March 22nd 2011
Visit the Enot Tsukin Nature Reserve, or En Fashkha, known as the lowest elevation nature reserve on the planet, not to mention one of the most beautiful. This green oasis is located not far from the Dead Sea. There are three parts of this reserve. The northern reserve is closed to all visitors, except for […]
March 22nd 2011
Experience the beauty of the Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve, a green area covering 16,500 acres lying at the center of the Golan Heights. You can wander through the Yehudiya Forest and enjoy the impressive landscape of towering Mt. Tabor oaks mixed with other species of trees. The reserve is home to a variety of fauna […]
March 22nd 2011
Go back to the time of the crusaders with a visit to Belvoir National Park located just above the Jordan Valley. The central attraction is a a recreation of the excavated Crusader fortress discovered at the site. The fortress dates back to the twelfth century and boasts a 20-meter-wide, 12-meter-deep moat used by the crusaders […]
March 22nd 2011
If you’re headed to the Golan Heights, make sure to stop at the beautiful Meshushim Pool, part of the Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve. Meshushim means “hexagons” in Hebrew, a tribute to the remarkably-shaped basalt pillars that line the cool, clear pool. Amazingly, the geometric landscape results from layers of lava slowly cooling through the ages. […]
March 22nd 2011
If you’re looking for a scenic hike that can be managed by the entire family, turn your attention to the Iyon Stream Nature Reserve near Metulla, the northernmost moshav in Israel. The trails here are considered among the most dramatic in Israel. The short trail is just a bit over a mile long. It’s set […]
March 22nd 2011
Visit the river that both connects and divides two nations. The Senir (Hatsbani) River at 65 kilometers is the longest of the three tributaries to the Jordan River. It runs from Lebanon to the northwestern slopes of Mount Hermon and even forms the border between the two countries for a stretch of four kilometers. You’ll […]
March 22nd 2011
If you’re heading north, you won’t want to miss Korazim National Park, a 25-acre attraction known for its archaeological ruins. The site boasts a beautiful synagogue that dates back to the fourth or fifth century. Check out all the stunning, elaborate carvings and the unique sculpture of a pair of lions. The structures are built […]
March 22nd 2011
Naturally, most Israel travelers spend their nights in hotels in major cities or kibbutz guest houses. If you’re looking to switch things up and spend a night or two in nature, the Mishmar HaCarmel Overnight Campground is well worth considering. The campsite, surrounded by dense green forests, is located on Mishmar HaCarmel Farm atop a […]
March 22nd 2011
The Ma’ayan National Park is located near Afula in the Bet She’an Valley. Its main claim to fame is a spring of water that desends from a rocky cave down the slope of Mount Gilboa. The water then flows into the stream that surrounding the park’s lawn. This historical national park commemorates the time when […]
March 22nd 2011
The She’an Nights is a unique night tour performance at the Bet She’an National Park. The three-dimensional audiovisual presentation is a one-of-a-kind show that allows you to experience history as it comes alive through your senses. Through dazzling visual images you’ll get a glimpse of thousands of years worth of historical events in Bet She’an. […]
March 22nd 2011
Located in Hebron, the Cave of Machpelah, or the Cave of the Patriarchs, is one of the holiest locations in Israel. When you visit the Cave of Machpelah, you will learn all about the three patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is also the home of the matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah (all except […]
March 22nd 2011
If you are traveling in the area surrounding Safed, take some time to stop at the Bar’am Synagogue, one of the best-preserved synagogues from the ancient period throughout the country. The stone ruins marking the synagogue now stand as a centerpiece for the Bar’am National Park. Since the third century, it has been a central […]
March 22nd 2011
Today, Shfar’am is a predominantly Arab city in the Galilee, populated by 35,000 Muslims, Christian and Druze Arabs. Located in the North District of Israel west of Haifa, there are many theories about how the city of Shfar’am got its name. One theory holds that, until approximately 500 CE, Shfar’am was known as Shofar Am, […]
March 22nd 2011
One of the highlights of any visit to Jerusalem has to be Siloam Tunnel. This amazing feat of engineering features a 1,500 foot tunnel built in 701 BCE by King Hezekiah in an effort to protect Jerusalem’s main water source, the Gihon Spring, from the Assyrians. When you go, you should expect to get a […]
March 22nd 2011
The road leading to Samson’s tomb in Tel Zor’a is lined with picturesque picnic locations and sculptures, and goes through the President’s Forest. The burial site of Samson is also known as his birth place, and therefore, the area is known as “Samson’s Country.” Once done climbing Tel Zor’a, visitors will see Samson’s blue-domed, white-washed […]
March 22nd 2011
The Safed Cemetery is an important landmark in Safed’s rich history. Thousands of tombstones are lined one after the other along the slopes of Safed’s old city. The cemetery retells part of the city’s history and the inhabitants from 100 years back. Walking along the narrow paths, visitors will read off tombstone inscriptions of mystics […]
March 22nd 2011
The Baba Sali, Rabbi Israel Abuhazera, was from a leading rabbinical family in Morocco. Baba Sali, born in 1889, came to live in Israel when he was 70 years old. He lived in the Negev town of Netivot and secluded himself in his home. People would gather in his home to receive his blessing, especially […]
March 22nd 2011
The Ari’s tomb and mikvah memorialize Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-1572), who is known as the Ari (means “lion” in Hebrew). The Ari greatly influenced Kabbalah in Safed, when he lived there for the years prior to his death. The Ari’s mikvah, where the Ari was washed before burial, is situated around a natural spring near […]
March 22nd 2011
The tombs of the Sanhedrin are located in the ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood of Sanhedria, in a small shady park. Many refer to this landmark as “the Tombs of the Judges.” These tombs are first mentioned by Rabbi Jacob the Emissary in 1235, who calls them the “Tombs of the Righteous,” where many wise and righteous […]
March 22nd 2011
While exploring the rocky plateau of northeast Jerusalem, you will encounter a huge, mysterious structure, known as Kubur Bani Yisra’il (Arabic for the tombs of the Children of Israel). Archaeologists found that the tombs date as far back as to around 2000 BCE. Some say it is the territory that was once allocated to the […]
