After five seasons of excavating at Khirbet Qeiyafa – a fortified city in the Elah Valley 30 km southwest of Jerusalem near where the shepherd David felled the Philistine giant Goliath, Prof. Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University here has uncovered cultic artifacts from a
The Old City of Jerusalem is famous for, among other things, its eight unique gates*, none of which are more impressive than the Damascus Gate. Built by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538 as part of a total revamp of Jerusalem’s walls, the Damascus Gate
Israel – arguably the world’s largest small country and certainly its most diverse – is a hiker’s paradise. Paths like the Bible Trail on Mount Gilboa, the Gospel Trail or Jesus Trail in the Galilee, (published in the article “Hiking in the Spiritual Backcountry” June 23, 2012
Olives have always played an integral role I the culture of the Holy Land. Deuteronomy 8:8 includes olive oil as part of the seven species; seven agricultural products that have a special connection to the land of Israel. During the time of Roman rule, the
Some 3,000 local Armenians, pilgrims, representatives of various Christian denominations, tourists and police packed St. James Cathedral in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City here today for the Maundy Thursday ritual of the washing of the feet rite in advance of Eastern Orthodox Easter.
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, is one of the seven annual holidays instituted by God in the Tanakh, or Old Testament. As such, it is viewed as a “Jewish” holiday. In years past, it is always a bit strange for Israelis and Jews in Israel
An ancient synagogue dating from the Second Temple period (50 BCE-100 CE) was excavated at the site of Magdala. Within the synagogue a unique stone was discovered, known as the “Magdala Stone” inscribed with a first ever menorah decoration. The discovery was the first ever
For the last four years Jerusalem has hosted a the Open House Jerusalem Project, which provides an opportunity for residents and tourists alike to get a glimpse inside many seldom seen historical or otherwise unique homes throughout the city. This year, the Franciscan Convent
A 128-person delegation comprised of leaders from the Pentecostal Church of God proclaimed their support for Israel and an undivided Jerusalem with a signed declaration of prayer presented to the Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Sunday. Scott said the declaration and the group’s visit
Touring to both Israel and the Palestinian Territories is getting even easier. A new Palestinian and Israeli experiential tourism project, Breaking Bread Journeys, aims to reach tourists seeking to engage with locals and visit important biblical and other sites. The new program was created by