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The Dead Sea Scrolls

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The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 is arguably the most important and greatest archaeological find of the century. Housed in the Israel Museum, the scrolls are the oldest copies of the Hebrew Bible found to date and describe the life, times and beliefs of the Dead Sea Sect. These ancient manuscripts were discovered over a period of nine years (from 1947 to 1956) in eleven caves on the northwest shores of the Dead Sea near Khirbet Qumran. The scrolls dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE, were written on parchment and papyrus and found mostly in fragments.

The Isaiah Scroll is one of the original seven scrolls found and is the largest and best preserved of all of the biblical scrolls. And, it is the only one that was discovered in its entirety – 54 columns containing all 66 chapters. The scroll dates from around 100 BCE and as such is 1,000 years older than the oldest Hebrew biblical manuscript, The Aleppo Codex.

The Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum houses a facsimile of the Isaiah Scroll in a specially designed hall resembling the tops of the clay jars that the scrolls were discovered in. This impressive exhibit allows the visitors to see the 2.60-meter long scroll that contains the famous phrase “they shall beat their swords into plowshares…” (Isaiah 2.4). To add to the spectacular vision of the lengthy scroll, a small original fragment is also on display.

To help bring home Isaiah’s message, iron tools common to the 8th century BCE, or the time of Isaiah’s life, are shown alongside the scroll. The discovery of the Scrolls changed the study of the history of the ancient Jewish people as nothing prior to or since has.  During the period of excavation, fragments of approximately 950 different scrolls were found. Excavations continue to this date, but no additional scrolls have been found in 1956.

Have Israel Tour Connection add a visit to the Israel Museum to your itinerary.

 

 

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Travel Israel’s Wine Routes

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Wine in Israel

Vineyards and wine production have always played an important role in Israel’s agricultural and industrial development. But, over the last decade, Israel has experienced a surge of interest of them, resulting in wineries becoming a booming tourist, as well as export, industry. More than two hundred wineries of different sizes and rates of production are currently operating throughout Israel, from Dan to Eilat, from the Shefela region to Judah and Samaria.

Throughout history, the vineyards supplying the grapes for the wineries have been planted on the sites of vineyards from biblical and later periods when agriculture served as the central industry in the country’s economy. However, the grape varieties have traveled a long path of development and improvement since then, allowing Israeli wines to reach leading places in world wine contests.

The wine production process from the initial planting, care, harvesting, pressing and fermentation through to the aging process has historically been steeped in mystery. Probably because the large earthenware vessels were hidden away and stored deep within caves or cool cellars. You’ll find references to this in many quotations from the Bible and other ancient writings. In fact, Noah was said to have planted a vineyard immediately after leaving the ark (Genesis 9). Or take the story of the spies, “They arrived at the Valley of Eshkol, and cut from there a vine with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a double pole…” (Numbers 13).  The references to vineyards in the Bible are numerous and show the historical importance wine and vineyards have played in our country’s history.

Today, wine production is still a favorite with the public and wine tourism has become more and more popular. Often tourists plan their entire trips first around the wineries and vineyards they want to visit and then adding local attractions to their itinerary. Israel’s wine industry has developed rapidly and visitors have the opportunity to experience the production process and then taste the world-class wines that are produced. The Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Israel Grape and Wine Council, are actively promoting the field of wine tourism in Israel.

Contact ITC for more information

 

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Temple Period Cistern Uncovered

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Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

Archaeologists discovered a large public cistern from the time of the First Temple period in Jerusalem’s Old City.  The Israel Antiquities Authority are excited about this new find as it will offer new insight into the city’s water supply some 2,500 years ago.

The cistern, which held 250 cubic meters of water, was discovered adjacent to the western side of the Temple Mount during an ongoing excavation at the site. The discovery is important as it shows that the city’s water supply at the time did not rely solely on Jerusalem’s Gihon Spring (Jerusalem’s only natural water source) as once thought. Instead, a large man-made reservoir apparently was used to collect the water from the Gihon Spring.

