Christmas Events in Bethlehem

This years Christmas tourism theme for Bethlehem is known as "Shepherds Nights". It will occur on two evenings, December 24th and December 25th, 2008. Events are to include the following:

The First night, 24 Dec 2008: Palestinian art consisting of music, folkloric dances, highlights of local theater groups, marching bands, art exhibits, other artistic expressions. The location is suggested to be the YMCA grounds in Beit Sahour. There will special performances for children, and vendors who will be selling handcrafts and food.

The Second day, 25 Dec 2008: Tourists and locals can make home visits to impoverished areas to bring the Christmas spirit to the needy etc. Afternoon programs to include Children’s program and Christmas Carols. In the evening, a “Candle Light Procession” from Shepherds Field. The candle procession for this year will be titled “Light a Candle for the Land of the Shepherds"

First Night: December 24

16:30 - 18.-- Christmas Eve service at the Cave

18:00 -18:50 - Children's Show (Alhara Theatre)

19:00 - 20:10-Rim Al Banna

20:20 - 20:40-Al Ghad Al Haded Dabka

20:50-21:20 Christmas Carols

21:30-21:50-Kazar Dabka

22:00-22:30-Said Zarzar

Second Night: December 25

16:30 Candle Procession

17:30 - Local Choir Groups

18:30 - Tornado Lights Rap Song

Arabic Coffee and Oriental Sweets to be Served

For more information contact www.sirajcenter.org

Hurry to the Hula

As the afternoon fall sun begins its slow descent to the west, the storks, cranes, herons and other species of birds flock to their evening resting place on the Hula Lake in the northern Galilee situated within the Syrian-African Rift Valley, approximately 70 m above sea level. The numerous touring options available include walking, renting bicycles, an electrical golf cart (for up to 6 people), a safari bicycle (for up to 6), two seater bikes or an open air safari bus - an excellent choice for the night tours. Our group of six opted for four bicycles and a tandem and pedaled the 12 kilometre stretch in approximately two leisurely hours, stopping at numerous viewpoints along the way to observe the birds, animals, and surrounding views. The 800 acre reserve is located approximately 20 kilometres north of the Sea of Galilee, and was up until the early part of the 20th century, a vast swampland, but home to much wildlife. Early Jewish settlers to Israel worked hard clearing this area for agricultural purposes and many workers contracted the dealy malaria virus along the way. They only later realized that the valley offered less than ideal agricultural conditions, but unfortunately, by then that land had been cleared, and along with it much of the wildlife, fauna and flora disappeared from the landscape negatively impacting the ecosystem of the area. In the mid 1990's, approximately 250 acres were reflooded in an effort to restore the valley and bring back some of the natural habitat and improving the quality of the water flowing into the Sea of Galilee. During the migration seasons over 500 million birds will fly over Israel and tens of thousands will stop overnight in the Hula Valley during the peak late fall season. The Hula Valley visitor center, situated approximately three kilometres south of Agman Hula, has a new bird migration/movie experience called Euphoria which is also worthwhile. For More Information -http://parks.org.il/ParksENG/company_card.php3?NewNameMade=43&from=116&CNumber=422020

Chinese tourists seeking "mysterious" Israel

On September 25, 2008 forty Chinese tourists traveled from Beijing to Tel Aviv. The group was the first of many that are expected to be traveling to the Holy Land beginning this fall, as a result of an agreement sealed last October between the foreign ministers of Israel and China and which officially went into effect on September 15 of this year. The agreement gave Israel an "Approved Destination Status" for Chinese tourists. Hopefully, this will prompt many Chinese tourists to travel to Israel, a destination many Chinese describe as "mysterious". Currently, much of the Israel-China traffic consists of Israeli businesspeople and tourists traveling eastward while the Chinese travel market to Israel is primarily business. El Al has three weekly flights to Beijing and five to Hong Kong. The company is considering adding a fourth flight from Beijing or possibly switching to larger planes due to the high load factors. The Chinese have very strong links to Christianity and there are approximately 80 million Christians living in China, up from less than 5 million, 25 years ago.

Historic Notre Dame Center renovates Guest Units

Ideally located across from the New Gate in Jerusalem lies the Notre Dame Center, at 145 rooms it is the largest and most extensive Christian guest house in the Holy Land and can accommodate groups of up to 500 persons. Erected in the late 1880's the guest units offer some of the best views of the Old City of Jerusalem, situated footsteps away. The property is within easy walking distance to many of the city's most important sites. The pilgrim-oriented guest house is in the process of completing a major renovation to many of its guest units, most of which are now freshly painted and equipped with new lighting fixtures, doors, stall showers, wood-like floors, bed coverings and window treatments. New furniture has been ordered and is expected to be delivered shortly. In addition to the typical guest rooms that can accommodate two persons, there are now a few deluxe suites that have living rooms, kitchen facilities and expansive outdoor terraces overlooking the Old City. The guest house offers an an on site chapel, restaurants, meeting rooms, business center and offers daily mass and adornation. Legionary priests are available for mass and confession.

Tracing history through the caves in Park Adulam

In honor of Israel's 60th birthday celebration, the KKL (Karen Kayemit L'Yisrael)( http://www.kkl.org.il/) opened a new park in the Judean Hills, approximately 10 kilometres south of Beit Shemesh, 25 minutes from Jerusalem and 35 minutes from Tel Aviv. The entire region harbors hundreds of caves, many of which can be accessed through the numerous parks found throughout the hilly countryside. The considerable development activity that has occurred over the last several years has made protecting this historical and unusual landscape a high priority.

