My Holy Lands Tour

DAY 5 Thursday, May 8, 2008 - TEL AVIV, JAFFA, CAESAREA, HAIFA

In the morning we took a flight from Cairo, Egypt to Tel Aviv, Israel.


Tel Aviv


We arrived at Benjurion Tel Aviv Airport in Israel.

Then we visited the Port of Jaffa.

      From Haim Gan and Leila and Hamoudi Habashi - Jaffa, or as we call it, Yafo, is an ancient Phoenician city that was taken by the Israelites in the 6th century A.D. and later fell to the Arabs (636), Crusaders (12th century), and Ottoman Turks (16th century). Yafo was inhabited mainly by Arabs until the state of Israel was proclaimed in 1948. Since 1950 the city has been part of Tel Aviv-Yafo. Overlooking the Mediterranean sea, Jaffa is one of the most ancient towns in the world. The name of the city in Arabic is Yafa el-Abqa ("Old Jaffa").
      Jaffa is a port city on the Mediterranean sea, a picturesque area with 3 very special places to me - the Andromeda Rock, the Zodiac alleys and the beautiful seaport.
      The Zodiac alleys is a network of restored alleys, named for the Hebrew signs of the zodiac and is filled with art galleries. This leads to the Jaffa seaport. The structure of the port retains much of its ancient history. Today it is used as an functioning fishing port.
      The Andromeda Rock. Andromeda means "ruler of men" in Greek. According to Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, king and queen of Ethiopia. Given to bragging, Cassiopeia asserted that she was more beautiful than any of the fifty sea nymphs who were daughters of the sea god Nereus. In revenge, this god of the sea and earthquakes, sent a flood and a sea monster to plague the land. Cepheus consulted the oracle of Ammon, and was told that he had to sacrifice his daughter to the sea monster in order for the problem to end. His panic-stricken people forced him to comply with the oracle, and he chained Andromeda to a rock by the sea. She was rescued by Perseus who killed the monster and then married Andromeda.

Here the Old Testament Prophet Jonah boarded a ship and fled from his call from the Lord to Ninevah.

Also here at Jaffa, Peter was staying at Simon the Tanner's house when he received the great revelation that the gospel is now to be taken to the gentiles.


Not far from the sea, this ancient alley
leads down to the traditional location
of Simon's house.

The door of Simon's house (traditional).
This current house was rebuilt about 700 years ago.

  The best and funnest place for shopping in Jaffa was the Flea market. Here you can find clothes, antiques, chess sets, carpets and much, much more. The flea market retains the feel of an old Middle Eastern market and there are many good bargains to be made. Bargaining and haggling over the price is customary and needed in order to get a good deal.

    Jacky Says: Bargaining is a Middle Eastern hobby and is customary in many places.
Here are some guidelines:
1. Never be the first to name a price.
2. If you name a price first, think of what you would like to pay for the item then half it.
3. Sometimes it is good to be stubborn as a donkey.

We then traveled north from Tel Aviv along the coast to Caesarea by the sea.

Caesarea and the remains of the ancient Mediterranean harbor

Harbor

Remains of the ancient Roman aqueduct

The Coliseum at Caesarea

Here Peter converted the Roman Soldier Cornelius.

Peter Preaching in the House of Cornelius

Also here, the apostle Paul made his brilliant defense before King Agrippa.

      We then traveled north to Haifa to stay at the Dan Panorama Hotel, 107 Hanassi Avenue, Haifa 34632, Phone: 972-4-8352222. This hotel is a budget 5 star category hotel. Contemporary in style and young in spirit, the Dan Panorama rises high above Mount Carmel, offering thrilling views of Haifa bay and miles of coastline. Ideally located for business travelers, the hotel is directly linked to a stylish mall. All rooms are fitted with a minibar as well as hook-ups for fax and internet. 36 rooms include a kitchenette with a refrigerator and other useful amenities.

 

   

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DAY 6 Friday, May 9, 2008 - HAIFA, MUHRAQA, MEGIDDO, NAZARETH

Haifa is situated in a broad natural bay between the beautiful Mediterranean Sea and the inspiring Carmel Mountain, the city's terraced landscape offers a rich variety of breathtaking panoramas, giving the observer the sensation of being on a heavenly peninsula. To the Northeast, across the sparkling waters of the harbor sits the medieval walled fortress city of Acre.

Elder James E. Talmage dedicated the Holy land October 8, 1927 at Kaiser's Watch on Mt. Carmel. John A. Widstoe did the same on May 21, 1933 setting up a mission home in Haifa.

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Mt. Carmel

Bahia Gardens

Next we visited Muhraqa, 16 miles south-east on the Carmel ridge. There is a picnic area.

 
Here is where Elijah the Prophet had his great encounter with the wicked priests of Baal.

