Strings Bridge, Jerusalem, Israel

In an ancient, tradition-bound city famous for its Wailing Wall, Temple Mount, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Strings Bridge provides a much-needed jolt of modernism—and a chance to relieve traffic congestion. Santiago Calatrava’s bridge will be used for Jerusalem’s light rail, which has overcome construction delays and some opposition to finally open in Summer 2011. Made of gleaming Jerusalem-stone and glass, the bridge resembles the shape of a set of chords, inspired by King David’s harp.

Israel National Trail

The Israel National Trail runs 950 kilometers from Kibbutz Dan, near the border with Lebanon in the Upper Galilee in the far north of Israel, to Eilat in the far south of the country. Split into manageable daily stages, there are places to stop and stay along the way. The National Trail is designed primarilly for walkers and hikers although parts are suitable for off-road vehicles, as well as bikes- the Israel National Bike Trail is currently under construction.


How you approach the trail is totally up to you. You could do just one stage or a part of a stage, or the whole thing which will take at least three weeks to complete.


For a keen hiker, there really is no better way to combine your hobby and seeing Israel. You could take days off and see other sites. But the panoramas that you will get solely from the hikes are perhaps just as spectacular, in their own ways.


In the north of Israel the trail traverses the hills of the Galilee that Biblical characters crossed thousands of years ago. Peace will be broken with the noise of water as you reach a small stream and the sounds of humanity as you reach rural agricultural communities.




As you reach the center of the country, the greater density of population becomes clear, but the contrast between that and some of the beauty spots you walk through will seem so stark. So close to the hustle and bustle you will often be walking through trails that not even many locals know. You will be experiencing Israel’s stunning nature and beauty.




Soon, moving southwards, population will peter out again, and another contrast will become clear. The green hills of the north, which made way for the flat fertile coastal plain of the center, will contrast with the barren desert landscape of the south. A fairly harsh environment, water and supplies need to be carefully planned. Beauty, however, doesn’t contrast, and the Negev landscape is just as stunning. It really is, beyond words.


You can do the trail in either direction, although North to South means you finish in Eilat, ready for a rest in luxury. There are loads of practicalities to be taken into account before hiking the trail, and a great website which talks about these, as well as giving more information on the Trail, is www.israelnationaltrail.com.

Israel - against all odds

Israel - against all odds amazing clip with amazing data on an amazing state prepared by an organization, Aish.

JERUSALEM'S FESTIVAL OF LIGHT TRANSFORMS OLD CITY INTO MULTIMEDIA ART INSTALLATION

Beginning June 15 through June 22, Jerusalem will host its second annual Jerusalem Light Festival transforming the Old City into a living light art display with illuminated images projected onto its various ancient sites and attractions. 

The festival will feature artistic light exhibits designed by local and international light artists throughout the Old City, as well as street events and performances, a lighting fair in the Davidson Center Archeological Garden and four different routes around the Old City following the illuminated sites and installations. Also, the former Jerusalem Municipality Building will replicate the celebratory lighting display created in honor of the coronation of King George VI in 1937, and a video mapping tour will be projected on the Rothschild House taking visitors on a journey from city to nature.

In addition, the TILT Group (France) will create a futuristic garden of light in an exhibit that encircles the audience and creates an innovative urban environment using advanced technology at the Jaffa Gate; and Italian artist Richi Ferrero will present "Bwindi Light Masks" featuring illuminated African masks alongside a soundtrack of Mongolic music accompanied by a Bulgarian chorale group at Zedekiah's Cave.

The Jerusalem Light Festival is a unique event that showcases some of the world's most creative artists transforming the Old City of Jerusalem into a living work of art. This special combination of modern and ancient will create some additional excitement for travelers arriving in Israel this summer.

Also, the city's El Wad Street will be transformed into a festively lit marketplace beginning at the Damascus Gate to the entrance of the Western Wall.

Wine Tours in Israel

Israel is the land of Wine and Cheese! And today, you can experience that with an Israel Wine Tour.

Since biblical times Israel was known as a region that made quality wine. From excavations archeologists have uncovered over 20 ancient wine presses from over 2100 years ago in the Jerusalem Hills. Historians know that Israel exported millions of jugs of wine throughout the Mediterranean and Asian trading routes because archeologists have found wine jugs with the symbol of Israeli ports.

Israel has gone through her ups and downs within the wine industry but in 2011 the Israeli Wine Industry is thriving and on a huge up-swing. Boutique wineries are opening on a frequent basis and Israel is producing approximately 35 million bottles annually.

Now that Israelis, tourists and wine lovers from around the world can enjoy quality wine from Israel, they want to visit these vineyards just like they do in Napa, StellenboIsch, Bordeaux or Adelaide, but unfortunately Israel is not at the caliber of these countries, however it is getting there quickly.


Israel has over 300 wineries (35 industrial and the remaining medium and boutique size). Of these 300 wineries only a small percent are known by the majority of the Israeli wine lovers. Most of these wineries have a website, but not all websites are in English. The tourism around the wine industry is slowly growing but there is much needed work from the Ministry of Tourism, wineries and tour operators.


It is easy to set up a tour at the big wineries in Israel (Golan Heights, Tishbi Winery, Carmel Winery), but not all wineries have visitors centers, the directions are sometimes difficult, you need the cell phone of the winemaker who is not home (his winery is in his home), there are a lack of signs and no one wants to drink and drive. However, there are wine tour companies that coordinate wine tours in all five Wine Regions of Israel. They coordinate all logistics (transportation, wine expert, wine entrance fees, VIP services) and give the tourist the knowledge of winemaking, history of Israeli wine, and the trends in modern day Israeli wine industry.

