Exploring the “Holy Land”



Jerusalem

Why?


I am not sure when this trip will occur but my dream vacation will take place mainly in Jerusalem and places around that city, because Jerusalem is one of the oldest and most important cities. During its history it has been conquered, destroyed, re-conquered, put under siege and rebuilt – each of these several times over.

Historical records of Jerusalem date back to around 3,000 BC, Jerusalem was a small settlement on the hills of Mount Moriah. Since then, it has become a place of immense importance to all three major monotheistic faiths, making it one of the most significant cities in the wolrd.


I refer myself as a christian, I have a faith as a christian. As I take this trip I would like to strengthen my faith and build the biblical knowledge as I experience this "Holy Land". 


Holy Land

The “Holy Land” includes Israel and large regions of Jordan and Egypt, where the areas are highly associated with three of the world’s major Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Since I am a Christian, I have always thought that it would be really intriguing and exciting to experience how the people in the Bible lived. Highlights of my travel would include the visiting biblical sites of Jerusalem, Galilee and Mount Sinai, and some of churches, monasteries and mosques. And I am also excited because I found out that this is an area with great natural beauty, from the desert landscapes of Jordan and Sinai to the lush greenery of northern Israel and the white sands of the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts.

Old Testament Sites in the Holy Land



Map of Old Testament
 

Old Testament Sites in the Holy Land
 Most of stories told in the Old Testament had taken place in Egypt, Sinai and Israel. The Bible gives many of pretty accurate geographical names, such as Jerusalem and Jericho. I am very excited to be in the place such as the desert or the cities where the stories have occurred.

The Old Testament as History
 Unlike other countries (Egypt or Mesopotamia) the Holy Land has yielded only few written records. The only such resource is the Bible.


 Here are some important sites where I want to visit and the stories associated to it.

1.     The Destruction of Sodom
Then Sodom was destroyed by God only Lot and his family were spared, but his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Destruction of Sodom

2.     The Sacrifice of Isaac
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. The patriarch was about to obey when an angel stayed his hand and instructed him to slaughter a ram instead (Genesis 22). Tradition identifies the place of sacrifice as Mount Moriah, later a part of Jerusalem, and the site on which Solomon’s Temple is said to have been subsequently built.

The scrifice of Isaac


3.     The Tombs of the Patriarchs
Acquired as a burial place for his wife Sarah, the Machpelah cave was the first plot in the Land of Canaan purchased by Abraham (Genesis 23). A mosque/synagogue now occupies the traditional site of the tomb, located in the present-day town of Hebron.

4.     Moses Receives the Ten Commandments
Since the 4th century, Mount Sinai has been associated with the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). The Bible places Mount Sinai in a region called Horeb, but the location of Horeb has never been identified.

Mount Sinai


5.     The Death of Moses
Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land from the summit of Mount Nebo and died in the same place. Christian tradition identifies Mount Nebo as being just southwest of modern=day Amman. As the Bible states, the whereabouts of Moses’ tomb is unknown (Deuteronomy 34: 1-7)

6.     Joshua Conquers Jericho
The Old Testament story tells how the walls of Jericho fell to the blast of horns (Joshua 6). This ancient oasis was the first city conquered by the Israelites, led by Joshua, after they emerged from their 40 years in the wilderness.

7.     The Ark of the Covenant
At Shiloh the Jews built the first temple and placed in it the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred container of the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Ark is shown here in a 13th-century illumination being carried by two angels.
8.     Samson and Delilah
The climax of this story, in which Samson pulls down the Philistines’ temple, killing himself and his enemies, is described as taking place in Gaza (Judges 14-16)

9.     David defeats Goliath
As the champion of the Isrelites during the reign of King Saul, David defeated Goliath and routed the Philistines (I Samuel 17). The site of the battle is given as the Ha-Ela Valley, northwest of Hebron.


David and Goliath


10.  Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
Elijah challenged the prophets of the Canaanite god Baal. An altar was set up and sacrifices prepared. Only Elijjah’s offering burst into flames, showing it had been acknowledged and proving who the true God was (I Kings 18). The traditional site of this event is Mount Carmel, at Haifa.


Three Faiths in the Holy Land


 
Judaism
For Jewish people it is Judaism is not just a matter of religion but their historic background and life. Jews believe themselves to be descended from Abraham, to whom God promised a land “unto thee, and to thy seed after thee”. Judaism traditionally passes through the female line or by conversion, different Jewish movements (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform) having different require “guidance”.