From this towering hill we had our best view of the valley of Jezreel where the final battle of Armageddon will be fought.

Valley of Jezreel

      We then drove to Tel Megiddo, a large archaeological Tel in which 25 layers of settlement were uncovered, from the Neolithic era until the Persian period. Known in Hebrew as Megiddo, a giant fortress and city was built here by King Solomon. In the New Testament it is referred to as the site of the "final battle", The Battle of Armageddon.

A “tel” in archaeological terms is a mound that grows up by successive cities being built and destroyed on top of the same location. Archaeologists can dig a trench down the side of such a mound to determine how many layers may be in the mound. They have other techniques for finding gates and some other important structures.


Tel Megiddo Ruins


Then on to Nazareth where we visited the Church of the Annunciation where Gabriel appeared to Mary
 
We experienced the Nazareth and got a feel for what things would have been like in the early life of Jesus.

We stayed at the Plaza Hotel in Nazareth, 2 Hermon Street, Nazareth 17000, Israel, phone 011-972-4-602-8200. All rooms have city view with Nazareth hill side and scenic panorama. Room facilities includes: Air-conditioning, TV, radio, direct-dial phone, hairdryer and automatic wake-up call. Other facilities: 6 lifts, Portrage and room service 24 hour, Laundry and Disabled facilities.

   

DAY 7 Saturday, May 10, 2008 - MT. OF TRANSFIGURATION, MT. OF BEATITUDES, TABGHA, CAPERNAUM, ST. PETER PRIMACY, SEA OF GALILEE

After breakfast, we took taxi rides up Mt. Tabor to review the marvelous events that took place on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John.

We reviewed the greatest sermon ever delivered as we visit the Mount of Beatitudes, a small hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee near Tabgha.

      Below the mount lies what Josephus referred to as the "well of Capernaum." Also known as Heptapegon, el-Oreme, En Sheva, 'En Sheva, et-Tabgha. The name derives from the Greek Heptapegon (from the "seven springs" once known there), the name was later corrupted to Tabgha. There is no place around the Sea of Galilee where the traditions of Jesus and his disciples are more prevalent than here.. There is also probably no place with more natural beauty; with lovely flowers; the flowing of pleasant springs; and abundant shade trees.
      The seven springs that emerged at Tabgha (today only six have been discovered) produced warm water, which in turn attracted the fish because of algae growth. This meant that the area may have been popular with fishermen for thousands of years. Recently a harbour was discovered, the curved western breakwater being 60 meters and another 40 metres long.

      Some New Testament events commonly associated with the Tabgha area are the reinstatement of Peter, the miraculous catch of fish and the miracle of loaves and fishes. Tabgha is the traditional location for the calling of the disciples. Jesus called two brothers (James and John) who were preparing their nets.

Jesus is said to have restored Peter to his old position amongst the disciples, after the latter had denied him three times at Gethsemane. Catholic Christians believe this was the occasion when Peter was made the single leader of the Church. (John 21:1-24)

However, during the night of fishing, Peter and the disciples who joined him caught nothing. In the morning, they were amazed to see their risen Master on the beach. He had already prepared a meal of fish and bread for them. He then directed the tired fishermen to cast their net once more on the other side of the boat. In so doing they caught a great number of fish, 153 in all. With this, Peter seems to have permanently forsaken any idea of fishing. From that point on he would become a true "fisher of men."

 

The Chapel of the Primacy, also known as St Peter's Church. A chapel built here in the fourth century was destroyed in 1263; the present chapel, in black basalt, was built by the Franciscans in 1933. This simple aisleless building commemorates the appearance of the risen Christ to his disciples on the shores of the lake, when he gave Peter primacy over the church with the thrice repeated injunction: "Feed my lambs ... Feed my sheep ... Feed my sheep" (John 21,15-16).

Then on to Capernaum. The site is a ruin today, but was inhabited from 150 BC to about AD 750. The town is mentioned in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke is reported the home of the apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John, as well as the tax collector Matthew. According to Luke, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum, and a building which may have been a synagogue of that period has been found beneath the remains of a later synagogue.

   

The Sea of Gallilee lies roughly 650 feet below sea level and is 14 miles long and 7 1/2 miles wide at its widest point. The Sea is the major source of fresh water for the entire country. The Sea, really a lake, lies on the ancient "Via Maris," a route that linked Egypt and Mesopotamia.


We took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

We reviewed the scriptures of Christ calming the sea and walking on the water.

DAY 8 Sunday, May 11, 2008 - YARDENET, BETH SHEAN, JORDAN RIVER. We experienced a very spiritual sacrament meeting in the Holy Land.

We visited Yardenet on the Jordan River, the traditional site of Christ's baptism.