Haifa

Haifa is Israel’s third largest city, set on the slopes of Mount Carmel facing the Mediterranean, and known as a myriad for coexistence between Jews and Arabs, who peacefully live here alongside each other.  A traditionally working, industrial city, Haifa is not a tourist destination to rival its big relations Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, although it does have one or two sites which should not be missed. The most famous of these are the Bah’ai Gardens, the part of the international center of this small, yet fascinating religion.

The Bah’ai Gardens form part of the Bah’ai World Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These gardens are a place of pilgrimage for members of the Bah’ai faith and are set across terraces sloping down Mount Carmel towards the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. The gardens were recently redesigned and are remarkable, whether you decide you love them or not. The only way to visit is with a guided tour, and if you can stand being in a group its worth the pain.


At the bottom of the Bah’ai Gardens is Haifa’s German Colony. Recently restored templar-era buildings line the main street which runs directly from the base of the Gardens, and is lined with restaurants and cafes, ranging in cuisine from traditional Arab-style Middle Eastern Foods to more modern and creative forms of Western Cooking.


If science is your thing, worth visiting is the National Museum of Science located in the city. Great for kids, this museum is full of fascinating interactive displays, translated mostly into English, covering a wealth of great interesting topics. The museum can get busy during school holidays, but even then a visit is worthwhile.

General culture in Haifa is overshadowed by Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, although it is possible to attend concerts by the Israel Philharmonic and other musical and dramatic groups when they perform here. Haifa’s biggest cultural event is the International Film Festival, which runs for one week each year at the end of September and transforms the city into a party city with over a hundred films of all genres shown.

Israel’s Mediterranean Coast

Much of the west of is boarded by the Mediterreanean Sea. From the urban metropolis that is Tel Aviv, to the villages and remote beaches of the Western Galilee, this diverse and beautiful coastline. The Coastal Plain is home to most of Israel’s population, urban, economic, cultural and leisure activities, including some of the country’s coolest and most unique sites and activities.


Israel’s Mediterranean Coastal Plain starts in the North with Israel’s border with Lebanon. The area between here and the major port city of Haifa is known as the Western Galilee. Sparsely populated, the Northern border is home to the cliffside caves at Rosh HaNikra. Moving south are small towns, and inland kibbutzim and moshavim, historic farming communities, small deserted coves and expansive beaches. Just north of Haifa is the city of Akko home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its ancient Old City.


The city of Haifa is Israel’s industrial heartland as one of the country’s major ports. The city is famed for its Bahai Gardens, breathtaking terraced gardens sloping downMount Carmel to the Mediterranean, and home to the world center of the Bahai Faith. The city also has a refurbished German Colony with interesting cobbled streets, boutiques and restaurants.


To Haifa and further south is Mount Carmel a range of hills running a few kilometers inland from the coast. The coast here is not heavily populated and where it is, there are more small kibbutzim and moshavim, small traditionally farming communities. Similarly, Mount Carmel itself is home to numerous little villages and small towns, notably Ein Hod, an artists colony, and Zichron Yaakov, one of the country’s oldest settlements and home to one of the many wineries in the Carmel. The Carmel also boasts some of Israel’s largest Druze communities, a small religion famed for their great native cuisine.
South of the Carmel, the Coastal Plain is once again flat. Moving further south it becomes more densely populated, but before this happens, is the ancient port city of Caesarea with its restored harbor, amphitheater, and acquaduct. One of Israel’s most popular National Parks Caesarea is somewhere truly not to be missed. About 30km south of Caesarea is the city of Herzliya and its seaside neighbor, Herzliya Pituach. One of Israel’s most upscale neighborhood, Herzliya houses some of Israel’s richest and most famous, as well as diplomats, oligarchs, and other notable people. The beach here is great, and slightly less urban than what follows slightly south in Tel Aviv.


Tel Aviv is Israel’s economic and cultural capital. Flanked by the Mediterranean some have dubbed it the Miami of the Middle East, and for good reason. The city is full of incredible places to visit, things to do and see, and restaurants, cafes, hotels, and more. Tel Aviv is everything that modern-day Israel is with a massive range of incredible things to do.


The Coastal Plain has amazing beaches, leisure activities, cultural sites, and so much more. Any visitor to Israel will pass through the area and take in some of what is on offer, but it is incredibly easy to miss something fantastic. Remember, Israel is a small country, and nothing is too far away!

Israel's Summer Festivals

You can find some sort of festival every month of the year in Israel, but May to September, when the sun shines endlessly, and the temperature hots up, is prime festival season, with special events for all ages and interests.

MAY

Taste of Tel Aviv

• Every May top Israeli restaurants and wineries offer their best dishes and drinks at discount prices in Hayarkon Park for a three-day event called Ta'am Ha'ir (taste of the city). This year's event will be the 16th annual culinary fair, which attracts about 400,000 visitors every year, making it one of the largest food festivals in the world, competing easily in numbers with similar fairs held in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.

Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival, May 12-21

• Docaviv, now in its 13th year, showcases contemporary Israeli and international documentaries at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and other Tel Aviv venues. There are student competitions for budding cinematographers; free outdoor screenings; and workshops with filmmakers.

