Page 4 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition

Photo: Shutterstock
A LIVING LAND
WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO JOURNEY TO THE HOLY LAND
IJill Daly l Photos: IMOT
srael is not just a destination for me.
I’ve traveled to many bucket list places
around the world—each special in its
own way—but in Israel, something
deeper happened. My faith was
awakened. Scripture came alive. I have walked
streets where prophets once preached, looked
out over valleys where miracles happened, and
prayed where Jesus wept. This is not just a land where Jesus walked.
of history—it is a place where faith breathes.
Today, more than ever, this sacred land calls
out—not only as a land of stories past, but
as a living, breathing testament to resilience,
faith, and hope.
Despite the challenges Israel has faced since
October 7, 2023, Israel’s doors remain open.
From Jerusalem to the Galilee, from the Jordan
River to the shores of the Mediterranean,
the people of Israel continue to welcome
4 l HOLY LAND
visitors with the same warmth and heartfelt
hospitality they always have.
Hotels are open, with new ones opening.
Pilgrimage sites are active. Licensed tour
guides are ready. The streets of the Old
City in Jerusalem are filled once again with
songs, prayers, and the awe of travelers
who are rediscovering the joy of walking
New restaurants are opening throughout
the country, new archaeological discoveries
are being made, and a renewed spirit of
connection fills the air. Israel is not paused. It is kings of Jerusalem. The site provides strong
preparing, evolving, and inviting.
For Christian travelers, Israel offers more than
sightseeing—it offers a journey that deepens
faith in profound and unforgettable ways. I
have seen this in my own life. To stand on the
Mount of Beatitudes, to pray at the Garden of
Gethsemane, to walk the Via Dolorosa—these
are moments that move beyond tourism. They
become spiritual milestones.
While the biblical stories remain unchanged,
Israel itself is constantly revealing new chapters
of its ancient past.
Recently, a 3,000-year-old moat – used to
divide Jerusalem into two parts was found
hidden beneath a parking lot in the City
of David. It is believed to be one of the
monumental fortifications that protected the
evidence of complex, fortified societies
existing in Israel.
And in May 2025, Israeli archaeologists
unveiled to the public for the first time a
1,600-year-old mosaic floor from a Byzantine
Christian monastery located at the Merhavim