On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Azrieli Fellows from all tracks came together for the annual Field Day, an initiative designed to build community and strengthen cross-disciplinary ties while deepening connections to Israel’s land, history, and culture.
We began the day early, boarding buses to Beit Guvrin National Park in the heart of the Judean Lowlands. After breakfast, we met our guide, Jesse, and started exploring the remarkable site, which UNESCO recognizes as a World Heritage Site for its unique network of caves and archaeological importance.
Beit Guvrin is home to the ruins of Maresha, a key city during the First Temple period which is mentioned in the Bible in relation to the Kingdom of Judah (Book of Chronicles). Excavations there have uncovered both a Hellenistic town above ground and an expansive underground system of caves carved into the chalk below. It was in these caves that we had what was, for most of us, our first attempt at archaeology. Digging through the dirt in the caves, we found many pottery shards, and one Fellow found something more exciting: what looked like a piece of a ring. Another of our Fellows, an archaeologist by training, added valuable insights throughout the visit, enriching what we learned from our guide, Jesse.
We then visited the Sidonian burial caves, the beautifully painted tombs of Apollophanes, leader of the Sidonian community in Beit Guvrin. These unique caves are decorated with images of both real and mythical animals. Jesse suggested we guess which creatures the artist had observed in real life and which had been imagined and it was a surprisingly easy task!
From there, we hiked to Hirbat Burgin, where we explored Bar Kokhba-era hiding complexes underground tunnels used by Jewish fighters during the revolt against the Roman Empire in the second century CE.
We concluded the day with an outdoor barbeque lunch followed by a visit to the Ella Valley Winery, set in the region known for the biblical battle between David and Goliath. The valley, renowned for its vineyards in ancient times, has seen a revival of winemaking since the 1990s. We enjoyed tastings of white, rosé, and red wines while learning about the area’s historic and modern contributions to Israeli viticulture.
This Field Day offered a unique opportunity for the Azrieli Fellows to engage directly with the landscapes, history, and cultural layers of Israel. It provided a meaningful break from their academic routines and created space for shared experiences that strengthened their connection to the country and to one another.