International Spring Festival, May 14-21

• Now in its 12th year, this annual festival offers live shows from Israel and countries such as France, Poland and Brazil. Based in the Rishon-LeZion Performing Arts Center, some of the performances take place in the neighboring cities of Ashdod, Herzliya, Kiryat Haim, Modi’in and Petach-Tikva.

Jerusalem Season of Culture, May 18-July 22

• An initiative of the Schusterman Foundation-Israel, this ambitious cultural project is modeled on other prominent international cultural festivals, and highlights Jerusalem’s flourishing arts scene. Among the scheduled events are performances by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company at the Israel Museum; evening cultural performances and celebrations at the Machane Yehuda Market; the unveiling of a commissioned work by video artist Kutiman; the Jewish Theater of Sweden’s production of Different Trains; and a performance by soprano Renee Fleming with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Zubin Mehta.

Israel Festival, May 23-June 18

• To mark the 50th anniversary of the Israel Festival, which was founded in the ancient Roman theater in Caesarea and moved to Jerusalem in 1982, 50 outstanding performances in music, dance and theater will be offered. Some of the performers are the Batsheva Dance Company, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Ahinoam Nini and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Also featured will be premieres of Israeli works and tributes to leading Israeli artists; street theater; children shows; and a nightly jazz club.

Houses from Within, May 20-21

• Just some of the 51 sites on this much-anticipated Tel Aviv tour include Haggai Yuden’s Music Studio with its 150-year-old white piano; Mosaic House, formerly a private home with mosaics depicting Israeli song stars, politicians and international public figures decorating the floor, walls and ceiling; the Root Research Laboratory at Tel Aviv University’s Botanical Gardens; the roof of 20 Alfassi Street, made of recycled raw materials; designer Gal Florsheim’s childhood home near the Habima Theater; the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Firehouse; and the private residence of David and Paula Ben Gurion.

JUNE

White Wine Festival, June 1-2

• Taking place at the Herzliya Marina, this festival promotes white wine culture in Israel with Israeli and international white wine for tasting and for sale, as well as wine accessories, books, cheese, olive oil and more.

The Israeli Opera Festival, June 1-9

• The Israeli Opera will be accompanied by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra for Verdi’s Jerusalem at Sultan’s Pool and by Italy’s Arena di Verona Orchestra for Verdi’s Messa da Requiem at Masada; and by the Rishon LeZion Symphony Orchestra for Aida featuring Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli at Masada. Other venues will include Jerusalem’s Tower of David Museum and the churches of St. Andrew’s, Augusta Victoria, Lutheran (Redeemer), Dormition Abbey, Vincent de Paul and the Austrian Hospice.

Abu Ghosh Music Festival, June 7-8

• This leading Israeli vocal music festival has been staged twice a year since 1992 in two churches: the 12th century Crusader-Benedictine Church in the heart of the village, and the Kiryat Ye’arim Church on a hill overlooking this mostly Arab Jerusalem suburb. This year’s 10 offerings range from the Avishai Cohen String Quartet and the Tel-Aviv Chamber Choir to the Ra’anana Symphonette and the Israel Stage Orchestra. There will be classical, gypsy, mandolin and gospel music.

Jerusalem Light Festival, June 15-22

• The architecture of the capital’s Old City will be dramatically lit up in addition to light statues, installations, performances and museum artwork. The Light Festival brings to Israel well-known light sculptors and light designers from around the world, who exhibit their creations throughout the streets and alleys of the Old City, in major tourist sites and public spaces.

Tel Aviv LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual) Film Festival, June 11-18

• This annual event at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and the Tel Aviv LGBT Community Center offers public screenings of films with no Israeli distribution, meetings with local and foreign filmmakers, panel discussions and special events. Established in 2006, the festival also encourages original Israeli work with a domestic film competition.

White Night International Festival, June 30

• For the fourth year in a row, Tel Aviv restaurants will stay open all night offering special deals. Late-night theatre shows, music, art and special nighttime tours of the city are available as well. The main event will be the International Marathon for Jazz and Avant-garde Music in the Einav Culture Center above Rabin Square.

JULY

Music Festival on the Water, July-August

• Every Tuesday evening in July and August at the Herzliya Marina square on the Mediterranean, the public is welcome to attend live performances by local and international artists in genres from opera, pop and jazz to romantic, Greek and other ethnic styles.

Jerusalem Film Festival, July 7-16

• Between 150 and 200 films are screened yearly during this event at the Cinemateque and Sultan’s Pool amphitheater, showcasing the best of international feature films, documentary films, and movies and shorts dealing with issues of Jewish identity and history, freedom and human rights. This year, in addition to existing cinematic competitions, there will be an international competition for short animation and sci-fi films and other artworks depicting Jerusalem in 2111.

Karmiel Dance Festival, July 12-14

• About 5,000 dancers from Israel and abroad will take part in 120 events and performances at this 10th annual festival, which takes place in Karmiel, a central Galilee town between Acco and Safed. Activities, a bazaar and more than 250,000 anticipated visitors and guests are expected. A folk-dancing course in English is planned from July 4-15.

International Puppet Theater and Film Festival, July 21-23, 28-30

• The Israel Puppet Center in Holon, Israel’s “Children’s City,” has been hosting this festival since 1995. In addition to about 30 performances by resident and international artists, there will be conferences, exhibitions, and an opening street procession, workshops for professionals and amateurs; a conference on the therapeutic use of puppets; and exhibitions at the museum and galleries including a special “Puppetry on the Screen” display.

