Uploaded March 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Masada is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Israel but it has a very dark past. Watch our animated explainer video to learn the brief Jewish history of this large ancient fortress and how its story has changed over time.
Masada is the hilltop site where a splinter group of Jewish zealots held out against the Romans for three years, a final act of rebellion after the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. Eventually, the Romans built a giant ramp and took the location over. Rather than submitting, these 960 people committed suicide as one last act of rebellion.
For more information, here's a scholarly article by Theodore Sasson and Shaul Kelner that greatly influenced the thoughts in this piece:
https://www.brandeis.edu/cmjs/pdfs/masada051908.pdf
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ABOUT US
BimBam sparks connections to Judaism through digital storytelling for learners of all ages. Founded in 2008, BimBam’s catalog of hundreds of animated videos and other digital content are now under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism, and many can be found on its flagship educational website, ReformJudaism.org. Watch something Jewish at https://reformjudaism.org.
Masada is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Israel but it has a very dark past. Watch our animated explainer video to learn the brief Jewish history of this large ancient fortress and how its story has changed over time.
Masada is the hilltop site where a splinter group of Jewish zealots held out against the Romans for three years, a final act of rebellion after the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. Eventually, the Romans built a giant ramp and took the location over. Rather than submitting, these 960 people committed suicide as one last act of rebellion.
For more information, here's a scholarly article by Theodore Sasson and Shaul Kelner that greatly influenced the thoughts in this piece:
https://www.brandeis.edu/cmjs/pdfs/masada051908.pdf
SUBSCRIBE to RJ on the GO: reformjudaism.org/rjonthego to attend live, interactive, virtual experiences for children and families.
FOLLOW
Facebook: facebook.com/reformjudaism
Twitter: twitter.com/reformjudaism
Instagram: instagram.com/reformjudaism
ABOUT US
BimBam sparks connections to Judaism through digital storytelling for learners of all ages. Founded in 2008, BimBam’s catalog of hundreds of animated videos and other digital content are now under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism, and many can be found on its flagship educational website, ReformJudaism.org. Watch something Jewish at https://reformjudaism.org.
