Almost 2 million Israelis travelled to national parks and nature reserves during the Sukkot holiday this year, with around 100,000 having visited parks and reserves on Monday alone. Sukkot commemorates the lodgings the Israelites lived in during their 40 years of wandering in the desert, and Jews build a sukkah, a type of hut, for the holiday. Israelis often spend the holiday traveling through the country and abroad. The most popular sites to visit over the holiday were Caesarea National Park, Coral Beach Nature Reserve in Eilat, Masada, Yarkon National Park, Beit Guvrin National Park and Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. Enjoying the pleasant weather, hundreds of thousands of Israelis visited sites along the water, such as Majrasa Nature Reserve near the Sea of Galilee, Hurshat Tal National Park and nature reserves near the Kziv, Snir and Banias rivers. In Kiryat Yam, near Haifa, a pod of dolphins joined swimmers offshore. Lifeguard David Hermon said, "Such a large pod of dolphins, so close to the beach, hasn't been seen in the city for many years." Tens of thousands of Israelis also bicycled along trails all across the country during the holidays. Israeli search and rescue teams dealt with dozens of emergencies over the holiday, including a helicopter rescue of a father and daughter in Nahal Arugot near the Dead Sea. The eight-day holiday ended Monday with Shemini Atzeret, the Eighth Day of Assembly, and Simchat Torah, or Rejoicing of the Torah. Simchat Torah marks the end of the annual cycle of weekly Torah portion readings. Tens of thousands danced in city centers around the country, with many carrying Torah scrolls, as is customary during the holiday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated his 67th birthday in his office on Sunday, Shemini Atzeret eve, with his wife, Sara, their sons, Likud ministers and MKs, friends from his military service and Prime Minister's Office staff.
