The Jerusalem Hills

The Jerusalem hills are another region that vies for the description of the Israeli Tuscany. Unlike the original, however, the Jerusalem hills offer many secrets from a deeper past as well as fascinating nature sites and tremendous beauty all year round.


As their name indicates, the Jerusalem hills are a hilly region in the Judean mountains, with Jerusalem nestling in the middle. Seven long extensions of these hills stretch toward to the coastal plain in the west and the Jordan Valley in the east. 


The Jerusalem hills are known for their great historic importance, due to their proximity to the Holy City. Pilgrims past this way thousands of years ago, making their way to the holy sites for prayers, sacrificial offerings and just to visit; armies and many divisions of soldiers fought here, forcing their way between the mountains to the beloved city. Jews rebels from the days of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 132 CE hid here from the Roman occupiers; and the Crusaders marched this way on their campaigns to free Jerusalem.


Today this area is dotted with urban communities (Mevaseret Tsiyon, Tsur Hadassa) and rural communities. Large areas of the Jerusalem hills are covered with natural forests and forests of planted pine trees, making this area a pleasant place to hike on hot summer days. 


This region is blessed with some 100 springs, in the valleys between the hills and on the hillsides. Most of the springs flow from cracks in rock formations and every one of them is a celebration of nature. Many of the hillsides have ancient terraces built on them, silent testimony to ancient agricultural efforts. 
Scattered among the hills are also the remains of agricultural settlements from the First Temple period (3,000 years ago); such as Khurvat Kfar Sum, farm houses and agricultural systems from the Second Temple and Roman-Byzantine periods, such as Sataf and Ein Khandak; and Crusader sites such as the Abu Gosh church, the Tsuba fortress and the Ein Khemed monastery. The Jerusalem hills also have many sites commemorating the fierce battles waged here in the 1948 War of Independence, such as the Kastel in Mevaseret Tsiyon and the Burma Road.


The many natural, historic, archeological, social and cultural sites in this large area make it an ideal and fascinating destination for tours. There are paths for hikers, roads for cars and bicycles and areas that can be reached with all-terrain vehicles. 
You can crawl through hidden tunnels, wade in the spring pools, pick sweet fruit in season, go horseback riding and take a tour of the hilltops with their magnificent views. Many of the rural communities have opened wonderful restaurants and visitors can also tour the local wineries, art galleries and studios of artist who live in this area.

Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D

Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D from JerusalemGiantScreen on Vimeo.

After a year of research and preparation, the giant screen film JERUSALEM advanced into production with an unprecedented aerial shoot throughout Israel and the West Bank. Scheduled for worldwide release in 2013, the film will take audiences on a spectacular tour of the Holy Land and the city once believed to lie at the centre of the world.

SITE OF JESUS' BAPTISM

After much investment in infrastructure to improve the spiritual experience and physical comfort of tourists and pilgrims, the Qasr el Yahud baptism site on the River Jordan, known as the place of Jesus' baptism, is now open daily to the public.


Recognized since the 4th century as the site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, Qasr el Yahud is considered the third most important site for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land (after the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem). The site is revered as the place where, according to the New Testament, John the Baptist baptized Jesus (Matthew, 3: 13-17). The site is also considered to be the place where the Children of Israel crossed the River Jordan when they entered Canaan. 


Because of the importance of the site, which is located on the road to Jericho from Jerusalem, many churches were built here over the centuries. Wooden ramps into the Jordan River now allow pilgrims easy and comfortable access to the waters for baptism; shaded areas have been erected for prayer sessions; and bathroom, shower and parking facilities have been upgraded. The site is also wheelchair-accessible.


The Qasr el Yahud baptism site is managed by the Israel Nature Parks Authority and is open to the public free of charge daily from 9 AM-5 PM -- except for Fridays and holiday eves, when it will be open from 9 AM-3 PM (winter) and 9 AM-4 PM (summer).

Mount Carmel

Since the days of yore, Mount Carmel has been a symbol of beauty. It is a particularly suitable location for family hikes and recreation pastimes all year round.


