Why is masada an important place of pilgrimage to jews? ?
Masada is an amazing hill not far from the Dead Sea in Israel and a must see for visitors there. The persecuted Jews during the Roman occupation escaped to the hilltop there and built a fortress. It was complete with its own cistern (a collection underground for water) and stone walls to protect them. There is a gondola which takes you high up to the top where you can see from all sides which still exists today. One side was steep but not as fortified and the Roman soldiers eventually made their way into the encampment from there after much difficulty. Masada is considered a shrine to the Jewish martyrs who died preserving their culture and religion and is an amazing Holy place. When you look down you can even see the outline of the camps below that the early Roman soldiers used while waiting and trying to climb up.
