Memories from the Golan

Photographs: Yos Stable, Shutterstock, Meteor Star Observations, Shimon Binyamin, Dov Grinblat, Shai Rowan, Amit Mandelson, Ze'ev Stein, from the PicWiki website, Tomer Avni

About the Activity

We invite you to two fascinating days of memory, heritage, and human stories in the heart of the Golan Heights. This journey connects the personal story of a girl who grew up under Syrian shelling at Kibbutz Gadot with the extraordinary story of Eli Cohen, one of the best-known spies in Israel’s history.

During the activity, we will hear a moving firsthand testimony, visit heritage sites, and take a trip following the events and figures that shaped the history of the Golan Heights and the State of Israel. This experience combines spectacular landscapes, stories of heroism, and an in-depth introduction to a significant chapter in the region’s history.

Thursday – A Girl from Gadot

17:00 – Meeting at Gadot Lookout on Route 91, on the road ascending to the Golan Heights.

We will watch the sunset over the Hula Valley and the Galilee Mountains. We will tour the site and memorial, hear about the Syrian outpost that dominated the area and threatened the valley’s communities, and listen to a firsthand account from someone who grew up in Gadot and experienced Syrian shelling as a child. We will learn how the events and life along the border shaped her childhood experiences and identity. Together, we will sing Yuval Katz’s song “My Home, Are You Crying or Laughing?”

19:00 – Dinner

After dinner, we will gather for a fascinating lecture about Eli Cohen, one of the most compelling and influential figures in the history of Israeli intelligence. We will hear about his life, his clandestine activities in Syria, and his legacy to this day.

Friday – Following Eli Cohen’s Footsteps

8:00 – Breakfast

9:00 – Check-out and departure for a fascinating and unique nature and battle-heritage hike along the Eli Cohen Trail. Along the way, we will visit sites connected to Eli Cohen’s activities in the Golan Heights, hear about the information he transmitted to Israel, and learn about his contribution to understanding the Syrian arena on the eve of the Six-Day War. The hike connects the landscape around us with one of the most fascinating stories in the country’s history.

14:00 – Estimated finish in the field.

The program includes accommodation, meals, and, of course, high-quality professional guiding based on intimate familiarity with the area’s nature.

The Vacation Includes Full Hospitality at the Golan Field School

🔹 Air-conditioned ground-floor guest rooms, each with a shower and bathroom
🔹 An existing protected space on the premises
🔹 Kosher kitchen and dining room
🔹 Lobby with a coffee/tea corner and television
🔹 Synagogue
🔹 Dinner and breakfast

For questions and inquiries about the vacation: [email protected]

Important Information

Activity area:
Golan Heights

Target audience:
Families, adults, history enthusiasts

Difficulty level:
Easy

Walking duration:
Flat walking

Trail length:
2 km

Required equipment:
Closed, comfortable walking shoes suitable for walking in water, plus a replacement pair; hat; 2 liters of water per hiker per day; sunscreen; personal equipment

Please Note

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel reserves the right to cancel or modify the activity according to weather, security, and safety conditions, and at its sole discretion.

The activity is contingent upon a minimum number of participants. Notification will be provided up to one week before the activity.

Children up to age 2: free of charge, without 2015/2016.