Arrival Meet and assist at Ben Gurion Airport-Tel Aviv

Caesarea - Mount Carmel-Meggido-Tsipori

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Caesarea Maritima:

served as a base for the Roman legions who quelled the Great Revolt that erupted in 66 BCE, and it was here that their commanding general Vespasian was declared Caesar. It is an ancient city, built during the reign of Herod the Great in the late first century B.C.E., played an important role in Roman Palestine and was a major south Levantine harbor during Paul's missionary journeys. It was the home of Cornelius; the first Gentile convert and of Philip the evangelist. Caesarea was a wonder to behold with its archaeological sites which includes a large Roman amphitheater, hippodrome and aqueduct. It’s known for Caesarea National Park, which includes the historic port. On the site are the archaeological park with pillars and sculptures, and the remains of a hippodrome, with frescoes and stone seating. The ruins of the seafront Promontory Palace include the remains of a mosaic floor. 

Mt. Carmel: also known in Arabic as Mount Mar Elias, is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. The range is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The view of the city of Haifa and the Bahai’ Gardens are phenomenal from up the mountain.

Muraqaba at Mt Carmel:

the challenge between the Prophet Elijah and King Ahab and the prophets of Baal to see which deity could light a sacrifice by fire. After the prophets of Baal had failed, Elijah had water poured upon his sacrifice to saturate the altar. He then prayed. Fire fell and consumed the sacrifice, wood, stones, soil and water, which prompted the Israelite witnesses to proclaim, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God! Prophet Elijah then announced the end to a long three-year drought, which had previously been sent as divine punishment for Israel's idolatry, then Elijah retreated to the caves hiding from the evil Queen Jezebel, who had sworn to kill him!

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The Jezreel Valley:

The name Jezreel means, “May God sow.” But more shockingly, the Jezreel valley was well known as the location of much fighting and bloodshed. Here the Jezreel's rulers killed Ahab's 70 sons, put their heads in baskets, and brought them to Jehu Queen Jezebel murdered Naboth in his own vineyard in Jezreel and later died after being thrown from a palace and devoured by dogs. No less than thirty-four battles have occurred in or around this area.  It Is also the Stage for the Final Battle, the Armageddon- Many biblical scholars interpret Armageddon as a symbolic reference to a future, apocalyptic battle that will take place at the end of time. It is seen as a final showdown between the forces of good and evil, where God's judgment will be executed upon the wicked, and the righteous will be vindicated.

Megiddo:

Tel Megiddo is the site of the ancient city of Megiddo, the remains of which form a tell (archaeological mound), situated in northern Israel. for Christians the word Megiddo is synonymous with the end of the world as mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Megiddo, or Armageddon, will be the site of the Final Battle. This will be the final battle of many fought here. Excavation has uncovered about 26 layers of settlements dating back to the Chalcolithic period.

Tsippori:

Sepphoris Arabic (صفورية) is an archaeological site located in the central Galilee region of Israel, north-northwest of Nazareth. The site holds a rich and diverse historical and architectural legacy that includes Hellenistic, ancient Jewish, Roman, Byzantine, early Islamic, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman remains. In the Roman period, it was also called Diocaesaraea. Since Late Antiquity, it was believed to be the birthplace of Mary, mother of Jesus, and the village where Saints Anna and Joachim are often said to have resided, where today a fifth-century basilica is excavated at the site honouring the birth of Mary. Notable structures at the site include a Roman theatre, two early Christian churches, a Crusader fort partly rebuilt by Zahir al-Umar in the 18th century, and over sixty different mosaics dating from the third to the sixth century CE."Mona Lisa of the Galilee", 4th-century Roman mosaic. The area where the remains of the ancient city have been excavated, was designated an archaeological reserve named Tzipori National Park in 1992.

Tiberias, Mt of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Primacy of St.Peter- Magdala, Capernaum,Corazim and Bethsaida 

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Mt of Beatitudes -The Church of the Beatitude:

Lies on the Mount of Beatitude, it is the setting of Jesus most famous “Sermon on the Mount” which comprised the heart of his teachings. 