Mount Carmel is not particularly high. Its peak only reaches 546 meters above sea level. Mount Carmel is sprawled between the Menashe Plateau in the south, the Haifa Bay in the north and the Jezreel Valley on the east. Its borders are very clear, and create an independent unit that reaches 32 square kilometers.
Its proximity to the sea gives the mountain large quantities of precipitation, which enable the growth of well developed Mediterranean groves. In spring, bloom is especially diverse and colorful: approximately 670 different species of plants grow on this mountain.


During the Carmel’s geological development, many types of rocks were formed. Most of them are marine sedimentary rocks, created as a result of the accumulation of remains of animals in the ancient sea. At that time, when the entire area was submerged in the sea, the Carmel region had several volcanic eruptions that brought Basalt rocks. Next to them, the Carmel also has rocks that were formed by skeletons of marine animals such as shellfish and corals.
The geological fractures that occurred in the area created steep escarpments, the most impressive of which is on the eastern part of the mountain, standing upright over the Jezreel Valley.

Prehistoric Settlements

In the Carmel, a continuum of settlements lasting thousands of years has been found, starting with prehistoric man, whose traces have been found in the area as early as 200 thousand years ago. At a certain period, a distinct type of prehistoric human lived here, and was named after the mountain – “Carmelite Man”.


The human scenery is still interesting today. Residents of the Carmel are Jewish, Druze, Christian, Muslim, Baha’i and Ahmadi. The gold plated Baha’i temple, one of the symbols of the city of Haifa, and the different worship locations dedicated mostly to the prophet Elijah – man of the Carmel, add another characteristic to those that turn this into a remarkably fascinating land. Elijah’s story is also retained in the Muhraka, where the Carmelite monastery commemorates Elijah’s challenge to the Baal priests, as told by the Bible.
On the north-western slopes of the Carmel, the city of Haifa overlooks the Mediterranean and controls the bay, which also holds one of the largest ports in Israel.

Natural Groves and a Variety of Flowers

A large part of the Carmel is covered with natural forest and groves, which maintain their fresh color throughout the year. Due to the large amount of precipitation and the high humidity in the area, the flora quickly recovers from damage caused by fire and logging.
The groves have a variety of trees, which used to compose the natural forests in Israel. Some flower at springtime, and provide scents and vibrant colors. The trees are widely spaced, and between them colorful bushes flower in yellow, white, pink and purple.
Next to the Mediterranean groves, the Carmel holds natural pine woods. These integrate with the conifers planted by man. Despite the many forest fires over the years, many of the natural and cultivated pine trees survived and turned into especially large and impressive trees.

One of the Largest Nature Reserves in Israel

Over 80 dunam of the Carmel Mountain are a nature reserve. Paths were created, enabling tourists to reach parking lots and shaded corners. Next to the scenic routs there are birds eye lookouts and organized picnic spots. From these places, the views of the Jezreel Valley to the east, the Upper Galilee to the north and the Mediterranean beaches to the west are visible.
On other parts of the nature reserve, the “Hai-Bar” – a wildlife preserve – is where animals and birds that have previously become extinct from the Carmel have recently been returned to the area, receiving dedicated care from the Nature and National Parks Protection Authority.

Tourist Routes and Hikes

The Carmel region is full of tourist attractions and sites. You can travel on the “Nof Carmel” (Carmel view) 25 kilometer long path, suitable for all vehicles. You may visit the Druze inhabitants of the villages Daliyat el-Carmel and Isfiya, and get to know their heritage. These villages have many authentic restaurants and unique marketplaces that attract many Israelis and tourists. Another site is the Carmel “Hai-Bar” – a zoological preserve maintained by the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority. In this nature reserve, wild sheep, wild goats, deer and fallow deer are grown for the purpose of releasing them back into the wild.
Nahal Mearot Nature Reserve on the west side of the mountain reveals prehistoric man’s lifestyle in the area. The place has an audio-visual show, and the tourist path passes through caves that were used for dwelling by prehistoric man. At the center of the mountain is Mahtsevot Kdumim, where in Byzantine times, stones were quarried for building.
On top of all these, hikes along unusual nature sites such as the Kelah River, also known as “Little Switzerland”, the Nesher River with the hanging bridge that crosses one of its channels, Mizpe Ofer an overlook with a view of the village of Fureidis, and “Havat Mishmar ha’Carmel”, a recently opened national park, where families may spend time, watch the views and camp through the night.