AUGUST

Israeli Wine-Tasting Festival, August 14-19

• Sample wines from Israel’s leading wineries in the Israel Museum’s Billy Rose Art Garden, with soft jazz playing in the background. A wine glass comes with each admission ticket.

International Festival of Puppet Theater, August 14-19

• At The Train Theater and other Jerusalem theaters, local and international artists showcase the best in the field of puppetry at this annual event, now in its 20th year. The program is designed mainly for children and families, but includes performances for adults as well. There will be about 30 different productions with approximately 90 shows, including talent from Germany, Belgium, Italy, Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Peru, the United States and the Czech Republic.

International Klezmer Festival, August 15-17

• Held in Safed, the kabbalistic heart of the Galilee, the Klezmer Festival showcases 45 artists performing “Jewish soul music” – among them are Sinai Tor, Simply Tsfat, Aaron Razel, the Persian Jerusalem Orchestra and Vilna Klezmer – and also features a huge outdoor arts-and-crafts sale, tours and children’s events. The music is presented on eight stages and in the ancient cobbled alleyways of the city.

Jerusalem Beer Festival, August 18-19

• Celebrating its sixth year at Jerusalem’s historic Old Train Station, the Jerusalem Beer Festival is a magnet for young adults eager to sample more than 100 brands from all over the world -- mainstream, boutique and local. There will be live beer production process demonstrations, food stands and nightly shows by Israel’s leading bands to round out the experience.

Kite-Flying Festival, August 23

• Colorful shapes waft over the Israel Museum every year after being launched from the Billy Rose Art Garden. Children and their parents can take part in kite-building workshops and meetings with professional kite-flyers.

Red Sea Jazz Festival, August 22-25

• This international jazz festival at Eilat Harbor was established in 1987. There are eight to nine concerts per evening, six clinics with guest artists and nightly jam sessions. Styles range from New Orleans to Latin jazz. Every evening at 7pm, there is an open concert featuring upcoming young Israeli jazz groups. Concerts are held in three venues: the Club, featuring 1,000 seats around tables serving food and beverage; the Hall, with 2,000 regular seats; and the Arena, with 4,000 seats, some overlooking the Red Sea.

SEPTEMBER

Tel Aviv Fashion Market and T:Market

• Both of these month-long Tel Aviv festivals attract thousands of fashionistas, the first at the Israel Trade Fairs Center and the second at the Barzilay Club. Featured are the latest offerings from Israel’s hottest fashion designers as well as last season’s fashions at reduced prices.

Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, September 3-14

• Taking place annually at the Jerusalem YMCA, this year’s program celebrates Pierre Boulez’s emblematic works, Brahms, Schumann, Chopin and Wolf. There will be a world premiere of a work by Matan Porat, a veteran member of the festival family. The founding artistic director is Elena Bashkirova, wife of the composer Daniel Barenboim.

Loving Art, Making Art, September 8-10

• Tel Aviv’s galleries, museums, exhibitions spaces and artist studios throw open their doors all day and night for free browsing during this annual kick-start to the art exhibition season. Specially commissioned works dot the city streets with color and sound.

Dona Gracia Festival, September 12-15

• Dona Gracia, a successful European Jewish merchant, was the richest woman in the 16th century world. With the blessing of the Turkish Sultan, Dona Gracia worked for the establishment of a Jewish state in Tiberias and paid to build the walls of this lakeside Galilee city, but her sudden death at the age of 59 ended her Zionist initiative. Last year, Tiberias launched an annual festival in her memory at the Dona Gracia House Museum.

Haifa International Film Festival, September 13-22

• This leading cinematic event in Israel was founded in 1983 as the first international film festival in the country. Held on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the festival brings together hundreds of Israeli and foreign professionals from the film and television industries and premiers some 170 new films (280 screenings). There are also outdoor events and workshops, as well as several prestigious film competitions. A new one this year is the Fedeora Competition sponsored by the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean, founded last May in Cannes.

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea known in Hebrew as Yam Ha-Melah (the Sea of Salt) is the lowest point on earth, surrounded by the stunning landscape of the Negev Desert. The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest point on the surface of the earth, and the saline water of the lake give lead to the name ‘Dead Sea’ because no fish can survive in the salty waters. The other result of the salty water of the Dead Sea are their renowned health and healing properties and the unique feature that one can float naturally in them.

Really just a lake, the Dead Sea is part of the long border between Israel and Jordan whose towering mountains can be seen from the Israeli side, part of the Judean and Negev deserts. Just a one-hour drive from Jerusalem, the Dead Sea is a place popular with Israeli’s wanting a few days relaxation, people taking advantage of the medical properties of the water, as well as tourists staying for a short time to experience the unique Sea and surroundings.


Masada, is, aside from the Dead Sea itself, the great attraction of the area. Atop a mountain to the side of the Sea lies this ancient fortress. With a steep history, and ascent, Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is traditionally climbed early in the morning by tourists wishing to see the ruins at the top. Today it is not necessary to climb, as a cable car has been built.


Further North near the Dead Sea is Ein Gedi National Park. Situated in the famous Kibbutz, this park contains a range of cool water hiking trails which allow you to cool off in the heat. The higher you go, the quieter it will be and the more likely you will be able to find your own little oasis. Ein Gedi also has a public beach and spa which is much closer to Jerusalem than the majority of the beaches, if you have less time.


