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The
famous artists' colony. Making a recovery from the devastating
fires. Open Sun.-Thurs. 9am-5pm, Fri. 9am-2pm. & Sat.
10am-2pm. Come, help rejuvenate! On the road to Haifa
lies Ein Hod, an artists' village on a hill, at the foot
of Mount Carmel Overlooking the Mediterranean coast, the
town of Atlit, and an ancient 12th century Crusaders'
fortress. After the War of Independence, the area was
abandoned and left in Ruin. In the fifties, a group of
artists led by the acclaimed Dada artist Marcel Janco,
Decided that Ein Hod would be a place where they could
work, build studios and Workshops, and form a creative
environment for art and art education. The founders' Dream
ran into the harsh reality of those days. But perseverance
and vision, gradually Transformed Ein Hod into the only
artists' village in Israel, one of the few in the world,
Where artists live and create in every artistic media
from the visual arts, to theatre, music and literature.
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Golan Heights, 8 km. east of Bnot Yaacov bridge. Remains
of a 2nd-3rd century CE synagogue.
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Near Kibbutz Afik in South-Golan. Remains of an ancient
synagogue.
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Let 4,000 years of Galilee history come alive before your
eyes, in just minutes. For your enjoyment, education and
inspiration, 27 computer-controlled slide projectors unfold
the story of the famous men and women who made history
in the Galilee. Our luxurious climate-controlled theater
complex is located on the Tiberias waterfront; just 2-3
minutes walk from major downtown hotels. Showings are
hourly.
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The
city of Gamla is mentioned in Talmudic sources as a walled
city dating back to the time of Joshua. These passages
apparently refer to a fortified settlement from the early
Bronze Age, whose remains were found here. Gamla was destroyed
in ancient times and rebuilt during the Hellenistic Period
when Jews returning from exile in Babylon populated this
area. Gamla's 51-meter waterfall is the highest perennial
waterfall in Israel. Griffon vultures nest in the cliffs
of Nahal Gamla and can be spotted all year long. Other
birds of prey, like eagles and Egyptian vultures also
nest in the reserve. Many other animals make their home
here too: Gazelle, porcupine, wild boar, fox and hyrax.
Aquatic plants like willow, oleander and others, flourish
in the riverbeds of Nahal Gamla and Nahal Daliyyot. North
of the parking lot you can see a field of Dolmens - unhewn
stone structures in the shape of a table that were used
as tombs during the middle Bronze Age (approximately 4,000
B.C.E.). The area is littered with some 200 Dolmens. The
ancient city of Gamla that was built during the Hellenistic
period lies too within the boundaries of the reserve,
on a high hill between two perennial streams -Nahal Daliyyot
and Nahal Gamla. The remnants of the city tell us the
heroic story of its inhabitants, who in 66 A.D. joint
the great revolt against the Romans. The city was discovered
following the Six-Day War. Excavations conducted in the
area uncovered impressive buildings, amongst others one
of the few synagogues found in Israel that dates from
before the destruction of the Second Temple.
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A
museum at Kibbutz Lohame Haghettaot, founded by the ghetto
rebels and partisans. Open Sun. to Thurs. from 9am - 4pm;
Fri. from 9am - 1pm; and Sat. from 10am - 5pm.
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Just south of Tabgha, Ginossar is the setting for an especially
well planned and beautiful kibbutz with a luxurious guest
house. Take a look at the perfectly intact 2,000-year-old
fishing boat recently uncovered on its shores, now housed
in a new museum built around the discovery.
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A display of the culture and history of the Golan from
the prehistoric periods to the Byzantine era. Special
- Jewish symbols and Hebrew inscriptions carved on basalt
fragments. Audio-visual program: "The Story of Gamla"
duration of visit: about 2 hours Qazerin - Golan Heights
Tel: 972-6-696-1350 or 972-6-696-2412 Visiting hours:
Sun.-Thur. - 08:00 - 17:00, Friday - 08:00 - 15:00, Sat.
& Holidays - 10:00 - 16:00
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A
high volcanic plateau tucked into the northern corner
of Israel, east of the Jordan River. In recent years it
has become the source of new Israeli vineyards, whose
wines are considered among the countries finest. Several
prehistoric dolmens, Stone-Age structures that resemble
crude tables, can be found in the fields. Researchers
consider them to be burial monuments dating back to about
4000 B.C.E.
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Arab village in Upper-Galilee on the Sassa-Safed road.
Excavations indicate settlement from the Israelite, Shivat
Zion and Hasmonean period up to the present. Ruins of
a mausoleum and other buildings of 2 synagogues. According
to local tradition, tombs of Talmudic sages Shemaya and
Avtalion. During the Jewish Revolt against the Romans,
it was one of the towns fortified by Joseph Ben Mattityahu
(Josephus Flavius). One of the leaders of the Revolt,
Yochanan Ben Levi, known as Yochanan of Gush Halav, came
from here.
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Built
on site of small fishing village Shikmona. In Second Temple
period there were two Jewish settlements on the site of
modern Haifa. The town's development into the most important
center of northern Israel began in 1918 CE, after the
end of the 1st World-War. Today it is a large modem town
beautifully situated on the Mediterranean shore and on
the Carmel Mountain Ridge. Haifa is Israel's largest port
and has a University, Technion, and Polytechnic Institute
for Engineers, museums and is the center of the Bahai
religion with its beautiful temple. The surrounding area
is scenic and includes a National Park with forests and
nature reserves.
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Newly
renovated, modern art gallery. 26 Shabbtai Levy St. Tel:
04-8523255. Open: Sun., Mon., Wed. & Thurs. 10am - 4 pm,
Tues. from 4pm - 7 pm, Fri. from 10am - 1pm, Sat. from
10 am - 2 pm.