The size of the cistern is unique in that it is the largest of its time to be discovered in the city. Also, according to archaeologist Tsvika Tsuk of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, its location suggests the possibility that it played a part in the ritual activities at the Temple. The cistern was waterproofed with a yellowish plaster typical of the period, with handprints still visible on the walls,

According to the biblical record, the First Temple was built around 950 BCE and destroyed by a Babylonian army in 586 CE. Construction of the Second Temple began some 50 years later. The Temple Mount as it currently exists, dates to an expansion and renovation of the compound by Herod the Great five centuries after that, or about 2,000 years ago. The Second Temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 CE.

Contact Israel Tour Connection for more information about this and other important archaeological discoveries.

 

Health Spas and Resorts In Israel

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 Israel is fortunate to have a number of very attractive resorts frequented by tourists concerned about their health. Widespread hot springs, sophisticated spa hotels and a sunny climate make Israel a country that can offer its visitors a vacation focusing on their health. Whether it’s a one-day visit to a health resort or a longer stay, there are many to choose from. And, you don’t need to have a health problem to consider visiting one of the many spa resorts as they all offer a wonderful break from your daily routine and are the ultimate way to pamper yourself.

As you would expect, the Dead Sea tops the popularity list and is famous for its high concentration of salts and minerals. The Dead Sea is one of the world’s best-known and most unique therapeutic resorts. The region is characterized by an unusual combination of natural resources and climatic conditions – the saltiest sea in the world that is also mineral-rich; thermo-mineral waters; medicinal black mud; filtered sunrays; dry air rich in minerals; a pleasant temperature most of the year; a relatively high concentration of oxygen; air that is almost completely free of allergens and other air pollutants.

Drive a short thirty minutes from the Dead Sea and you’ll enter the city of Arad, whose Floatin on the Dead Seacold, dry, clean air makes it a haven for people suffering from asthma, allergies and respiratory problems. Other major therapeutic resorts are located in the vicinity of Lake Kineret and throughout the rest of Israel.

Visit any of the natural therapeutic resorts, as well as the spa resorts, and you can expect the find a wide range of holistic treatments. Interest in alternative medicine has been rapidly growing and it is now easy to find treatments such as hydrotherapy (water therapy), ayurvedic medicine (Indian medicine) and conventional massages. As an added plus, most of the therapeutic resorts are also hotels offering special packages that include treatments and pampering, as well as lodging.

Contact Israel Tour Connection for more information about Israel’s spas and therapeutic resorts.

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Tel Aviv-YafoBORADWALK in TEL AVIV

Tel Aviv, often called “the city that never stops,” was the first modern Jewish city built in Israel and is the country’s economic and cultural center. It is a lively, active city filled with entertainment, culture, art, festivals and a right nightlife.

Situated on a 14 kilometer strip on the Mediterranean seacoast, Tel Aviv extends beyond the Yarkon River to the north and the Avalon River to the east. Hundreds of thousands of workers, visitors, tourists and partygoers enjoy the city’s nightclubs, restaurants and entertainment venues all day and night.

History

Tel Aviv’s history dates back to Jaffa (Yafo), the 3,000 year old city that lies to its southwest. The current Old City of Jaffa was built during the Ottoman Empire and its stone houses and narrow alleyways now house the picturesque artists’ quarter and tourist center.

Among the main attractions of Old Jaffa are Gan HaPisga – the Summit Garden with its restaurants, galleries, shops with Judaica, and unique atmosphere. Also popular are the seaside promenade and walls of the old city and the visitors center in the old courtyard; and the fishing port.

There are also several important Christian sites in Old Jaffa such as the Church of Saint Peter, which dates back to the 17th century, the house of Simon the Tanner where Peter had his vision of the non-kosher animals, and the tomb of Tabitha, whose righteous deeds enabled Peter to raise her from the dead. Other sites around Jaffa include the Ottoman clock tower, a vibrant flea market that is always worth visiting, and the Ajami neighborhood.