Hotels at the Dead Sea come in all shapes and sizes. In Ein Bokek is the main hotel area at the Dead Sea, and here there are around 15 large resort-style hotels catering to all types of budget. For those in search of a more unique experience, there are also some zimmers and more boutique hotels at the Dead Sea.

Israel Independence Day celebrations start the evening of Monday, May 9th

Independence Day, Israel national holiday, marks Israel’s Declaration of Independence with the end of the British Mandate. It is the only full holiday in the calendar decreed by law without a tradition of hundreds or thousands of years.

Independence Day is on the fifth day of the Jewish month of Iyar (from the end of April till mid-May), the day in which David Ben-Gurion, the state’s first prime minister, declared the country’s independence in 1948. It was declared a full holiday in a law enacted in the Knesset in 1949. Over the years various traditions evolved to celebrate the holiday, and it is now marked by family picnics in scenic spots all over the country.

Independence Day celebrations begin on the evening of the fifth of Iyar with the end of Yom Hazikaron, the Remembrance Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars, with special ceremonies marking the transition from mourning to celebration. The main ceremony is held in Har (Mount) Herzl in Jerusalem. During Independence Day, the World Bible Quiz is held in Jerusalem and the prestigious Israel Prizes are distributed to the year’s winners in a special ceremony.

Most businesses are closed on Independence Day, but cafes restaurants and other places of entertainment are open because it is not a religious holiday.

HOLIDAY CUSTOMS

Flags – Many Israelis fly flags from their houses, porches or cars, often with colorful decorations.

Entertainment Stages – Because of Independence Day’s profoundly secular nature, a tradition of evolved of free entertainment by performers, dancers and comics on stages set up in the center of cities and other communities on the eve of Independence Day. The shows are often accompanied by fireworks. The main streets of towns and cities are usually packed with people.

Barbeque - Independence Day has become Israel’s unofficial barbeque holiday with families picnicking huge amounts of meat in every green spot they can find in the country.

Visits the IDF camps – Many of the army’s camps are open to the public on Independence Day, offering Israelis a chances to see arms, navy ships, tanks and aircraft.

Israeli Movies -  Local channels devote all of their programming to the holiday and often screen old Israeli movies which have become cult items.

Prayer – Even though this is a national and not a religious holiday, religious Zionists tend to say a special prayer composed by the chief rabbinate. This prayer sometimes includes blowing a shofar (a ram’s horn).

Haifa's Bahai Shrine

HAIFA'S BAHAI SHRINE UNVEILS GLITTERING NEW GOLDEN DOME


New York - May 3, 2011: After more than two years of extensive restoration work, Haifa's golden-domed Baha'i Shrine was unveiled in its resplendent glory this month featuring nearly 12,000 new porcelain gilded titles. The project included the restoration of the interior and exterior of the original structure built in 1909, as well as conservation measures intended to protect the Shrine from potential weather damages. 


The Baha'i Gardens in Haifa were inscribed on UNESCO'S World Heritage List in 2008 and are among the most popular tourist sites in Israel receiving more than half a million visitors per year. Travelers to the site may enjoy the stunning beauty of these gardens by visiting the open public areas, joining a walk-in tour or arranging a guided visit for large groups.

Beit She’an

A tour of Beit She’an is like a walk through time. Among the residential buildings, modern public buildings, and modern shopping centers are ancient buildings that were once public institutions, archaeological sites and impressive ruins. Beit She’an is one of the most ancient cities in the country. It is a historical gem that unfolds the fascinating story of a rich period full of changes, climaxing in the National Park of Beit She’an to the north of the city.


Tel (the Hebrew name for abandoned ruins that often appear as hillocks in the countryside) Beit She’an was first settled way back in the Chalcolithic Period (some 5,000 to 6,000 years ago). The city has had many conquerors, among them the Egyptians some 3,500 years ago. A few hundred years later, the Philistines conquered it (it was they who fastened Saul’s body to the wall of Beit She’an after the famous battle on Mount Gilbo’a: 1 Samuel 31 .8 – 11). Beit She’an became part of the kingdoms of David and Solomon, and was eventually destroyed in a fire, apparently at the hands of the King of Assyria (in 732 BCE). 


Beit She’an was rebuilt as a Hellenistic city about 2,300 years ago, and was renamed Scythopolis (“City of the Scyths”). In the succeeding Roman period, it spread south, reaching the peak of its greatness in the fifth century, when it had 30,000 – 40,000 inhabitants. The remains of this magnificent city can be clearly seen at the city’s main site – the National Park of Beit She’an, which is one of the country’s most beautiful and impressive national parks. In the northern part is Tel Beit She’an – the location of ancient Beit She’an. South and east of it are the ruins of Roman-Byzantine Scythopolis, which tell of its richness and greatness.


The city extended over an area of some 370 acres, and you can still see the remains of the wall that surrounded it. In addition, several impressive buildings have been uncovered in the national park, including a theatre (still used for events and shows), a public bath-house (the largest found to date in Israel), two magnificent colonnaded streets, a Roman temple, a decorative fountain building (nymphaeum), a large basilica marking the center of the city, and of course the reconstructed mosaic on which you can see Tyche, the Roman Goddess of Good Fortune, holding the Horn of Plenty.


