Page 29 - Holyland Magazine - 2020 Edition

for a contrast in backdrop, Jaffa, an ancient reachable. Year round, visitors flock to the
port city, inhabited by a diversity of religious region to soak up its purifying, oxygen rich
communities, is a must-visit. Jaffa itself bars a air and mineral water, nourishing mud – a
The Sea of Galilee by Tiberas. great significance during the Bible era for this nurturing treatment for the skin, and sweeping
Photo: Itamar Grinberg, IMOT is the city where Jonah fled from his calling, views of the mountainous terrain beyond.
where Peter saw the vision of the sail in Acts Its salty waters allows swimmers to float on
10, and the port city where King Hiram sent the surface for a deeply relaxing and unique
the cedars of Lebanon to Salomon. moment of enjoyment under the gentle rays of
desert sun.
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee is technically a freshwater Many popular beaches surround the Dead
lake better known as Lake Tiberias or the Sea, including Ein Gedi’s turquoise water
Kinneret. With an area size of 166km², it is beach at the southern end, where thick mud,
said to be the very site where Jesus walked straight from the sea floor, is ready for lathering
on water. A beautiful geographical wonder, the on the skin. Ein Bokek Beach by the hotel strip
Sea of Galilee dates back to one of the earliest has a south and central beach, as well as a
settlements in Israel. renowned skin care center which treats people
The Dead Sea. Photo: Shutterstock from all around the world.
Encircling the lake at the north-western Red Sea
shore are the biblical towns of Capernaum, Eilat, the sunny, tax free shopping resort in the
where Jesus performed many of his miracles;
The Dead Sea. Photo: Shutterstock desert, and Israel’s southernmost city is the
Tabgha, the speculated fourth resurrection perfect getaway at any time of year. Resting
place of Jesus; and Ginosar, a Kibbutz with on the shores of the Red Sea as an inlet of the
a population of 600 people, where a 1st Indian Ocean, Eilat is reachable in two hours
Century AD fisherman boat, discovered in by car from the Dead Sea or in around five
1986, and made from 12 different types of hours by bus from Tel Aviv. There is also the
wood, is exhibited today. The Sea of Galilee option of a 50-minute flight from Ben Gurion
is "the Cradle of Christianity" where Jesus Airport, landing directly into Eilat’s new Ramon
had most of His miracles, from the town of International Airport.
Capernaum to the Mt. of Beatitudes, and from
the synagogue of Magdala to the Jordan River, In Biblical times, Eilat was known as Ezion
the Sea of Galilee is truly a Biblical window. Gaver, and also the main hub to the southern
kingdoms like the kingdom of Sheba. Today,
With much to do and see in the area, visitors can the beach promenades lead to a gleaming
rent a bike to cycle around the lake, hike various waterfront where a sandy paradise stretches
trails in the region and explore the southern as far as the eye can see, and where an
point by canoe. It also worthwhile stopping by underwater world is dominated by tropical fish
Kibbutz Degania, Israel’s first Kibbutz known and wonderfully colorful coral. Experience the
as ‘The Mother of Kibbutzim.’ The site was beauty of the reef up close in the 12 metre
founded by a handful of idealistic visionary deep Coral World Underwater Observatory
Zionist immigrants in 1909 who purchased land Marine Park, a submarine offering crystal clear
from the Arab village of Umm Juni. views of fish in their natural habitat.
Dead Sea Four seas in one trip? It’s more than achievable
Located about a two hour drive from Tel Aviv, in Israel, a country of diverse landscapes
the Dead Sea, the world’s deepest hypersaline where each stop en route is merely a short
lake at over 430m below sea level, is easily drive away.

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Eilat on the shores of the Red Sea.
Photo: Dafna Tal, IMOT