Christianity
To the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, he was more than just a prophet; he was the Son of God who brought a new covenant replacing the Old Testament given to Abraham. His Crucifixion in Jerusalem came to be seen as self-sacrifice for the salvation of humankind and inspired a new religious movement based on his teachings. At first this existed as a subsect of Judaism; Jesus came to be known as Christ (Christos: the anointed one, in Greek), as he was held to be the Messiah of Jewish prophecies. However, the new religion spread far beyond Judaea. It saw persecution, then recognition by the Roman Empire, eventually becoming its dominant religion in the 4th century AD.

Islam
Islam was founded by Muhammad, a former merchant from Mecca in Arabia. Born around AD 570, at the age of 40 he began to receive revelations of the word of Allah. These continued for the rest of his life and were transcribed as the Quran. Muhammad’s preachings were not well received in Mecca and in 622 he and his followers were forced to flee for Medina. This flight, or hejira, constitutes year zero in the Islamic calendar. Before Muhammad died in 632, he had returned to conquer Mecca. Within a further four years, the armies of Islam had swept out of the Arabian Desert and conquered the Holy Land.

Sites of the New Testament

Map of New Testement



Sites of the New Testament
 The life of Jesus Christ, as recounted in the gospels, was played out in a relatively small geographical area. He was born in Bethlehem; he grew up in Nazareth and his baptism took place at the Jordan River near Jericho; most of his activity was carried out around the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where he preached, narrated parables and showed miracles; and his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension all occurred in Jerusalem.

1.     The Annunciation
At Nazareth Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told of her horthcoming child (Luke 1: 26-38). The episode is commemorated by the Basilica of the Annunciation.
The Annunciation

2.     The Birth of Jesus
In Bethlehem Jesus was born in a grotto and an angel appeared to shepherds in nearby fields, telling them of the birth (Luke 2: 1-20). A church was first built on the site in the 4th century and a star marks the alleged site of the Nativity. 
 
Bethlehem

Grotto of the Nativity

3.     The Wedding at Cana
Jesus performed his first miracle at this small village near Nazareth, at a wedding where he turned water into wine (John 2: 1-11)


4.     The Baptism of Christ
John the Baptist, a cousin of Jesus, baptized and preached the coming of the Messiah on the shores of the Jordan River. John recognized Jesus as the “Lamb of God” (Matthew 3). The site traditionally identified with the baptism, known as Qasr el-Yehud, is east of Jericho on the Jordanian border. It lies in a military zone and Is accessible to pilgrims on certain days of the week.

Jordan River

5.     The Temptations
Following his baptism, Jesus went into the desert, where the Devil tried to tempt him from his 40-day fast (Matthew 4: 1-11).  The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Temptation on Mount Quarntal, just north of Jericho, marks the site of the supposed encounter.

6.     The First Disciples
Christ’s first Disciples were fishermen be encountered on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. He persuaded them to leave their nets to become “fishers of men” (Matthew 5: 18-22). In the mid-1980s a fishing boat was discovered in the mud of the lake. It dates back to the 1st century AD, roughly the time of Christ, and is on display at Kibbutz Ginosar.
Sea of Galilee


7.     The Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes
The gospels locate this famous miracle, more colourfully known as the “feeding of the 5,000” (Matthew 15: 32-39), on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The episode is commemorated in a church at Tabgha on the lake shore, which has a mosaic in front of the altar showing a basket of bread flanked by fish.

8.     The Sermon on the Mount
The longest and one of the key sermons in the teachings of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, begins with the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth…” (Matthew 5-7). Tradition has it delivered on a small rise at Tabgha. It is celebrated by the nearby, octagonal Church of the Beatitudes.



Jerusalem

The Western Wall

TheWestern Wall
Dome of the Rock


Dome of the Rock


Museum of the Holocaust

Museum of the Holocaust



 Jerusalem is old city with important historical significance. I will begin my trip from the tightly walled Old City, home to the cornerstones of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. There is the Western Wall of Judaism; Via Dolorosa and Church of the Holy Sepulchre of Christianity; and the Dome of the Rock of Islam. There are also significant sites like the Mount of Olives, with its marvelous views of the city

 While I am staying in Jerusalem I will also visit the Mount of Olives, which is knownfor its marvellous views over the city, more churches, synagogues and mosques. I will be able to take some pictures of buildings with Roman and Byzantine remains, medieval walls and gates, and colourful markets and bazaars.
 