Tabgha: - Church of Multiplication

The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, is best known for Christ’s miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish to feed a multitude of 5000 men, plus women and children who were sitting on the grass. Then he took five loaves and two fish, “looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves . . . and the disciples gave them to the crowds”. After they had eaten, the leftovers filled 12 baskets, the miraculous feeding came after Jesus learnt that Herod Antipas had beheaded his cousin, John the Baptist.

The Primacy of Peter:

Is the spot where Jesus is believed to have made his third appearance to his disciples after his   Resurrection. Peter and six other disciples had been fishing all night without catching anything. Just after daybreak Jesus stood on the beach, though they did not recognize him. Jesus told the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat and the net filled with 153 fish. When the disciples dragged the net ashore, they found that Jesus had cooked them breakfast on a charcoal fire. Jesus challenged Peter three times with the question: “Do you love me?” Peter’s positive response to this three-fold challenge cancelled out his three-fold denial of Jesus the night before his crucifixion. Then Jesus gave Peter a three-fold commission: “Feed my lambs …Tend my sheep . . . Feed my sheep.” And he also indicated that Peter would die by martyrdom. After this event Peter’s primacy as head of the apostles was recognized. The rock incorporated in the church floor is traditionally believed to be the place where Jesus prepared breakfast. It was known to medieval pilgrims as Mensa Christ (the table of Christ).

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Magdala:

meaning "tower";Arabic: المجدل, was an ancient Jewish city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, 5 km (north of Tiberias. It is believed to be the birthplace of Mary Magdalene.Archaeological excavations found that the settlement began during the Hellenistic period (between the second and first centuries BCE) and ended during the late Roman period (third century CE). Later excavations brought the discovery of an ancient synagogue, called the "Migdal Synagogue", dating from the Second Temple period. It is the oldest synagogue found in the Galilee, and one of the few synagogues from that period found in the entire country, as of the time of the excavation. They also found the Magdala stone, which has a seven-branched menorah symbol carved on it. It is the earliest menorah of that period to be discovered outside Jerusalem. As archaeologists continued to dig, they discovered an entire first century Jewish town lying just below the surface. The excavation revealed multiple structures and four mikvaot (plural of mikvah or mikveh) is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve ritual purity. Another synagogue from the same period was discovered at Magdala. It has also been described as "the capital of a toparchy", and is compared to Sepphoris and Tiberias in that it had "administrative apparatus and personnel" though not to the same extent.

Capernaum:

Is the small town where the Ruins of St. Peter’s House and the ancient synagogue where Jesus did most of His teaching and one of the three town Jesus cursed for not listening to his teachings and refusal to repent.

Corazim:

The ruins are one of the three Galilean cities cursed by Jesus (“Woe to you, Chorazin!”) because their people did not accept his teachings and repent.

Bethsaida:

Is an ancient village located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is the third village He cursed It is the village of Jesus disciples Philip, Peter and Andrew. It is identified as the location where Jesus performed some of his most incredible miracles, it is here he led a blind man away from the village, restored his sight, and instructed the man not to re-enter the town and not tell anyone of the miracle he had performed.

Kursi:

Is the village where Jesus healed the two possessed demonic men who came at him out of the tombs and transferred the demons afflicting them to a number of swine, that thereupon rushed down a steep hill and perished.       

Tiberias – Ginossar(Gennesaret) – Sea of Galilee- Jordan River-Mt.Arbel 

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Sea of Galilee Boat

Ride Arabic: بحيرة طبريا), also called Lake Tiberias or Kinneret, is a freshwater lake in Israel. It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world (after the Dead Sea, a Salt Lake), the lake is fed partly by underground springs, but its main source is the Jordan River, which flows through it from north to south and exits the lake at the Degania Dam.

Ginossar(Gennesaret):

Jesus used to sail across the lake and lands at Ginosar (Gennesaret). Always a crowd would gather, wanting Jesus to cure their ills. Jesus let the afflicted people touch the fringe of his cloak, and they were healed. And to see the Jesus Boat or Galilee Boat which is the name given to an ancient fishing boat discovered in the Sea of Galilee and now on display at a Museum at Kibbutz Ginosar on the edge of the Sea of Galilee.

