Ariela Bodner – Bespoke Jewish Tours!
Argentina is home to around 250.000 jews making it the largest Jewish community in the region and between the fifth and the sixth in the world!
Few communities in the world are so vibrant and engaged as the Jewish community in Buenos Aires!
Get to know this wonderful South American city from a Jewish perspective, through Jewish eyes and the ever present sparks of Yiddishkayt at every step!
Having worked for the largest Jewish humanitarian organization in the world for more than 18 years, I have welcomed legions of overseas visitors and federation´s missions to whom I introduced into the country´s rich Jewish heritage and present Jewish life and culture.
I invite you to connect, celebrate and foster Jewish history and identity, and its major impact on the world.
Tour length: 3.30 hs. approx. It could be a walking tour or I can rent a private car at disposal. I pick you at your hotel or where it´s convenient for you!
Some of the sites we visit: AMIA Jewish Federation (upon special request), Libertad Synagogue, Jewish Museum of Buenos Aires, Israeli Embassy square, Once Jewish neighbourhood or “Shmatta district”, Paso Synagogue, Shoah memorial, we could even stop at the Kosher Mc Donalds! and much more!
Feel free to get in contact, I´ll be happy to respond and hopefully meet you personally in your upcoming visit to Argentina, for a memorable taste of Jewish BA. I promise!
Warmly, Ariela
My Professional Bio:
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, within a traditionalist Jewish family, Ariela graduated from Maimonides Jewish Day School, Institution where her mother, proudly developed her passion for Jewish Education through her work as Principal for 25 years.
It was thanks to her family background and education that Ariela took immense pleasure in actively participating, getting involved and working for the Argentine Jewish Community.
Having collaborated with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world´s leading Jewish Humanitarian Assistance Organization, for the last 18 years, Ariela has acquired a practical experience in different areas of the organization, holding the responsibility of assisting the regional and the Special Programs Directors, and coordinating a vast agenda of missions and overseas visitors to whom she introduces into the lively and vibrant world of the Jewish Community in Argentina.
In this role, among other duties, Ariela has been responsible for the overall coordination of missions, the contact with US institutions, Jewish federations and donors; a task which not only involves planning and logistics but also direct contact with people through Jewish Community briefings, Jewish general sightseeing and Institutional touring.
Prior to joining JDC, Ariela obtained degrees in Jewish Studies and Hotel Management, having worked in the hospitality industry for several years, until she decided to devote herself to the Jewish institutional life.
Passionate about Jewish learning, making Jewish connections and sharing Jewish life in Argentina, Ariela also became a licensed Jewish tour guide, tremendously enjoying this experience, and definitely making this tour a highlight in your trip!
Ariela is 45 years old, married and has two children.
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the First World War (1914–1918).
In Israel, a commemorative ceremony is held at Jerusalem British War Cemetery on Anzac Day, attended by the ambassadors of Australia and New Zealand. It is also remembered at The Be’er-Sheva Anzac Memorial Centre.
Photo credit: User:Cfulbright, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Depending on when you visit Israel, you may want to have a few activities to help cool off from the sizzling summer heat. Though the days are hot, it cools off at night making it the perfect time for walking around the city and exploring the vibrant nightlife. Here are a few activities and place to visit if you need to cool off during the day.
Play in The Fountain at Teddy Park
Boaz Dolev Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons
Teddy Park is a public park situated opposite Jerusalem’s Old City and David’s Citadel. The park was developed by the Jerusalem Foundation in memory of Jerusalem’s long serving mayor, Teddy Kollek and opened to the public in 2013. The park complex includes structures, landscaping, and a splash water fountain which is enjoyed by people of all ages during the summer months. Water shoots from the fountains in sync with music every 30 minutes; in the evening a light show plays while during the day children run among the water spouts. The fountain is said to be a place where people from every segment of Jerusalem’s ethnically and religiously varied population mingle with visitors from around the globe.
Visit Yad Kennedy
Wilson44691, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In the breezy Jerusalem hills of the Match Yehuda Region lies the 60-foot high Yad Kennedy, or Kennedy Memorial. This memorial is for John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States who was assassinated in 1963. The shape of the memorial is that of a stump of a fallen tree to symbolize his life that was cut short and inside the bronze memorial is an eternal flame which burns in the center. The memorial is made of 51 concrete columns, one of each of the 50 states and an additional one for Washington D.C., the United States capital. Not only are these breezes from the mountains great for summer hikes, but there are breathtaking views and natural springs with cool water.
