In the shadows of the Gilboa Mountains: a basilica, ancient synagogue, Crusader castle and kangaroos too!
By Ethan Bensinger | May 21, 2011
Today’s travels will take us to the northern section of the Jezreel Valley, with a drive over the Gilboa mountain range, into the Jordan River valley. The area, though relatively compact, is replete with historical and biblical significance, and is often referenced in the Old and New Testament. Our journey will first take us to […]
Read the rest of this entry hereA tour of the lower Galillee with a visit to an Ottoman-era train station, a Templer agricultural settlement and an ancient Jewish cemetery
By Ethan Bensinger | May 6, 2010
Today’s “off the beaten path” travels will take us to the north-western section of Israel’s breadbasket, the Jezreel Valley, to observe the impact that Muslims, Christians and Jews had on the development of Palestine at the beginning of the 20th century. We will explore the renovated Ottoman-era train station at Kfar Yehoshua, through which Muslim […]
Read the rest of this entry hereExploring the Northern Negev: battle sites, Bedouin, and ancient desert cities
By Ethan Bensinger | June 9, 2009
Our “off the beaten path” journey will take us for the next two days to the northern Negev, first with a visit to Kibbutz Yad Mordechai and then to other nearby sites commemorating heroic battles during Israel’s War of Independence. We’ll then learn about the Bedouins, nomads who had previously roamed the desert but who […]
Read the rest of this entry hereThe orchids of Utopia Park, turtles of the Alexander River and a Bauhaus restaurant
By Ethan Bensinger | March 24, 2009
Today’s off the beaten path adventure will take us slightly inland, away from the coast, into Emek Hefer. This valley of kibbutzim and moshavim, just to the east and north of Netanya, will give us the opportunity to stroll through eucalyptus groves on the banks of the Alexander River while watching large turtles sun themselves […]
Read the rest of this entry hereThe Sorek Stalactite Cave and the Emperor’s Road
By Ethan Bensinger | February 3, 2009
Our destination today is one of the most unusual natural sites that Israel has to offer, the Sorek cave in the Judean Mountains near Bet Shemesh. We’ll have lunch nearby and then explore the remains of an ancient khan with it’s well-preserved mosaic floors, and hike down the Emperor’s Road…
Read the rest of this entry hereFrom the charm of Zichron Yaakov to the galleries of Ein Hod
By Ethan Bensinger | July 15, 2008
A visit to the charming village of Zichron Yaakov, with its pedestrian-only cobblestone main street lit by old fashioned street lamps, and bounded on both sides with beautifully restored homes, courtyards, galleries, boutiques, and places of historical interest, will provide the visitor with
Read the rest of this entry hereAncient farming methods in the Jerusalem mountains
By Ethan Bensinger | June 24, 2008
At the present time in Israel you can find evidence of ancient techniques of cultivating fruits and vegetables using a system of hillside terraces bordered with stone. Viewing these terraces is easy around the mountains of Jerusalem, where a system of springs, channels and terraces
Read the rest of this entry hereFrom the megaliths at Gezer, to Lod’s medieval bridge, with a stop in Ramla for falafel
By Ethan Bensinger | June 3, 2008
If you have an interest in the mysteries of biblical archaeology, a stop at Tel Gezer to visit the 3500-year-old Canaanite temple of standing stones is a fascinating and moving experience. The size and number of steles, makes viewing them as awesome as a trip to Stonehenge, but in fact, they are right
Read the rest of this entry hereHerzliyah Pituach: A great beach, wonderful seaside cuisine and a bit of Crusader history
By Ethan Bensinger | May 13, 2008
If you want to escape to one of Israel’s best beaches and combine it with excellent cuisine and a bit of Crusader history, then the place to go to is Herzliyah Pituach.
This seaside community, which is also one of Israel’s largest high tech centers, is just a ten minute drive north of Tel-Aviv.
Life with Neanderthal Man and Napoleon too at the Mt. Carmel caves and the beach at Tel Dor
By Ethan Bensinger | April 22, 2008
Along the coast of Israel, a mere 15 minutes south of Haifa and 45 minutes north of Tel-Aviv, the caves of Nachal Me’arot, and the tel at Dor beach, provide the visitor with a time capsule of human existence from prehistoric, to ancient and modern times. From Tel-Aviv follow Route 2 and exit at Route
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