The city remained at its peak for several more years, following which it declined. After the Arab conquest, it sank to the status of a small town. Upon the establishment of the State of Israel, it was resettled and new immigrants came to live here. Today, the city numbers some 18,000 inhabitants. 


There are more ruins within the precincts of the new city of Beit She’an, including a Roman amphitheatre (hippodrome), an affluent person’s residence from the Byzantine period, and the remains of a bridge from the Roman period on Nakhal Kharod, which flows at the outskirts of the city. In another part of the city are ruins from later periods, including the remains of a Crusader fortress, a mosque from the Mamluk period, a Turkish government house, and several basalt stone houses from the time Beit She’an was under Arabic rule.


The area surrounding the city is profuse with springs and, consequently, there are abundant nature sites and places to tour. The new youth hostel, one of the most impressive in the country, is worth a visit.

Hula Valley

Vision and determination have, over the past fifty years turned the Hula Valley from swampland into one of Israel’s most beautiful spots.


As the swamps were drained, they were transformed into lush green fields for agriculture, leaving the central lake area as a nature reserve. The Valley is a diverse ecosystem of breathtaking scenery, plant and animal life – quite notably being a major rest-stop on the migratory route for birds through the Rift Valley. Films and audio-visual presentations are shown in the visitors’ center (Oforia Visitor Center). In fact, the valley was named in 2009 as one of the top places in the world to see nature by BBC Nature Magazine


Agmon HaHula

At the beginning of the 1990′s one of the areas of the valley became flooded again as the result of heavy rains. It was decided to develop the surrounding area and to leave the flooded area as it was. The new site, named Agmon HaHula, became the second home for thousands of migrating birds that pass through the area in the autumn and spring, as well as the home of many native birds, making it a popular sight for bird-watchers from Israel and abroad. Tens of thousands of birds of over 200 species, including cranes, storks, pelicans, cormorants and egrets, stay in the reserve, knowing they can find an abundance of food here and in the Hula Valley in general. The reserve also shelters rare aquatic plants, such as yellow flag, paper reed and white water-lily. Water buffalos graze in certain areas to preserve the open meadow environment. Species that have become extinct in the wild, such as the white-tailed eagle, have also been reintroduced here.

Agmon HaHula has walking paths, observation points, and telescopes for observing the thousands of birds that inhabit the site. Visitors can also go on guided tours that offer explanations about the birds that inhabit the Valley.

As well as the walking paths in Agmon HaHula, the nature reserve is criss crossed with biking and walking routes, whilst nearby are places to kayak on the River Jordan.

Bnei Brak

Bnei Brak is the only large city in Israel whose inhabitants are mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews. The city is located in the Dan metropolitan region east of Tel Aviv. Its small physical size and large number of inhabitants (some 150,000) make it Israel’s most densely-populated city. Moreover, its birth rate is one of the highest in the country.


Bnei Brak started out in 1924 as an agricultural settlement established by a group of Polish Hassidim (members of a Jewish mystic movement founded in the 18th century in Eastern Europe). However, due to a lack of land, many of its founders were forced to turn to other occupations, such as commerce and handicrafts, and soon Bnei Brak assumed an urban character.


It was officially declared a city with the establishment of the State of Israel, and in the early 1950s, many Admors (Hassidic “Grand Rabbis”) began moving their courts from Tel Aviv to Bnei Brak. Within several years, Bnei Brak had turned into the largest ultra-Orthodox Jewish center in the world, and assumed a marked ultra-Orthodox Jewish character. The city’s religious character gives it a special charm. It has no modish fashion shops, yuppie coffee houses, or posh restaurants, but it has an extraordinary simplicity, modesty and uniqueness which culminate in the hustle and bustle as the Jewish Sabbath day approaches, when crowds of Hassidic Jews throng to the synagogues to pray.


Ultra-Orthodox Jews are divided into different Hassidic courts and into different communities, and the city is divided along the same principle. There are neighborhoods specific to particular courts (for example, the Vizhnitser neighborhood) and to particular communities (such as the Ponevezh district, whose residents belong to the Lithuanian stream of non-Hassidic ultra-orthodox Jews). Interspersed among them are a large number of Yeshivas (institutes of learning sacred Jewish texts), Admor courts, Kollels (institutes for advanced students of religious texts), and other religious institutions.


This bustling city has one secular neighborhood called Pardes Kats.

Beit Lehem Ha'glilit

Particularly beautiful ancient stone houses and the enchanting landscape of an oak forest are the perfect settings that greet visitors to the picturesque Moshav of Beit Lehem Ha'glilit. This beautiful German Templer village, established 100 years ago, has been extraordinarily well preserved, and has even improved over the years.

It all started with a Templer vision to establish an ethical religious Christian community in the Land of Israel. To realize this vision, a group of German Templers arrived in Haifa at the end of the nineteenth century and bought land here. The first group of settlers, headed by Christof Hoffmann, established the village. 


True to their European lifestyle, they built large, spacious houses with big courtyards and adjoining dairy farms. A community center and a public building for worship and social life were erected in the center of the village, and next to it was the water tower that provided the village with water. During the Second World War, the Templers supported the German Nazi Party. As a result, their activity was halted and the British deported them to Australia. 


