Jerusalem, Jewish Orientation

We start at the Desert viewpoint on Mount Scopus, looking over the Judean desert, Jordan Valley, West Bank and the northern tip of the Dead Sea, understanding how the unique topography of Israel has shaped its history, as well as the current political situation.

We drive shortly to Mount of Olives panoramic lookout over the Old City of Jerusalem, listening to the famous Ika's lecture – 2,600 years of history in 26 minutes (!).

After taking some breathtaking pictures at the lookout, we drive or walk down the slopes of Mount of Olives to "the Garden of Gethsemane", where Jesus was betrayed and captured on the last night of his life. Here, overlooking Judgment Valley, we discuss the historical background of Jesus and the roots of the Messianic idea in early Judaism that later evolved into Christianity as a separate religion.

Then we walk down and cross Judgment Valley, the biblical Kidron valley and oldest Jewish cemetery, stop by Absalom Tomb and other ancient Jewish monumental mausoleums, walk up and enter into the site called The City of David, where "It had all begun!" This is one of the most impressive archeological sites in the world, mostly underground through water cisterns and sewage canals (no smell after 2,000 years…), most of which has been unearthed in the recent few years. The dramatic climax of the 2.5-3 hours excursion will be at the end of it – stepping out from underground tunnel right by the Western Wall, under Robinson's Arch! Then we explore archeological park at the corner of the western and southern walls of Temple Mount. We may visit the interesting small museum there at the Davidson Center.

We walk closely to the traditional part of the Western Wall known as The Wailing Wall, the holiest place for the Jewish people, to touch it, say a little prayer and put a note with a wish in between its ancient Herodian stones.

We walk uphill to the Jewish Quarter which had been revived by Israel after the "Six Days War" in 1967. We walk through its 1,500 years old Cardo, the main artery of every ancient Roman city, see the impressive reconstruction of the 300 years old synagogue "Hachurva" as well as the Sephardic Synagogues or visit the impressive ruins of the elite and prominent people's residential neighborhood called now The Herodian Quarter.

We leave the Old city to end the tour.

2 Days to Jerusalem

Day 1

We start at the Desert viewpoint on Mount Scopus, looking over the Judean desert, Jordan Valley, West Bank and the northern tip of the Dead Sea, understanding how the unique topography of Israel has shaped its history, as well as the current political situation.

We drive shortly to Mount of Olives panoramic lookout over the Old City of Jerusalem, listening to the famous Ika's lecture – 2,600 years of history in 26 minutes (!).

After taking some breathtaking pictures at the lookout, we drive or walk down the slopes of Mount of Olives to "the Garden of Gethsemane", where Jesus was betrayed and captured on the last night of his life. Here, overlooking Judgment Valley, we discuss the historical background of Jesus and the roots of the Messianic idea in early Judaism that later evolved into Christianity as a separate religion.

Then we walk down and cross Judgment Valley, the biblical Kidron valley and oldest Jewish cemetery, stop by Absalom tomb and other ancient Jewish monumental mausoleums, walk up and enter into the site called The City of David, where "It had all begun!" This is one of the most impressive archeological sites in the world, mostly underground through water cisterns and sewage canals (no smell after 2000 years…), most of which has been unearthed in the recent few years. The dramatic climax of the 2.5-3 hours excursion will be at the end of it – stepping out from under the ground right by the Western Wall, under Robinson's Arch! Then we explore archeological park at the corner of the western and southern walls of Temple Mount. We may as well visit the interesting small museum there at theDavidson Center.

In the afternoon we drive across Jerusalem to the Museum of Israel to see the famous Miniature Model of Jerusalem (1st century AD) and explore the Shrine of the Book, dedicated to the Dead Sea Scrolls and other biblical manuscripts. Continue exploring the other impressive and rich sections of the museum until closing time.

Day 2

We start our day at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum for about 2-3 hours of a very emotional and heartbreaking tour.

We drive back to the Old City and walk into it by Jaffa Gate, through the Christian Quarter to theChurch of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus is thought to have been executed, buried and resurrected. Then we walk through the Marketplace (Suq, Bazaar) and Muslim Quarter towards the Western (Wailing) Wall, to touch, pray and leave a note with a wish, at the holiest place for the Jewish people.

