ISRAEL

While it’s difficult to fathom getting up before noon in paradise, the splendor of Mount Masada demands it.

I woke up in a desert tent beneath the stars at 4, ambled up the trail at 5, and stood in shock and awe by 6. Not a bad way to spend a morning, I mused.

As the crowds arrived, I popped in my headphones and chewed on the legend of the mount, drowning out the chatter around me.

Back in 73 CE, a self-sustaining community called this region home. Tucked behind the fortress walls, they had all they needed.

But with limited entrances in and out, and a sudden attack by the Romans, 967 residents put their names into a pot and drew lots.

As the story goes, whoever you picked is the one you had to kill—be it your neighbor, your best friend, or your relative. The last one left standing took his own life, as a final act of dignity to prevent capture.

Today, of course, the mountain offers nothing but peace for fascinated hikers from all over the world.

But in an area plagued by constant turmoil, it does inspire reflection about the truly important things in life.

Meaning, purpose, love, and—of course—a beautiful sunrise. ◾

MOUNT MASADA

◀ Don't miss the AHAVA statue in Jerusalam, which spells out the word for "love" in Hebrew.

▲ If you visit Israel, put these gems on your radar: the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall in Jerusalem, camping in the Negev Desert, a long float in the Dead Sea, and the Bahá'í Gardens in Haifa.