Watching the sun go down into the sea

Yesterday evening after work, my family and I went swimming at our nearest beach.
Our nearest beach is Nasholim beach. One of the most amazing beaches in the world, it has everything a sea-lover might wish for.

Small and large sea coves to explore, baby fish that you can either chase between the rocks or allow to nibble on your dead skin, a huge collection of sea shells and waves that are often large enough for surfing.

You can look for the hidden mermaid's chair to make a sitting wish, catch some fish or sift for ancient archeological treasure. Our favourite bay atNasholim is just big enough for a tiring swim from to one side to the other and back again.

If you'd rather do beach instead of sea - the sand is white and soft and made for lazing.

I usually stay in the water as much as possible. Life in Israel can be tense, so it is nice to float aimlessly without any thoughts in the Mediterranean sea.The summer is slowly coming to an end which means that the water is finally cool and refreshing.

It also means that the sun is setting earlier now.

I underestimated the strength of the current and it took longer to swim my wayback across the bay. Even though it was getting really dark, I wasn't in a rush and often took a break to look at the setting sun.

The view was unbearable beautiful.

Suspended in the sea at that specific moment and space was awe-inspiring. Between the darkening water and the black beach and the fiery sky. The tops of the waves caught the light of the setting sun, giving a velvet texture to the black waves

I wasn't just observing the sunset; I felt that I was part of it.

The scene of Forest Gump telling Jenny about the beautiful sunsets in the bayou came into my mind. "Before the sun goes to bed down at the bayou, there was over a million sparkles on the water."

I also thought of Homer's "wine dark sea", and in that moment I knew what he meant. All those scholars throughout the ages pondering the meaning of his words should just take a swim when the sun goes down.

A cold shiver went through my body.

The darkening sky and the cold temperature of the water brought me back to the current situation in Israel. The dark cloud-feeling that is constantly hanging over everyone in this country.

I feel guilty for being able to swim in the sea when there are many hostages still kept in dark tunnels in Gaza. And how can you really enjoy the beauty of the setting sun when there are so many of our countrymen and women who died this year.

There are evacuees who haven't been home for more than a year. Living in some hotel room somewhere with scared children. There are people whose homes were destroyed. People who lost family members. Soldiers who are often called upon to enter dangerous situations. Families who constantly worried and praying for their loved ones.

And yet, here I am swimming in the sea, and watching the sun down.

We have long summers here in Israel. Autumn is short and sweet and then suddenly it is too cold to swim in the sea. This will probably be my last swim in the Mediterranean sea this year.

I hope that there will still be many more, but who call tell these days what will happen tomorrow.

As long as I have breath in my body, I’ll continue to watch the sun go down into the sea—for myself and for those who cannot do it anymore.

This blog post is dedicated to Or Tasa, 16, of Moshav Netiv Ha’asara.
Murdered by Hamas terrorists in the attack on Zikim Beach. Or went fishing with his friends on the beach early on the Saturday morning on October the 7th.

Saturday, 21th of September, 2024
Israel

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