The day began with a rude awakening in the dark. Prior to the sunrise we reluctantly shuffled around the large Bedouin tent
which we had spent the last few hours attempting to rest our eyes. With sweet Bedouin tea and crackers now in our stomachs we
loaded one of many Birthright busses headed for Masada. As we frantically climbed the large ramp built by Jewish slaves we could see
the sun begin to light the beautiful landscape. This was a particularly important day for the Chicago group as we simoultaneously raced to
catch the sunrise and checked the score of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup game 6. Atop Masada the sun peered over the mountains in the
distance and painted the skies with a spectral display of many beautiful colors ranging from red to violet. As if this moment was not
gorgeous enough we recieved news of a comeback victory for the Hawks solidifying their place as Stanley Cup Champions! Our group
immediately erupted with overwhelming joy and chanted our cries of victory for all to hear atop this historical site. We then proceeded to
conduct a naming ceremony and Bar/Bat Mitzvah service overlooking the beautiful shimmering Dead Sea. With our new found
congregation on the mountain side we celebrated this great moment by throwing candy and sharing the joy of our now significantly
changed members.
After snaking our way down the giant mountian side we made our way to a beautiful natural waterfall/ swimming pool, Ein
Gedi. After sufficiently cooling ourselves we hopped back on the bus bound for the Dead Sea. After our arrival we made our way down
to the lowest dry point on Earth at about 417 meters below sea level. Floating in the Dead Sea was amazing!!
Submitted by Torin Hopkins
