Dead Sea, Masada

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Note from Jim: We haven't put up our blog from Wednesday but here are Thursday's activities from Leigh. We now know how to get comments to be seen so you can resume sending in comments! Not sure when we'll get up-to-date. But hopefully it'l be soon. Now on to Leigh and Thursday's trip to the Dead Sea Region.

Didn't wake up early enough...rushed breakfast...Jim toppled his plate onto his lap and had to change pants--it bugged him for HOURS.

Masada

Then we took a long bus ride to Masada, a flat-topped mount next to the Dead Sea which was originally developed as a winter palace for King Herod (a Jew whom the Romans appointed King of Judea in 37 BC/BCE), but which became a Jewish stronghold against the Romans from 70-73 AD/CE. It is a phenomenal place with a controvertial story. Being in the desert, the construction was almost entirely stone, and though it was damagaed heavily over the centuries by earthquakes, it has been partially reconstructed, so a visitor has a pretty good idea how it looked back then. Herod built several small "palaces" on site--round structures with a great view of the water. He also built a big Roman style bathhouse--with a place to wash, a steam room and a dry sauna, all with tiled floors and colored plaster walls. It is ridiculous to have such extravagance there atop a mountain in the desert...but I guess Herod was not known for his restraint. He was also responsible for building the Great Temple in Jerusalem, a structure akin in scope to the Pyramids!
Anyway, in 66 AD/CE, decades after Herod's death, there was a Jewish revolt against the Romans, which resulted in Jerusalem being totally destroyed, and the Jews fled, some of the most zealous to Masada. These nine-hundred-plus folks were soon discovered by the Romans, who laid seige to the mountain. However, it was very difficult to get up the mountain, so the Jews were able to defend it for three years, living on stored food and oil, huge cisterns of stored water, and some agriculture, including doves as poultry! It took the Romans three years to build an ENORMOUS ramp so they could get their ramrods and soldiers up to the top of the mountain. When they finally succeeded in breaking through the walls, everyone there had committed suicide rather than submit to death or slavery by the Romans (except for two women, who chose not to suicide, but lived to tell the tale). It is an unusual story in Judaism, and very controvertial: what if all the Jews had done such a thing? We would not be here today! Furthermore, suicide is not sanctioned in Jewish law or tradition. I choose to take this as a lesson against zealotry.

Bedouin Tent

But enough history! Next we stopped at a Bedouin "encampment" which was a somewhat commercialized place where one could take a camel or donkey ride, buy Bedouin-related chotchkes, and learn a little Bedouin culture. We sat in a large tent, took sweet mint tea and cardamom coffee, and heard about some traditionl Bedouin customs, such as the requirement to provide hospitality to strangers, including food, water, shelter and coffee. They have an elaborate coffee code, where the host offers a little cup with just a bit of coffee, and the traveller accepts. Then, the traveller is offered a second, and is welcomed to talk about himself. Finally, the third cup is offered, and if the traveller accepts, it is a kind of allegiance to the host. There are all kinds of nuances, such as the fullness of the cup indicating degrees of friendliness; but we only got a brief overview.

Dead Sea

From the Bedouins, we went on to Dead Sea via a town called Arak...no, that is the liqueur! I mean Arad. It was a drive-thru thing and I am not sure why we went that way. Perhaps there is more significance to Arad than I know.
The Dead Sea was COOOOOOOLD! And it stung a bit, but we floated en famille which was quite nice. I s'pose we were supposed to feel Fantastic afterward, but Honestly, I mostly felt grimy.

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Photos

Arad
Sign says "Bruchim Habayim" on the right (Welcome, or "bless those who come") and "Arad" on the left.

Dan and Jim in The Dead Sea
It was cool outside and the water in the dead sea was cold and salty. Shortly after this picture, Dan made the thumbs down side as cold set in and the salt hit a rash and burned! Dan spent a long time showering off the salt in the warm showers next to the Dead Sea.

Sam and Leigh join Jim, Howell and Rabbi Mario
Because it was *so* cold, not everyone entered the water. The others gathered to gawk at those of us brave (er, stupid) enough to go in. Maybe my athlete's foot will heal. Let's hope.

Comments

[alex marquardt]

sound "cool"
I saw Clue and Sashka running away from Anais and Leanna today, they finally caught them, to my disappointment. I was cheering the dogs on.

[Singer]

The TRUE promised land is Detoit
In case you missed the news: Steelers = Playoffs. Sunday Jan. 8 vs. Cincinatti. I don't care what you spilled on your pants, you'd BETTER be wearing your black and gold!! Love Singer