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From the Summit to the Rescue: Masada Shliach Faces His Fear of Heights

After 22 years serving as the Shliach at Masada, Rabbi Shimon Elharar is accustomed to welcoming visitors to the mountaintop. But during a special cable car rescue drill, he found himself suspended some 80 meters above the ground, confronting his fear of heights and quietly reciting “Shema Yisrael.” In an interview with ChabadInfo, he recounts the extraordinary experience • Read More, Photos

For 22 years, Rabbi Shimon Elharar, the Rebbe’s Shliach and director of the Chabad House atop Masada, has witnessed countless moments at the historic site. But late last week, he found himself in a very different role: instead of welcoming visitors at the summit, he was being lowered from the mountain as part of a rescue drill simulating an emergency.

It began when Rabbi Elharar was asked to participate in a cable car rescue exercise at Masada, conducted by regional rescue units. His participation served a simple but important purpose: to provide additional trained personnel for emergency preparedness and help practice the procedures required to rescue passengers from the cable car.

The cable car is one of the main ways visitors reach the summit of Masada. Every few years, specialized drills are held to prepare rescue teams to respond to a malfunction or other emergency at height.

Rabbi Elharar arrived ready to do his part, but he did not expect to find himself at the center of the exercise.

Speaking with ChabadInfo, Rabbi Elharar described the moment the drill began. The cable car started moving uphill before stopping deliberately midway through the journey. The floor of the cable car was then opened, and he was instructed to descend by rope from a height of approximately 80 meters.

But Rabbi Elharar faced an additional challenge, one far more personal: his fear of heights.

“For those who don’t know, heights and I aren’t exactly the best of friends,” he admitted candidly. “I’m afraid of heights, and every time I walk across the bridge connecting the cable car to the mountain, I deny the situation and let it pass.”

This time, however, there was no avoiding the height. Suspended between heaven and earth, looking down and relying on the rescue equipment and the professionals guiding the exercise, his fear became all too real.

“And so I found myself suspended between heaven and earth, very afraid, looking down and saying, ‘Shema Yisrael!’” he recalled.

Despite his apprehension, the experience ended on a surprisingly positive note. Once the drill was completed and the initial tension had passed, Rabbi Elharar discovered that even in a situation that frightened him, there was an opportunity to gain a new perspective.

“And you know what? After all the apprehension—and perhaps because it was already behind me—it was actually quite nice to be suspended in the air, look fear in the eyes, and manage it,” he concluded.

Footage: Lahav Unit Spokesperson.