Go Biking at the Train Track Park
User:אלאר, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Train Track Park is a rail trail urban park in West Jerusalem with 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) of walking and biking trails. The park follows the route of the original Jaffa–Jerusalem railway from the Jerusalem Railway Station near the German Colony to Teddy Stadium in Malha. The pedestrian path is a raised boardwalk made from molded concrete planks with an imitation wood finish, laid directly over the original railroad tracks and ties. To the side of the tracks is a paved bicycle path which you can take to the Biblical Zoo and Ein Lavan. If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one at the First Station complex and start your journey from there.
Indulge At The City’s Top Rated Ice Cream Parlour, Mousseline
Next to Shuk Machane Yehuda lies the Mousseline ice cream parlour which greets visitors with a variety of ice creams and sorbets. Along with traditional flavors this shop offers unique and vegan-friendly flavors of ice cream and sorbet such as black sesame, Matcha, wasabi, saffron, chai masala, lemon mint, and basil grapefruit. This shop has been highly rated by visitors and is a great place to stop during the hot summer for a refreshing treat.
Welcome to Diaspora-Israel Day is a worldwide festival of Jewish Peoplehood on the 7th of Cheshvan! We invite you to celebrate your partnership in the wider Jewish world and to mark the deep bond between Jewish communities around the globe and between these communities and Israel – a bond that has lasted for thousands of years.
For thousands of years Jews have lived around the world, scattered across five continents. The relationships among the Jews in each place where they settled, and between these places and the Land of Israel, underwent numerous and diverse changes over the generations. Throughout the centuries, a complex and rich dialogue has been maintained between all Jewish communities, creating a delicate and unique thread that binds Jews living in different parts of the world.
Diaspora Israel Day, which was initiated by project Domim-aLike – a joint program of the Israeli Reform movement and the Israeli government, is a holiday celebrating the ongoing connections between Jewish communities worldwide, and the continues sense of peoplehood among them. The festival cherishes thousands of years of united and full Jewish life in different locations around the world.
From dreidels to latkes and everything in between, Hanukkah has become a holiday filled with joy and celebration. Known as the Festival of Light, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, freedom of worship and religion, and of course, the oil miraculously lasting 8 days when it was expected to last one. This year, continue your favorite Hanukkah traditions through a variety of virtual Hanukkah events and activities right from your home! Don’t let this holiday season be any less exciting than the last. Hanukkah is meant to be celebrated, and thanks to the many virtual celebrations and activities listed below, this year will be just as exciting, tasty, and special as it has ever been before!
Festival: Virtual Israeli Cultural Evening and Chanukah Celebration
December 10th, 2020; 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM EST
Come join the Virtual Historic Tour of Hanukkah to not only celebrate this holiday season, but also to experience a virtual visit to Israel! Explore the rich history of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tel Aviv in a cultural and diverse Israeli-based evening.An expert tour guide will explain the origins of this joyous holiday, but it doesn’t stop there! Take part in virtual Israeli cooking and wine demonstrations, with interactive and engaging musical and dance presentations from native performers. There will also be classic Hanukkah traditions and games for people of all ages to enjoy!
Festival: Hanukkah – The Festival of Lights, Virtual Edition
December 9th, 2020; 6:00 PM EST
This Hanukkah, join The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and J Arts for a meaningful and exciting virtual celebration! There will be a variety of family-friendly programs and activities involving Hanukkah music, arts and crafts, Hanukkah stories, and digital Hanukkah animations. Honor the significant history and rich traditions through cultural music, dances, artist conversations, and a special community candle lighting ceremony.
Film Festival: 8 Nights of Films for Hanukkah
December 10th-17th, 2020; Time Varies for Different Events
To celebrate the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival’s 40th anniversary, the Jewish Film Institute has organized a special and unique event, containing a drive-in movie and online screenings to honor the many decades of their history. Don’t miss out on guests and remembrances relating to the Jewish cinema, with additional clips and trailers from the past 40 years. Join these 8 days of programming and have the opportunity to watch some well known Jewish classics such as “Film About A Father Who”, “Sublet”, and “Born in Jerusalem and Still Alive” to say a few. Make sure to light your candles, grab some latkes and sufganiyot, and enjoy a variety of films in honor of Hanukkah.