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The Jordan River Baptismal site:

Both areas in Jordan and the West Bank take their names from the river. The river has a major significance in Judaism and Christianity, the Jews believe that the Israelites crossed it into the Promised Land. Christians believe that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in it.

Mt Arbel:

is a mountain in The Lower Galilee near Tiberias, with high cliffs, views of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, a cave-fortress, and ruins of an ancient synagogue. Mount Arbel sits across from Mount Nitai; their cliffs were created as a result of the geological processes leading to the creation of the Jordan Rift Valley. And from the lookout atop the mountain, almost all of the Galilee is visible including Safed, as well as Tiberias and most of the Sea of Galilee, and the slopes of the Golan Heights on the other side of the Sea.

Golan Heights- Caesarea Philippi(Banias),Hazor, The alter at the Dan,

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Golan Heights:

Arabic: هَضْبَةُ الْجَوْلَانِ, is a region in the Levant spanning about 1,800 km2 . The region defined as the Golan Heights differs between disciplines: as a geological and biogeographical region, as a geopolitical region, it refers to the border region captured from Syria by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967; the territory has been occupied by the latter since then and was subject to a de facto Israeli annexation in 1981. This region includes the western two-thirds of the geological Golan Heights and the Israeli-occupied part of Mount Hermon. The earliest evidence of human habitation on the Golan dates to the Upper Paleolithic period Throughout the Biblical period, Since the Six-Day War of 1967, the western two-thirds of the Golan Heights has been occupied and administered by Israel whereas the eastern third remains under the control of Syria.

Caesarea Philippi (Banias):

lies in lush area near the foot of Mount Hermon, was a city dominated by immoral activities and pagan worship. Caesarea Philippi stood only twenty-five miles from the religious communities of Galilee. Jesus met with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, here Peter declared that HE was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then promised Peter “the keys of the kingdom of heaven”. 

Hazor:

Located north of the Sea of Galilee on a trade route connecting Egypt and Babylon, Hazor was the largest biblical-era site in Israel. It was conquered and destroyed in 732 B.C.E. An Assyrian citadel and palace are known (Stratum III), as well as a few remains from the Persian and Hellenistic periods (Strata II–I). In 2005 Hazor, along with the other two Biblical tells were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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The Dan the Altar:

The high place at Dan, in northern Israel, dates to 920 BC, when Israel was divided into the northern (Israel) and the southern (Judah) kingdoms. The high place was surrounded by a wall. On top of the high place were buildings that housed the shrine or "idol" that was worshipped there. archaeologist who directed this excavation, found evidence of three different high places on this site, all built on the same location.The earliest remains date to King Jeroboam in the tenth century BC. As the new king of the recently formed northern kingdom, Jeroboam needed an alternative to the temple established by David and Solomon at Jerusalem. Probably built over an existing "religious sanctuary," the high place at Dan focused on a golden calf as the object of worship drift into pagan practices and values. At the second stage, the platform of the high place was rebuilt probably by King Ahab, whose devotion to Baal is well known. Israel continued to sink deeper into pagan practices and values and further away from God. The third stage came during the reign of Jeroboam II. Archaeologists found only parts of the altar, including one of the horns that protruded from the four corners and part of the steps leading to it. Based on these finds, archaeologists constructed the metal frame, which shows how massive the altar was. It towered over the altars of earlier times. During Jeroboam II's reign, Amos predicted the final destruction of the Israelite nation because of its idolatry and pagan practices. His message must have seemed totally out of place because Israel was at the peak of prosperity. Thirty years later, however, the northern 10 tribes were destroyed by the brutal Assyrian army and ceased to exist as a people. Ashes and burn marks from a great fire were among the remains of this altar and high place, confirming Amos' prediction.

Beit She’an- -Qumran- Ein Gedi and Dead Sea

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Beit She’an:

Is where the bodies of King Saul and three of his sons were hung by the Philistines after the Battle of Gilboa. According to the biblical the battle was fought at Mount Gilboa, around the year 1010 BC. The city remained a significant metropolis during the reign of King David and King Solomon. 

