Page 30 - HaMizrachi #28 Pesach USA 2021

THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND PLACES IN ISRAEL

Rabbi Barnea Levi Selavan

Pesach in Dan and Naftali

isiting a string of Israel’s North- wheelchair-accessible walkways and mudbrick gate from Avraham’s time,
ern Kingdom cities on and off impressive Roman remains. Cross the mighty gates of the kings of Yisrael, and
Vthe beaten track on a Pesach day road to climb Biblical Kedesh – a slight the site of perhaps the most spectacu-
will leave you with newfound respect for effort, with excavated ruins all around. lar Biblical find ever – the Tel Dan stele
our ancestors, and make Tanach come The view reveals its strength; the plain mentioning “Beit David.” Learn about
alive amidst heady springtime nature. and ridges around it serve as its pro- it and the region’s nature in the nearby
Ready? tective buffer zone. The nearby British Beit Ussishkin Museum. The Dan River
Taggart fort, Metzudat Koach, com- sources spring out here; there is a natu-
In the days of King Pekach of Israel, King mands the Hula Valley directly below. ral wading pool for children and adults.
Tiglat-Pileser of Assyria came and cap- Visit its small, impactful museum about
tured Iyon, Avel-Bet-Ma’acha, Yanoach, the tragic, brave, 1948 battle that took Overlooking the rushing water and
Kedesh, Chatzor – Gilead, Galilee, the place there. walking over the spring rivulets under
entire region of Naftali; and he deported a massive forest mesmerizes young and
the inhabitants to Assyria (Kings II Chatzor – as excavator Amnon Bentor old alike. Top it off with a local fresh
15:29). says, there is Chatzor, and then all the fish lunch.
others. Chatzor is the largest ancient city
Tiglat Pilesar III started the Assyrian in modern Israel, appearing through- Banias Park is situated nearby. Yarden
exile tactic – uproot nations, scatter out Tanach. Yehoshua burns it, Sisera (the Jordan River) means yored miDan,
them over vast distances, no rebellions. represents it, Shlomo fortifies it. It’s a descending from Dan indeed. The glo-
rious Banias waterfalls also offer forest
Iyon/Marjiyun lies a 15-minute walk Northern Kingdom stronghold. Pow- hiking trails.
from Misgav Am on the Lebanese erful Biblical gates, a massive burnt
border. Next time… structure, and an awesome secret Here, where the Hatzbani and Banias
underground water system no besieg- combine with the Dan to form the
Avel Bet Ma’acha hosts dramatic exca- ing enemy would ever find. Chatzor Upper Jordan, are many picnic spots;
vations by the Hebrew University and is the first 1950s proving-ground for wet-hiking, kayaking and even white-
partners. It was also the site of a breath- home-grown Israeli archaeologists; the water options in season, and the Hula
taking chase – Yoav pursuing Sheva ben Hebrew University continues its annual Valley nature reserve. Bed-and-break-
Bichri, who had turned against David. dig here. Nearby Ayelet HaShachar fast “tzimmers” – developed by locals
For today, open your Tanach at Shmuel offers a museum displaying its finds. with government support – are plentiful
Bet 20, and relive the drama by putting here, e.g., in Beit Hillel.
one person on top as the wise woman Another regional story: King Asa of From here it is an easy drive up to the
(Serach bat Asher), and “Yoav” below. Yehuda bribes Ben-Hadad of Damas- Golan or Mount Hermon. And every-
Yell the pesukim (16–22) at each other, cus to turn against their mutual neigh- where you go, enjoy the lush spring
and toss out a ball or some other object bor Ba’asha, king of Yisrael (Kings flowers of Israel!
to represent Sheva ben Bichri’s head. I 15:20): “…he captured Iyon, Dan,
Unforgettable! Avel-Bet-Ma’acha….”
Yanoach has no sure identification; Dan’s Tanach roots stretch back to
Yanoach-Jat is west of our drive – next Avraham’s chase of the four kings, Rabbi Barnea Levi Selavan is Co-Director
time… his strength sapped, sensing his off- of Foundation Stone, running educational
spring’s idol worship (Bereishit 14:4). programs in Israel and overseas, and a
Kedesh of Naftali was powerful in The excavated bama, high place, seems licensed archaeologist and tour guide.
Biblical and in Second Temple times. to have been reused throughout his- selavan@gmail.com
The parking lot adjoins Second tory – perhaps here was pesel Micha A member of the Mizrachi Tour Guides Bureau
Temple Kedesh, with clear signage, and Yerova’am’s golden calf. An arched ` mizrachi.org/tour-guides

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