Festival: Virtual Hanukkah Event
December 11th-18th, 2020; Time Varies for Different Events
Let the JCC bring some added Hanukkah fun and excitement to you this holiday season! Creating beautiful crafts, taking a virtual photo gallery tour of unique Hanukiahs, and singing and dancing to a variety of Hanukkah music is only just the beginning of what this virtual event has to offer. Come hungry because you can find many new delicious recipes and view pre-recorded cooking demonstrations as well! Enjoy daily Maccabee Warrior intensive training with personal trainers, read nightly Hanukkah stories, and of course, don’t miss out on virtual candle lighting ceremonies. You never know, maybe you’ll even discover new traditions to include in your future Hanukkah celebrations!
Holiday: Hanukkah at Home – Virtual Worldwide Lighting
December 22nd, 2020; 6:00 – 6:30 PM EST
Don’t miss out on Lab/Shul Ritual Team for special Hanukkah inspired songs, stories, poetry, and more! Feel the joyous celebration as Rabbi Amichai and The Lab/Shul Team lead people of all ages and religions worldwide to light the symbolic holiday candles, illuminating so many houses around the world. Families with young children have an additional opportunity to join an ‘Online Virtual Play Time’ event. Here, join superstar kiddie rocker ShirLaLa, Lab/Shul Executive Director, Sarah Sokolic, and special guests of all ages including our favorite puppets!
Holiday: Latkes & Light, A Virtual Family Hanukkah Celebration
December 13th, 2020; 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
While people may not physically be together this Hanukkah, no one should ever be celebrating alone! Join the Jewish Community Center of Denver to light and bless the Hanukkah menorahs together, as one large community. This celebration is geared towards children ages 2-10, who will have the opportunity to sing, dance, and play Hanukkah themed activities. This event will feature educators from Jewish Explorers, Judaism Your Way, Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center, and PJ Library. Additionally, in honor of this celebration, The Tzedakah Project will benefit the JFS Weinberg Food Pantry, and there will be further discussions about the significance and impact that Tzedakah has on the world!
Festival: Holiday of Holidays
December 10th-20th, 2020; Time Varies for Different Events
This Hanukkah, take part in the unique Holiday of Holidays Festival and contribute to promoting tolerance and mutual respect through culture and art! While exhibits are unfortunately unable to be physically displayed, join the online events showcasing art exhibitions and artist meetings, allowing one to be exposed to the beautiful array of culture and diversity within Israel. This festival provides the opportunity to take part in activities highlighting the positivity and benefits of developing relationships with other cultures. Learn the significance of breaking these unnecessary barriers, and develop or strengthen your trust between a variety of nationalities, ethnic groups, and religious groups throughout the Holy Land.
Festival: Hanukkah 2020 Gift
December 10th-17th, 2020; Time Varies Based on Location
Come and join eight international tour guides as they guide us on a virtual trip around the world! Explore Jewish geography, discover the captivating history, and even take a hot air balloon tour, all while meeting other Jewish participants in this exciting virtual opportunity! Expand your Jewish community to people you never thought you would meet and connect with groups from Australia, Uganda, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and so much more. Give the gift of learning this Hanukkah season and get exposed to the significance and beauty of Jewish diversity all around the world.
There are hundreds of Holocaust memorials around the world, including many in cities where we run walking tours. We sat down with scholars in Berlin, Budapest, and Amsterdam to learn more about some of the most significant Holocaust memorials around the world, and to get their insight into some of the trickier aspects of interpretation and memorialization.
Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; photo by Alphamouse via Wikipedia
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin
Once you’ve interacted with Berlin’s “Holocaust memorial”, as it’s commonly known, you won’t forget it. Conceived by American architect Peter Eisenman, the site is a Field of Stelae, a sprawling network of 2711 upright stone slabs–all grey, and of varying sizes and angles, in the heart of Berlin’s tourist district a few steps from the Brandenburg Gate.
“The effect when walking through the monument, which descends into a valley in which the stelae are at their tallest, is quite staggering,” says Context docent Finn Ballard, one of the scholars who leads our Jewish Berlin tour. “The memorial engages on a visceral level, inciting feelings of bewilderment, entrapment, isolation, dizziness, claustrophobia.”