Spring of Herod Scythopolis(another name for Bet Shean):

The area known as the Beit She’an Valley, more recently rebranded as the “Valley of Springs”,  It’s the hottest part of Israel, the spring, flows eastwards thru the valley towards Beit-Shean (Scythopolis), and joins the Jordan river.

The Jordan Valley:

The Jordan Valley forms part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. Unlike most other river valleys, the term "Jordan Valley" often applies just to the lower course of the Jordan River, from the spot where it exits the Sea of Galilee in the north, to the end of its course where it flows into the Dead Sea in the south.

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Dead Sea:

Also called the Sea of Lut, Sea of Salt: The Dead Sea, itself, is an inland body of water appropriately named due to the fact that it’s extremely high salt and mineral-rich waters are not conducive to sustaining life. In fact, the Dead Sea is nearly ten times saltier than any of the world’s oceans.

Qumran:

Are the Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered not so long ago. Located on the north-western shore of the Dead Sea, Qumran is located between Jerusalem and the major Dead Sea beaches and attractions such as Ein Gedi and Masada. 

Excavation of the Essenes ruins and the Cave of the Scrolls: 

The Dead Sea Scrolls are usually thought to have been produced by a group known as the Essenes who wrote, copied, or collected the scrolls at Qumran and deposited them in the caves of the adjacent hills, they literally abandoned Jerusalem, it seems, in protest... against the way the Temple was being run.

Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat:

En Gedi, meaning “spring of the kid (young goat)”, is a living testament to the resilience and beauty of nature amidst arid surroundings. For centuries, this oasis has been a source of life, stories, and inspiration. From its biblical references to its historical significance, every stream and trail narrates a tale, it is located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the Qumran Caves. Fleeing from King Saul, David hides in the strongholds at Ein Gedi and Saul seeks him "even upon the craggiest rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats.

Masada

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Masada:

Is the ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea. A ride in a cable car and a winding path climb takes you up to the fortifications. Among the ruins is King Herod’s palace and a Roman style bathhouse with mosaic floors. It is famous for the last stand of the Zealots where the 960 living at the top of the plateau chose to commit suicide rather than to fall into the hands of the Romans alive. Masada is a UNESCO world heritage. 

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Samson:

Lived in the area of Tzorah, the home of Samson from the book of Judges in the Bible.  Visit the archaeological site of Tzorah, the Altar where the angel appeared to Manoach and his wife as well as the area of Timnah where Samson met his first Philistine wife.

Tel Shamesh:

Tel (mound) Beit Shemesh covers about 7 acres of a low hill, near the modern town of Beit Shemesh, some 20-km. west of Jerusalem. It overlooks the Sorek Valley, which widens here into a fertile valley. In the Canaanite mythology Shemesh, or as she is usually called in extra-biblical texts - Shepesh, was the daughter of El and Asherah – yes, God had a wife, and was considered one of the main deities in the Canaanite pantheon. Her cultic center was in Beit Shemesh. 

Valley of Elah and Adullam

The Valley of Elah stretches for about half a mile, southwest of Jerusalem. The valley received its name from the Elah tree, a type of oak or terebinth tree. This large and old Elah tree still remains in the valley Located on the east end of the valley is the site of Adullam. This place where David hid in his initial flight from Saul.so in David’s day, this site was apparently in “no man’s land” where he could stay safely out of the path of Saul or the Philistines. David hid in the “cave of Adullam. Today there are many caves at the site and it is not clear which one or ones David used, as many have been used and modified in the years since. While he was here, 400 men who were in debt, distress, or discontent, gathered around David.

Western Judean hills:

or Judaean Hills or the Hebron Mountains, is a mountain range in Israel and the West Bank where Jerusalem, Hebron and several other biblical cities are located. The mountains reach a height of 1,026 meters they separated to a number of sub-regions, including the Mount Hebron ridge, the Jerusalem ridge and the Judean slopes. The Judaean Mountains formed the heartland of the Kingdom of Judah (930-586 BCE), where the earliest Jewish settlements emerged, and from which Jews are generally descended. 