Haifa – City of the Carmel

The district city of Haifa is the third largest city in Israel. It sits on a slope facing the sea, at the top of which the Stella Maris monastery and the well-known Haifa University are located. The city hosts a variety of hotels of different grades, shopping centers, various museums, Elijah’s Cave where according to the different traditions the prophet hid from those pursuing him, the cable car from Bat-Galim to the top of the mountain, and a city that preserves the Templer period. The Templers were German settlers who built their beautiful stone houses during the 19th century. The city also holds the country’s northern main train station, and a railway museum, telling the history of trains from the Ottoman rein until today.
Still, the jewel in the crown of the city is the Baha’i temple. This serves as the Baha’i religion world center. The temple is surrounded by the largest green gardens in Israel, famous throughout the world for their beauty and uniqueness.

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The Little Religion that Persists: The Baha'i in Israel

The Little Religion that Persists: The Baha'i in Israel - TIME: "Stepping into the gardens of the Shrine of Bab is like entering a hallucination. They rise in steps all the way up the mountainside above Haifa's downtown, and at the midway point, at mid-morning, the clear light off the Mediterranean combines with the precise efforts of 150 gardeners to achieve a combination of lucid depth and dazzling color that may be what they were going for in the Johnny Depp Alice in Wonderland, though without the dark undertow."

Hiking in Israel – A Trekkers' Paradise

Hiking in Israel – A Trekkers' Paradise: "Israelis love to hike. And with more than 6,000 miles of trails crisscrossing the country, Israel is a true trekker’s paradise – all the more so because in such a small space (less than 300 miles from its northernmost to southernmost tips), you can walk through green forests, desert moonscapes and everything in between.


Israelis are inculcated with a love of hiking from a very young age. Beginning in first grade, all Israeli schoolchildren head out for an “annual trip.” The youngest go just for the day, but by high school, hikes can stretch up to a week. Some school groups camp outdoors while others stay in youth hostels or “field schools” run by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI)."

The Coastal Plain

Warm, soft sand, seashells and snails, waves that lap the shore and wide open spaces - these are the features of Israel’s coastal plain, Israel’s western coastline which stretches along the Mediterranean Sea, from Rosh ha-Nikra in the north to the Gaza Strip in the south. 


Most of Israel’s population is concentrated in the coastal plain, in big, bustling cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa, rebuilt ancient towns such as Acre (Ako) , Caesarea and Ashkelon and kibbutzim and rural communities, such as Ga’ash, Khavatselet ha-Sharon and Neve Yam. Between the cities and towns are national parks and nature reserves, including ha-Sharon and Apollonia National Parks. 


The coastal plain is divided into six geographical sections from north to south: In the north is the Galilee coastal plain, which starts at Rosh ha-Nikra, on the Lebanese border. This is fertile region that has one city - Nahariya - and many agricultural communities. Off the coast are many small islands and the coastline is dotted with ancient sites such as Tel Akhziv and nature sites such as the Rosh ha-Nikra cliff.


The next region is the Acre coastal plain, which is crowded with urban communities - Acre and Haifa’s northern Krayot suburbs, but also has wide agricultural areas. 


To the south of the Acre region is the Carmel coastal plain, which stretches from Rosh ha-Carmel in the north to Nakhal Taninim in the south. The soil here is rich, and many farming communities have been built around the region's major city, Haifa. This area has beautiful beaches and pre-historical sites such as Tel Shikmona and nature reserves, such as Dor ha-Bonim.


Continuing southward is the Sharon region bordered on the south by the Yarkon River. This is Israel’s busiest and most densely populated area, and also has a few nature reserves (Poleg and Nakhal Alexander) and important archaeological sites, such as Afek.