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      Then we traveled to the great Israelite ruins of Tel Beth Shean called by its Greek name, Scythopolis. There are two Beth Sheans. The mound that dates back to Old Testament times, and an extensive Roman ruin has been excavated in recent years at the foot of this ancient mound. Eighteen layers have been identified in this tel and archaeologists believe it may have been settled as early as 3,500 years ago.
      Tel el-Husn (Beit She'an) sits at a very strategic place as it dominates the entrance to the Jezreel Valley from the Jordan Valley just south of the Sea of Galilee. The name el-Husn means “Fortress Hill.” It controlled the major roads anciently as well as fords across the Jordan at this point. It had available water via several springs in the area and is in a sub-tropical region rich with vegetation.
      It was very important in Biblical history. The Egyptians and Philistines had garrisons here. King David kept it as a royal city and King Herod built an elaborate resort.

      At the end of Saul's reign, the Philistines fell upon the Israelites in their camp. Many of the men of Israel were slain in the fight, and many more fled. Saul's three sons including the one of them the brave and noble Jonathan, were killed.
      When Saul saw that the battle had gone against him, that his sons were slain, and that his enemies were pressing closely upon him, he called his armor-bearer and said, "Draw your sword and kill me; it would be better for me to die by your hand than for the Philistines to come upon me and kill me." But the armor-bearer would not draw his sword against his king, the Lord's anointed.
      Then Saul took his own sword and fell upon it and killed himself among the bodies of his own men.
      On the next day the Philistines came and took off Saul's armor and sent it to the temple of their idol, Dagon. They fastened the bodies of Saul and his three sons to the wall of this Canaanite city. Some men of Jabesh, a city which Saul rescued, rose up in the night and took down from the wall the bodies of Saul and his sons and carried them to Jabesh. That they might not be taken away again, they burned them and buried their ashes under a tree. They mourned Saul seven days. Thus came to an end Saul's reign of forty years, which began well, but ended in ruin because he forsook the Lord God of Israel.

We then journeyed south and crossed into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

DAY 9 Tuesday, May 12, 2008 and DAY 10 Tuesday, May 13, 2008 JORDAN See our visit of Jordan

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DAY 11 Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - MASADA, EIN GEDI, QUMRAN, JERUSALEM After visiting Jordan, we traveled north from Aqaba on the west coast of the Dead Sea and explored Masada, where the last group of Jews held out during the Roman invasion of Israel at 70 A.D.

We paused for lunch and a brief float in the Dead Sea. Ein Gedi beach is on the shores of the Dead Sea, at the foot of the Judean Hills to the west, and facing the Mountains of Moab to the east, at the lowest spot on earth, 1290 feet below sea level. Nature has created thermo-mineral springs here with healing properties found nowhere else. The Ein Gedi Beach is often mobbed with tour buses and weekending Israelis, but it's guarded, and a fun place to try the experience of floating on the Dead Sea. There are showers on the beach, and changing rooms available for NIS 5 ($1). This section of the Dead Sea does not purport to have the same healing properties as the more mineral-heavy waters farther south, but the super buoyant experience is the same.

It was at Ein Gedi that David hid from Saul and spared Saul's life Around 1000 B.C. 1 Samuel 23:29-24:4 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi. After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

We then journeyed on to Qumran, where a shepherd boy found the famous "Dead Sea Scrolls".

  

We also saw the wilderness place where Jesus went before his mission.

     

As we made our way north to the holy city of Jerusalem, we drove on the Jericho Road of the Good Samaritan.

We arrived in Jerusalem. Here we spent the rest of our stay at the Jerusalem Legacy Hotel, 29 Nablus Road,
Jerusalem, Israel, phone 972-2-6270800. This sophisticated, modern hotel, located in the heart of Jerusalem, is a pleasant five minute walk from the Old City and a mere ten minute walk from the New City center. Beginning its life as a YMCA, the 1960's building has been meticulously renovated to give that perfect blend of old charm and elegance with today's convenience and design simplicity. From the high ceilings and modern furnishings of the lobby to the elegance and serenity of the restaurant on the top floor, there is no detail left untouched. All converge exquisitely to transport each guest. Moreover, the breathtaking panoramic views of Jerusalem, afford guests a chance to survey the many splendors the city has to offer. Its 49 elegant rooms are designed with comfort in mind and cater to travelers by providing free wireless internet and other standard communication technologies. Each has been completely redesigned and decorated in a classic modern style – to ensure your luxury, comfort and privacy. Free wireless internet, Air-condition / Central Heating, TV with LCD screens, Direct dial up telephone and voice mail service, Safe box, Mini bar, Hairdryer, bathrobe, slippers, amenity trays.


Jerusalem Legacy Hotel
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DAY 12 Thursday, May 15, 2008 - TEMPLE MOUNT, OLD CITY OF DAVID, POOL OF BETHESDA
We visited the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock .

