Rosh Ha'ayin || Samaria || And the history of Migdal Tsedek Fortress

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:00]Welcome to the land of Israel.

[00:00:13][music] >> We're everywhere is history.

[00:00:16]>> As much as lies are spreading, I think truth should also spread so that the future generations by the time they listen to lies and they listen to truth, they can also decide which way they want to go.

[00:00:44]imagine living here in this fortress and every day you happen to behold this beautiful view. Wow, this is nice.

[00:00:54]Danger pits walk only on marked trails.

[00:00:57]Every step changes the view.

[00:01:00]Before you are [music] bodies of water with buring depth, including deep water.

[00:01:04]And when I visit places like this, it makes me feel like I'm in that era, that Bzantine era, that Turkish era. Why would somebody want to enter this water?

[00:01:19][music] So this was the quarry site. Oh my god.

[00:01:22]>> You can also see the open spaces in Samaria and the active stone quaries.

[00:01:26]Imagine living in a place like this and this is your window to my right vernal pool path to my left entrance to stoneway. Sometimes the best places are the ones quietly waiting to be explored at Mcbell said it is exactly [music] that.

[00:01:48]Hello. What's up everyone? Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. It's your boy the crackhead and I'm wishing you all a wonderful day. Shabbat shalom.

[00:01:57]Today we're actually going to be exploring Mdal Sedek National Park or you can call it Mdal Ak National Park.

[00:02:06]This park is located at a city called Roshain. I don't know if I pronounced that correctly. Roshien Roshain. I always have, you know, difficulties in pronouncing some names of Israeli cities. But anyways, to those of you who have been at Mcdal Tedc Park, you know what I'm talking about. And if you haven't visited this park, I believe that at the end of this exploration, you will have a reason to visit or likely explore this park for yourself. And um if you're watching outside of Israel, you have an opportunity to see another archaeological place that you probably have never heard about. And there is a fortress here. From what I understand, this fortress was given the name Mirabel.

[00:02:58]I do not know why they choose to give it that name. But anyways, stick around as we explore this amazing and beautiful and it's my first time to be here.

[00:03:11]Mdal Sedc also known as Mikdal Ak is a national park on the southeastern [music] edge of Lashin here in the state of Israel. The ruins [music] of a fortified manor house built by a shik during [music] the 19th century.

[00:03:30]Here it says Mcdaledc Fortress among which remains of the crusader castle of Mirabel [music] can be seen or today known in Hebrew as Mdal Ak or Mdaled.

[00:03:44][music] This is live from Rashin city.

[00:03:51][music] Mcdalc means tower of a effect in ancient Greek and in Hebrew.

[00:04:11]Tomstone tower and home. Before you is the entrance to the Mirabel fortress keep. The lintel bears an inscription in Greek noting the burial place of St. Kirkos. The inscription was apparently part of the saint storm in the Byzantine period and the crusaders moved it to the doorway of the keep. During the Ottoman period, the keep was renovated and became the shake's residence. This was the entrance to his apartment which covered some 450 square m on two levels.

[00:04:44]Mdc means tower of [music] sadc in Hebrew referring to the name of shik sadc [music] al- rayan sadik cafe the world Jewish settlement of mikl ak or aphek stood at the [music] site as early as the 2n century BCE and was [music] destroyed by the Romans during the first Jewish Roman war in 67 [music] CE.

[00:05:15]>> [music] [music] [music] >> from a [music] Bisantine period church.

[00:05:36]A lintel set over a stone belt doorway survives bearing the Greek [music] inscription matipon toy aio gcoy meaning matera shrine [music] of s kurico Turkish coffee at midalc coffee is part of a centuries long cultural tradition the most ancient way of preparing coffee comes from the middle east the beans are crushed with a mortar and pestle and the powder is cooked in special vessels that preserve the aroma and essential oils. The beverage produced by this method is called Turfish coffee. In excavations at metal setic, vessels for making and drinking coffee were found along with hand smoking pipes and water pipes.

[00:06:24]The room behind [music] it was used by the Alan Shake as a stable and for further storage.

[00:06:43]>> [music] >> camels and European porcelain.

[00:06:51]The manor house courtyard contains store rooms, granaries for livestock feed and the main kitchen where meals were cooked for the manor's residents and guests. In 1851, a Dutch visitor described the inner courtyard as full of camels, horses, and cattle. For security purposes, the ground floor windows and doors faced the courtyard. Excavations here reveal portry, glass, and metal vessels used for storage and cooking.

[00:07:17]Most were locally made, but potry imported from Turkey and porcelain from Europe were also found.