In 1909 sixty-six Jewish families who resided in Jaffa established the first neighborhood of what would later become the city of Tel Aviv. The neighborhood, called “Akhuzat Bayit” (homestead) was originally within Jaffa. In 1910 the neighborhood continued to expand and was renamed Tel Aviv. Other new neighborhoods were added until it eventually became the center of the Yishuv – the Jewish settlement in Palestine at the time. On May 14, 1948, while in Tel Aviv, David Ben Gurion declared the independence of the State of Israel.

The former Akhuzat Bayit neighborhood, which extends between Montifiore Street and Yehuda HaLevi, is the historical nucleus of Tel Aviv. To the west is the neighborhood of Neveh Tsedek, which was the first Jewish neighborhood to be established outside Jaffa in 1887. This neighborhood was renovated in the 1980s and today is a picturesque and charming neighborhood with many of the original houses still standing.

Surrounding Akhuzat Bayit are many buildings built in the eclectic style that was popular in Tel Aviv in the 1920s. Clusters of buildings built in this style can be found on Nakhlat Binyamin and in the “heart of the city” – the triangle between Shenkin Street, Rothschild Boulevard, and Allenby Street.

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Museums Abound In Israel

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Museum in Israel

Israel Museum, Jerusalem

It comes as no surprise that a country so diverse and rich in history would be home to so many museums. There is literally a museum to match anyone’s taste in art. From the large Tel Aviv Art Museum that has collections ranging from current artists to ones from the Renaissance, to the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel) Museum that shares its grounds with a Philistine port city dating back 3,000 years, and a host of others in between!

For example, another museum of interest is the Haifa Art Museum, located in the 1869 German Colony’s Templar Town Hall with its emphasis on the Jewish-Muslim-Christian-Druze city. Others of note are the Ralli Museum known for its Spanish Villa architecture and support of budding artists, and the naturally lit Museum of Art Ein Harod that overlooks the Jezreel Valley and Mount Gilboa. And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to museums!

The Tel Aviv Art Museum
The Tel Aviv Art Museum’s permanent collection is the city’s largest and includes over 20,000 prints and drawings, as well as paintings and sculpture. The collection houses the works of recent Israel artists, Renaissance European art and pieces from the Renaissance, impressionist and modern eras. The Helena Rubenstein Pavilion has both permanent and temporary exhibits and is a remote branch of the museum located in the city center next to the Frederic Mann Auditorium and Habimah Theatre.

Address: 27 Shderot Sha’ul ha-Melekh St., Tel Aviv-Yafo
Phone: 03-6077020
Fax: 03-6958099
Web Page: http://www.tamuseum.com/

Parking: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

The Land of Israel (Eretz Israel) Museum, Tel Aviv
The Land of Israel Museum contains an entire world of visual, cultural, and historical treasures. The collections are displayed in different pavilions devoted to glass, ceramics, coins, philately, Judaica, ethnography and folklore. The museum grounds house the archeological site of Tel Kasila, a Philistine port city dating back more than 3,000 years. In addition to the archaeological site, there is a planetarium simulating space flight, the fire engine donated in 1948 by the City of New York to Israel’s first fire brigade, and a plaza with ancient mosaics and an olive press.

Address: 2 Khayim Levanon St., Tel Aviv-Yafo
Phone: 03-6415244
Fax: 03-6412408
Web Page: http://www.eretzmuseum.org.il/main/site/index.php3?mod=firstPage&langId=1

Parking: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

The Haifa Art Museum
Located in the historic 1869 German Colony’s Templar Town Hall, the Haifa Art Museum has both permanent and temporary exhibits of modern Israeli and international art. The emphasis of the exhibits are on the unique quality of Haifa as an integrated Jewish-Muslim-Christian-Druze city.