New immigrants and children of veteran moshav members from other moshavim settled in Beit Lehem Ha'glilit in April 1948 and established the present-day moshav. Visiting the moshav, you will see that most of the houses of the German colony have remained, and that the courtyards are adorned by large trees. Today, most of the residents engage in tourism, and the moshav has guest rooms, restaurants and coffee houses, art galleries, a spice farm, a modern dairy farm, and more. 


The moshav is located among enchanting hills of oak trees, among them giant ancient trees that have been preserved thanks to the Templers' opposition to the wild felling of trees by the Turks. Beneath and in between the local Tabor oak trees and snowdrop bushes, lush carpets of cyclamen, anemones, buttercups, irises, and other flowers blossom colorfully in the winter and spring. 


Nearby are Nakhal Tsipori, the Alonei Aba Nature Reserve, and Beit She’arim.

Ein Hod

Ein Hod is a charming, picturesque artists’ village set in the heart of the Carmel Forest. Established in 1949 by new immigrants, it became an artists’ village in 1953 at the initiative of Marcel Janco, a renowned Dada artist who organized an unusually diverse group of artists and craftspeople to settle among the ancient stone houses. 


There are about 500 residents in the village, engaged in all areas of art from visual arts, painting, pottery and jewelry-making, to literature and theater. They support themselves with their art, their galleries and by running workshops and educational activities. Most of the studios are open to the public, and visitors are welcome to observe the artists, their materials and methods, and to hear from them about their work and their life in the village.


The main attraction in the village is the Janco-Dada Museum with its changing exhibits and collection of works by Janco, one of the founders of the Dada movement. An amphitheater was also built to host various events and performances. 

Walking along Ein Hod’s streets and paths, and among the magnificently restored old homes, one is inspired by the beautiful works of art. The art is also displayed in the local restaurants and enchanting guest houses.  


Ein Hod’s location at the foot of Mount Carmel, in close proximity of various tourist sites and nature reserves, provides many sightseeing opportunities. Among the recommended places to visit are:  the Druze town of Daliyat el-Carmel; historic Zikhron Ya’akov; the Khof Dor - Ha-Bonim Reserve; the ancient Etsba Cave; Nakhal Me'arot Reserve; and Nakhal Kelakh.

Ein Gedi

Ein Gedi is an oasis in the desert and a green Garden of Eden in the wilderness. It is situated on the shore of the Dead Sea – the lowest place on Earth - at the feet of majestic mountains and cliffs. 


One of the most exciting places in Israel, Ein Gedi combines a wild, natural setting with a primeval panorama, history and archaeology, tourist attractions, and spas. Its unique climate and atmosphere make it a place for a unique desert adventure.  


Ein Gedi contains the historical and archaeological remains of its first inhabitants, who discovered the magic of the place more than 5,000 years ago it has also served as a landmark in the history of the Jewish people throughout history. David took refuge in Ein Gedi when he was pursued by King Saul, and rebels fled there from Jerusalem. Valuable persimmon oil and rare perfumes were produced there, and temples and synagogues were established here to strengthen the Jewish stronghold in the area. 


Ein Gedi has an international reputation as a health spa. Tourists from all over the world come there to take advantage of the hot springs, mineral waters, and mud baths, and to  enjoy the desert climate, bathe in the healing waters of the Dead Sea, and breathe healthful bromide-filled air.   


Ein Gedi is an ideal place to become familiar with the desert and its hidden wonders. Nature reserves such as Nakhal David and Nakhal Arugot have water flowing through them throughout the year. Rivers run through deep canyons surrounded by lush vegetation – a sharp contrast to the surrounding desert. If you are lucky you will also be able to spot ibexes and other animals that come to the rivers to drink. There are other tourist attractions nearby such as Einot Tzukim and Ein Bokek. 



Kibbutz Ein Gedi, founded in 1953, is located on a nearby hilltop overlooking the area.  The kibbutz has a botanical garden with plants and trees from all over the world. If you walk among the houses in the evening you can view the flowering cacti and baobab tress, as well as other unique plants. Visitors to the area can lodge in the attractive kibbutz guest house, in the nearby field school, or camp out on the shore of the Dead Sea.  


Other recommended activities in the area include jeep excursions and safaris through the desert, tours of Massada, and the Qumran caves. 

Herzliya

Herzliya (pronounced Hertselia) is named after the visionary of the Jewish state and founder of the World Zionist Federation - Theodore Herzl. Herzliya has three main features. Its beachfront is one of the most popular among both Israelis and foreign tourists, thanks to the many hotels, abundance of restaurants, beaches with swimming areas and organized marinas.


The city’s industrial zone has a concentration of high-tech companies that provide work for a large percentage of the city’s residents. The city also has many fine stores and restaurants and becomes a vibrant entertainment center at night. The attractive malls and shopping centers serve the local population as well as residents of surrounding urban and rural communities, making Herzliya a city alive with energy and excitement.


Herzliya was founded in 1924 as a moshava: semi-cooperative farming community with a mixed population of Israelis and new immigrants. After Israel’s establishment in 1948, the city grew as immigrants flooded the young country. In 1960 Herzliya was declared a city and had a population of 25,000, less than one third of its population today.


The museum of Herzliya’s history, in one of the city’s original houses on Ha-Nadiv Street, documents the city’s growth. Near this museum is Herzliya Museum of Art, housed in the Yad le-Banim military memorial building on Wolfson St.


