History Day in the Hula Reserve

SF-UG teens biking in the Hula Reserve (photo credits: Sam Maller)

We began our day bright and early at the Hula reserve with an eight kilometer bike ride. We learned the history of the swamp and the importance of draining the water to stop malaria. From there we went to the helicopter disaster site where, in 1997, 73 soldiers died in a freak accident. From above, one can see that the memorial is in the shape of a helicopter. Our medic, Chatzav, told us some touching stories about the soldiers who died in the crash.

SF-UG teens at the Helicopter Crash Site (photo credits: Sam Maller)

From there we went to Tel Hai which is a cemetery in which eight fighters are commemorated for their bravery in protecting their city from their Arab neighbors. A statue of a lion symbolizes Trumpeldor, the fearless leader of the battle. The lion represents the strength of the fighters and the pained expression on its face shows the hurt of the people. We had our late afternoon circles there and then headed back to our host families for delicious Shabbat dinners.

Sincerely,

EJ Weiss and Lily Peterson