   

A prominent figure on the Jerusalem skyline, the shining Dome of the Rock was built from 685 to 691 CE as a shrine for pilgrims. Its base is octagonal in shape and its outer walls are 60 feet high. In the Middle Ages, Christians and Muslims both believed the dome to be the biblical Temple of Solomon. The Knights Templars made their headquarters there during the Crusades, and later patterned their churches after its design.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque (Arabic Masjid Al-Aqsa, "farthest mosque") is part of the complex of religious buildings in Jerusalem known as either the Majed Mount or Al-Haram ash-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) to Muslims and the Temple Mount to Jews. Muslim tradition states that Muhammad ascended to heaven from the Mount in 621, making the mosque the third most holy shrine in Islam.

      Next the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, the "Wailing Wall" is considered by both Jews and Muslims as a significant and holy site. Today there is a fence (mechitza) separating men from women - Orthodox Jewish men don't believe that it is acceptable to pray right alongside women. Men, of course, are given the much larger area for prayers.
      For the Jews, it is one of the last remaining portions of the ancient Temple of Solomon (an outer wall, in fact). The original length is estimated to have been around 485 meters; today what remains is just 60 meters long. The largest stone is 45 feet long, 15 feet deep, 15 feet high, and has an estimated weight of more than one million pounds.
      Then, we continued on the south end of the Temple Mount to the Ophel Garden where Jesus would have traversed many times. There we will see the stone of the "Trumpeting Place" which was toppled off the Temple Mount during the destruction of Jerusalem at 67 A.D.



The Trumpet Stone

We viewed the Old City of David


The Old City of David

      We entered Stephan's Gate. This gate is near the beginning of the Via Dolorosa. It is named for the sculpted lions on either side of the gate. It was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538. According to legend, Suleiman had a dream one night that lions were tearing him apart. When he woke up, he took the dream as a warning from God that he should take better care of the holy city Jerusalem, so Suleiman began building the walls. The lions on the gate were a reminder of that dream.
      Christians call the gate St. Stephens Gate, because legend says Stephen was dragged outside the city through this gate before he was stoned to death.
      The Arabs call the gate Miriam’s Gate (or Mary’s Gate) because Mary, the mother of Jesus, was born at a house just inside the gate, according to legend.

 

We visited the Pool of Bethesda where Christ healed a man.


and then passed by Saint Ann's Church next door.

We walked under the Ecco Homo Arch where it is believed that Christ was brought before Pilate and where the soldiers mocked him.
     

DAY 13 Friday, May 16, 2008 - HEZEKIAH'S TUNNEL, SHRINE OF THE BOOK MUSEUM, JERUSALEM MODEL, BETHLEHEM

We traveled through Hezekiah's Tunnel that ends at the Pool of Siloam

 

We visited the Shrine of the Book Museum.

Then the Model City of Jerusalem during the 2nd Temple Era.

Finally, we visited the Shepherd's Field just outside Bethlehem.


We viewed Bethlehem.


Then entered Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity.

We did more shopping and site seeing in Jerusalem.


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DAY 14 Saturday, May 17, 2008 - GETHSEMANE, MT. ZION, UPPER ROOM, GARDEN TOMB This was a most sacred day as we reviewed the last week of the Lord's life and His Great Atoning Sacrifice for all. We started the day visiting Bethphage, where his disciples borrowed a donkey for the Lord to make his Triumphal entry into the Holy City.

     

At the Garden of Gethsemane, the atonement of the Lord took on a much deeper meaning for us all.

 

We then moved to Mt. Zion. This is an archaic term that originally referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David. "Zion" became applied to the section of Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and after Solomon's Temple was built there, it came to refer to the temple grounds and the temple itself. Today "Zion" is often used metaphorically, to symbolize Jerusalem and the Promised Land to come, in which God dwells among his chosen people.

Then St. Peter's of Galicantu - the place where the cock crowed thrice and Christ was illegally tried before the Sanhedrin.

 

Next, we visited the "upper room", the traditional site of the last supper. Although the original building has been destroyed, the floor is thought to be the original.

Finally, we moved on to Calvary where the Savior was crucified.

 

The Garden Tomb where His body remained as His Spirit visited the Spirit World to organize the work for the dead. We felt peace as we walked inside the empty tomb and remember the words of the angel to Mary, "He is not here, for he is risen!"

 

May 22, 2008 Jerusalem Day is a national holiday marking the liberation and reunification of the city in 1967 after the Six Days War. During this day, there are several ceremonies, including the official one on Ammunition Hill, one of the sites where the Six-Day battle took place, and the Flag Dance, a street dance procession from Sacher park near the Knesset to the Western Wall (Kotel).

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