February 22-23, 2017 the men from Return to Zion congregation went on a hiking trip to Peki’in. This Druze village is located in northern Israel, 8 km east of Ma’alot Tarshiha in Upper Galilee. Peki’in is famous for the cave, in which Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Rabbi Eliezer ben Shimon (authors of the Zohar–a book of Jewish mystical writings) were hiding for 13 years after the defeat of the Bar Kochba Rebellion against Roman rule.
“Breadfruit trees” grow around the cave, and there are water springs up in the hills. According to tradition, this was the food of Rabbi Shimon and his son.
Another main attraction in Peki’in is the site of an ancient synagogue. During a construction project of a building, the remains of an ancient synagogue were discovered dating back to the Second Temple period.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalms 133 (NKJV)
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