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Jewish Jerusalem: 2 Day Tour From Jerusalem
Starting From
From $344.88 per person
Current Project Expedition rate
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The Experience
What your day looks like
Explore Jerusalem thoroughly with this package of 2-day tours and B&B accommodation. Get to know the Old City of Jerusalem with an emphasis on Jewish sites like the Western Wall, Byzantine Cardo, Mt. Zion and the Jewish Quarter. Also, see the Christian Quarter sites and shop in the Old City bazaar. Visit the moving Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Visit David's Tomb, four 17th century Sephardi synagogues and the excavations of the 3000-year-old City of David and the Spring of Gihon.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Explore the Old City of Jerusalem
- To see the Christian Quarter sites
- Visit the moving Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum
- Visit David's Tomb, four 17th century Sephardi synagogues
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Judaean Desert. As we descend 1,200 meters from Jerusalem through the wilderness of the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, we pass the Inn of the Good Samaritan and stop briefly at the “sea level” marker. In the distance we see Jericho, the oldest city in the world, perhaps due to its luxuriant oasis and its proximity to the Dead Sea, an ancient source of salt and we recall the conquest of Jericho by the Israelite tribes, led by Joshua, who had just crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. (Josh 6).
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Masada. We continue along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. As we ascend in the cable car, we look down at the Snake path which was used two thousand years ago when King Herod built this fortress like palace. In fact, there were two palaces, as well as a swimming pool and a well-preserved beautiful bath-house. Maintained by a small Roman legion after the death of Herod, it was seized by Jewish zealots at the beginning of the Jewish revolt against the Romans which culminated in the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 CE. We stand over the ramp, built for the Romans by their Jewish slaves, which facilitated the breaching of the wall after three years of siege. The synagogue, which was built by Herod, proved conclusively to those who doubted that there were synagogues even while the Second Temple stood. We see where the first piece of parchment to be discovered in an Israeli archaeological excavation was found. And on it, legible to the naked eye were the words of the prophet Ezekiel, the “dry bones” prophecy, ending with the promise “I will take the children of Israel from among the nations and bring them in to their own land and the nations shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel” (Ezek 37)
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Ein Gedi. On our return journey we pass the oasis of Ein Gedi where David hid from the wrath of King Saul (I Sam 24:1ff) and Qumran where the two thousand year old Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
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Jerusalem
Swimming at Dead Sea. Finally we enjoy a therapeutic swim in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, where the water is almost 35% salt and even those who cannot swim can float.
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Jerusalem
Accommodation provided.
Day 2
Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Temple Mount. We start with a breathtaking view of Jerusalem. As if in the palm of our hand, we see the Old City and the Temple Mount area spread before us and imagine the Second Temple destroyed in 70 CE and Solomon’s Temple before that, destroyed in 586 BCE.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Kidron Valley. As we drive along the Kidron Valley towards the Zion gate we have an excellent view of Mount Olives and the Jewish cemetery, in constant use over two thousand years. At its base are the ancient burial tombs Yad Avshalom, Beni Hazir and that perhaps of Zechariah. Alongside are the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Zion Gate.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Garden Of Gethsemane.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at David's Tomb. On Mount Zion we stop at the Tomb of David. The large cenotaph is covered with a drape on which are embroidered various attributes of King David including the lyre he played, a crown and the words “David, King of Israel lives forever” in Hebrew. As this is a holy site for the Jewish people men and women are separated.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Four Sephardic Synagogues. As we enter the Old City through the Zion gate on our way to the Cardo we stop at the four beautifully restored seventeenth and early eighteenth century Sephardi synagogues which were used to house animals during the nineteen years the Old City was under Jordanian rule.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at Jewish Quarter (Jerusalem). We continue to the excavated Byzantine Cardo. Although this fifteen hundred year old main street of Jerusalem was partially destroyed and unused during the Moslem conquest it had a brief new lease of life during the Crusader period and the excavated Crusader shops are now modern stores. Continuing through the Jewish Quarter we marvel at the excavated and exposed foundation of the two thousand seven hundred year old wall of biblical Jerusalem built by King Hezekiah. (Is 22:10). We descend a few meters and find ourselves in a two thousand year old complex of homes with their original mosaic floors and mikveh.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing at The Western Wall. A brief stop at the Western Wall (Kotel) allows us to place a note between its stones. This two thousand year old wall is part of the encircling and supporting wall built by King Herod when the Temple Mount area was enlarged.
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Jerusalem
Sightseeing. We leave the Old City through the Dung gate we visit the remarkable excavations of the three thousand year old City of David. How can we not be in awe of the ingenuity of those who sought to bring water to the people of Jerusalem, whether it be the ancient Canaanites or Hezekiah whose tunnel is described succinctly (II Kings 20:20 & II Ch32:2-4) and identified by an inscription now exhibited in a museum in Turkey.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Business-class – small groups in luxury van/minibus Entrance fees on day 1- Masada and the Dead Sea 2 fully guided tour days with a local qualified and licensed tour guide Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
Not Included
Lunch, dinner, drinks Entrance fees on day 2- City of David and Underground Jerusalem
What to Bring
Modest dress required: Covered shoulders/ No shorts Hats Bathing suits Towels and comfortable shoes Passports Compulsory.
Meeting & Pickup
Pick up from your hotel in Jerusalem at 7:50 am.
Planning Notes
Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Manual By Business
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