From the highest point of Masada, looking out at what remained of the Roman siege camps, I could almost taste the fear of what they thought themselves to be—the last true Jews. Running from their counterparts' greed and ambition, their only thought was to survive and to carry on the Jewish culture that the others had corrupted. The camps and siege ramp were the most prominent instigators of these feelings. They instilled in me such a sense of reality that the talk of war, rebellion, exile, and a Jewish state stemming from Jewish History class was true that it became almost overwhelming to think about, and the only thing that brought me back to reality was Aaron passing out dates to the class.