June 23rd 2011
Visitors to the Holy Land usually start with a trip to the Kotel, also known as the Wailing Wall or Western Wall. The Kotel is the last remaining wall of the Temple Mount, upon which the Jewish Temple stood in antiquity. Since the Temple Mount itself is mostly off-limits to Jews, the Kotel is considered […]
June 6th 2011
Visiting graves of righteous people is an important element of a successful Israel tour in order to connect with the vast array of courageous souls who undertook the difficult task of uplifting the Jewish people spiritually and physically throughout history. Up in the spectacular coastal town of Tiberias, lies a number of extremely important Jewish […]
May 31st 2011
In the beautiful world of Haifa next to the beach lies the prophet’s haven. Who was Elijah? Scripture sees him as a prophet, who used this cave to gain strength before returning to defeat the pagans who worshipped Baal. Elijah lived in the 9th century BCE. The Cave was also the location he returned to […]
May 4th 2011
Israel is burning up, this May 21, 2011, with bonfires galore. This holiday celebration of Lag B’omer isn’t exactly “marshmallow season” ( though you could bring a bag if you want). Rather, it is a day of great joy and festivities, after thirty three days of mourning in which observant Jews don’t listen to live […]
April 11th 2011
This Passover, while you’re traveling in Israel, you might as well visit some long-lost relatives. You know, the ones you lost touch with years ago, the ones your ma and pa told you stories about, and the ones who go waaaay back to the beginning of Jewish history. In other words, if you want to […]
March 23rd 2011
Possibly the coolest archaeological experience you will have in Israel, in the most bizarre architectural structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls. During you travels in Israel, your group tour must journey to this fantastic exhibit located at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd hit the ultimate Biblical jackpot- 11 caves around […]
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 […]
March 22nd 2011
At the foot of the Mount of Olives lies the sacred tomb of Zechariah. Zechariah’s tomb is considered to be a great symbol of the Holy City for two reasons. The first is that the Mount of Olives is the place where the Messiah will take his first steps; and the second is the fact […]
March 22nd 2011
Discover the restored tomb of the Biblical matriarch, Rachel, wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin. According to the Bible, Rachel was buried on the Bethlehem road located at the entrance of Bethlehem in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. Sir Montefiore received permission from the Turkish Sultan, and refurbished and expanded the tomb to […]
March 22nd 2011
At the Tomb of Rachel you’ll learn all about Rabbi Akiva’s wife, Rachel. This century-old domed tomb is located in Tiberias, and has since been a place of pilgrimage where many light candles and pray. The great love story of Rachel and Rabbi Akiva started when Rabbi Akiva was working as a shepherd for Rachel’s […]
March 22nd 2011
When visiting Safed, it is customary to visit the tomb of Rabbi Pinhas ben Yair. The great sage was the son-in-law of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a sage in the second century. Rabbi Pinhas was well known for his humble disposition and did not want anything on his tomb since he believed that people should […]