[00:07:27]Coffee House 1858. unknown provenence.

[00:07:32]These are pieces of Ottoman handsmoking pipes found during excavations at Mdal Sedek. In the crusader [music] period, a castle named Mirabel was built at the site of ancient Mcdal Ak.

[00:07:47]It was described [music] in Muslim sources in 1225 as a village with a fortress called Mashdal Yaba.

[00:07:57]for that period. I guess this would be considered a very big courtyard if it says here there were camels and other animals here.

[00:08:08]And here is that symbolization of two camels.

[00:08:15][music] For a short time under Ottoman rule, its name was changed from that to Maj Sadik and [music] then back again. In the 17th century, the village was taken over by the Ryan family who arrived [music] from Trans Jordan and built a two-story manor house.

[00:08:37][music] During World War I, Mcdal affect was the site of battles between the central powers that is the forces of the Ottoman, [music] the German and Austrohungarian Empires and the British [music] imperial Egyptian expeditionary force.

[00:08:54]Anytime I make explorations like this and I happen to go to these archaeological locations, structures like this, it amazes me how with the no technology. Well, let me not use the word no the phrase no technology because whatever systems and whatever ways and methods they used in their construction in those days would be considered as their own technology at that time. But we know that it would take them years to build something like this. Whereas in today's world with the technology and the advanced systems of building and constructions we have a fortress like this if it took them like 20 years to you know complete it it would take us probably 2 years. So how men how people were able to do things those days amazes the resilience of mankind.

[00:09:58]These are remnants of what we found here.

[00:10:08]Even the stones look different from the building stones we have today.

[00:10:19]But why did they decide to call this place Mirabel Fortress when it was a man a shake that was the ruler of this place in the 1940s [music] the bonet at Mikd was used by Tahaz the [music] underground Jewish arms industry for testing the first weapons it produced >> [music] >> One stone left upon another. In 1993, work was begun to reinforce the fortress whose foundations were built some 900 years ago. Archaeological excavation accompanied conservation of the building and its restoration to its 19th century appearance. a manor house inhabited by the Shakes family. Throughout the building, you'll see evidence of the reinforcement work, pressure and extension rods, anchors, screws, and concrete reinforcement. Thanks to the devoted work of the conservators, which continued intermittently until 2021, you're now able to get to know the magnificent past of this site.

[00:11:34]Conservation team member on a break.

[00:11:37]This national park is situated at [music] the meeting point between Samaria and the coastal plane and serves as an essential green lung in central Israel. [music] [music] The open space [music] constitutes part of a national ecological corridor that connects the mountain slopes through the Yakon [music] stream riparian zones to the coastal plane. Here [music] you'll find open spaces of nature and landscape in the park featuring heritage thousands of years old.

[00:12:39]>> [music] >> At the center is an ancient fortress with a commanding [music] view of the affect pass part of the Ho Varice way of the sea.

[00:13:05]>> [music] >> The park encompasses many archaeological finds including numerous lime kings.

[00:13:12]This is the [music] best place in Israel to get to know the development of the stone and lime industry and the history of Jewish quarry workers [music] in this country. Let's get to know lime kes.

[00:13:25]There are remains of dozens of lime canes in the vicinity of Russia. There are three types. Flip to the side that matches the type of cane to its description.

[00:13:40]Small quantity for pastor plastering.

[00:13:43]60 tons of line per day for construction.

[00:14:02]I flipped, but I don't have time to match.

[00:14:13]Wow. Just take a look at this. Imagine living here in this fortress and every day you happen to behold this beautiful view. The area of the national park about 2,000 dunams which is about 200 hectares [music] includes quaries around the fortress that had become illegal dunk sites. Looking east, across from you stretch the foothills of the mountains of Samaria, a ridge that rises moderately to the heights of Samaria.

[00:14:50]The reach consists of limestone suitable for quaring and lime production. In the valley below, you can walk the stoneway which tells a special story of the local stone industry.

[00:15:01]Over the past decade, the Israel [music] Nature and Parks Authority has worked with its partners in the project. the Roshain community, the Quarry Rehabilitation Fund, the Ministry of Construction and Housing, and the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs [music] and Heritage to transform the national park into a visitor site that's an experience [music] for a whole family.

[00:15:26]The park's development, conservation, and restoration will continue in the coming years. Welcome to the land of Israel where everywhere is history.

[00:15:42]Even the place you're walking on is history because either the Romans must have walked the very place you are walking and there is a service center here. You want to buy svenirs, want to buy gifts, and of course, you want to get yourself something to eat or drink, you can find it all here at the service center.