We climb up from the Wall to the Jewish Quarter which had been revived by Israel after the "6 days war" in 1967. We walk through its 1,500 years old Cardo, the main artery of every ancient Roman city, see the impressive reconstruction of the 300 years old synagogue "Hachurva", as well as theSephardic Synagogues. Time permitting, we can visit The Herodian Quarter and the Burnt House, both dated to the end of the 2nd Temple period.

3 Days to Jerusalem

Day 1

We start at the Desert viewpoint on Mount Scopus, looking over the Judean desert, Jordan Valley, West Bank and the northern tip of the Dead Sea, understanding how the unique topography of Israel has shaped its history, as well as the current political situation.

We drive shortly to Mount of Olives panoramic lookout over the Old City of Jerusalem, listening to the famous Ika's lecture – 2,600 years of history in 26 minutes (!).

After taking some breathtaking pictures at the lookout, we drive or walk down the slopes of Mount of Olives to "the Garden of Gethsemane", where Jesus was betrayed and captured on the last night of his life. Here, overlooking Judgment Valley, we discuss the historical background of Jesus and the roots of the Messianic idea in early Judaism that later evolved into Christianity as a separate religion.

Then we walk down and cross Judgment Valley, the biblical Kidron valley and oldest Jewish cemetery, stop by Absalom tomb and other ancient Jewish monumental mausoleums, walk up and enter into the site called The City of David, where "It had all started!" This is one of the most impressive archeological sites in the world, mostly underground in water cisterns and sewage canals, most of which has been unearthed in the last few years. The dramatic climax of the 2.5-3 hours excursion will be at the end of it – stepping out from under the ground right by the Western Wall, under Robinson's Arch! Then we explore rest of the archeological park under the Western and Southern walls of Temple Mount. We may as well visit the interesting small museum there at the Davidson Center.

In the afternoon we drive across Jerusalem to the Museum of Israel to watch the famous Miniature Model of Jerusalem (1st century AD) and explore the Shrine of the Book, dedicated to the Dead Sea Scrolls and other biblical manuscripts. Continue exploring the other impressive and rich sections of the museum until closing time.

Day 2

We start our day at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum for an about 2-3 hours of a very emotional and heartbreaking tour.

We drive back to the Old City and walk into it by Jaffa Gate, through the Christian Quarter to theChurch of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was where Jesus is thought to have been executed, buried and resurrected. Then we walk through the Marketplace (Suq, Bazaar) and Muslim Quarter towards the Western (Wailing) Wall, to touch, pray and leave a note with a wish, at the holiest place for the Jewish people.

We climb up from the Wall to the Jewish Quarter which had been revived by Israel after 1967. We walk through its 1,500 years old Cardo, the main artery of every ancient Roman city, see the impressive reconstruction of the 300 years old synagogue Hachurva as well as the Sephardic synagogues. Time permitting, we may visit The Herodian Quarter and the Burnt House, both dated to the end of the 2nd Temple period.

Day 3

We start our day by walking into the Old City to visit Temple Mount, the huge platform on top of which the Muslims built their mosques, about 1300 years ago, Al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock. This is the same plaza where once stood the Jewish Temple. Because of its sensitivity as a holy place for both religions, non-Muslims can visit only on weekdays (Monday-Friday), 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in early afternoon.

We exit Temple Mount and return to the Wailing Wall area to join a guided tour (to be reserved in advance!) in the Western Wall Tunnel, an amazing 1.5 hours tour following the Western Wall along all of its length, in a tunnel underneath the Muslim Quarter.

At the Jewish Quarter we may visit another archeological site, again under the ground, The Herodian Quarter and the Burnt House, both dated to the end of the 2nd Temple period.

We leave the Old City and drive to the famous ("Shuk") Machne Yehuda Marketplace and then to the Ben Yehuda pedestrian moll.

We can end up the tour with a short walk from the King David hotel, through Hapaamon (The Bell) Park to Mishkenot Shaananim and Yemin Mosheh, the first 2 Jewish neighborhoods built out of theJerusalem walls, back over 150 years ago.