Herodion:

Herodium, or Jabal al-Fureidis because of its shape it is called “Mountain of Paradise”. It is an ancient Jewish fortress and town, located in what is now the West Bank, 12 kilometers south of Jerusalem and 5 kilometers southeast of Bethlehem. A major archaeological site, home to an impressive palace dating to the time of King Herod.        

Mount of Olives and all its churches- Gethsemane Garden, Hezekiah’s Tunnel

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Mt. of Olives:

It is named so for the Olive groves that once covered its slopes. It stands 300ft above the city of Jerusalem. On the Mount of Olives is where Jesus often went there to pray. On his triumphal entry to Jerusalem before Passover on Palm Sunday and on a donkey, went down the mountain He was by a crowd acclaiming him by waving palm branches and laying cloaks on the ground to honour Him. Also, it is the place from which Jesus ascended to heaven from the Church of the Ascension.

Church of Pater Noster:

is where Jesus Christ’s taught the Lord’s Prayer to his disciples.On the walls around the church and its vaulted cloister, translations of the Lord’s Prayer in 140 languages are inscribed on colourful ceramic plaques.

Church of the Ascension:

is a shrine located on the Mount of Olives on the site believed to be the earthly spot where Jesus ascended into Heaven after his resurrection. It houses a slab of stone believed to contain one of his footprints.

Dominus Flavit Church:

Or the little teardrop church, located halfway down the western slope of the Mount of Olives, it is in this place where Jesus wept over the future fate of Jerusalem, it occurred during Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, when crowds threw their cloaks on the road in front of him and shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of Lord” Looking down on the city, Jesus wept over it as he prophesied its future destruction. Enemies would “set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side . . . crush you to the ground . . . and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God. “Within 40 years, in AD 70, Jesus’ prophesy was fulfilled. Roman legions besieged                                                                                                                                                    Jerusalem and, after six months of fighting, burnt the Temple and levelled the city.

Garden of Gethsemane:

Is the garden of Olives which hosts the oldest Olive trees in the world at the foot of Mount of Olives where Jesus underwent the agony and was arrested there before his crucifixion Walking distance from the Gethsemane garden is the church of all Nations. 

Church of all Nations:  

This Church enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus prayed before his arrest ad His tears penetrated the rock and still visible to this day.

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Kidron Valley:

The Kidron Valley is a place just outside of Jerusalem, in between the city and the Mount of Olives. The name Kidron (or Cedron in the KJV) is either a reference to the “darkness” or “murkiness” of the water that periodically flows in that place or to the cedars that grow in that area. The Kidron Valley is technically a wadi, as a stream runs through it only after heavy rains. This location is associated in the Bible with sorrow, judgment, and death. Jesus crossed the Valley of Kidron many times in His travels. On the night of His arrest, Jesus “went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden” Once in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus felt the full weight of His impending death, so much so that “his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood”. The Bible speaks of an end-times judgment on the earth. As God is restoring the fortunes of His people, Israel, He says, “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel”. The Valley of Jehoshaphat, or the Valley of Decision is thought by many to be a reference to the Valley of Kidron. In each case, the Kidron Valley serves as backdrop to death and sorrow and judgment. 

Hezekiah’s Tunnel

Leading from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloan, Hezekiah’s Tunnel (also known as the Shiloah Tunnel) is one of only a few 8th-century-BC structures worldwide that are fully accessible to the public. The newer Siloam Tunnel also known as Hezekiah's Tunnel is a water tunnel that was carved within the City of David in ancient times, now located in the Arab neighborhood of Silwan in eastern Jerusalem. Its popular name is due to the most common hypothesis that it dates from the reign of Hezekiah of Judah (late 8th and early 7th century BC) According to the Bible, King Hezekiah prepared Jerusalem for an impending siege by the Assyrians, by "blocking the source of the waters of the upper Gihon, and leading them straight down on the west to the City of David" By diverting the waters of the Gihon, he prevented the enemy forces under Sennacherib from having access to water.The tunnel leads from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam. The walk-through Hezekiah's Tunnel takes about 20 minutes (or 40 minutes if it's busy), but allow yourself plenty of time for the descent to the start and return ascent. If you don't want to get wet, there's a second tunnel without water, which takes about 15 minutes to walk through. 

