As you all know, I am writing this blog having not accompanied the group today. I'm relying heavily on info provided by my amazing fellow chaperones. Having said that, I've got a few observations about what today represents having "been there" a time or two. I'll share those as well...
We opened our windows this morning to discover a haze hanging over Jerusalem. That haze is commonplace in the summer months because it's actually sand and debris blown over from the Negev. It's a reminder that, though we are surrounded by trees and forests here, Jerusalem's backyard is in fact the Judean Desert.
Like other extreme ecosystems, the desert has a certain allure. The pale colors, the vast vistas, the hills and valleys, the sand. And in the Judean desert, the camels.
Noble beasts, camels inevitably bring out a certain playfulness in our kids when we take our annual ride. Their guttural cries, lack of shame pertaining to bodily "needs", and their general aura captivate and charm. Mr. Weismark reports the following:
"On the camels we all tried to think of a name for our camels, with some of the best ones being “Alexander Camelton”, “Camila”, “Camil Habeeb Kabab”, “Rooooose” (said quietly and softly), and “Jennifer”! Nothing like inside jokes to build the bonds between us and bring us closer."
Some of the above names are perennial classics, but hey, a great name is a great name. No irreparable bodily harm was caused to any of our camel riders, and a good time was had by all!
Moving on to Masada.
Due to some pre-departure itinerary modifications the group actually did end up having the opportunity to climb Masada. Because we were approaching Masada from "the back" the group ascended via the Roman Ramp. The Roman Ramp is much more direct than the Snake Path. It's the very path that the Romans designed to conquer the mountain and crush the Jewish rebellion there a couple thousand years ago.
In addition to the "permanent" wonders of Masada, Mr. Weismark shared the following:
:On Masada our highlight was visiting the scribe writing the Torah. Each person called out their Hebrew name and he wrote a letter in each persons honor. Watching the letters written right in front of us was truly mesmerizing and enlightening."
What could be more memorable than encountering a scribe immersed in the holy work of writing a Torah scroll in such a setting?
Regarding the Dead Sea, it has been reported to me that it did not disappoint. As it always does, the Dead Sea lets you know every single scratch, cut, and abrasion on your body. The "healing" sting of the viscous water leaves a lasting impression as does the mineral rich mud. One of the most desolate and extraordinary places on earth, we were glad to be able to take them there especially since the Dead Sea is under threat, somewhat ironically, of... dying.
Often when describing this day on our itinerary I refer to it as the "postcard" day. How many postcards of camels, Masada, and the Dead Sea are purchased in Israel on a daily basis? I'm guessing more than a few. When many of us think of Israel, we think of the places our group visited today. And it was, for the most part, a "postcard" day. But today was also a good reminder, sometimes postcard days aren't quite as perfect as we might have hoped. Sometimes our expectations are so high that they're hard to meet. My impression is that today actually delivered on its promises at each and every stop. But at the same time, we know that our group was not complete today. A few of us were missing. Somehow we live with both truths. Today was picture perfect, and today was picture imperfect. All of that is a reminder... What matters more than what we do is who we are. What matters more than the itinerary is the traveller. What matters more than the mountain is the path we take to reach the top and where we cast our gaze when arrive there.
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