The next region is the central coastal plain, which stretches to Nakhal Shikma in the south. This region is also densely populated, with many cities such as Bat Yam and Rishon le-Tsiyon and agricultural communities. Among the archeological sites in this area are Tel Ashdod and Tel Ashkelon, and the nature reserves here include the Palmakhim Beach and Rekhes Gvar’am.


The southern coastal plain (the western Negev plain), is the last section of the coastal strip and extends into the northern Sinai Desert. This region is divided into to sub-sections: the Bsor region in the northeast and the Agur-Khalutsa beaches in the south. The Bsor region is a savannah-type area dotted with a relatively large number of communities, with flowers and lush greenery in the spring, while the Agur-Khalutsa beaches are a desert region with no towns or villages. The beaches are considered part of the Negev due to their climate, and attract particularly adventurous hikers.

The Dead Sea

THE CITY OF DAVID COMES ALIVE THIS SUMMER

WITH  NEW SELECTION OF INNOVATIVE TOURS

The ancient City of David, the original settled neighborhood of Jerusalem, has announced this week a new selection of innovative tours highlighting recent and past archeological discoveries taking place throughout the summer, including:

• The Archaeological Experience at the Emek Tzurim National Park: Discovering the Past Hidden in the Dust: A unique exploration of the Temple Mount's glorious past, travelers will be able to sift through rubble that originated in ancient buildings atop the Temple Mount while learning about the artifacts from on-site archaeologists and guides.   
• Tour of the biblical City of David: A tour bringing travelers through Jerusalem's biblical sites and places where the city's the most stirring, remarkable artifacts were unearthed. Tour guides will lead travelers through an impressive underground world in Warren's Shaft, the city's ancient water system, as well as an illuminated walk in the waters of the Gihon Spring that flows through Hezekiah's Tunnel.  
• In the footsteps of the Pilgrims - New Discoveries and Revelations from the Second Temple Period: A tour leading travelers in the footsteps of the architects of the city and incorporating recent archaeological discoveries as well as the Shiloah Pool and the Herodian Road.  
• Enchanted Jerusalem-the New Nighttime Experience at the City of David: The new evening tour of the City of David begins at the Hatzofeh lookout point emphasizing the unique, low position of the biblical City of David in comparison with Jerusalem's Old City walls. The tour will conclude with an innovative light show projected onto various antiquities, telling the story of the City of David through movement and sound.   
• Twilight at the City of David: A magical three-hour tour in a special nighttime ambiance allowing travelers to view the city through a course of excavations including David's Palace and Hezekiah's Tunnel. The tour concludes with harp music under the ancient olive trees in the King's Garden.   
• Following the Water to Jerusalem - Hasmonean Aqueduct Tour: A flashlight tour highlighting the two 2,000-year-old aqueducts constructed to bring water from the Pools of Solomon to the Temple Mount and Upper City. Travelers will also witness the incredible views of ancient Jerusalem and the sophisticated water system built by King Herod on 150 BCE.
• Kidron Monuments Tour: A tour of the massive, elaborate monuments in the Kidron Valley around the Old City's original municipal border between the City of David and the Mount of Olives.

The Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley, extending from the outlet of the Jordan River at the Sea of Galilee to its inlet into the Dead Sea, a little over 100 kilometers to the south as the crow flies, reveals the variety of landscapes and sites for which Israel is famous, highlighted here from north to south. 


The Jordan emerges from an area of stately date groves near the first kibbutz, Degania, flows past the Pilgrim’s Baptismal Site and becomes the peaceful border between Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In fact, you can cross into Jordan at the Sheikh Hussein Bridge, just opposite the city of Beit Shean.

But even before you get to Beit Shean, with its fabulous biblical, Roman and Byzantine remains, you can learn about the region’s rich prehistory at the Kibbutz Sha’ar Hagolan Museum, and then drive up to the Crusader fortress of Belvoir to get an overview of the magnificent landscape. At the Kfar Ruppin Birdwatching Center you’ll discover that the Jordan Valley, part of the Syrian-African Rift, is not only a famed ancient highway; it is one of the world’s major bird-migration routes.

