of the mountain we were greeted with amazing views of the valley below. It was a bit hazy, so seeing Jordan across the Dead Sea was difficult at first.
Uri told us about the story of Masada, originally built by King Herod but made famous because it was the sight of the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Romans. First, Uri shared with us why King Herod but his palace/fortress atop this mountain and how they sustained themselves while living up here in the desert.
Here, Uri is sharing how water was collected on the mountain, using the dry river beds and a system of large collection cisterns built into the mountain. He used his volunteers to show the water collection process. It is incredible to think that this mountain only received 2 inches of rainfall annually, and that King Herod's builders were able to figure out how to get water up the mountain.
Uri then took us on a tour of Herod's elaborate and enormous palace atop the mountain. Herod loved luxury and this estate did not disappoint.
We learned how Herod was able to store food in storage sheds like these.
And we toured other ruins from Herod's palace.
We saw the Roman Bath House and were amazed at some of the mosaics preserved at the sight.
The ruins were really incredible.
A long time after Herod was no longer ruling and about 2000 years ago, Masada became famous for another event. As the Romans were conquering Jerusalem, the Jewish Zealots who were fighting with them retreated to Masada with 900 plus men, women and children. Because of Herod's advanced building techniques they were able to maintain a nice life atop the mountain for some time. The Romans simply waited below in camps like these for the Zealots to be forced to give up. They waited for years...
We saw direct evidence that the Zealots lived in Masada. One of these was the addition of these two Mikva'ot. It really showed how much their Judaism meant to them.
We saw the temple they created where many important decisions were made. The most important was after the Romans decided not to wait below at the foot of the mountain any longer, because they grew impatient and the Zealots had so much water and food stored that it seemed like they would never come down the mountain for supplies. So, the Romans began to build a huge ramp because if the Zealots were not going to come down, they were going to come up. Here are the remnants of the ramp built by the Romans.
As it became clear that the Romans were coming, the Zealots had to make a difficult decision. They knew there was no way they could win against the Roman army that outnumbered them 15 to one. They could either fight to the death, give up, try to run down the mountain or decide to leave our world on their own terms and die free instead of getting caught and being tortured and enslaved. Here is the temple where the decision was believed to be made.
According to Josephus Flavius, a Jewish Zealot turned Roman documentarian, the decision was made that all 900 plus on top the mountain would, in essence take their own lives and choose to die free rather than risk getting caught. It is important to note that while there is evidence that the Zealots were indeed on top of the mountain, there is no evidence with the exception for the documentation from Josephus Flavius. We simply do not know what truly happened. But today Masada stands for the strength that is Israel. Israelis often say that Masada will never again fall as it did 2000 years ago. This drive, sometimes against all odds is one of the things that define Israel and Israelis who have fought for freedom again and again. Even if we do not agree with what the Zealots may have done, or the tactics they used, Masada has become an important symbol for Israel, so important that every tourist, every Israeli school child ascends to the top of the mountain to experience all that Masada has to offer.
It was an interesting couple of hours that really gave us pause to think about how we might face certain challenges in our own lives. It also gave us a feeling of gratitude that we are not in a similar position to the Zealots who had to make a difficult and unthinkable decision.
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