Tel Lachish

View from Tel Lachish, Western Israel, overlooking the grape fields and Hebron Valley. Lachish was the second most important fortified city in the kingdom of Judea, after Jerusalem. It guarded a main road from Egypt to Jerusalem. Lachish is referred in many Biblical accounts, including the Assyrian and Babylonian campaigns when Lachish was a key city for the conquest of the Judean Kingdom. The highlights of the visit to the ruins of the city include the Assyrian siege ramp, the base of the Judean palace-fort, and the gate complex. Lachish is mentioned 20+ times in the Bible.

Tel Lachish

Tel Lachish, National park. Raobohim's castle rock wall base is 2,800 years old. Symbolic chairs for each of the Kings of Judah who reigned. Heights of chairs correlate with the length of reign.

Jaffa/Joppa

Jaffa (Yaffo, Joppa) is one of the oldest port cities in the land of Israel and the Mediterranean. Due to its natural advantages, a hill above a bay, and its strategic location on the crossroads of Israel, the city was a center of historical events over thousands of years.

Jaffa/Joppa

The old city overlooks the old port of Jaffa, where the ancient port was built. In the waters, behind the tower of the sea mosque, you can see the remnants of the ancient port.

Jaffa/Joppa

Jaffa is one of the oldest functioning harbors in the world. Today it harbors only small fishing boats. This was the port to which Jonah came when fleeing from the Lord to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). For the construction of Solomon’s Temple, cedars were floated from Phoenicia to Joppa and then transported to Jerusalem. "And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem".

Netanya

The view from my room at the beautiful Seasons Hotel on the Mediterranean coastal city of Netanya.

Netanya

Downtown Netanya, Israel

Caesarea

Caesarea was originally called Straton's Tower after its founder Straton, who is believed to have been a ruler of Sidon in the 4th century BCE. In 96 BCE the city was captured by Alexander Yannai and remained in the Hasmonean kingdom until it became an autonomous city by Pompey. After being for some time in the possession of Cleopatra, ruler of Egypt, it was returned by Augustus to Herod.

Caesarea

Caesarea Maritima, Western Israel on the Mediterranean Sea Coast. Founded by Herod the Great in 22 BC. This is a Classical historical site (with Biblical history). Caesarea was the seat of the Roman government and home of Roman procurators, including Pontius Pilate. Caesarea became part of the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana and was taken by Rome because of the importance of the Sea! After the Middle Ages, Caesarea was wiped-off the face on earth, so to speak. Caesarea was built a few decades before the birth of Jesus Christ and there is no record that he actually came to Caesarea.

Caesarea

The hippodrome built by Herod also is still identifiable, though it is now a banana field. Considerably smaller than the great Circus Maximus in Rome, Herod's arena still held 20,000 spectators for chariot races.

Caesarea

The Harbor Beach is located within the Park although you can enter separately, and is totally unique in its setting, with superb facilities.

Caesarea

When it comes to historical flair, the ancient port town of Caesarea (or Kesariya) in north-central Israel, originally built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus Caesar (circa late 1st century BC), still holds on to its Romanized legacy.

Caesarea

Medieval Caesarea was strongly refortified and rebuilt by the Crusaders. The remains of the Crusader city walls, the castle and a Crusader cathedral and church.

Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel, Western Israel. Most significant in ancient times as a barrier to traffic along the Coastal Plain. 1500 foot high limestone mountain impeded armies and merchants traveling to the Jezreel Valley. Biblically, Mt. Carmel is referenced most often as a symbol of beauty and fertility.

Megiddo

Strategically located at the mount of the Nahal "Iron Pass." Megiddo controlled access to the road that linked Egypt with Mesopotamia and Anatolia - the most important trade and military route of the time. Megiddo is the only site in the Land of Israel mentioned in the records of all Near Eastern ancient powers and was one of the most fought-over cities of the region.

Nazareth Village

Green grapes at Nazareth Village.

Sunrise at the Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee is one of the most familiar bodies of water in the Bible, especially to readers of the Gospels. Many of the events in the earthly life of Jesus Christ took place in the region of Galilee and areas surrounding the Sea of Galilee.

Sea of Galilee Sunrise

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee.

Sea of Galilee Sunrise

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee.

Sea of Galilee Sunrise

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee.

Mount of Beatitudes

The beautiful Basilica of the Church of Mount of Beatitudes was built during the 1936-1938 to a design of the Italian famous church architect, Antonio Barluzzi.