A Trip to Haifa

Today’s trip started in Joppa, where we are staying. We walked over the hill to get the car, and found a couple of places to stop and get pictures. Yafo is a beautiful Mediterranean city with narrow streets, interesting houses, and great views along the coast. I have several stories in a book compiled for our tour group (and any other tour group going to Israel), Israel: Stories for Your Journey.

A Talmudic School on Street that leads to the Yafo Shoreline

This of course is near the place where Peter went in the morning to enjoy the breeze and view, and saw a sheet coming down from heaven with various kinds of unclean animals.

Cactus Flowers on the top of the hill by the beach

After breakfast, we traveled north. 

Yokenan Pass, which leads from the Via Maris to Jezreel Valley

Our objective for the day was Haifa. Our first stop was at Sarah’s apartment.

Housing in Haifa

She has a great view from her back window.

Looking North across Mount Carmel

From the top of the hill Elijah was able to watch for rain over the sea. Many people live on the hill now. This was also the place where the Giro d’Italia was run today. We saw some of the closed off streets.

Mount Carmel from the beach

The beach where we ate lunch was along the beach.

Places to eat along the beach near Haifa

And then walked down the beach to enjoy the cool water and the views.

A rocky place along the Seashore

Then we headed back to Tel-Aviv. We took a local road because there was a wreck on the main road as people were returning from Shabbat and coming to Tel-Aviv during the race.

Eretz Yisrael

From the very first day of our trip to Israel (May 5-18, 2017) we will discover Israel is a land of contrasts. We will see the very new and the very old. Upon departure from Ben Gurion airport we will travel the modern road system into Tel-Aviv. Our first stop in Tel-Aviv is the Palmach Museum on the campus of Tel-Aviv University.

Along the way we will see the scenery of “Eretz Yisrael” (the land of Israel). Eretz Yisrael enjoys a semi-tropical climate which allows the people of the land to plant a variety of flowering trees and bushes.

While most of the land is arid, the Hebrew people work hard to create beauty wherever they can. The flowering trees and bushes seen in this blog are on the campus of Eretz Israel Museum which is on the campus of Tel-Aviv University. We will pass this location on our way to the Palmach Museum.

Contained at the corner of the Museum is what remains of an early archaeological dig, known as Tel Quasile. The original excavation promoted by Lady Hester Stanhope took place in 1948.

Tel Quasile is the remains of a port city located on the banks of the Yarkon River. The city was located a few miles away from the Mediterranean Sea in order to protect it from waves and from raiders who might attack the city.

Today the ruins contain mostly foundations, but there is signage that gives an explanation about the purposes the buildings held. Among the ruins there are various displays, as well as more recent buildings. One of the displays is an olive press where the visitor can see various methods used to draw oil from this valuable fruit.

The museum contains many displays and buildings that show the history of Eretz Yisrael. Displays show agricultural tools, as well as glass making and other crafts.

There is also a building with an exhibit that tells the history of how the Rothschild family of Europe supported farming within the Plain of Sharon. These enterprises drew settlers and gave rise to the modern nation of Israel.

We will discover at the Palmach Museum how the settlers who came to Eretz Yisrael in order to farm the land were forced to protect themselves against Palestinians who desired to eradicate the intruders.

Eretz Yisrael Museum is located in a very beautiful setting on the north side of Tel-Aviv.

Just south of the University we will pass through Yarkon River Park on our way into Tel-Aviv. This park is called the Central Park of Tel-Aviv and contains many recreational fields, walking trails and a zoo.

We will find very beautiful sights as we travel the different regions of Eretz Yisrael. Yarkon River Park is but a taste of what lay ahead of us on this trip.

Visiting Tel Aviv

Please take this as in invitation to join me on a 14 day trip to the Holy Land. To see the full agenda or to sign up, click the links. You will be rewarded through personal discoveries and experiences by going on this journey.

On our first day in Israel, after leaving the airport, we will drive into Tel-Aviv on Israel Highway 1. This is a popular, well-traveled highway which runs from Jericho to Jerusalem past Ben Gurion airport to Tel-Aviv..

The road system in Israel is modern and much like our road system in the United States. Roads, where possible, avoid cities and towns. People drive on the right side of the road, and speeds are comparable (signs say 100, 110 or 120 on limited access highways, but these are kph, not mph) Road signs are in Hebrew (not English). Fortunately, our bus driver will know where to go so we do not need to figure this out.

Inside the city there are a mixture of old and new buildings. Many buildings are highrises in order to house more people on the available land. On modern buildings, balconies alternate on each floor in order to allow tall Sukkot (shelters) to be constructed outside during the annual Feast of Tabernacles.

Some of the buildings are symmetrical or decorative.

