1. Go Shopping at a Christmas Market Christmas markets are already set up and operating in various cities around the Holy Land. You can’t beat the main destination – Bethlehem – for a taste of the holiday spirit. The festivities began in November with a Christmas bazaar
Our life changing Holy Land tours are curated to include an array of landscapes and peoples which, woven together, provide a transformative experience that is truly life changing. Sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, Israel, the Holy Land– together with its ancient remains and vibrant
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem On Christmas Eve, at 2:30 pm, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, arrives at Manger Square and make his solemn entry into the Basilica of the Nativity. There will be lots of excitement throughout the afternoon and
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and [John the Baptist] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on [Jesus]. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my
Surrounding by fertile green pastures ripe with vines holding tiny clumps of blossoming grapes showing only the earliest signs of their meaty fruit and skin, it’s easy to visualize how the Galilean countryside was the setting for Jesus’s miracle of turning water into wine. While a
“After the Lord Jesus had talked with them [apostles], he was taken up to heaven and sat at the right side of God.” (Mark 16:19) After his resurrection, Christ appeared to his disciples many times. However, after 40 days since he was brought back to live,
When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there,iwc replica watches for I am famished”… But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau
Try this new twist on a Rosh Hashanah classic. Remember to keep this new year sweet! Don’t cheat yourself. Ingredients Apple Filling: 5 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thin ½ cup white sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon
Maintaining the trees planted in their honor In 1953 the Knesset (Israeli parliament) passed the Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance (Yad Vashem) Law, which gives particular emphasis «to commemorate the high-minded Gentiles who risked their lives to save Jews». Special legislation recognizes these courageous heroes as
A good friend of mine here in Israel, Abby Peleg, sent me this wonderful Rosh Hashanah recipe, care of the Smitten Kitchen, which has got to be the most beautiful apple dessert that I’ve ever seen.She is vegetarian and therefore she will be making this for
According to the Julian Calendar, which is the liturgical calendar of the Oriental and Orthodox Churches, the Holy Week has begun with the holiday of Palm Sunday. The feast was celebrated to commemorate the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago. The celebration “Palm Sunday” took its name after the events that happened in
The Baptism of the Lord Celebration is a feast commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by the John the Baptist. The event is described in the Gospel of Matthew: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John” (Matt 3:13). In the Roman Catholic
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.
Whereas the Jerusalem Easter service for Catholics and Orthodox Christians takes place at the Holy Sepulchre church, Easter services for Protestants are held at the place revered by them as the site where Jesus died and rose again, the Garden Tomb. The layout of the Garden
The Dormition of the most holy Theotokos is one of the important feasts in Orthodox Christianity. It is indeed a great feast which depicts ‘falling asleep’ of the Mother of God and her bodily resurrection before being taken up into heaven. This feast is celebrated
For Christians around the world, the Feast of the Ascension which begins on the afternoon of May 8th, 2013 and continues through May 9th, is known as the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, and si a great feast that marks the bodily Ascension of Jesus
Christians are represented in the Israeli Government via the Ministry’s Department for Christian Communities. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Christian Communities is responsible for addressing the needs and concerns of the Christian communities to the Israeli Government. The Israel Knesset Christian
The historic restaurant 1890 in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem is an authentic Palestinian experience. “Up the hill, down the hill and it’s on the right,” exclaimed Georgette Habashi excitedly, co-owner of the historic 1890 Restaurant. The Palestinian family-style restaurant, at two years old, is only
Notre Dame is no longer just a destination for its guests, but now a stop for wine and cheese enthusiasts thanks to a new rooftop restaurant that serves up a tasty panorama of the city as well. Since the Notre Dame Center Roof Top Wine &
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 1:18) The news about Mary’s pregnancy made Joseph
1. Go Shopping at a Christmas Market Christmas markets are already set up and operating in various cities around the Holy Land. You can’t beat the main destination – Bethlehem – for a taste of the holiday spirit. The festivities began in November with a Christmas bazaar
Chicken Soup is one dish that has reached mythical status in Jewish culture. Known as the “Jewish Penicillin,” chicken soup is offered to nurse colds, eliminate headaches, and even comfort broken hearts. There is almost nothing chicken soup is not purported to cure. This idea