[00:16:18]Excuse me. Do they know going up like to go up?

[00:16:32]>> You can only go up the What is this stairs?

[00:16:35]>> H there is a staircase. Okay. All right.

[00:16:38]Thank you.

[00:16:48]>> [music] [music] >> Today I am taking you with me on [music] an unforgettable journey through one of the most fascinating places in central Israel, Midal Sedc [music] National Park. And it's cold here, but now it's going to be hot. Wow, this is nice.

[00:17:20]And when I visit places like this, it makes me feel like I'm in that era, that Baantine era, that Turkish era.

[00:17:33]Wow.

[00:17:36]Beautiful.

[00:17:37]Oh my god.

[00:17:42]Imagine living in a place like this and this is your window.

[00:17:46]You're seeing this beauty. You're seeing the plains, the the field, the valley.

[00:17:52]And as I then I believe everything you're going to be seeing would be green.

[00:17:59]This wasn't [music] just a walk. This wasn't just another day outside.

[00:18:04]This was an exploration [music] filled with history. Breathtaking views, ancient stone path, and the kind of [music] peaceful adventure that stays in your memory long after you leave.

[00:18:22][music] >> [music] >> The moment I arrived at McDal said National Park, I could already feel something [music] different in the atmosphere. The city noise faded behind me, replaced by open skies, fresh air, [music] and the excitement of stepping into a place where the past still [music] stands strong.

[00:18:52]Ahead of me rose the legendary fortress of Mikdaledc [music] standing proudly on the hill like a guardian of history. Even from a distance [music] it looked powerful.

[00:19:03]Ancient walls overlooking the land.

[00:19:06]Silent yet [music] full of stories.

[00:19:09]Okay, let's go down.

[00:19:47]As I began walking toward the fortress, Every step [music] felt like entering another era. The path was peaceful, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.

[00:19:59]Hills [music] rolled into the distance, birds moved through the sky, and the breeze carried that refreshing outdoor feeling [music] that instantly clears the mind. This is what makes exploring special.

[00:20:13]Sometimes you don't need [music] noise.

[00:20:16]Sometimes you don't need crowds.

[00:20:18]Sometimes all you need is space, movement, and something [music] beautiful to discover. And that is exactly what I found here.

[00:20:28]>> Guys, this is beautiful.

[00:20:31][music] >> So, this other wing is still under conservation or renovation [music] or however we want to call it. That's why it's not open.

[00:20:47]As I got closer to the fortress, the details became even more [music] impressive.

[00:20:52]Massive stone walls, old arches, weather surfaces [music] shaped by centuries of sun, wind, and time. You [music] can't look at a place like this without wondering who wants to appear before us.

[00:21:13][music] >> [music] >> travelers, [music] soldiers, builders, or perhaps families and dreamers. Now, here I was [music] adding my own footsteps to that story.

[00:22:13]There is something powerful about standing inside [music] old stone structures. You realize how much time has passed yet these walls remain.

[00:22:22][music] They remain strong, silent and enduring.

[00:22:28][music] >> I walk slowly through the area, taking in every angle. The textures of the [music] stone, the open windows framing the sky, the balance between real and beauty. Every corner [music] looks cinematic.

[00:22:44]For anyone who loves photography, walking videos, history, [music] or simply beautiful places, this is a dream location of Mdal [music] Sedc National Park. It was nice seeing this place.

[00:23:00]I've never been here. I never heard about it. I don't know. For some reason, [music] today when I was searching for a place to explore that is closer to me in Patakba, that was when I [music] bumped into this place and I was like, "What?"

[00:23:15]So, this place has been here all this while I came to Israel and I've been searching and googling for places to to um explore. Was like, "Oh, thank you very much, God of exploration. I believe in God of exploration. And my God of exploration is called Wout. If you've never heard about Wa, now I'm telling you about WA. Believe in him. He's going to direct your path. There are other landmarks and other places and things we can see. So, I'm just walking this trail just to find out where he's going to lead me to. Then came one of the best moments of the whole exploration, the view from above. When I reached the higher points near the fortress, the land opened in every direction. I could see modern towns, roads, distant hills, and endless skies stretching far beyond the horizon.

[00:24:31]It was one of those moments where you stop walking for a second and simply admire. That feeling of standing high above the wall, breathing deeply, seeing how white everything is, it gives you perspective. This way leads to stoneway.

[00:24:54]>> [music] >> God's gone.

[00:25:06]Sometimes we would places like this to remind us how beautiful life can be.

[00:25:12]After enjoying the view, I continued exploring the trails around the park.

