The final day of the 21st KKL France annual Walk for Water was spent going back in time to Jewish settlement in Galilee during the Second Temple, Mishnaic and Talmudic periods, with visits to Yodfat, Kfar Kedem in Hoshaya, and Zippori.
The last day of the KKL France Walk for Water started with a walk on the Yodfat hills in Misgav. One of the highlights of the track was the visit to the remains of the ancient town of Yodfat, an important Jewish town from the Second Temple period.
Yodfat is known for the tragic heroism it is associated with: during the Great Revolt in 67 CE, the town was under siege for 47 days, before being conquered. The Romans destroyed the town to its foundations and murdered most of its residents. Those who managed to escape chose to commit suicide. After the Revolt, Yodfat was rebuilt, and the Jewish community continues to exist there.
“Participating in the Walk for Water was an excellent opportunity to visit Israel and discover the
nature and the history of the country”, said
Catherine Cahoua.
“Friends who had participated in the Walk for Water in previous years told me how amazing this walk was, so I decided to join”, said
Alain Barthes, from Lausanne, Switzerland. “Until today, I had visited Israel only privately, and being part of a group provides a unique and different experience. The tours are exciting, and I am enjoying both the nature and the culture we encounter here.”
The group visited Kfar Kedem in Hoshaya, which recreates the daily life of our ancestors during the Bible period. The members of the group wore clothes according to the fashion in the period of Abraham Avinu, and baked their own bread on a tabun, like in the days of the Bible. Lastly, they mounted on donkeys, or as the guide Menachem defined them: “The first jeeps in the world”, and they rode to Zippori. The riding experience was very exciting, and we could hear the laughing from afar.
The town of Zippori was the capital of the
Galilee, where the Sanhedrin sat and the Mishnah was inscribed. Now, there are remains of dozens of beautiful mosaics from the Roman and Byzantine periods. Other attractions that the participants saw at this site were the unique Roman theatre, remains of the Jewish residential area from the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods, a Crusader fortress, a Roman villa, a public square from the Byzantine period, an aqueduct, a Synagogue from the Byzantine period, and remains of intersecting streets, which were part of the town market.
“The atmosphere was excellent during the entire week, I met new friends and had a special connection with the country”, said
Brigitte Sellam, from Paris.
The fascinating and exciting journey came to an end in Zippori, and the excitement of our friends after our week together was palpable. They had walked approximately 50 kilometers in four days, where they experienced Israeli nature, connected with the landscape, learnt the local history where the events took place and went back home full of experiences to share.
“I feel like we discovered the real Israel during this entire week”, summarized
Line Binhas-Krief, from Paris. “It was wonderful to know closely new aspects of Israel”.