 For more information, visit: http://www.haifamuseums.org.il

Ralli Museum
The Ralli Museum in Caesarea is one of four museums in the world founded by art collector, Harry Recanati, whose goal is to support budding contemporary artists. The museum is built in the form of a Spanish villa and exhibits European and Latin American art as well as the works of promising artists. For more information, visit: http://www.rallimuseums.org/

The Museum of Art Ein Harod
Located at Kibbutz Ein Harod, this is the largest museum in the northern Israel. The museum is naturally lit and overlooks the Jezreel Valley and Mount Gilboa. Numerous Israeli artists have exhibited their works here and it possesses a rich collection of Judaica, photographs and graphics. For more information, visit: http://www.museumeinharod.org.il/english/

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web -      IsraelTours.com
Phone –  973 535-2575
Email -   info@israeltours.com



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The Israeli Opera Festival – Carmen at Masada

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Carmen at Masada

Carmen at Masada - The Israeli Opera Festival

The free spirited gypsy Carmen sings about freedom as she falls in love with the soldier José and then with the toreador Escamillo. Fiery Spanish dances and seductive arias in a huge celebration performed by hundreds of participants by the Mt. of Masada. Love, scorching passion and hate that knows no boundries conducted by Daniel Oren.

Length of performance: approx. three hours and 30 minutes

ITC Tours offers tickets to Carmen at Masada while on a ITC Tour

For additional information please contact us at http://www.israeltours.com/contact.asp 

Dates: Thu June 7, (10PM), Sat June 9,. (10PM), Sun June 10, (10PM) 2012



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Wine, Israel Style

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Discover a different Israel through her wineries and vineyards, and through the passion of the people who are crafting award-winning wines today. Enjoy vintage wines, gourmet foods, and gorgeous scenery, along with an ingredient unique to Israel – her millennia of wine producing history. Spend time experiencing Israel in a new way… as a Wine Connoisseur. Israel’s world-class wines are up for the challenge.

A Brief History of Winemaking in Israel

The Middle East & Eastern Mediterranean were the cradle of wine production. In fact, the ancient land of Canaan is one of the earliest countries to cultivate wine – over 2,000 years before the vine reached Europe. In recent years excavations have uncovered ancient presses and storage vessels that illustrate the fact that a well-developed and successful wine industry existed throughout the area. Grapes, grape clusters and vines were frequent motifs found on ancient coins and jars. Additionally, many wine presses and storage cisterns have been unearthed, from Mount Hermon to the Negev. Inscriptions and seals on the jars show that wine was a commercial commodity being shipped in goatskins or jugs from ports such as Dor, Ashkelon and Joppa (Jaffa). Other findings include the fact that the vineyards of Galilee and Judea, and wines named Sharon and Carmel from places like Gaza, Ashkelon and Lod were famous.

​Wine Making Revolution in Israel

In the 1990’s, wine production which formerly had been typically 70% white and 30% red, changed to 60% red and 40%white, reflecting new taste trends. International wine makers and consultants arrived to improve the overall quality of the wine by helping decide which types of grapes to grow, where to plant the vines and how to craft world class wines. Growers invested in state-of-the-art equipment and modern techniques replaced less professional methods. It was during this time that wineries started popping up all over Israel. In fact, 85% of all operating wineries in Israel today were founded in the last decade!

There are currently over 25 commercial wineries and over 150 boutique wineries in Israel where wine making has become a personal obsession as wine makers strive to produce world-class wines. Even with this exciting surge in boutique ‘start ups’, the three largest wineries account for 75% of the annual harvest; the top five wineries total 84 % of the harvest; and the top eleven account for 95% of the total annual harvest.