From ancient to modern history means just a short drive in this valley: South of Belvoir is Naharayim, where the Yarmuk River flows from the east into the Jordan, the reason the Middle East’s first hydroelectric power plant was founded here in 1932. At nearby Old Gesher you’ll hear the story of that technical wonder of its day, along with the saga of the area’s historic bridges and of Kibbutz Gesher in 1948. The Jordan River Peace Park is an exciting, future cross-border project of this area.

As you continue south, you’ll enjoy the gradually changing landscape, becoming increasingly arid as it eventually dips to around 400 meters below sea level. Thanks to modern irrigation techniques, the region is dotted with orchards, date groves, vineyards, and flower and vegetable greenhouses, and you’ll also see shepherds with their flocks.

Further south, you’ll pass the area where the Israelites crossed the Jordan, and you’ll see their first destination, the rich oasis of Jericho, the oldest city in the world. The road detours the city and passes the entrance to another Jordan crossing, the Allenby Bridge. Next, near the T-junction where you’ll decide whether to continue southeast to the Dead Sea or northwest to Jerusalem, a sign directs you to the inviting Greek Orthodox monastery of Dir Hijleh. 

Thru Jerusalem

The Hula Valley

The Hula valley is a place of miracles and wonders. Heroic people working together with Mother Nature have made the Hula valley into a place filled with abundant green beauty. 


Until the 1950s large parts of the Hula valley were covered by the Hula Lake and its adjacent swamps. The project for draining the swamps contributed to settlement in the area and to the addition of large areas of agricultural land, leaving the central lake area as a nature reserve where fauna and flora characteristic of the area could remain. Visitors to the Hula Valley can see the plants and animals that are indigenous to the area as well as migrating birds. Films and audio-visual presentations are shown in the visitors' center, which tell about life in the area 50 years ago.  


At the beginning of the 1990s 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 – 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. The 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 Hula Valley.  


Water is extremely abundant in the valley, including springs such as Ein Tina, the Jakhula, and the large northern rivers such as the Dan, Snir, Hermon and the Jordan. Because of the abundance of water the area is green and flowering, and contains numerous nature reserves such as HaTanur, Tel Dan, and the Banias. There are also national parks in the region such as Hurshat Tal. 


There are many kibbutzim and moshavim in the Hula Valley, as well as the city of Kiryat Shmona. It has become one of the major tourism regions in Israel, offering activities throughout the year.  Visitors to the Hula Valley can choose from a large selection of guest rooms, country lodging facilities, luxury hotels, and hostels. There are also dozens of archeological sites such as Tel Hatzor, tourist attractions such as the Tel Hai Photography Museum, historical sites such as the Tel Hai Compound, and entertainment centers for children and families such as the Manara Cliffs and cable car.  

Sea of Galilee - The Kineret Lake

All winter long, the most important part of the news report for Israelis is not the dollar-shekel exchange rate or the level of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange index, but rather the water level in Lake Kineret, which often reflects the national spirit. The Kineret is Israel’s largest fresh water reservoir, and is also the country’s largest and most important source and reservoir of drinking water. For this and other reasons, the Kineret has become an important national symbol and is also a first class tourism center.


The beaches that surround the entire lake are similar but different. The width of the beaches varies in keeping with the local geography, creating different landscapes in every location. Above the eastern and western shores, for example, rise the Galilee mountains and the foothills of the Golan, while to the north there is the Beit Tsida valley, a wide area with plentiful water that drains from the Jordan River and the Golan streams, and to the south is the Jordan estuary, which flows south toward the desert regions.


For this reason, some of the Kineret’s beaches have soft sand, while others are rocky; some beaches are narrow while others are very wide. Either way, the beaches are fun and offer many tourist attractions for every age group. Most of the beaches allow nature-loving visitors to sleep in camping areas on the sand, and there are also hostels, guest houses and beachfront hotels. Most of the beaches also offer various types of water sports and water activities, such as boating in inflatable rubber dinghies, canoes, etc.; children can enjoy the giant slides at the water parks (Luna Gal, Tsemakh or Gai Beach). There are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores along the way, and most of all one can enjoy the calm and tranquility.