You need special clothes and long boots to walk inside the wet tunnel) Because the water is Knee deep.

Old City of Jerusalem -Temple Mount Area, Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Davidson Center

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Ecce Homo Arch:

“Ecce Home” is the name given to a Roman triumphal arch placed between the 2nd and the 3rd stations of the “Stations of the Cross” (Via Dolorosa) in Jerusalem. The Ecce Homo Arch is an impressive arch made of stone, built above the Via Dolorosa Street. The Church of Ecce Homo, also known as the Basilica of Ecce Homo, is named for Pontius Pilate's Ecce Homo speech, which is likely to have taken place on the pavement below this church. This ancient arch is known as Ecce Homo, which means in Latin “This is the man”.

St. Anne Church:

home of Anne and Joachim parents of the blessed Virgin Mary.

Pool of Bethesda:

Behind the church are the remains of ancient pools, a Roman temple and churches. The pools have been identified as the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a crippled man. During the Roman Period this site was the location of a temple to Asclepius, the Roman god of healing. A church was built over the ruins of the temple and the pool in the 5th century, and today we can see the great arches that supported the floors.

Church of Flagellation & Condemnation

where Jesus was condemned to death by crucifixion and was flogged then carrying His cross through the Via Dolorosa.

Via Dolorosa :

the Via Dolorosa Latin for "Way of Grief, “or "Way of Sorrow," or “Way of Suffering" is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem, it is the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route from the Antonia Fortress west to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher—a distance of about 600 meters (2,000 feet). It is marked by nine Stations of the Cross; the remaining five stations being inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Calvary:

on the top of the hill in Jerusalem known as Golgotha stands the holiest Christian shrine in the Old City, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – the site of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection. 

Temple Mount Area:

The Temple Mount is a hill in the Old City of Jerusalem that has been venerated as a holy site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam for thousands of years. According to Jewish tradition, both Temples stood at the Temple Mount. Jewish tradition further places the Temple Mount as the location for a number of important events which occurred in the Bible, including the Binding of Isaac, Jacob's dream, and the prayer of Isaac and Rebekah. The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra) is an octagonal structure on an elevated platform in the middle of the Temple Mount area in Jerusalem. It is revered by most Muslims as the spot from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven.

The Jewish Quarter:

of Jerusalem’s Old City is one of the four quarters of the walled city. The quarter is home to around 2,000 people and covers about 0.1 square kilometers. It is also the location of many tens of synagogues and yeshivas (places of the study of Jewish texts) and has been almost continually home to Jews since the century 8 BCE. Today, the Western Wall is its main attraction.

Western Wall:

The Western Wall (in Hebrew the Kotel) is the number one attraction of the Jewish Quarter and probably the whole of the Old City of Jerusalem. The holiest site in Judaism, this iconic wall is actually the last remaining wall of the courtyard which surrounded Second Temple towards where Jews around the world face to pray. Dating from the Herodian period Jews from around the world come to the wall to pray. You don’t have to be Jewish to go up to the Western Wall – you just need to be dressed modestly and have your head covered if you’re a man (there are skullcaps available at the entrance). One traditional act which is undertaken at the Western Wall is placing a prayer written on a small note in a crack in the wall.

Davidson Center:

the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, is located nearby the Western Wall in the Old City. Davidson Center is one of Jerusalem’s top tourist attractions due to its historical and archeological significance You will find archaeological finds and displays from the First & Second Temple periods: the ancient city wall, the Temple’s staircase, a preserved ancient street, ritual immersion baths, and stores. Multi-level space in Umayyad palace, holding artifacts from Second Temple to Early Islamic periods.

Garden Tomb –Ein Karem- Israel Museum 

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 Garden Tomb:

Located just outside the city walls of Jerusalem you will find The Garden Tomb, a possible location for the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Near to the Damascus Gate and standing in the shadow of Skull Hill you will find this beautiful garden with its ancient empty tomb. A place of worship, witness, and contemplation.