1.Celebrate Palm Sunday and Good Friday Participate in the Palm Sunday and the Good Friday Processions which commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Approximately 5,000 to 10,000 people are expected to join this event. The procession is led by the Latin Patriarchate and begins
Israel’s official calendar of public holidays corresponds with the hebrew calendar and changes annually. Below is a comprehensive of the major public holidays and their meanings. Purim Purim commemorates the events that took place in the Book of Esther. It is celebrated by reading or acting out
Jesus of the Gospels: Teacher, Storyteller, Friend, Messiah, by Arthur Zannoni – it is excellent – published in late 1996, it is a good popular treatment of modern biblical scholarship on Jesus, his Jewishness and the world he lived in. It is short – only
Travel insurance is an important aspect to planning any Holy land tour experience. We know that lots of travelers still travel without insurance because they don’t feel like spending more money on their trip and typically think their potential losses are only limited to lost
Everyone is made to feel welcome in Israel, especially travelers with disabilities. The Israel Government Tourist Corporation has initiated numerous projects designed to make dozens of tourist sites throughout the country accessible. New sites have been made accessible and old sites have been renovated to
As you begin to learn about wine you might find it confusing reading a wine label whether it’s from Israel or somewhere else. One reason is labeling laws and designations differ from country to country and sometimes region to region within a country or some
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud….’Of all the
Petite and pretty with animated brown eyes, Tali Friedman isn’t your typical character at the brusque Jerusalem shuk, but she carries as much weight as any of the burly shop keepers as she promotes the 100-year-old market. A chef with a gift for drawing
Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity may be the city’s most visited tourist attraction, but there is no doubt that the narrow stone streets of Bethlehem’s historic centre offers the tastiest attractions in this historic town renowned as the birthplace of Jesus. Beginning at the edge of
Rosh Hashanah Last week, September 18 – 20 Jews around the world observed the holiday of Rosh Hashanah (the two-day Jewish new year), mandated by Leviticus 23:23-25. Both days are marked by special prayers and scriptural readings. The centerpiece of the Rosh Hashanah service is
In the West, Easter is usually a simple one-day affair. The different denominations in Israel, however, each celebrate Easter in their own special way and, particularly in Jerusalem, where a high concentration of Christians gathers, a variety of different ceremonies unfolds. So how does the
Christmas celebrations continue in Bethlehem with the celebration of the Feasts of the Holy Innocents. Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called Childermas, or Innocents’ Day, is a holiday commemorating the massacre of the children by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant
The Feasts of Israel Many Christians do not realize that the seven feasts which God commanded in Leviticus 23 are still observed by their Jewish neighbors. The feasts, as given to Israel, have a multi-faceted significance. First there was the seasonal aspect of each holiday,
Advent is upon us! Even though the days are getting shorter, the atmosphere is becoming more festive in Jerusalem as both Jews and Christians get ready to celebrate their respective festival of lights. This year, Hanukkah and Christmas coincide, with the celebration of the birth
Can’t come to the Holy Land but want the next best thing to being here. Now you can watch mass live from Bethlehem! Each day at 9:30 am Israel time tune in and see mass live online, direct from the Church of the Nativity
With the arrival of Advent and the Christmas season, the Holy Land has no dearth of services and masses to attend in preparation for Christmas, be it on Dec. 25, or the Armenian Celebration on Jan. 6 or the Orthodox celebration on Jan. 7, 2013
“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” (Matthew 21:8) In the 33 AD, almost 2000 years ago, on a Sunday preceding the Feast of Passover, Jesus humbly entered
As is customary throughout the world, feasting is as much a part of Easter as the services and ceremonies. It is no different in Jerusalem where dining out or having a big family meal at home will be on the menu for local and foreign
I readily admit I’m a bit of a cookbook addict, but as I’m running out of space on my kitchen shelf, I’m having to be a bit more discerning! Nevertheless, buying ‘Jerusalem’ is a MUST! I literally devoured every page of Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami
Christian Services Outside of Jerusalem (partial list) Key: (A)=Arabic (E)=English (Fr) =French (H)=Hebrew (Ru)=Romanian (P)=Portuguese ANGLICAN CHURCH Haifa – St. John’s Episcopal Church St. Luke’s Street 4 Tel: 04-8523370 Fax: 04-8522122 Sunday 10.30 Holy Communion (E+A) Kafr Yassif – St. Saviour’s Church P.O.B. 45 Tel: 04-9562536 Fax: 04-9965461 Sunday Tuesday
Magen David (Star Of David) Very old symbol, both with 5 or 6 points. During times of persecution Jews were often forced to wear this symbol. It is today used on the Israeli Flag as a badge of honour. Menorah 7 Branch oil lamp –
Wondering where to go for a special Christmas dinner in Jerusalem? Two historic properties, the American Colony Hotel and Notre Dame Center are hosting elaborate Christmas meals. The American Colony Hotel offers both Christmas dinner and Christmas Day lunch buffet. Reservations are required. Please let them
