Masada, an ancient fortress at the summit of an isolated cliff, in the Judean Desert, was built by one of the most colorful people that ever walked the land of Israel: King Herod. King Herod was also the builder of The Second Temple and the city of Caesarea 2000 years ago. The story of Masada can be summarized in the famous phrase: "Masada shall not fall again." Touring Masada, we will try to understand why the Romans insisted to conquer it, and we will dive into the mysterious suicide of the Jews on the mountain. At the foot of Masada is the Dead Sea, the lowest point in the world. The salt concentration in the water ten times higher than in the Mediterranean, causing interesting dream-like formations on the rocks around the lake. The place is considered to have a healing effect for various skin diseases, and Dead Sea mud has medicinal properties. Floating on the Dead Sea, or touring the desert and the oases, the connection between water, sky and nature is revealed, as the very unique beauty of the Judean Desert gets gradually uncovered. Come with me to explore: - People and nature in the desert: We will explore human settlement in this desert, in the past and present, the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls and cults, and the oasis of Ein Gedi.
- Masada - Myth and Truth: a tour of Masada tells the heroic story of the people on the hilltop from different perspectives.
Monasteries and the birth of Christianity in the Judean Desert: This desert seems to have an effect on the people that lived in it; else it is difficult to explain the number of key- characters that came from it. We will visit The Monastery of St. George, The Monastery of Avtimiuos, and The place of Baptism on the Jordan river - Kassar El-Yahud.   |  |
