Zach types “courage” into Brainyquote. He angles his screen away from the sun, and begins: “Plato sees courage as perseverance — through suffering, pleasure, and fear.”

E ven at sunrise. Even with three liters of ice water on his back. Even with a group of friends. Climbing Masada in August Daniel thought as he panted up the path was not the most brilliant idea.

It’s still dark when they arrive at the bottom snake path but the sun rises rapidly and before they’re halfway up the long winding path sweat is already running down his forehead and stinging his eyes.

The guys are getting ahead of him.

Daniel’s calves burn his heels blister. He slips further behind then catches up and slips into the circle of banter: Zach Max on summer break from university; Yoni and Efraim who have been here all year in yeshivah waiting anxiously for approval — from parents from university courses — to stay a second year.

There is no dawn moisture here in the Judean Desert only sun on skin scorching arrows through the air the ground turning from black to gray to brown to dun and now it is light enough for him to see the streaks of red and copper in the sand.

Another step another. They’re all out of breath except for Zach who works out every day even during exam time. When Max went off to Oxford he made a big deal about punting on the Cherwell said he’d do it with sublime competence. With all the essays he humblebrags about writing seems like Max has conveniently forgotten to unearth his latent talent.

Stumbling upward. They’re almost at the top now. Another turn, passing a Birthright group, a Spanish tour guide and her group. Yoni is deep in debate with Max — good luck to him. Max is studying PPE — politics, philosophy, and economics — hoping for a straight ride from Oxford to Westminster. For Max, every argument is proof — or otherwise — of his suitability for a glittering political career. Good luck to anyone who tries to debate Max.

But Yoni’s not giving in. “C’mon, Max, never heard of a phantom limb?”

“I have.”

“So.”

“Meaning?”

Yoni pauses on the path for a second. “Meaning our own perceptions can’t be relied on to tell us the truth. Our neurology.”

“Are you saying that neurology and thought are one and the same?” Max counters. “Because the measurable functions of the brain — memory, visual-spatial imagery, language, and so forth — cannot be called mind.”

“They’re interdependent,” says Yoni. “But that’s not the point.”

No, agrees Daniel silently. The point is that Max intimidates them with his Oxford Credentials. Ha. Arguing about truth with a big faker.