The beaches surrounding the Kineret are also a perfect starting point for wonderful nature tours of the area. Some of the most popular and beautiful nature sites are the Jordan Park, the Beit Tsida Nature Reserve, Khamat Gader, Naharayim. There is also the lower Golan Heights region, which borders on the Kineret and is full of swift flowing streams, historic sites and nature reserves.


The Kineret played an important role in the early years of Christianity and has now become a pilgrimage site for many Christians. According to Christian tradition, Jesus lived, preached and performed miracles in the Kineret and the surrounding region. It was here that he walked on the water and the miracle of the loaves and the fishes happened in nearby Kfar Nakhum (Capernaum). There are many Christian holy sites around the Kineret, including the Mount of Beatitudes, the Church of the Loaves and the Fishes, Kfar Nakhum, Kursi, and the wooden boat discovered in the lake and now on display at Kibbutz Ginosar. Other nearby historic sites include Migdal, Tel Hadar, Ubeidiya (Israel’s most important prehistoric site), Beit Tsida, Kibbutz Dganya Alef, Moshavat Kineret and the city of Tiberias.

JERUSALEM'S SEASON OF CULTURE FESTIVAL FEATURES ART, DANCE AND MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITIONS THROUGH JULY 2011

June 6, 2011: In celebration of its long history as an epicenter for artists and creative thinkers, Jerusalem will present its Season of Culture Festival featuring a series of riveting artistic exhibitions, spanning the disciplines of dance, music, poetry, philosophy, visual art and new media, including:

• The Merce Cunningham Dance Company Presents The Farewell Waltz (June 6-11): In collaboration with the Israel Festival and the re-imagined Israel Museum, the Season of Culture Festival will host seminal performances of The Farewell Waltz including site-specific interpretations created especially for museum spaces.       
• Kutiman Online (June 16): Artist, musician and YouTube sensation Kutiman will unveil a digital presentation of his specially commissioned work for the Jerusalem Season of Culture Festival.

   

• In-House: An Evening of Dance, Theater and Music (June 21-24): Jerusalem's unique private residences will open their doors to dance, theater, music and poetry performances, creating a special environment between audience and performer. 

• Different Trains (June 30-July 21): The festival will feature an interpretation of the Steve Reich masterpiece, Different Trains, performed at an ancient and newly renovated Turkish prison at the Tower of David.  

• Balabasta Festival (July 4,11,18,25): The Mahane Yehuda market will be transformed into a stage for dancers, musicians, sculptors, actors and poets presenting evening performances among the colorful market stalls.    

• Contact Point (July 14): A festive evening featuring dancers, actors, poets, philosophers, musicians and DJs performing at the Israel Museum.    
• Road to Zion (July 21): A musical celebration of Jerusalem bringing together international and local artists to celebrate the diverse spiritual paths that lead to Jerusalem.  

• Renee Fleming (July 28): The world-renowned soprano Renee Fleming will present a one-off, open-air performance alongside the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Zubin Mehta at Sultan's Pool.

The Golan Heights

The Golan Heights, Israel’s mountainous northern region, is one of the most beautiful and most traveled parts of the country. There are wonderful scenic treasures alongside lovely nature reserves, historic and archeological sites and attractions for the whole family. Some people call this area the Israeli Texas, because of its size, while others see it as a land of plentiful water sources. The beauty of the Golan is so captivating that some visitors return here again and again to enjoy the sights.


The view from the Golan Heights becomes more and more magnificent as you gradually climb from the plains, at 300 meters above sea level in the south to 1,200 meters in the north. The eastern edge of this region is dotted with a chain of volcanic hills, while the south and west border on basalt cliffs that descend to the Jordan Valley Rift, Lake Kineret and the Yarmuk River.


