Hikes give you the gift of exploring the outdoors, enjoying
the fresh air, and getting fit all while surrounded by Mother Nature. The
scenery is always breathtaking, and reaching the viewpoint at the summit always
gives you a sense of accomplishment. Although people face the common struggles
of the sweat, the bug bites, the sunburns, and everything else in between, they
usually appreciate the hike and the stunning nature around them.
On June 27, 2014, a group of teenagers who derive from
Israel but live in the United States, hiked the Sataf stream in Jerusalem.
These teenagers came on an organized program called Young Judea, in which they
learn about their roots while taking notes on their experiences. The Sataf
stream is not an immensely challenging hike, and continues downhill for the
duration of about two to three hours. The group took breaks and along the way,
partly because the sun was unbearable and partly to learn about the history of
the Old City, Jerusalem, while hiking in its perimeters. The views were
breathtaking and the history very informative, and through the sun hats and the
smiles, the hike was a success. It took many of the group members by surprise
that the land that they were hiking on had not been the Jewish people’s land
for a very long time, fewer than a hundred years.
Some of the
Young Judea participants found it upsetting that so many people had died for
the Jewish people to walk this land that we call ours, while other participants
found it astounding. It is a question of whether to feel remorse or to feel
content about the situation. Some of the group members felt irked by the fact
that some people, upon seeing landmarks like the Western Wall, felt a rush of
excitement and happiness. They felt that those people should feel sorry that so
many people had to fight so passionately for the group that the Jews can now
walk on.
No comments:
Post a Comment