Facts About the Wine Industry:

Vineyards

Hectares: 3,800 ha. (9,500 acres; 38, 000 dunams)

Harvest 2005: 45,483 tons

Wine Market in Israel: $175 million dollars (20% imports)

Consumption in Israel: 7 liters/person

2005 Export of Israeli Wines ($m): $13.8 million

Main Importers of Israeli Wines: 1. U.S.A; 2. France; 3. U.K.; 4. Germany; 5. Canada

Wine Regions in Israel

The ideal growing conditions for the cultivation of wine grapes lie in the two geographic strips between 30-50 degrees south and north of the equator. Israel is ideally situated in the Northern Hemisphere strip and like other ‘long’ countries such as Chile or Italy, enjoys a variety of microclimates. While the northern region gets a lot of rain and even snow in the winter, just a few hours away, Israel’s southern region is very arid with desert-like conditions. This range in microclimates supports many grape varieties, which can grow in several different types of soil, yielding excellent results. More than 90% of Israel’s vineyards lie in the Shomron, Samson & Galilee regions. The sub regions with the youngest vineyards are the Upper Galilee & the Judean Foothills.

The 5 Official Wine Regions of Israel:

Galilee-Golan

Shomron

Samson

Judean Hills

Negev

Each one of Israel’s five wine growing regions awaits your exploration and looks forward to sharing its unique wines with you.  And, as always in matters of taste, after you visit Israel’s wineries and vineyards it’s up to you to decide for yourself which is your favorite!​

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Diving the Red Sea

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tour The Red Sea in IsraelSituated at the southern most tip of Israel on the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea, Eilat is nestled between jagged red mountains and crystal clear waters, ruffled by nothing more then a gentle northerly breeze. The year-long hot, dry climate attracts not only tourists from colder reaches, but also provides a haven for a myriad of coral and fish species endemic to the bay.

The city of Eilat is a great dive holiday destination. The Red Sea is a narrow and elongated stretch of blue water, bordered by mountains with an average height of 1,000 – 1,500 meters and peaks over 2,500 meters above sea level. It is connected to the Indian Ocean at the strait of Bab el Mandab (the gate of tears) and to the Gulf of Aqaba at the straits of Tiran. The shallow 134 meter depth of the straits ensures that you will avoid the cold waters from the deep Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. Although the Gulf of Aqaba is very narrow, 23.5 km at the widest point, it is very deep with a maximum depth of 1,829 meters. This creates a very steady water temperature of 22º to 28º Celsius all year long.

The coast of the Red Sea is bordered by coral formations with more than 1,200 species of fish and 250 species of corals. The desert climate of the area provides a long summer with many sunny days making the environment perfect for corals to thrive.

At Eilat you can find world class diving including a local nature reserve that houses a reef of more than 1,200 meters long. Corals can be found at the northern point of the reserve. All of this adds up to a wonderful environment for divers from all over the world to view Eilat’s underwater wonders. Diving is so popular in this region, that there are more than 10 dive centers and over 20 different dive sites, almost all of which are accessed from shore. In addition, Eilat is also often used as a home base to divers traveling to the city of Aqaba at Jordan, or the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. You will not find a safer or more diver friendly dive destination in the world!

Eilat offers the best environment for dive courses and a few thousand certifications are issued every year. If you’re interested in diving, there are a few options. As a certified diver you will be asked to show the following documents:

Diving certificate – a card with name and picture from a known dive organization (such as PADI, CMAS, NAUI, SSI, IANTD, TDI, ACUC, and others).

Divers log book – indicating you have been diving in the last 6 months. Divers who haven’t been diving for more than 6 months will be asked to join a refresh dive before they participate in other dive activities.

Divers Insurance – specific divers insurance which covers decompression chamber treatment or any other necessary medical treatment for diving incident. One can be purchased at every dive center, or on the Internet.

Certified divers can join the daily guided dives to one of the many sites in Eilat. Experienced divers with more than 20 dives can rent dive equipment and go by themselves for a dive in the area.

