Private Guide Israel: Galilee

Galilee

[if interested in a Jewish oriented tour, click here].

The Galilee is most famous for the Christian world as the homeland of Jesus of Nazareth.

Being so, we start by heading towards Nazareth. On the way we pass Megiddo, probable location of “Armageddon” (Apocalypse 16:16), andMount of Precipice, a cliff near Nazareth where Jesus was rejected (Luke 4).

At Nazareth itself we first visit the Catholic Church of Annunciation (Luke 1) and its nearby S. Joseph Church. Strolling through the Market we visit the Synagogue church (Luke 4), and up to “Mary’s Well“, and S. Gabriel church.

Nearby we visit Cana possible location of the “first miracle” performed by Jesus, in turning water into wine (John 2). (“A bottle of Cana wine any one?”..)

We then head towards the Sea of Galilee and possibly stop for lunch in one of the local fish restaurants (“Saint Peter’s fish any one?..” )

Nearby at Mt. of Beatitudes we can contemplate on the famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Luke 6), and below it, at Tabgha, we can review the site where Jesus may have performed the miracle of the multiplication of the Fish and the Bread (Luke 9), and where he appointed Peter after his resurrection (“Peter’s Primacy Church“) (John 21).Happily fed, we continue to visit Capernaum, “the town of Jesus”, where we can discuss some of the local acts and miracles of Jesus, and assess the archaeological evidence.

Heading back, and if time permits, we can stop to view the new excavation at Magdala, hometown of Mary Magdalene, at Tiberias, with its Roman era antiquities, and at Ginosar where the “Galilee Boat” is displayed. The “Galilee Boat” is a 2000 year old wooden wreck that was miraculously preserved, and originally may have been a fishing vessel used by the disciples.

If returning to Jerusalem, we could return through the Jordan Valley, passing by Belvoir, Beth Shean, Jericho, Baptism site (el-Maghtas), Qasr El-Yahud, Qumran (site of the find of the Dead Sea Scrolls), and the Good Samaritan Inn.

Optional Additional Activity:

Food: See my list of Recommended restaurants in the north.

and see also my list of Recommended Wineries in the norh, and Recommended Breweries.

Lodging: See my list of Recommended hotels in the North.

Additional Tours:

	- A visit + Baptism option at Baptism site “Yardenit“.
	- A tour of Caesarea Maritima, Roman period metropolis along the coast, where Peter baptized the very first non Jew into Christianity, and where Paul was imprisoned for two years.
	- Ascending to the top of Mt. Tabor and visiting “Church of Transfiguration“.
	- Reaching the Carmel and Haifa, to view the Bahaian Terraced Gardens .
	- Visit Jewish Heritage sites such as Safed, Sepphoris, and Beth Shearim.
	- Staying the night in the north, and thus reach more destinations the next day: Caesarea Philippi (Site where Peter was named), the Golan Heights (possible location of the “road to Damascus” Paul used), Bethsaida, Sussita of the Decapolis, site of the swine miracle (Kursi), andTiberias.

Costs:

From Haifa: $700

From Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem: $700

From Ashdod: $800

Jewish Oriented Tour of the Galilee

After the Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (70 CE), the Galilee thrived as a Jewish center for six centuries.

Starting at Beth Shearim, hometown of “Rabbi Judah the Prince“, we visit some of the big burial caves dug in the city’s Necropolis, and try to assess the reasons form its popularity among Jews in late antiquity.

We then proceed the Sepphoris, regional center and site of the codification of the “Mishna“. With much of its downtown exposed, we will walk on the city’s main street, appreciate some of the ornate mosaic floors, and search for the evidence of past Jewish life.

Passing by Magdala, where recently a rare Synagogue from the 1^st century was found, we reach Tiberias for a lunch break, and then tour modern and ancient city. In Talmudic times Tieberias was the seat of the Sanhedrin and the site of compilation of the “Talmud Yerushalmi“. In modern time Tiberias is also known as the burial place of several famous Rabbis (Maimonides, R. Meir Ba’al Hanes, and R. akiva).

If time permits we can also visit the intriguing mosaic floors of ancient synagogues found in Hamat Tiberias and Beth Alpha.

Additional optional Activity