Aviv’s Expurgated Northern Tiyul

As Aviv slowly winds to a close we have been promised the best few weeks of the program, in which we complete our thorough sightseeing tour of the land of milk and honey, this week we embarked on tiyul in the north, to sample the metaphorical  gems possessed by places such as the Golan Heights, Tiberias and Tzfat. However, somewhat disappointingly, our tiyul was cut to just 2 days owing to a MASA seminar which focuses upon Israel Advocacy.

On Sunday the bus headed off from Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station and following a roughly three hour bus ride we arrived at our initial stop, a Golan Heights lookout over our neighbour’s Syria. The point was formerly a Syrian army base but was converted into a tourist location where one can get an idea of the lay of the land in Israel’s northeast. We were afforded a prime view of Mt Hermon, Israel’s tallest peak, a mountain which it shares with Lebanon and Syria. Much like everywhere else we go in Israel, we were not the only group present, as American taglit groups engulfed much of the site. However, they managed to provide a level of entertainment, as one stereotypical American boy attempted to throw a Frisbee to another it was taken by the wind and hurled at an alarming speed off the side of the mountain, as we all chuckled, they proceeded to look for it despite the fact that it had fallen roughly 200 metres…

Anyhow, we next headed to lunch, a delicious pizza stop enjoyed by all, aside from birthday girl Daena who isn’t exactly the world’s biggest pizza fan. Food-wise, the day just got better and better for junk food lovers such as Zoe and myself as we next headed towards De Karina Chocolate Factory where hey handcraft various forms of chocolate. We played witness to the making of the chocolate before entering the tasting room where our fears that we weren’t going to be allowed to consume any chocolate were relieved. We tasted dark, milk and orange flavoured chocolates, each more delicious than the next. The following room was even more enjoyable as we were let loose with dark, milk and white chocolate and allowed to create and take home our very own customised chocolate bar. Artistic types prospered, chocolate lovers salivated, all enjoyed.

The day was ended by a disappointing water spring, it was cold, tiny and shortly after our arrival populated by numerous only underwear-clad army gentlemen. The only swimmers were Grant and Oded. We soon arrived at our accommodation, known as Poriya, some questioned whether the ‘s’ should be present in its name (hotel or hostel?). 

The following day we awoke bright and early and headed into the spiritual centre of kabbalah, Tzfat. We first visited a fort used in the 1948 War of Independence, Oded informed us o its significance as well as the spiritual and demographical makeup of Tzfat. We strolled around the city, stopping to learn about various kabbalist rabbis and their synagogues as well as numerous other sights. Lunch was consumed in Tzfat’s more touristy area, needless to say my shwarma was delicious.  

Next we headed to the most adventurous of our activities, at Mennara, where we took a cable car up and down a mountain as well as going high speed tobogganing. It was great fun. Finally, the day ended off with the most controversial of lectures we have received in out four and half months in Israel. We headed to Kibbutz Misgav Am where were spoken to by a veteran of 4 of Israel’s most fierce wars, whose opinion could only be classified as an extremist right-wing view of Israel’s political, historical and geographical background and present situation. His speech angered some, challenged others and all in all presented an opinion which until now we had not been privy to. He did not allow our opinions to be voiced and denied us the right to discussion or debate, something which greatly annoyed me. Education is something which cannot be one-sided nor coercive, in my opinion, all should be afforded the forum to express their thoughts and challenge others, and we were not provided this. Luckily, the debate took place between Adi, Grant, Harry and myself on the bus. On the plus side, this ‘educator’ who I personally consider a jaded raving lunatic, managed to help me solidify my own political opinion on Israel and the world, and I thank him for that.

Following this we headed back to our accommodation where some us enthusiastically viewed the night’s world cup games, and were not disappointed by the action. Come on the Socceroos!!

Today we head to a 3 day MASA ceremony with Australia’s many other gap year programs, before going to Modi’in for home hospitality.

Another awesome few days down, 13 days to look forward to! (That number is getting dangerously low…)

Thanks for reading!

Jake