[00:25:17]And this is where MD said truly shines because it's not only about the fortress. It is an entire experience.

[00:25:26]Walking path, open landscapes, historical remains, stone quaries, scenic viewpoints, and peaceful corners where you can pause and reflect. Danger pits walk only on marked trails.

[00:25:42]All right. Thank you.

[00:25:45]To my right, Vernal pool path. To my left, entrance to stoneway.

[00:25:51]Let me go the stone way.

[00:25:57]Well, look at how beautiful Mirabel Fortress sits at top the hill. All right. Stoneway is this way to my left.

[00:26:07]In ancient times, alchemists tried to produce what was known as the philosopher stone, a wondrous material that could turn ordinary metal into gold, heal, sickness, and grant immortality. They failed to do so.

[00:26:19]Nevertheless, a wonder does take place in lime kils. The heat of the fire turns the stone into a new material, lime.

[00:26:26]While lime is not the philosopher stone, it is a very valuable raw material.

[00:26:33]The stoneway passes historic rehabilitated quaries and lime kins that operated in the early 20th century from the period of the British mandate to the early years of the state of Israel. Each [music] path invites curiosity.

[00:26:49]Each turn gives you something new.

[00:26:53]I walked through areas where the natural landscape blends perfectly with the old stone environment. It felt rugged, authentic, and full of character. You could feel the contrast between nature and history walking together.

[00:27:10]Green spaces beside ancient [music] rock, fresh wind across old walls, modern footsteps crossing timeless ground. That contrast made the whole adventure feel alive. The triple king.

[00:27:24]These three round structures were used as lankkins in the first half of the 20th century.

[00:27:34]Beautiful. Can I go in? I think yes.

[00:27:38]There is no [music] blockade.

[00:27:52][music] >> [music] [music] >> As I continued, I found quiet spots where the sounds of the world seemed far away. [music] Just wind, birds, and footsteps. Those moments were priceless because exploration is not only about seeing new places. It is also about reconnecting with yourself. All right.

[00:28:32]So, I have seen the stoneway.

[00:28:35]There is no reason to waste much time here.

[00:28:40]I got to take myself back.

[00:28:44]Stoneway short route. Stoneway medium route. Stoneway long route. So apparently this is not the only stone way here. There are other stoneways, but seeing the stoneway we just saw, I don't think there is any need to find or look for other stoneways. When you walk through somewhere like McD [music] National Park, you leave behind pressure and routine. You become [music] present again. You notice the sky. You notice the air. [clears throat] You notice your own thoughts and suddenly everything feels lighter. So this way to vernal pool path.

[00:29:26]The trails [music] kept leading me deeper into the park revealing more scenic [music] areas and hidden angles of the fortress from below.

[00:29:36]Every new viewpoint [music] made the place look different. From one side it looked majestic. from another mysterious from another almost like something from a historical movie set.

[00:29:50]That's the beauty of real exploration.

[00:29:53]You never experience a place only once.

[00:29:57]Every step changes the view.

[00:30:00]Before you [music] are bodies of water with baring depths, including deep water. There are no lifeguard or first aid services [music] to protect nature and for your safety. Swimming is prohibited. Danger of drowning. Caution, slippery.

[00:30:19]At one point, I stopped and looked back at where I had come from. That feeling hit me. I had walked through history, climbed [music] into incredible scenery, and discovered a place many people passed by without realizing how special it is.

[00:30:37][music] >> [music] >> Some of the best destinations are not the loudest or most famous from Quarry to Vernal Pool. Sometimes the best places are the ones [music] quietly waiting to be explored. at Mcdal set. It is exactly that.

[00:31:12]This is the first body of water.

[00:31:17]It's dirty. How could somebody even think of wanting to get into this water?

[00:31:32]And over there is the second body of water.

[00:31:43]Do not enter the water. I repeat, don't enter the water.

[00:31:50]Yes, sir.

[00:31:56]Survival in the vernal pools. Conditions in vernal pools are typically unstable.

[00:32:01]The amount of water, temperature, salinity and turbidity fluctuate often with extreme differences between day and night, summer and winter, drought years and rainy years.

[00:32:14]Why would somebody want to enter this water?

[00:32:20]So this was uh the quarry site.

[00:32:25]It makes sense [music] because um the background rocks gives it away.

[00:32:34]>> [music] >> All right, Vernal Poolool. Bye-bye.

[00:32:45][music] >> [music] [music] >> I'm tired.