West of the city is a Muslim holy site called Sidna Ali, which contains the tomb of Ali ibn Alil, a mosque and a number of buildings. To the northwest is the Tel Arsaf (Arsuf) archeological site, where the Apollonia National Park was established a few years ago. This site, which was inhabited from the Persian period (2500 years ago) until the Crusader period (1,000 years ago), has many impressive architectural remains of the Crusader town of Arsur, its fortress, surrounding wall and encompassing moat. Throughout the year, cultural events are held in the park, with music from around the world and festivals in the spirit of the Crusaders including period costumes.

Gush Halav

In the eastern Upper Galilee, only seven kilometers north-west of Safed (Tsfat), an Arab village is located on the ruins of a city that once prospered. 


Gush Halav, known by the Arabs as el-Jish, or simply Jish, is today a mixed village, the majority of whose residents are Christian Maronites living an exemplary life of co-existence with Moslems and Catholic Greeks. 


However, Arabs haven’t lived here from time immemorial. Its first inhabitants arrived approximately 5,000 years ago, but the place became renowned during the time of the Second Temple (about 2,000 years ago), when there was an ancient Jewish center here. In that period, the area surrounding Gush Halav was famous for its choice olives, olive oil and rare silk. 


The most famous personality from Gush Halav was Yokhanan ben Levi (or, Yokhanan of Gush Khalav), born locally and one of the leaders of the Great Jewish Revolt against the Romans. In a daring move, Yokhanan and his men had opposed the Roman occupation and defended the town, and fled to Jerusalem only when they could no longer withstand the siege. 


The Jewish presence in Gush Halav continued until the fourteenth century, and the present village was established in the eighteenth century.


The village boasts authentic Lebanese restaurants, and within its expanses are several graves held sacred by Jews (including the graves of the prophet Joel, and of the rabbinical sages Shmaya and Avtalyon). 


In the center of the village, in the beautiful lanes of the Old City, you can walk among the ruins of the Byzantine period, and see “the statues of yearning,” the threshing-floor, and “the vale of tears.” 


Gush Halav has three churches: The Butrus (Peter) Church, located on the peaks of the settlement, is the largest building in the village. However, it is closed and you can only visit its courtyard. The church stands on the ruins of a magnificent synagogue, the remains of whose heart-shaped columns lie nearby. The small Maronite Church, which was destroyed in a large earthquake in the nineteenth century, opens for worship in the afternoons, though you can also visit it during the day. The Elias Church, which is the largest, most central, and most modern of the three churches, has a convent, a spacious courtyard, and a statue of the Virgin Mary.


A mausoleum, a fourth-century non-Jewish sepulchral monument, has been uncovered on the western slope, containing a chamber tomb with a double sarcophagus, a revolving door weighing 200 tons (yet revolving easily), and small burial cells where the ossuaries were placed.


In addition to the interesting sites, tourists will meet friendly inhabitants, including an aged novice who relates wonderful stories, his son who plays the oud, and a local jam-maker. The village is also famous for its figs and vines, and if you ask for permission, you can enter the residents’ courtyards and refresh yourself with the summer’s sweet fruits. Music lovers will be pleased to hear that the musician, George Sam’an, lives in the village. He plays the fiddle and the oud at his home, and visitors can enjoy authentic music to the accompaniment of colorful stories, drink choice coffee and stay in guest rooms.


The Ein Gush Halav spring flows east of Gush Halav. Next to it are the beautiful remains of a synagogue from the Roman period, with two rows of columns with foyers at the sides, the remains of a roof, and a pillar with an ancient inscription. In the area of the settlement, as well as further away, are additional sites where you can enjoy nature walks and the green lush Galilean scenery.

Sde Boker

Kibbutz Sde Boker is the realization of the dream envisioned by David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister and defense minister, who loved the Negev and its expanses and wanted to settle the desert and make it bloom. The kibbutz, built in the northern Negev Mountains, was established in 1952 by a group of discharged soldiers and attracted the public’s attention when Ben Gurion moved to Sde Boker to live there with his wife Paula.


Ben Gurion’s vision has indeed been realized and today the Negev is a blossoming region, dotted with many communities and thriving farms. Sde Boker has retained Ben Gurion’s heritage. The hut in which he lived from the day he moved there until his death in 1973 is preserved exactly as it was when he lived there. The area around the hut has been developed and expanded for the benefit of visitors, including a display of Ben Gurion’s famous statements and photographs of the early days of the kibbutz. The hut also houses the Ben Gurion archive, which is actually his private library, containing over 5,000 books about all the things he loved. The adjacent hut, where his bodyguards lived, has been turned into a museum devoted to Ben Gurion’s special relationship with the Negev.


South of the kibbutz there is a campus named after Ben Gurion, which houses a desert research institute, a Ben Gurion heritage institute, a field school and a guest house, a high school where youth from all over the country study nature from nature itself, a reptile farm and a desert sculpture museum. The nearby Ben Gurion memorial site, where David and Paula Ben Gurion are buried, offers a beautiful view of the Nakhal Tsin rift.


Kibbutz Sde Boker has several sources of income: a vineyard and boutique winery, an inn and restaurant, art gallery and souvenir shop, and agricultural crops. Sde Boker is the starting point for many wonderful tours to fascinating Negev sites, such the Ein Ovdat (Avdat) National Park, whose features include the Nakhal Tsin canyons and springs, waterfalls, plentiful plant and animal life, the archeological site of the Nabatean city of Avdat, the Ein Eikev spring that flows year round and a Bedouin hospitality site.