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A "place of Hot Springs", as its name indicates,
which is mentioned in the Bible (Joshua 19:35). 2.5 km.
southeast of Tiberias. Remains of two synagogues: one
from the 1st century CE with fine mosaic floor, one from
the 8th century CE.
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On
the South Golan Hights, 20 km. southeast of Tiberias.
Hot springs, known for their healing power since antiquity,
are in use again today. Excavations have revealed large
ancient pools, waiting rooms and water conduits leading
from the springs to the pools. There is a Roman theater
and remains of a 4th century CE synagogue with mosaic
floor.
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An
Upper Galilee settlement, 2 km. north of Rosh Pinah, named
after the Biblical town Hatzor. Settled in 1953 by immigrants,
mainly from North Africa. The remains of the Biblical
(originally Canaanite) city are nearby and important excavations
were carried out here by Yigael Yadin, which have exposed
large areas of the Biblical city, including King Solomon's
ingenious water tunnel. There is a new museum containing
the antiquities found during the excavations.
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A
source of the Jordan, a thickly forested area with a variety
of species. Paths running along Crusader Towers, walls,
bridges, wells and the only water driven mill still in
use. An important spot in ancient times. Enjoy a small
pita bakery and the calming rush of the Hermon. Tel: 06-6950272.
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Remains of an ancient ruined village in Lower Galilee
north of Golani Junction. Remains of a 3rd century CE
synagogue with mosaic floor and Aramaic inscriptions.
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The
Crusaders defeated here by Saladin (1187), believed this
site to be the Mount of Beatitudes. A domed, eight-sided
structure on the hill where Jesus gave the Sermon on the
Mount. The hill is a natural amphitheater.
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Located
north of Rosh Pina, the reserve is the last remnant of
the great swamp. After being reclaimed in the 1950's,
birds make up the greatest population stopping here during
their migra-tions. Facilities include a visitor's center,
picnic area, and a bird watching center. The Hula Valley
once contained the largest swamp in Israel. The swamp
and the lake to the south covered an area of approximately
60 km2 (15,500 acres). In 1951 drainage works in the swamp
began and in 1957 the project was completed. A relatively
small area comprising some 3.1 km2 (800 acres) of marshland,
was left untouched and was proclaimed a nature reserve
in 1964, the first one in Israel. The reserve functions
as a rare meeting point of African and European fauna
and flora for which the reserve presents respectively
the northernmost and the southernmost distribution boundary.
The papyrus plant, which originally comes from Africa,
is the most remarkable of all plants in the reserve. With
a little luck you may spot water buffalo idling in the
water pools. The pride and glory of the reserve is its
bird life. During autumn migration companies of thousands
of pelicans stop by in the reserve. In winter thousands
of ducks of various species, hundreds of herons and other
birds can be found here. Since the onset of the 1990's
even cormorants started wintering in the reserve. In the
beginning of 19946,000 cormorants stayed here, the sight
of their take-off in the morning towards the Sea of Galilee
and of their landing in the reserve towards evening is
breathtaking. Flocks of mallards stay overnight here,
together with great white herons, little egrets and gray
herons. Likewise some species of birds of prey, such as
harriers and merlins, roost in the reserve. Due to the
migratory and nesting periods in autumn, spring and early
summer, the reserve will offer a different sight on each
visit. Tel: 06-6937069.
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Druse village on the Carmel ridge, southeast of Haifa.
Remains of a 6th century CE synagogue with fine mosaic
floor with Jewish symbols and Hebrew inscription "Shalom
al Israel" and other inscriptions. Other ancient
remains in the village.
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This
famous Biblical site has its source in the Banias Spring
at the foot of Mount Hermon. From there the Jordan follows
a 165-mile course to the Dead Sea. American travelers
are familiar with the Jordan River as a Christian baptismal
site, but the river is also used for kayaking and tubing
adventures. Jordan River Park is worth a visit, with excavations
currently under way at the site of ancient Bethsaida,
mentioned in the New Testament.
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The
Jordan Valley and the Arava, running the length of the
country in the east, is part of the Syrian-African Rift,
which split the earth's crust millions of years ago. Its
northern stretches are extremely fertile, while the southern
portion is semi-arid. Agriculture, fishing, light industry
and tourism constitute the area's main sources of income.
The Jordan River, flowing from north to south through
the Rift, descends over 2,300 feet (700 m.) in the course
of its 186-mile (300 km.) route. Fed by streams from Mount
Hermon, it runs through the fertile Hula Valley into Lake
Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and continues winding through
the Jordan Valley before emptying into the Dead Sea. While
it swells during the winter rainy season, the river is
usually quite narrow and shallow.
Lake Kinneret, nestled between the hills of Galilee and
the Golan Heights at 695 feet (212 m.) below sea level,
is 5 miles (8 km.) wide and 13 miles (21 km.) long. It
is Israel's largest lake and serves as the country's main
water reservoir. Along the Kinneret's shores are some
important historical and religious sites, as well as agricultural
communities, fishing enterprises and tourist facilities.
The Arava, Israel's Savannah region, begins south of the
Dead Sea and extends to the Gulf of Eilat, Israel's outlet
to the Red Sea. Adaptation of sophisticated farming techniques
to climatic conditions, where the average annual rainfall
is less than one inch (25 mm.) and summer temperatures
soar to 104°F (400 C), has made it possible to grow
out-of-season fruit and vegetables, mainly for export.
The sub-tropical Gulf of Eilat, noted for its deep blue
waters, coral reefs and exotic marine life, lies at the
southern tip of the Arava.
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What
ever your choice, contact About
Family Travel and let us design your vacation with
your personal needs in mind.
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