I spent a memorable day in the Golan Heights with my friend Gabriel (Gabe) Bass who lives in the village of Yonaton. We started the morning dropping off his daughter, Tifarah, at her army base—she’s a fitness officer in charge of training 500 soldiers.
Gabe and I then set off to hike Nahal Jilaboun, a stunning canyon trail that follows the Jilaboun stream which cuts through the basalt plateau and leads to natural pools. Under the blazing 90-degree sun, we cooled off with a swim beneath the refreshing Dvora waterfall—a highlight of the hike. From there, we explored the nearby Talmudic village of Dvora, where layers of ancient Jewish life from 200 CE still whisper through the ruins.
Later, I had the chance to visit Gabe’s incredible workshop, where he creates striking wood and glass Judaica and furniture. You can see his work at gabrielbass.com and basssynagoguefurniture.com.