We will cross the Yarkon River while we travel in Tel-Aviv. The Yarkon River forms the heart of a park which is comparable to New York City’s Riverside Park. There are walking trails along the river and a generous amount of green space has been created in one of Israel’s largest cities.

The Jewish market is called the shuk. Shops in the grocery shuk contain fresh fruits and vegetables. The picture above shows an olive stand within the market. There are also stands for fresh fruit, sandwiches, and ice cream.

While in Tel-Aviv we will visit Israel’s Independence Hall. We will learn how the country was “born in a day.” Many amazing stories will be shared about Israel’s Day of Independence while we visit the Dizengoff home and see the room pictured above.

After visiting Independence Hall we will drive to the old city of Yafo. We will see the area pictured above along our route. The clock tower was built during the Ottoman period in 1900.

Old Yafo has many unique features. The historic area dates to the 19th century.

We will see local markets along the way. I bought a menorah in this shop located in the flea market district of Yafo. The shopkeeper’s name is David.

The flea markets of Israel contain many treasures. During our trip to the Promised Land we will be able to see some of the shops on the street while touring and stop in those which are still open during night walks.

The old city of Yafo is within sight of Tel-Aviv’s modern downtown and beachfront. The old and new cities coexist together.

While in Israel we will have an opportunity to take a swim into the Mediterranean, take a plunge into the Jordan, float on the Dead Sea, swim in the cool streams of En Gedi and the Sea of Galilee, and slosh through the fountains of Jerusalem and Hezekiah’s Tunnel.

A Flight to Israel

Please take this as in invitation to join me on a 14 day trip to the Holy Land. To see the full agenda or to sign up, click the links. You will be rewarded through personal discoveries and experiences by going on this journey.

Our entry into Israel during our 2018 visit will take place near Lod, a modern city of 72,000 citizens. Ben Gurion Airport is located near the city in a compound just off Israeli Highway 1. The location of the airport and the surrounding cities provide a beautiful entry as we begin our tour of Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel). This airport has served as the arrival point for tourists, businessmen, world leaders and Israelis who are returning home.  Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose III recorded the existence of a city at this location in 1465 BC.

Awaiting our flight to Israel

Our flight will depart in the evening, taking us across the Atlantic Ocean and most of Europe during the nighttime hours. We will try to sleep (some successfully) before being served a meal as we fly near the Mediterranean  Sea. The blue waters of this sea are beautiful from above, and we will enjoy their peacefulness from the sky.

View of modern housing as we fly into Israel

After the meal we will approach the coastline of Israel. We will notice the tan coloration of a semi-arid paradise. As we cross the coastline and beaches we will notice high-rise apartments starting near the coast and expanding toward the hill country which lies in front of us. This is the architecture of modern in Israel. Many immigrants from around the world inhabit apartments which are built over much earlier communities. Lod and the plane of Sharon are noted in the BIble for several events which happened there.

Lod from Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel

Lod, which also carries the Greek name Lydda is located about twelve miles east of Tel-Aviv. It is formerly and currently on one of two major roads leading from the seacoast up to Jerusalem. Joshua, David, Solomon, and many others are known to have visited this city. The apostle Peter visited a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years and healed him.

View from Ben Gurion Airport, Israel

We will disembark from the plane, walk down a long hallway (with glass windows offering some visibility to the area) and then down a spiral ramp towards the main terminal. We will know we arrived at the main part of the building when we see the Mezuzah.

Mezuzah, Ben Gurion Airport, Israel

Mezuzahs are attached to doors on most Jewish homes as a reminder for all who enter to honor God. The Mezuzah which is made up of two parts, an outer decorative box and an inner parchment scroll containing scriptures from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. The placement of the box on the doorpost reminds the Jewish people of a sign commanded by God during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:7), Upon entering the main terminal of the airport we will see one of the largest Mezuzahs in the world.

Entry area Ben Gurion Airport, Israel

Once in the airport we will pass through customs, pick up our baggage and meet our guide. Once we clear customs we will be off on our adventure.

An Invitation ... Israel Tour 2018

Israel is amazing! I have just arrived home from my third trip to the Promised Land. My daughters and I visited Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, and areas in between. The trip inspired me to share the biblical sites, the archeology, the people and their culture with others. For this reason, I want to invite you to come with me to Israel in June 2018. (more below)

Our current trip was mostly on our own. Sarah participated in a dig at Tel Gezer. Chelsea is now digging at Dan. Both digs are an immersion in discovery and learning about the people of the Bible. Sarah and Chelsea examined pottery, minerals, construction types and geology, and in the process learned about the people who left these items behind.