Last weekend, we participated in one of the walking tours currently being offered by the park guides. Our two hour walk consisted of an exploration of numerous caves including underground homes and burial caves likely rom the time of the first and second centuries. Several steep stone carved staircases led deep into the dark chambers and once there our flashlights provided us with the necessary light to observe the Hellenistic-inspired columns and other architectural features. With the Romans advancing, it is believed that the Jewish residents were forced to hide inside the caves, some for years, while the war ensued. Scratchings found inside the caves show the signs of possible games that were played by the people during this period as well as areas where lit candles were displayed. Further, well carved holes in the ceilings provided not only a small light source but the ability to view activity outside with a homemade telescope of a sort.

Visiting in early fall, the landscape was covered with terepines and olive trees, though still quite brown, however, our guide insisted that the area would be in full bloom in just a couple months and was well worth a return visit.

First stop on the wine road in the Golan Heights

Twenty minutes southeast of Ramot, up the windy road to the top of the southern Golan Heights, we visited Chateau Golan, (http://www.chateaugolan.co.il/) a boutique winery next to Odem that produces approximately 70,000 bottles of wine annually. Aside from its highly reputed wine, the winery has one of the most spectacular wine rooms I've seen. The room is set like a scene right out of a Harry Potter movie, and the extensive mahogany table centered between the concrete Roman-inspired pillars, is cut from one piece of wood and can seat 22 people for a tasting or more elaborate celebration. Our English speaking tour guide accompanied us throughout the winery, explaining the production process, both ancient and modern, and providing us with various selections of different wine. The non-kosher winery is available for free tours for groups of 10 or less. Advanced reservations are required.

Ginosar and the Jesus Boat

Along the western banks of the Sea of Galilee lies Kibbutz Ginosar, the likely site of the biblical village of Ginosar. The current site is home to a kibbutz as well as a full service hotel that attracts many tourists. Adjacent to the property is the Yigal Yadin museum, known as the Man in the Galilee museum, a museum focusing on the local Galilee landscape and history of the region. The museum features numerous antiquities, including the famous "Jesus Boat", a 1st century fishing boat that was uncovered in 1986 by two brothers, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, second generation fisherman from the Kibbutz. They discovered the mud covered ancient boat on the normally water-covered banks of the Sea of Galilee during a period of an unusual drought which resulted in extremely low water conditions. It took approximately 12 days and ights to remove the boat and another seven years of submersion in a chemical bath to dry out the antiquity before it was able to be displayed at the center. The process of moving the 2,000 year old boat and preserving it is profiled in a 10 minute movie that can be viewed inside the museum.

Tel 04-672-700.

Recreating biblical life in Nazareth Village

Almost all Catholic pilgrimages stop in Nazareth, widely considered the village where Jesus was raised during his childhood years. Most itineraries include stops at Mary's Well, the Church of the Annunciation, Joseph's House, etc and elaborate on Jesus's upbringing and childhood years.

Nazareth Village (www.nazarethvillage.com), situated outside the historical old city of Nazareth, is a relatively recent development, though constructed on the site where archaeological excavations revealed evidence of a first century farm and quarry. Based on New Testament writings, the site is a combination of archaeological, biblical and historical life of 2,000 years ago and provides visitors with a personal up close account of what Galilean life was like. Various outdoor displays showcase 1st century life while indoor displays highlight archaeological evidence gathered at the site.

We happened to be visiting Nazareth Village on the same day that the University of the Holyland was celebrating its 2008 graduation. Numerous invited family members, guests, faculty members and other onlookers like ourselves participated in the tour of the site and watched the graduation festivities which were complete in costumes worn by the University's founders, Dr. Steven Pfann and his wife Claire, an ordained pastor.

Students Dig Megiddo

Megiddo lies just southeast of Haifa and is situated at the head of a mountain pass located at the western end of the Jezreel Valley. The site commands a key view into northern Israel and lies strategically along the Via Maris, the ancient primary thoroughfare connecting Syria and Mesopotamia south to Egypt. In the New Testament, the site is identified as the location of the last great battle of the world, Armageddon. The incredible ruins on the site have lured archaeologists over the years, with of the most significant archaeological digs occurring between 1925 and 1939 when the remains of 20 distinct historical periods dating from 4000 to 400 BCE were found, further underscoring Megiddo's strategic importance. Because of the small amount of documentation associated with that dig, archaeologists suspect that some of the areas may have been dated incorrectly.

Fast forward to 2008 and my visit there during the third week of June where I surprisingly encountered students that had arrived on an archaeological dig that is to last for the next seven weeks. The Megiddo Expedition officially began on June 16, 2008. Approximately 115 student representatives from 40 universities around the world arrived at Megiddo on an archaeological dig to determine, among other things, whether earlier digs had perhaps incorrectly concluded on particular time periods. Five different areas were being excavated including early bronze, Iron Age II, Solomon I, late Bronze and mid Bronze. One area that I visited, known as upper J, had originally been excavated and it had been determined that the area was from early bronze (2000 - 2400 B.C.E.) However, archaeologists now suspect that the area may in fact be from middle bronze - or around 1600-2000 B.C.E. While I stood there interviewing a graduate student in hebrew bible and ancient Israel, one of the students digging nearby uncovered the handle of a ceramic dish. The wishbone handle was unusual and dated back to the mid-Bronze period, just as they suspected.

The students participating in the dig are in Israel at their own expense and are being housed at a nearby Kibbutz, Ramat HaShofet. The program has brought students from numerous international universities including University of Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Vanderbilt, University of Michigan, George Washington, Chapman and numerous others. many of the students are visiting Israel for the first time.