The 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War
On the anniversary of the war, we invite you to take a fresh look – at the way it shaped us as individuals, as families and as a comunity
50 years later
The Yom Kippur War left a deep mark on Israeli society
The generation that experienced the war carries its memories and scars in its heart. The generation born after she matured into a country, culture and society shaped in the shadow of her officialdom
On the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, we invite you to a three-day journey in the Golan, where you will meet the people, the history and the present of Israel.
We are proud to launch the “Fifty Years After” campaign in which there will be a guided experience for groups and families that will touch on the civil, cultural and personal aspects of the war
The trip, lasting 3 days with full hospitality, will include tours, lectures and meetings which will reveal and deepen the aspects of the war, alongside a solidifying and enriching experience
At the end of the journey - 50 years since the Yom Kippur War
The journey begins in the south of the Golan in front of a breathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding area
At one of the most important and special archaeological sites in Israel, lies a 1,500-year-old Jewish settlement in the Golan. We will have a hearty brunch and open with a short introduction. We will hear about the story of the archaeological expedition in search of Jewish roots in the Golan and place the Yom Kippur War on the axis of history
After that we will visit a IDF post, walk through the communication trenches, see the monument and hear local stories. In the afternoon we will check in at the guest rooms in Kibbutz Ortal, and enter “Golan Time””
In the evening we will meet with a resident of the Golan, a member of Ramat Magashim, the only Jewish settlement that was occupied by the Syrian army. In the meeting she tells her personal story, while sharing her memories on the eve of the Yom Kippur war and her insights fifty years later
We will have a discussion about our place and role as citizens in shaping the face of the country
In the evening, after a rich Druze dinner, we will gather for a fascinating lecture “Sing a song of great hope” – a lecture on the world of culture before and after the war
The morning will begin with a kibbutz style breakfast in the dining room, from there we will join a special jeep tour that arrives at different locations: historical agriculture alongside the agriculture of the future, the landscapes of the Golan as a “riviera” alongside the signs of the war that remain to this day, and a geopolitical overview of the Israeli-Syrian borders of The 2000s
After lunch we will have a discussion about settlements, tourism and everything in between, we will visit the Tel Shipon winery to enjoy a wine tasting workshop, we will hear (and understand) why the land of the Golan is so good for growing grapes
In order to understand the deep meaning and effects of the war on society and politics in today’s Israel, we will gather for an instructive and enlightening discourse on that rift and its place today, at a crucial point in time in Israeli reality
Afterwards, we will meet the “photographer of the Golan” for a lecture that is all about inspiration
With a full stomach, to conclude the second part of the journey, we will gather for a musical evening through songs of nostalgia
Panoramic closing:
The last day of the trip will open with a summary conversation and personal experiences of the participants of the trip
After breakfast we will go on a tour of the magnificent and mysterious Syrian headquarters and visit the original office of “our man in Damascus” – the Israeli spy Eli Cohen
Towards lunch time, say goodbye on the balcony of the Golan, a spectacular 360 view of Israel and its borders
Anything your heart desires it will be!
Disclaimer: The content may change according to the needs of the group/website.
Some of the sites we will visit on the journey
Ein Keshetot, also known as Umm Al Kantir (Mother of the arches), is an ancient village that is a national heritage site thanks to the remains of the ancient synagogue built there from the 6th century AD, with stone arches built in the Mishna period, which was then a linen factory. An earthquake destroyed the place and therefore the villagers had to leave it. During the Yom Kippur War, the place was used as a Syrian village.
From this site you will see a beautiful view of the Golan and the Sea of Galilee, and you will hear the story of the ancient Jewish settlement in the Golan alongside the story of the restoration of the synagogue
Volcanic hill, from which a beautiful and historical observation of the region and Syria. The meaning of the name Tel a-Saki is “The Mound of the Drink” and refers to the groundwater in its vicinity. In the Yom Kippur War, the beautiful lookout and its height constituted a very strategic location to prevent the infiltration of Syrian tanks and where the IDF suffered a very heavy blow in the shelling of the outpost during the war and the well-known Battle of Tel Saki took place there. There are the remains of the bunker, as well as a monument to the memory of the fallen and a high raised flag that can be seen in the distance
Tel Shipon Winery was established in 2009 by members of Kibbutz Ortal. The location of the winery was chosen due to the volcanic soil that allows the germination of plants and minerals that benefit the soil. The winery is surrounded by vineyards and in front of it rises the beautiful Rye Hill – a dormant volcano and is the southernmost mountain in the volcanic belt in the north of the Golan Heights. Sitting in the winery takes us through story of the wine making process, you can see the vineyard from your seat, while getting a glimpse from the large window of the factory open to visitors and complete the circle by tasting the wonderful wine
We will visit the Syrian army headquarters in Quneitra. A large, abandoned and extremely impressive building thanks to the artistic graffiti that decorates it and its spiral stairs. During the Six Day War, the building was used as the Syrian headquarters for the management of the campaign, but it was bombed and occupied by IDF forces. Since then, it has been used by the IDF and then by UN observers. During the Yom Kippur War, the structure suffered further damage as a result of the fighting between Israel and Syria. As part of the agreements between Israel and Syria, Quneitra was returned to Syria, but the Syrian headquarters and the surrounding area remained under Israeli control
Mount Bantal provides a wonderful 360-degree view of Syria, the Hermon, the UN buildings, the Israeli Golan and even Kiryat Shmona, which is the closing of the story of the entire Golan. At the summit of the mountain is an retired IDF post built on the remains of a Syrian post, and there is also a nice and pastoral cafe. The height of the mountain is about 1,615 meters above sea level and it is a dormant volcano and part of the volcanic belt of the northern Golan Heights. Its name was given from the relationship between it and the mountain next to it – Avital. Since Mount Avital is higher, he is the father (av), and the lower Bental is the son (ben). Pay attention to the path leading to the summit decorated with the sculptures of the artist Joop de Jong, a member of Kibbutz Marom Golan
A journey in the Golan - a look at Israeli society following 50 years of the Yom Kippur War.
The journey is suitable for the general public and organized groups. Leave details for more information:
The people you will meet
Ila Golan
Resident of the Golan, Ramat Magashim
Uri Heitner
Historian, educator and public activist
Rina Nagila
Photographer, Kibbutz Ortal member
Aviah Rozen
The head of the Netor combination seminary
Mika Einav
Singer and composer
About Kibbutz Ortal tourism
Ortal Tourism is a tourism company located in Kibbutz Ortal in the northern Golan. The kibbutz is located at an altitude of 910 meters above sea level and overlooks the surrounding mountainous landscape
Ortal Tourism is equipped with clean guest rooms, renovated and equipped suitable for hosting couples or families to a high standard and a complementary experience
What does the journey include following the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War?
- 2 nights in well-equipped and pleasant rooms
- Kosher and varied meals
- An designated tour guide throughout the journey
- Personal and exciting encounters
- Happy moments and more…
The project “Fifty Years After” was born out of a desire to give a new angle on war. The product was built by a second generation of the war in collaboration with fighters, people of literature and culture, people of the Golan and tourism, who together created a unique-experiential journey that is different from any other venture
Tell us about your experience
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