By Jim Kats & Marissa Wertheimer
Today was our fourth and last day in the northern part of Israel. We left the hotel 7:30AM and headed towards Golan Heights. Before beginning our first activity, we picked up 8 Israeli soldiers. These soldiers will take part in every activity we do for the next five days. This will help us to connect and understand the Israeli people and culture on a much deeper level.
After picking up the soldiers, we headed to our first activity of the day- a two-hour hike in the Golan Heights. Today was a perfect day for hiking as the weather was ideal for a morning hike. We had the chance to see the Banias waterfall and luscious greens that cover the northern part of Israel. We also learned that this area is an integral part of Israel as it supplies water to most of the country and has been the center of the conflict in the wars with Lebanon.
For lunch, we ate delicious mini pizzas, made on pita with different toppings such as green olives, corn, mushrooms, and eggplant. We also had fresh tomatoes and cucumbers that were grown on the ranch we were at. They were probably the best cucumbers I have ever eaten. This meal was served with hummus (of course) and also with a variety of powdered spices in small bowls such as salt, paprika, crushed red pepper, and oregano. YUM!
After lunch, we listened to instructions on how to drive the Jeeps, and then hopped in! There was 3 or 5 person Jeeps to choose from. Jeeping was really exciting, even though they didnt go super fast, it was still pretty scary, but fun, driving over the rocky terrain. We stopped several times to switch drivers so every one in the Jeep would have a chance to drive, and also so we could take lots of pictures of us in the Golan Heights. Once we were done jeeping, some of us picked fresh oranges and lemons off the trees. They smelled and tasted delicious!
We then headed North to a Israel/Lebanon border kibbutz called Misgav Am. Aryeh, a Cleveland Ohio native that made Aliyah in 1962 spoke to us about the Israel/Lebanon conflict and the issues that exist in the region. He wanted to understand that that from his prospective we are Jewish first (no matter where we live) and happen (by chance) to be American, and that the never again will anyone attempt to destroy the Jewish people and not meet very strong retaliation. In his words if you come after our women and children you we will be coming after you
We then headed back to the busses and headed south to Tel Aviv.
Today was our fourth and last day in the northern part of Israel. We left the hotel 7:30AM and headed towards Golan Heights. Before beginning our first activity, we picked up 8 Israeli soldiers. These soldiers will take part in every activity we do for the next five days. This will help us to connect and understand the Israeli people and culture on a much deeper level.
After picking up the soldiers, we headed to our first activity of the day- a two-hour hike in the Golan Heights. Today was a perfect day for hiking as the weather was ideal for a morning hike. We had the chance to see the Banias waterfall and luscious greens that cover the northern part of Israel. We also learned that this area is an integral part of Israel as it supplies water to most of the country and has been the center of the conflict in the wars with Lebanon.
For lunch, we ate delicious mini pizzas, made on pita with different toppings such as green olives, corn, mushrooms, and eggplant. We also had fresh tomatoes and cucumbers that were grown on the ranch we were at. They were probably the best cucumbers I have ever eaten. This meal was served with hummus (of course) and also with a variety of powdered spices in small bowls such as salt, paprika, crushed red pepper, and oregano. YUM!
After lunch, we listened to instructions on how to drive the Jeeps, and then hopped in! There was 3 or 5 person Jeeps to choose from. Jeeping was really exciting, even though they didnt go super fast, it was still pretty scary, but fun, driving over the rocky terrain. We stopped several times to switch drivers so every one in the Jeep would have a chance to drive, and also so we could take lots of pictures of us in the Golan Heights. Once we were done jeeping, some of us picked fresh oranges and lemons off the trees. They smelled and tasted delicious!
We then headed North to a Israel/Lebanon border kibbutz called Misgav Am. Aryeh, a Cleveland Ohio native that made Aliyah in 1962 spoke to us about the Israel/Lebanon conflict and the issues that exist in the region. He wanted to understand that that from his prospective we are Jewish first (no matter where we live) and happen (by chance) to be American, and that the never again will anyone attempt to destroy the Jewish people and not meet very strong retaliation. In his words if you come after our women and children you we will be coming after you
We then headed back to the busses and headed south to Tel Aviv.