The Coast and Galilee

Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
 Tel Aviv represents the modern face of the Jewish state. It is also a true Mediterranean resort city, with a long, sandy beach fringed by cafes, bars and shops.
 I will arrive in Tel Aviv and stay there for about 1-2 days, I will visit the superb Muserum of the Jewish Diaspora and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
  
The Sea of Galilee
Sea of Galilee


 It is where Jesus is said to have walked on the water and where diciples were fishing. It is also known as a beautiful setting ringed by green hills. Away from the coast, the Sea of Galilee is the Israel's largest freshwater body.

The Dead Sea and the Negev Desert

The Dead Sea


Floating on the Dead Sea

 It will be an facinating experience to swin in the Dead Sea and read a book.


Masada

The legendary fortress of Masada

  It is the mountain-top fortress constructed by King Herod but famous for the Jewish defenders who killed themselves rather than be captured by the Romans.

Dishes and Specialities

Shashlik and kebab
Shashlik
 Respectively, pieces of meat and spiced ground meat grilled on a skewer.


Falafel
Falafel
 Deep-fried balls of mashed chickpeas served stuffed into pita bread with salad.



Tilapia or St Peter's Fish
Tilapia
Popular around the Sea of Galilee, simply grilled and served with lemon slices.



Jerusalem salad
Jerusalem Salad

Meal in itself with olives, feta, and somtimes pomegranate and za'atar, a blend of herbs, sprinkled over.

Travel Tips

How to get there

 Ticket price during Christmas season is about twice as expensive as the tickets during off-season. Since I am a student I can't take a break anytime I want so it would cost for more for flight. However there will be more festivals and events held during holyday season so it would compensate the high price.



Crossing Boarders

Israel

Traveling between Israel and Egypt, and between Israel and Jordan, has become possible due to the Peace agreements of the recent years.


Visas

In order to enter Israel and Jordan, a passport that is valid for at least six months must be possessed. But when I enter Egypt from Israel to go to Sinai, I can get a Sinai Permit that allows me to stay for up to 14 days in Egypt; this is obtained at the border and is free. Israeli visa holder is not permitted to enter few Arab countries, especially Syria and Lebanon, but not Egypt or Jordan. At the airport, you can ask visa stamped on a separate piece of paper, which can prevent any trouble.


Language

 In Israel, unlike Palestinian areas and Jordan, all signs are bilingual and most people are able to speak some English. This is because English is a second language in Israel and many immigrants cannot speak Hebrew. But Abrabs will also make every effort to communicate with foreigners using English.


Etiquette

Israeli society is not that different from the West except for few regions, such as ultra-orthodox areas where people are disposed toward conservatism. The way you dress and your behavior should be more cautious when travelling these areas. This is a common case in Arab areas; both in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories and in Jordan. Arab women usually cover their arms and legs. Sometimes they cover their heads in public, and men do not wear shorts. Travelers are not expected to be as same as they are, except for visiting certain public places and the holy sites, where you must be properly dressed up.


Opening Hours

Because of the many religious holidays celebrated in the region (Jewish, Muslim and Christian), opening hours for the many tourist sites and historic monuments can vary greatly. As a general rule, however, sites in Israel are usually open daily, except for Friday, when they keep more restricted hours, and Saturday, when they are closed altogether. Christian sites, other that the churches, are open on Saturdays but closed on Sundays, while Muslim sites are closed on Fridays. In general, last entry to a site will be one hour before the stated closing time.

Student Information
ISIC card

In Israel, a student having a valid student card, such as an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), can get a 10 percent discount on bus fares, as well as discounts on the most of the site admissions and museum. In Egypt, student discount on most site admissions is up to 50 percent but there are none offered in Jordan.


Currency
Israel Currency

Israel’s national currency and the Palestinian Autonomous Territories is the same, which is New Israeli Shekel (NIS) or simply, the shekel. The currency of Jordan is Jordanian Dinar (JD) and Egyptian Pound (LE) in Sinai. These currencies can only be used in their own countries and exchange rates between those three tend to be extremely bad, thus, it is wise to use all your shekels before leaving Israel and then to exchange dollars for dinars or pounds when you arrive in Jordan or Egypt.