Four favorite dive sites are:

The Japanese Gardens:

Situated close to the marine observatory, the Japanese Gardens have a beautiful drop off to more than 40 meters with lots of fish and corals. This dive site is accessed by boat. A wreck lies at the deepest point of the drop off at around 50 meters.

The ‘Satil’ Wreck:

A great wreck, more than 30 meters long, standing on its bottom in a depth of 24 meters at the bottom, and up to 12 meters at its mast. The wreck is an old missile ship from the Israeli navy that was sunk in order to create one more dive site. The wreck was sunk in the year 1994 and is 70 meters from shore with its bow directed to north.

 Tour the Red Sea in Israel

The Caves:

Situated about 500 meters north of the Egyptian border, this magnificent reef offers a swim in very shallow waters of about five meters. The caves are the home of hundreds of fish called sweepers that will swim very close to you as you pass from one side of the reef to the other.

The Dolphin Reef:

At this magnificent resort, divers can dive in a secured area with a pack of dolphins in their natural habitat. Most of the dolphins were born at the dolphin reef resort and are extremely friendly and familiar with the guides.

Visitors without any diving experience can participate in a dive course, or in one of the introduction programs. Access to the water is right off the beach and the sea is always calm, with very light wind, and excellent visibility. 12 is the minimum age to participate in a dive course. Courses range in length from a one-day program, to a full week course or longer.

Introduction Dive:

This is a one-time experience for people from the ages of 8 to 80. Anyone can do it! All you need to do is go through a short briefing, and accompany an instructor for a short dive at a depth of up to 6 meters at one of the many local dive sites. The instructor operates all the scuba equipment and the diver only has to breathe and enjoy the underwater tour.

Discover Scuba Diving:

This 1-day program is basically the first step in a diving course, with a minimum age requirement of 12 years old. The program includes one classroom session, one training session at a pool or very shallow confined water environment and an open water dive at one of the many dive sites.

Scuba diver course/ Open water diver course/ Advanced open water diver course:

3, 5 or 7 day courses with a minimum age requirement of 12 years old. This program includes knowledge development, confined water training and open water dives. The courses certify the divers for dives to 12, 18 and 30 meters.

Divers who seek more advanced dive training will easily find it at one of the many dive centers in Eilat which train divers for all sorts of dive certificates including technical diving to a depth of up to 100 meters and instructor courses.

We hope you will choose it as your next holiday destination.

Article and photos are courtesy of:

Manta Dive Center.  www.redseasports.co.il

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Rare Statue of Hercules Discovered in the Jezreel Valley

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Statue of Hercules

Statue of Hercules

The Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered an exquisite marble statue of Hercules from the second century CE during excavations conducted at Horvat Tarbenet in the Jezreel Valley. Mentioned in the Jewish Talmud, Horvat Tarbenet, located about 4 km northwest of Afula, was a Jewish settlement in the third century CE.

Dr. Walid Atrash of the Israel Antiquities Authority describes the find: “This is a rare discovery. The statue, which probably stood in a niche, was part of the decoration of a bathhouse pool that was exposed during the course of the excavations. It is 0.5 m tall, is made of smoothed white marble and is of exceptional artistic quality. Hercules is depicted in three dimensions, as a naked figure standing on a base; his bulging muscles stand out prominently, leaning on a club to his left, on the upper part of which hangs the skin of the Nemean lion, which according to Greek mythology Hercules slew as the first of his twelve labors.”

A hero in Greek and Roman mythology, Hercules is considered the strongest man in the world, a symbol of power, courage and superhuman strength. Hercules is one of the most famous legendary heroes of ancient Greece for battling the forces of the netherworld on behalf of the Olympian gods.

Also at the site, other archaeological remains were discovered, among them dwellings, a well and an installation that included a large pool thought to be a Roman bathhouse. Benches were found on two sides of the pools. The newly discovered complex apparently underwent a number of changes and it is dated to the Roman and Byzantine periods, until the beginning of the Early Islamic period.

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