The author's memoirs touch on a legendary theme in Israeli modern history - visits to the "Red Rock", deadly trips into the territory of a hostile country, which turned into a risky tradition for young IDF soldiers over the course of ten years. "Red Rock" is an ancient city, carved Nabateans in the rocks near Petra on the territory of modern Jordan. And also “Red Rock” (Hebrew: הסלע האדוםu200e - “ha-sela ha-adom”) - a popular Israeli song written in 1955 by the poet Chaim Hefer (Hebrew: חיים חפרu200e ) and composer Yohanan Zaray (Hebrew: יוחנן זראיu200e). In 1953, Meir Har-Zion, a fighter of “detachment 101”, “the best soldier of Israel since Bar Kochba”, according to Moshe Dayan, with his friend Rachel Savorai went to Petra to see the Red rock. This dangerous journey took four nights and three days, but they reached their goal. The success of this enterprise marked the beginning of a tradition that existed in the Israeli army for many years - to visit the Red Rock and return alive. Campaigns to Petra began - first by the fighters of the “one hundred and first detachment”, and then by paratroopers. This fashion became widespread in the IDF - it was considered the highest heroism to get to Petra by illegally crossing the border with Jordan. The Jordanian authorities, who learned about the ritual of Israeli paratroopers, began to set up ambushes - and after four months, five Israelis fell into a trap. They were arrested and shot at the Bar Madkur village police station. But a few (or many? - their exact number is unknown) managed to reach Petra and return safely. They gained the respect of their fellow soldiers, but Meir Har-Zion subsequently more than once expressed regret that he had started this bloody tradition. In 1955, the poet Chaim Hefer and the composer Yonatan Zaray wrote the song “Ha-sela ha-adom” - “Red Rock”. It was sung by Arik Lavi. In 1956, Dmitry Berman and Dror Levi went to Petra. They reached Petra and even took a whole film there, but on the way back they were ambushed and fought. Dror was killed, and the wounded Dmitry managed to break through to his own. In March 1957, four more soldiers were killed. Because of these reckless victims, trips to Petra were prohibited by a special law, and radio stations were forbidden to broadcast and perform this song at concerts - so as not to excite the imagination. However, the campaigns did not stop until the end of the 1980s.$$0$$Use the arrow to expand or collapse this section$$PesnKrasSkala.jpg$$Story from the site "Notes on Jewish History" No. 1(160) January 2013