YK Tzeirei HaShluchim 5774: Hike, Float, and be Amazed (also shabbos in chevron)

The first day of the Grand Trip took us from the mountains of tzfas to the mountain of masada. From the Dead Sea to the historic city of Chevron.

Hiking Masada

At 5 am bright and early we were awoken to the lovely sound of our dear counselors (screaming at us to get ready if we didn't want to miss the bus) encouraging us to have a timely and productive day. We ran to mikva, grabbed our precious belongings, then grabbed a choko, then went to the buses. The buses left exactly on time (yeah right), and went straight to Masada.

Upon arriving in Masada we davened shachris, ate a nutritious breakfast, and met tour guide Gili. For the next few minutes he got us in the Masada mood by explaining the historical and geographical significance behind Masada, they tell me that it was interesting if you listened. Then came the hike. It felt like years, and by the time I made it up top I must have lost half a person. It was hot and unforgiving on Masada that day, but the experience is one that will last forever. Gili diligently pointed out every original part of Masada (anything under the dark painted line basically), and relayed the importance it played in our history. After touring the top we took the cable car down (I totally could have walked),went to the gift shop (to get ripped off) for souvenirs, and got ready for the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea is very salty and floaty. People wonder why they call it The Dead Sea. To them I say that any place that reaches 109 degrees Fahrenheit, and is not in delivery distance of a single kosher pizza shop is not by any means a livable place. We all went in to the yiddishe part of the Dead Sea and took a dip and a float. It was truly a heartwarming (I wish my heart was the only thing that got warmed...) experience. We had some time to dry off and shower, in addition to the time allotted to take souvenir salt (they wonder why the Dead Sea keeps shrinking). Waiting for us right outside was a super lunch with tuna, egg salad, and salami to choose from. What a yummy lunch. Now to Chevron.

We stopped by a vacant parking lot to quickly switch to a new bulletproof bus. The new buses were smaller so it was a bit squishy down below. I thought it would be scarier (and maybe even hoped for some action), but apart from the barrage of rockets shot at us (just kidding), it was really like going into any city. They stopped us at the border crossing, and from there it was straight to the Gutnick Center to get ready for shabbos. We had time for mikva, showers , and of course RAMBAM, then it was straight to מערת המכפלה for mincha and kabalas shabbos.

Davening by מערת המכפלה was truly an uplifting experience. I had never been there before, and it for sure lived up to all of the hype. Chevron b'chlal is a really cool place, there were soldiers at every turn, funny tourists, and even the occasional journalist. After mariv we went back to the Gutnick center for a beautiful shabbos meal filled with singing, stories, and chassidishe farbrengens.

Shabbos day began with chassidus and davening, this time we joined the head shliach of Chevron, Rabbi Dani Cohen to daven in his minyan. We had time to say tehillim and walk around מערת המכפלה for about 15 minutes, then it was time to head back for a meal farbrengen with a Rabbi, a well-known doctor, and a chassidishe (funny) baal habos. There was about an hour break between the farbrengen and the famous walking (and singing) tour of chevron. The tour led us around all of the famous parts of chevron such us: The Kaver of רות, Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel, and much more. After the tour we went to the home of harav dani cohen for a scrumptious meal (no washing of course) followed by a truly inspirational seder niggunim led by our own baal menagin from California. Once shabbos was over we quickly made our way to מערת המכפלה for mariv, then had some time to take pictures as we prepared for our motzi shabbos activity: Magic Show in Kiryat Arba.

Rabbi Victor is not only the head shliach of the enitre kiryat arba, he is also far and above the best magician I have ever seen. He did everything from bending spoons to mind tricks. Everyone was in a state of complete awe and amazement the entire time, some people actually thought that he was using black magic (and until he explains his tricks I will also think like that). It was a fantastic show that kept even the biggest skeptic on the balls of his feet. From there it was back to The Gutnick Center for a special pizza melave malke followed by bed time. Gotta get ready for our 4:30 am wake up!!