During the time in-between digs we experienced Israel as a family.  Sarah took us to Gezer, where we picked up and handled pottery from the days of Joshua and before. We looked at a fortress built by the Hasmoneans and re-used 250 years later by Simon Bar-Kochba who dug underground tunnels. We explored Latroun Hill, the location of many fierce battles.

Four days of our trip were spent in Joppa enjoying the food and visiting biblical, archeological and historic sites. Our time in Jaffa also included swimming in the Mediterranean, shopping in the flea market, visiting parks, and meeting people from around the world. We visited archeological ruins under the plaza at Joppa where we saw a great audio-visual-sensory presentation. We toured the Eretz Israel Museum at Tel Aviv University along with the ruins of Tel Qasile and exhibits on traditions of the Jewish people. The Haganah Museum and Jewish Independence Hall were also included in our trip. We also went shopping at the Flea Market.

After our visit to Tel-Aviv we spent five days in  Jerusalem. On the first day I visited Hebrew University on Mount Scopos. The setting of the University provides a fantastic panoramic view of Jerusalem and surrounding area. The campus has an archeological museum we visited, and also discovered well preserved tombs from New Testament times in the Israeli Gardens which include the burial site of Nicanor of Alexandria. We also participated in the Temple Mount Sifting project. Chelsea, Sarah and I visited Ein Karem [the traditional home town of John the Baptist], St. Mark’s Church {the oldest Christian place of worship], and the Tower of David Museum at the Jaffa Gate.

During our time in Jerusalem David Ilan guided us to various sites in and around the city. He told us of the archeological digs in the area. We visited the Wohl Museum under the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall Tunnels. We viewed aqueducts, pools, and water tunnels. Our group explored local markets, neighborhoods and organizations.

Every time I visit Israel I discover something old … but new to me. The Bible story becomes even more alive as I walk through the land and hear stories which help me to relate to the people.

Join me next time

Can a walk in Israel change your life? I am planning a trip in 2018, probably in June. To accomplish this I need 45 people who will travel with me to Israel. The cost will be about $5,000 per person (start saving money now)! … Let me know you are interested … and I will put you on the mailing list (no obligation at this point).

I will let you know through e-mails the steps in the planning process. If you are interested, you can help confirm the date (June 2018), or help set another date. I will be asking along the way what you want to see in Israel. Over the next year (until March 2017) I will be collecting ideas in order to plan. Then I will be talking to an experienced tour leader who will help put the trip together. (The price and plans will be complete about a year before the trip). My e-mail is KosherCopy@gmail.com. (Write to let me know you are interested, or to ask questions).

I will let you know of other plans as they develop, such as a potential add-on dig in the land. Or an add-on side trip. As I say, what I need now is interested people (no obligation) and ideas.

Israel Adventure - Day 7

Today is our last day in Tel-Aviv. Later this afternoon we will turn in the car, meet the group from Hebrew Union College, and drive to Jerusalem.  

We returned for breakfast today to the Cafe Yaffo and ate two of their breakfast specials: Israeli breakfast for two and eggplant shakshuka. As you can tell from the picture it was PLENTY! We enjoyed the food, and brought a little home. The cafe is located in the flea market district, and from our booth you can see the horse which passed our window.

After breakfast we went to Old Jaffa. Ruins are preserved beneath the plaza and we went in to see the exhibit and the multimedia multiexperiential movie. They told the story of how Jaffa is one of the oldest cities in the world, started by Noah’s son Japeth (tradition).

They had a video with the Roman agronomist (wine-taster) Judah speaking from his home (which was uncovered in an excavation - the ruins are now the location of the museum). Different people came to visit him at his home. The first was a Pharaoh, pictured above. Egypt conquered Jaffa several times.

A second visitor was Jonah, who was running from God.

A third section was on Peter’s vision of the animals.

After our visit to Old Jaffa, we went into the Mediterranean once again. We did not take swim suits, so we only waded into the water. The water cooled us off, and as this was our last day in Jaffa, we wanted to take advantage of the afternoon.

After our wade in the sea, Chelsea and Sarah went to pack, and I climbed a hill south of Jaffa, created as a greenspace in Jaffa. In this picture you can see the old harbor (left), the wharfs (straight ahead), and the Old City, with the Catholic Church at the top. There is also a lighthouse. Busses use the lot in the front to wait for tour groups.

While on top of the hill a hoopoe was pointed out to me. This is Israel’s state bird.

After climbing the hill, I returned to the apartment, we packed the car, and left Jaffa for Jerusalem.

On the way we met the group Chelsea will be working with this summer at Ben-Gurion airport. We shared a shuttle ride to our apartment (pictured below)

After settling into the apartment we went to Jerusalem’s first train station, which has been turned into an outdoor mall. They consistently have special events. They had a huge book sale going on in the middle of the train station. We ate dinner there, and returned to our apartment in Jerusalem.