We head out at 8:30 am to hike the Banyas trail - one of the 3 water sources that feed the Kinneret lake, the only source of fresh water in Israel. Along the beautiful trail we learn that one of the ways to ensure that an individual receives a place in Olam Habah (the world to come), is to walk in the land of Israel. We hike with renewed energy and purpose. The nature around us - foliage, flowers, water falls - is breathtaking!
FUN FACT:
Israel is the only country in the world where there are more trees today than at the establishment of the state. Israel plants 6 million trees a year.
99% of the trees are not natural to Israel. The only ones natural to Israel are the ones mentioned in the bible, especially the 7 species - olive, date, fig,barley, grapes, wheat and pomegranate trees. We finish the hike with a new appreciation for Israel's nature since Israel has not always looked the way it does.
Golan Heights:
We drive up to the Golan Heights and learn about the strategic significance of this piece of land. The kids don't quite get it until we pile out of the bus, sit on the grass and gaze across the field to what used to be Syria. The visual tells the story. Ronen recounts the story of the Six Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. After explaining the causes of the wars, giving the number of dead, the number of casualties, the number of aircraft, the number of tanks...Ronen tells us the story of one soldier. It seems to me that it is the individual stories that tell the real story of Israel's establishment, growth, evolution, victories and challenges. Stories...just like our experience in Poland. We then watch a short movie which told the story of one particular battle in the Golan Heights. We join the other buses for a delicious pizza lunch outdoors on the Syrian Israeli border. The pizzas were made fresh on the spot with regular or gluten free dough and every topping imaginable.
Next stop Mount Bental again on the Syrian border to meet with some soldiers. The girls are gaga and the guys are in awe. We have an interesting exchange with them and an even more interesting conversation amongst ourselves back on the bus. The kids comment on how young the soldiers are, on how different their lives are, and on how similar their lived are. One young man says that the soldiers inspire him. Another says that these young men shouldn't have to bare the brunt of protecting and defending the Jewish homeland for all Jews. We enter into a conversation about how Jews living in the diaspora can help Israel. The kids get it.
The entire Canadian delegation (20 buses) makes their way to the Yom HaZikaron ceremony prepared by the Israeli students of the Mechina program. These young adults have decided to postpone their army service by one year in order to attend the Mechina programc focused on Jewish identity building. Our kids are surprised thinking that identity building is reserved for Jews living in the diaspora. They are interested in this phenomenon and begin to understand another similarity between the Israeli and Canadian young adults. We sit on the grass in front of the stage, all dressed in white t-shirts - a beautiful sense if unity and solidarity with our Israeli friends. We all rise as the siren rings loudly for a moment of silence. The Israeli flag is lowered to half mast. The ceremony commemorating the fallen Israeli soldiers and civilians is entirely run by the Mechina students. Once again, through song and the stories of individuals with names and lives the point is made in a moving and powerful way. Rabbi Poupko is called to the stage to address the Canadian delegation. He speaks about the unity if the Jewish people, how we feel the pain if the Israeli people on this holy day and he thanks Israel for protecting the country we all call home. He draws attention to the fact that our relationship with Israelis is not equal since Israelis are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure a safe haven for Jews everywhere. We are all humbled and moved. Following the singing if Hatikvah, we break out into our buses and have a dialogue with our new Israeli friends. The kids talk about the similarities between us, the differences, what it means to have a homeland, what a sense if belonging means, and what we are prepared to do in order to defend Israel. I am amazed by what our kids say. They are clearly taken with Israel and it's people recognizing that they have a role to play in securing the future of their homeland and the Jewish people.
Monica Mendel Bensoussan
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