[00:33:12]But it was very nice coming to this place, Mdal Sedc National Park or Mdal Ak National Park, whatever is convenient for you. We've read about the story of this place and um if you're living in the state of Israel, feel free to come check it out. And by the way, entrance was just 31 shekels for an adult.

[00:33:39]So bring your family, your friends, and um explore MD said. In fact, if you come in the morning, you're going to have more time exploring this place than I have.

[00:33:54]But the places I have seen so far is another knowledge gained living in this country. I have been opportuned to visit places that I never thought I would see in my lifetime.

[00:34:10]Places I have read about in history books and of course watched the replication of these places in movies.

[00:34:19]So visiting these places is a very very great opportunity for me and this is why I'm making these videos because I understand that a lot of people might not be opportuned as I am to visit these places just like when we see documentary you know videos from um wildlife channels um documentary channels having to know these places exist is something I appreciate and right now I'm taking myself back the same way I came. A hidden giant, [music] a peaceful fortress, a place of adventure close to the everyday world. As the sun moved across the sky and lighting changed beautifully over the stone walls and trails, it [music] was stunning. If you ever want the perfect time to visit a place like this, late afternoon [music] is magic. The temperature softens, the scenic glows, and the whole park feels [music] calm and majestic.

[00:35:24]I kept walking, enjoying every final moment. No rush, no pressure, just appreciating the journey. That's another lesson from [music] days like this.

[00:35:41]>> [music] [music] [music] >> Along the circular path, you will find installations carved and belts of stone, including burial structures from different periods. The throw blooms in spring and fall and overlooks its surroundings.

[00:36:13][music] [music] [music] >> [music] >> Heat up here.

[00:36:50][music] Heat [music] up here.

[00:37:16][music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Visit the graves so you will remember the day of judgment. In many Muslim villages, there is a sacred tomb that serves as a focus of pilgrimage. The tomb structure you see here is attributed to the father who may have been inry from the found [music] [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> I guess this is the boundary.

[00:38:45]Open spaces and development. Mdaledc National Park is situated on the seam between open landscape and belt areas and it reveals a view of the densely inhabited Shaon and lowlands. You can also see the open spaces in Samaria and the active stone quaries. The national park contains rehabilitated stone quaries and remains of ancient lime kils.

[00:39:18]>> [music] >> There is a tunnel down there, but it's a root tunnel or a tunnel for cars.

[00:39:55]the videos I'm making. As much as a lot of people might think I'm trying to make people believe, you know, in Israel, no, that's not the point. The point is to document things for the future. As much as lies are spreading, I think truth should also spread so that the future generations by the time they listen to lies and they listen to truth, they can also decide which way they want to go.

[00:40:21]So this is why I'm making these videos, not for you to believe me, not for you to agree with me, but for you to hear.

[00:40:29]Because a lot of you haven't even heard.

[00:40:32]You've only heard lies. you haven't had the opportunity of you know hearing from the other side.

[00:40:43]Now those [music] houses thousands of years from today people are also going to be exploring it because I'm so sure when that Mirabel Mirabel fortress was built they never thought I would be [music] exploring it today. So these houses you're seeing here thousands of years from now another generation is going to be explored. Wow.

[00:41:09]Look at the houses. Look at this town.

[00:41:11]The belt sha [music] Israel.

[00:41:15]Incredible. What kind of technology did they use those days?

[00:41:21]Those questions are going to come up, but they're not really going to be coming up and people will be imagining [music] and thinking how they did it.

[00:41:29]This is why we're making videos. So they would see from [music] the videos we make today.

[00:42:09]Sometimes the destination [music] is amazing but the real gift is the walk itself. Every [music] step added to the memory. Every view became part of the story. Every quiet [music] moment became something valuable.

[00:42:25]As my exploration began coming to an end, [music] I turned once more toward the fortress. Still standing proudly, still watching over the land, still reminding visitors that [music] greatness can last through time. I felt grateful for the experience, grateful for the fresh air, grateful for the movement, [music] grateful for the beauty, grateful for discovering another incredible place.

[00:42:54]And that's why I love exploring because every journey gives me something.

[00:43:00]Sometimes excitement, sometimes [music] peace, sometimes inspiration, sometimes all three. Today, McDalced National Park gave me [music] all three.

[00:43:12]So, if you ever get the chance, come and experience it for yourself.

[00:43:18][music] Walk the past, climb the [music] heights, feel the history, see the views, take your time. [music] Because places like these are more than locations on a map. They are experiences waiting to happen. Thank you [music] for joining me on my exploration of McDalced National Park. Until the next adventure, keep [music] exploring, keep moving, and keep discovering the beauty around you.