Sataf

Today we Took a hike through the hills near our own Tzova, Across the region known as Sataf by many Cultures and Generations. The word "Sataf" may refer to the practice of boring a hole into the dates That grow in the region, in order for them to ripen at the same time and save the farmers days of labor. As we walked across dusty hills and switchbacks, we could see hills like the one we stood on going on in every direction. It's an interesting break from American history, where every place we stand on has had different purposes in every era. A century ago my house was a field, but here in Judea, these hills have been used for the same purpose for thousands of years: terraced agriculture. Its premise is making flat spaces on an otherwise sloped area, such as a mountain or valley. Large rocks are moved to create vertical walls, and earth is cleared out to make small flatlands where trees, grains and vines can grow. Terrace farming is dependent on irrigated crops, relying on a high source of water That flows down the hill. Other crops relying on "Ba'al agriculture" (after the Canaanite god of rain, Ba'al) grow during the rainy winter season. If the rain did not come, pagans of the region would pray to Ba'al and often make sacrifices in an effort to appease him. Because Canaanites already had established civilizations on the flat plains, tending the hills became a necessity for survival in order to avoid conflict with strong armies (riding iron chariots). Many of the practices of terrace farming we borrowed from the other people of the hills, who we lived alongside with. This settling of the hills completes the top of the Jewish Triad, making this Eretz Yisrael.

The most interesting part of the walk for me was our foray into the water source. We climbed through a small doorway hewn out of the rock, walked along the passageway until we reached a large hollow, where the water flowed across the entire floor. We turned out the lights and sung hinei-matov to celebrate the occasion, before climbing back out. We suspect that there were several snakes writhing in the walls. 

Coming out of After the cave we made our way to a small clearing, where we Performed skits of the Book of Judges. The stories became progressively more gruesome with time, as our heroes became more occupied with pursuits of pleasure than of virtue. For instance, early in Judges, Deborah's only goal was to triumph over the Canaanites led by Sisera to free the Jewish people. Later, however, in the story of Samson, the same was more concerned with whoring and killing Gazites than being a poetic hero of virtue. As time progresses and the cycle of error, enslavement and salvation repeats, it spirals downward, every situation more dire than the last. This is evident in their respective after stories. Deborah is said to have lived after her story, while Samson dies in the temple of idol worshippers. Although the skit were not executed perfectly, they still illustrated well the importance of learning from our mistakes. As we repeat our history of error, the consequences of our actions become more violent.

I felt that the most interesting component of the walk was the story of the Jews living alongside idol worshippers and sometimes adopting their ways. Polytheism is very clearly prohibited in Judaism, but it still is possible to live alongside those whose practices we do not agree with. That being said, what is the most problematic aspect of polytheism and idolatry? And in modern times, how does this idea of ​​living alongside others reflect on the modern state of Israel, particularly between the Jews and Palestinians?

Seth in a Tree. Photo Credits to Max Lenett