Scattered throughout the Golan Heights are a wide variety of sites that offer a broad spectrum of activities for tourists and hikers throughout the year. In the winter both amateur and professional skiers flock to the top of the snow-covered Hermon Mountain to enjoy its excellent ski conditions, the snow that piles up on the ground and the pure white landscape. In the summer hikers can enjoy a swim in the many streams, in spring the plains are carpeted with multi-colored flowers and in autumn the pleasant weather attracts hikers to the many wooded trails.


The Golan Heights also offers tourists an authentic cowboy experience at a ranch with horses and cattle. Visitors can go out to the orchards and pick ripe cherries, raspberries and other seasonal fruits. 
Bird lovers can watch the eagles nesting in Gamla and on the cliffs of the nature reserve, and see the remains of a Chalcolithic Era settlement (from about 5,500 years ago). There are also burial grounds from 4,000 years ago, a 2,000-year-old Jewish city a monastery with a Byzantine church (from 1,500 years ago) and much more. 
The summit of Mount Bental offers a panoramic view of the whole area, while the Sa'ar, Zavitan and Meshushim streams gurgle and froth from the waterfalls along their routes through breathtaking canyons.


Odem Forest, in the northern Golan, is the home of a deer reserve, with many different species. Near here you can also see Rujum al-Hiri (Circle of Ghosts), a Megalithic structure about 5,000 years old that researchers believe was used for ritual purposes, burial or as an astronomy observatory. 


The Golan Heights is the only part of Israel with basalt stones, originating from long ago volcanic eruptions. Here in the mountains the nights are chilly all year long.


Visitors to the Golan Heights can sleep in any of the hundreds of rural guest houses, tour the archeological sites (Banias, Gamla, Beit Tsida, ancient Katsrin) and the unique nature reserves, enjoy the boutique wineries, taste the delicacies at the wide variety of restaurants, experience Druze hospitality in one of the Druze villages in the northern Golan and much more.

The Jezreel Valley

The Bible, geography and ancient and modern history in the Jezreel Valley are perhaps more closely entwined and visible than anywhere else in the country. 
The central Jezreel Valley, roughly 380 square kilometers in size, is bounded on the north by the Nazareth mountains and Mount Tabor, on the east and south by Mount Gilboa and the mountains of Samaria respectively, and on the west by Mount Carmel – all of which are Scriptural stars. 


The passes through these mountains have been significant in world history for thousands of years, emphasizing Israel’s role as a bridge linking Africa, Asia and Europe.  Ancient caravans bearing merchandise and the innovations of far-off cultures, and the armies of antiquity passed this way, as attested by the famed ruins of some 25 cities at Tel Megiddo, Tel Jezreel and other antiquities sites. 


Jezreel means “God will sow” – a hint at its fertility, although by modern times neglect had turned most of it into swamps. But beginning in 1911, pioneers drained the swamps, making the valley bloom again. 


Today it is Israel’s breadbasket, sprouting wheat, cotton, sunflowers and even fish ponds. Among its many attractions are historical and biblical treasures such as Tel Megiddo (Armageddon) national park, the mosaics at Beit Alfa and Tzippori national parks, the cultural mosaic represented by the Circassian village and museum in Kafr Kama and the pioneering and historical museums at Kfar Tabor and Kibbutz Ein Dor, family fun and hands-on learning at places like  the silk and honey farm at Moshav Shadmot Dvora, countryside cuisine at the region’s many fine restaurants, hiking portions of the Israel Trail and the Bible Trail on Mount Gilboa, a wide selection of bed-and-breakfast accommodations run by  rural families,  as well as the numerous religious and heritage sites in Nazareth, and more, all make the Jezreel  one of Israel’s most inviting visitor destinations.

King David Street

A page of Jerusalem’s history is written into nearly every building on and around King David. What better way to explore than on foot?
The best place to begin your walk down King David Street is where all of modern Jerusalem started – at the Montefiori windmill. As you enjoy the view of old and new Jerusalem, it might be hard to imagine that as late as 1860, this was the only structure standing outside the walled city. The windmill was named for the British Jewish philanthropist Moses Montefiori, although the money for the purchase came from an American Jew, Judah Touro, who left $50,000 for the good of the Jews of Jerusalem. Montefiori was the executor of Touro’s estate. Touro did get the main street of the adjoining gentrified neighbourhood of Yemin Moshe named after him, which you’ll discover if you wander down that way.

