Exploring land of milk and honey
I bet if you showed the average American pictures of nature reserves in the Golan Heights, they would never guess they were looking at Israel
During my first three months in Israel I have really enjoyed visiting historical sites. Walking around the old city of Jerusalem or ancient fortresses like Masada are incredible experiences. But the ruins which scatter this country's landscape, only teach you one part of the history of the Jewish people. The spiritual essence of this land is not just captured in thousand year-old ruins but in the breathtaking landscape. The Torah doesn't call this the “land of milk and honey” for nothing. Israel boasts some of the most spectacular scenery and nature preserves in the world.
This past Shabbat I went camping with a couple of friends in the Golan and was blown away by the natural beauty. The bus ride from Tel Aviv to Tiberias takes a little over two hours and gives you the chance to see some stunning views of the Mediterranean from the highway. The view of the Kinneret as you approach Tiberias is amazing. The Kinneret is the lifeline of Israel, supplying drinking water to the entire country. I love the fact that beaches rimming the lake have not been over commercialized with high rise hotels and stores. The area is still very pristine despite the amount of tourism.
The Kinneret. Amazing view (Photo: Galit Kosovsky)
From Tiberias we took a taxi from the central bus station to Yehudia National Park and set up camp. The first section of our hike led us through the ruins of the Yehudia village and into a rocky sloping canyon. The landscape around us was scattered with lush green grasses and covered with flowers of every color imaginable. As you walk down the canyon you reach a small cliff that overlooks a crystal clear pool. To get down the canyon, there is an intimidating ladder staircase that drops you into the pool. You have no choice but to swim, so it was an adventure trying to keep our backpacks dry. The park is scattered with a number of waterfalls and springs.
The most amazing site in the park is called the “paradise pool”. After zigzagging over rocks down the mountain path, you come across one of the biggest waterfalls I have ever seen. Water pours down from over 150 feet up. Of all my experiences in the Holy Land, swimming beneath such vast amounts of flowing water had to be one of the coolest. That evening we prepared a Shabbat meal and had dinner under the stars.
Coming from the United States, all the media you hear coming out of Israel seems to be centered around war and conflict. I bet if you showed the average American pictures of nature reserves in the Golan Heights, they would never guess they were looking at Israel. The outside world views this region in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict and is oblivious to the natural beauty of the country. Making friends and interacting with Israelis has helped me learn a great deal about Israel, but actually walking the land has elevated my understanding and connectedness to this country on a higher level.