Ein Karem:

is a charming hillside village famed for its centuries-old holy sites. These include the Church of St. John the Baptist, containing a cave said to be the saint’s birthplace, and Mary’s Spring, where the Virgin Mary is believed to have drunk. Dotting the village’s narrow streets are galleries and shops selling hand-painted tiles and jewelry, plus quaint cafes and stylish Mediterranean restaurants

Church of Visitation:

Formerly known as the Abbey Church of St John in the Woods. It is where the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus visited Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. This is the site Virgin Mary recited her song of praise.

Church of John the Baptist :

It was built at the site where Saint John the Baptist is believed to have been born.  

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New City of Jerusalem: Israel Museum

is an art and archaeological museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world's leading encyclopedic museums. It is adjacent to the Bible Lands Museum .Its holdings include the world's most comprehensive collections of the archaeology of the Holy Land, and Jewish art and life, as well as significant and extensive holdings in the fine arts, the latter encompassing eleven separate departments: Israeli Art, European Art, Modern Art, Contemporary Art, Prints and Drawings, Photography, Design and Architecture, Asian Art, African Art, Oceanic Art, and Arts of the Americas Among the unique objects on display a nail attesting to the practice of crucifixion in Jesus' time. the Shrine of the Book, houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and artifacts discovered at Masada. It is one of the largest museums in the region.

The Tower of David and its Museum:

The Tower of David, also known as the Citadel, is an ancient citadel located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. The citadel that stands today dates to the Mamluk and Ottoman periods The Museum presents Jerusalem's story. It details the major events in its history beginning with the first evidence of a city in Jerusalem in the second millennium BCE, until today, as well as its significance to three religions.

Old town Jericho -Tel_Asultan- Wadi Qelt. Departure 

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Jericho

means “City of palms” It is known to be the oldest town on earth, where the Israelites supposedly brought down its walls with a great shout and trumpet blasts when they entered the Promised Land. Also, here Jesus healed Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, and dined with Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector. And both Cleopatra and Herod the Great coveted this lush oasis. Water from Jericho’s powerful perennial spring provides irrigation for abundant fruit, flowers and spices.   

Tel Sultan Arabic (تل السلطان),

literally meaning the "Sultan's Hill", also known as Tel Jericho or Ancient Jericho, is an archaeological site in the West Bank. Set in the northeast part of modern day Jericho, ‘Tel es-Sultan’ is the archaeological site of Biblical Jericho. Famed for its destruction by the Israelites, Tel es-Sultan has been excavated since the 19th century and is still under investigation. Today, as an archaeological park with a lengthy history and 20 layers of occupation. The excavations have shown that there at least 23 levels of civilizations to have occupied the Mound.

Wadi Qelt:

is a valley, riverine gulch or stream in the West Bank, originating near Jerusalem and running into the Jordan River near Jericho, shortly before it flows into the Dead Sea. 

Monastery of St. George Wadi Qelt:

St. George’s Monastery is located about 2.5 miles (4 km.) west of Jericho in a deep and breathtaking gorge called “Wadi Qelt. It’s located on the ancient road connecting the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem and beyond. Jesus would have used this well-traveled road regularly.    The story of the Good Samaritan took place on this road’s. St. George’s Monastery is a Greek Orthodox cliff-hanging complex carved into a sheer rock wall in the Judaean Desert and is one of the most breathtaking sights in the Holy Land. Starting in the 4th century, monks began to live in the many caves of Wadi Qelt. The monastery of St. George was founded in the 5th century by John of Thebes, an Egyptian. He gathered a small band of five Syrian hermits who had settled around the cave where they believed the prophet Elijah was fed by ravens. Elijah visited the cave by the monastery while traveling to the Sinai Peninsula as he fled the threats of Jezebel after he had killed the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. The monastery was destroyed in 614 AD by the Persians and was more or less abandoned after the Persians swept through the valley and massacred the fourteen monks who dwelt there. The bones and skulls of the martyred monks can still be seen today in the monastery chapel. The Crusaders made some attempts at restoration of the monastery in 1179. However, it was abandoned after Muslims regained control of the Holy Land and drove out the Crusaders. In 1878, a Greek monk, Kalinikos, settled here and restored the monastery, finishing it in 1901.

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Departure