Before returning to the busy King David, enjoy a saunter through the strip of public park that parallels the street. You’ll get a magnificent view of the Old City walls, from Jaffa Gate to Mount Zion. On a clear day, you can look eastward into the Judean Desert, and even the Mountains of Moab across the Dead Sea.

Aside from the usual assortment of trees and flowers there’s something you don’t find in every park: 2,000-year-old tombs. The grouping, known as Herod’s family tomb, looks like a cave cut into the rock in a way typical to multi-generational burial chambers of the wealthy at the time of the Second Temple.

Walk through the park until it connects with Emile Botta Street, which will lead you back to King David. First, you’ll pass the Pontifical Biblical Institute, built in 1927 in neo-Renaissance style. The institute has a small museum, where you can view a real Egyptian mummy. 

Head to the entrance of the King David Hotel, built between 1929 and 1931 by the Egyptian Jewish Mouseri family. In 1938, the southern part of the hotel became an administrative centre for the British Mandate. You’ll see a hint of the trauma that struck the building July 22, 1946, when it was blown up by the underground army, the Etzel, in protest over British anti-Zionist policy killing 91 people.
 
Across the street is a YMCA that is like none other in the world. Its architect was Arthur Louis Harmon, who also designed the Empire State Building in New York City. If the King David is a near-Eastern festival, the “Y” is no less of a party, to which 2,000 years’ worth of architectural styles have been invited – from the Herodian-style masonry, to the red-and-beige interlocking stones typical of the 13th century Mamelukes, down to the Art-Deco angel that graces the main entry.

Continuing to walk down King David Street toward its junction with Agron Street, you’ll reach David’s Citadel, another luxurious Jerusalem hotel that has been giving the King David some stiff competition in recent years.

Before you get to David’s Citadel, however, bear left on to Ben Shimon Street. Another left past the Gesher Center (a seminar centre specializing in programming that bridges the Orthodox-secular divide) will lead you to a parking lot, at the far end of which is the World Center for the Heritage of North African Jewry. The interior has been renovated in Spanish-Moorish style, and the building’s piece-de-resistance is a magnificent clerestory, adorned with intricate wood and bas-relief plaster work, and mosaic baseboards and walls executed by builders who came from Morocco especially for the project. Rooms surrounding the clerestory are used for lectures and study sessions, as well as art and folklore exhibits, to honor the long and glorious history of North African Jewry, and educate future generations about it. 

Where to next? Depending on time and inclination, you can cross Agron Street and walk though Independence Park to Solomon Street, and the restored Nahalat Shiva area of downtown Jerusalem, where fun shopping, good eating, and countless opportunities for people watching await. Or, you could turn right at Agron, and head toward the Jaffa Gate to explore the Old City markets. 

Israel readies for summer-long selection of musical performances

Israel will host a wide range of musical performances this summer, including legendary folk rock singer Bob Dylan at Ramat Gan Stadium near Tel Aviv, June 20. Additional performances will include veteran British rockstars Duran Duran at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds, July 30; and the annual Pic.Nic Music Festival featuring one-off performances by renowned artists Moby (July 12) and Janes Addiction (September 1) at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds.

Paul Simon Concert in Tel Aviv

Paul Simon has confirmed that he will giving a concert in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 21, 2011 at the Ramat Gan stadium (in the suburb of Ramat Gan) as part of his world tour for his new album “So Beautiful or So What.” He is also expected to perform at venues across the United States and Europe.


Simon, who will celebrate his 70th birthday in October, will arrive in Israel as part of a concert tour promoting his new, critically acclaimed album “So Beautiful or So What”, which the singer considers his best in the past 20 years.


Simon launched his international concert tour on Monday. In the next two months he is expected to tour the United States and will arrive in Europe in June.


This will be Simon’s third concert in Israel. He first came here in 1978 for a solo gig, and returned in 1983 with Art Garfunkel as part of the Simon & Garfunkel duo.