Hebrew Words When Flying Welcome Ba-rukh ha-ba Airplane Ma-toss Pilot Tay-yass Steward Da-yal Stewardess Da-yeh-let Airport S’deh Te-oo-fah Passport Dar-kon Flight Ticket Kar-tiss Tis-a Luggage Miz-va-dah Small bag Teek Bon Voyage De-rekh Tzle-kha Around You Man Ish Husband Ba-al Woman/wife Ish-ah Boy Ye-led Girl Yal-dah
What was served at the Last Supper? Many would answer with another question – Was the Last Supper a Passover Seder? There is disagreement among the gospels, and among scholars — but we can consider what we eat today in the Land of Israel, and
What can a visitor attend or do while in the Holy Land for Easter? Travelujah has a series of articles to assist you in organizing your Easter pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Holy Fire Ceremony: Easter Week’s Big Event for Orthodox Christians There is
Overview Many visitors preparing for a trip to Israel ask the question, is Israel safe? In 2014 3.3 million tourists visited Israel. The Holy Land is generally a safe place to visit and tourists do feel secure while moving about the country. However, people do
ey: (W)=Winter (S)=Summer 1. Armenian Orthodox Weekdays
Israel, a country the size of New-Jersey with less than 1/1000th of the world’s population, can make claim to the following: 1. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology was pioneered in Israel. 2. The Israeli pioneer Check-Point Ltd. is a world leader in the firewall and internet security
Weather The weather varies from hot and dry in the summertime (April- October), to cool and rainy in the winter (November-March) throughout the Holy Land. Depending on where you are in the Holy Land the weather can be very different. In the north and the
“So Joseph [and Mary] also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem […] While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. (Luke 2:4-6)
Often tucked behind large stone walls or beneath the stone passageways and store fronts of well beaten side streets, one can find unobtrusive yet architecturally stunning buildings that are actually unique guesthouses run by Christian churches from the around the world. Ranging from the small
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R- And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. (Hail Mary…) V- Behold the handmaid of the Lord. R- Be it done unto me according to thy word. (Hail Mary…) V- And the Word was made Flesh. R-
Israel has some of the best beaches in the world, great for the whole family to enjoy! Nearly 200 km of beaches sprawl from way up north by the border of Israel & Lebanon at Rosh Hanikra to Zikim Beach way down south before the
Key: (A) Arabic (Ara) Aramean (F) French (H) Hebrew (L) Latin (Ar) Armenian (E) English (G) German ( I ) Italian (S) Spanish Church Sunday Weekday AIN KARIM – ST. JOHN P.O.B. 1704 Tel: 6323000; Fax: 6433451 8.00 am (I) 7.15 am (I) AIN KAREM
On my most recent trip to Israel, I spent some time researching Biblical cuisine for a special recipe section that will appear in my upcoming cookbook, The Shiksa in the Kitchen. In the Holy Land, the setting of this rich culinary history is all around
Maqluba is a casserole with rice, lamb or chicken, and eggplant which is commonly served in Bedouin homes. The casserole, after it has finished cooking, is carefully flipped over onto a serving dish and served upside-down. Maqluba in Arabic literally means “upside-down.” There
Buying wine, liquor and other spirits in Israel can be dramatically different than say in the United States or even most other countries. There are far more outlets, as Israeli businesses typically aren’t restrained from sling liquor by community zoning restrictions or prohibitively available or
You are coming on a Holy Land tour and really have your heart set on buying an ancient ossuary from the time of Herod or perhaps a 1st century coin from the time of Jesus. How do you know if it is real? Long
“Do not be afraid, Mary,” the Angel Gabriel said, as he appeared before the young woman, “for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be
The holy foot washing ceremony in the Orthodox Church is observed on Holy and Great Thursday (Maundy Thursday). The holy service of foot washing is a piouis ceremony normally performed by a Metropolitan Bishop or an Abbot in Eastern Orthodox Churches. During the service Bishop washes
Should Christians celebrate Passover or should they celebrate Easter? The answer may seem quite obvious to some of you, but in reality this question has become quite a controversy in the Christian community over the past several years. As Christians have learned more about the history
“As so I desire to fix three precepts in your mind so that you may accomplish them during the fast: (1) to speak ill of no one, (2) to hold no one for an enemy, and (3) to expel from your mouth altogether the evil
For travelers in Israel, Saturdays can seem like a visit to another world. Jerusalem in particular seems to shut down on Saturdays with only a handful of restaurants and other attractions staying open. However, even though things slow down significantly on Saturdays, there is no
There are so many things to learn about the Holy Land. I’d like to share six interesting facts you probably didn’t already know about the land of the Bible: 1. The olives trees in the Garden of Gethsemane are estimated to be anywhere between
“In two days, as you know, it will be the Passover Festival, and the Son of Man, will be handed over to be crucified.” (Matt. 26:2) Those are the words Jesus said to his disciples two days before he was captured and sentenced to death.