Page 29 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition
P. 29

"Touching Time" at Zippori National Park.
                                                                                                             Photo: Hagay Dvir

                                                                                                             and – in the eastern wing of the palace, in
                                                                                                             the praetorium – you can stand where Paul
                                                                                                             would have appeared before Felix, Festus
                                                                                                             and Agrippa II and Berenice. Now there’s
                                                                                                             more! Recent excavations beneath the
                                                                                                             praetorium have revealed the prison where
                                                                                                             Paul was held for two years (Acts 23:34; Acts
                                                                                                             24:27). The most poignant discovery made
                                                                                                             publicly so far is an inscription scratched
                                                                                                             in the mud by a woman prisoner, pleading
                                                                                                             with the Lord for deliverance.

an extraordinary testament to both natural        The “Newest Antiquity” in Caesarea                         Touching Time: “Work it and Take Care of
wonders and spiritual resonance. Two              Maritima National Park – Paul’s Prison                     It” (Gen. 2:15)
captivating short films set the stage for your    Cell                                                       In the Holy Land, the men and women
exploration of the reserve, a haven of life in    The evocative Roman ruins at Caesarea                      of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority
the desert. Visitors are greeted with vibrant,    National Park now bring alive yet another                  spend every working day fostering its
larger-than-life sculptures of the local          story of the trials and tribulations of the                precious biblical and natural sites. Now, in
wildlife, with advanced graphical illusions,      Apostle Paul. You can already visit the                    a new hands-on program, “Touching Time,”
including the mesmerizing emergence of an         magnificent palace built by Herod the Great,               you’ll help preserve and restore ancient
African monarch butterfly from its cocoon         later occupied by the notorious Pontius Pilate,            monuments, learning as you work to build
and the Jordan St. Peter’s fish thriving in this                                                             both your understanding of Scripture and
unique convergence of salty and fresh water.         View of antiquities at Sussita (Hippos) National Park.  group spirit. Led by experts, this 2–3 hour
                                                     Photo: Shlomit Shavit                                   program is available at Zippori National Park,
The first film highlights Israel's greatest                                                                  the traditional childhood home of Mary, and
“natural” resource – its amazing people. A                                                                   at Bet She’an National Park mentioned in the
geologist, a biologist, and a park ranger                                                                    story of Saul (1 Sam. 31:10–12) and one of
share their passions, detailing extraordinary                                                                the Decapolis cities (Matthew 4:25;
efforts to explore the depths of the Dead
Sea and uncover the marvels of this unique                                                                   ✦Mark 5:20; 7:31).
ecosystem. Enot Tsukim and its visitor
center add a profound dimension to any                                                                       For more information please contact
pilgrimage, bringing the prophecy of Ezekiel                                                                 hagayd@npa.org.il
47:8–9 to life: “When the water flows into the
[Dead] Sea, it will replace the salt water there
with fresh water. Wherever the river flows,
there will be many fish and animals.”

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