Walking between the pillars and descending the overall depth of the monument, as visitors are encouraged to, it’s difficult not to feel awed and slightly uncomfortable. Though many have drawn comparisons with a cemetery, Eisenman’s intention was to keep the design purposefully abstract. The number of stelae is arbitrary, and the architect wanted to convey an ordered system that “has lost touch with human reason”; a labyrinth of uncertainty.
Construction of the memorial began in 2000, but its history stretches back decades into the 20th century. An idea was first floated in the 1980s by a small group of German citizens who saw a need to acknowledge the lives and deaths of the six million Jewish people who were murdered by the Germans during the Holocaust. The campaign gathered momentum and in 1994, the government announced a competition. After a failed round of submissions and judgements that ultimately dissatisfied then chancellor Helmut Kohl, Eisenman’s design was selected as the winner of a second contest.
From the government’s perspective, the monument was built “to honor the murdered victims, keep alive the memory of…inconceivable events in German history and admonish all future generations never again to violate human rights, to defend the democratic constitutional state at all times, to secure equality before the law for all people and to resist all forms of dictatorship and regimes based on violence” (Bundestag Resolution 1999, via Humanity in Action).
Officially, the monument is called the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and it is considered one of the most significant and high profile Holocaust memorials around the world. Some have criticized the passive language, which identifies the victims but not the perpetrators. Others have countered that that’s exactly the point–the answer is so obvious as to not require further explanation. “Eisenman’s work has courted much controversy,” explains Finn, “with some critiques of the monument focusing on the behaviour of visitors, for whom the artist has built a photogenic structure which is used by some as a playground.”
Yet anyone who has spent time exploring Berlin’s layers of history will understand how the country, through its pockmarked capital, is doing an impressive job of being present with the uneasy weight of its past.
“Although it’s a contentious sculpture, I find it a resounding success as a memorial – but to experience its full effect, it’s really necessary to visit the underground Information Center as well,” concludes Finn. This small space beneath the monument is continually commented on by our clients and docents alike to be one of the most moving and excellent exhibitions in the city.
Dohany Street Synagogue Holocaust Memorial and Shoes on the Danube Bank in Budapest
Budapest, with its thriving contemporary Jewish culture, has several Holocaust memorials. One was set up by a community itself, in a closed space and through mostly Jewish funding. The other was set up by non-Jewish Budapest intellectuals, in a public space via independent funding. One is dedicated to all victims of the Holocaust, the other for victims of a specific type of persecution by a specific group of people. One does not mention perpetrators, the other one specifically mentions those to be blamed. “I think both are very moving and very symbolic memorials,” says Context docent and Jewish expert Szonja Komoroczy, one of several scholars who lead our Jewish Quarter of Budapest tour. “Both are successful and respectable in their own form and with their own goals, and they complement each other extraordinarily.”
Dohany Street Synagogue Holocaust Memorial, Budapest
The Holocaust Memorial in the garden of the Great Synagogue on Dohany Street memorializes the Holocaust for the Jewish community. “For me, the most interesting elements are the spontaneous original tombstones from the graveyard in the synagogue garden, now replaced by uniform tombstones,” explains Szonja. The original tombstones are on the wall at the back of the garden. Soon after the liberation of the ghetto and the burial of the corpses here, people started to light memorial candles for their lost ones, then put up plaques and tombstones – mostly for those who died in the ghetto, but eventually also for anyone else who did not have a memorial elsewhere. “The Jewish Archive and Museum has been working on identifying who actually is buried there – and now they have their uniform tombstones, the spontaneous ones were kept and moved to the back of the garden, the side of the synagogue,” she adds.
The weeping willow part of the memorial is probably its most famous. “It’s beautifully designed,” says Szonja, “with the two stone tablets ‘emptied out’, the branches of the willow showing an upside down menorah, the leaves of the willow crying in the wind, and the moving talmudic statement about the person who saves one life saving the entire world.”
Shoes on the Danube Bank, Budapest;
photo by Nikodem Nijaki via Wikipedia
Shoes on the Danube Bank is a memorial that honors the Jews who were killed by fascist political militia in Budapest during World War II and is one of the more conceptual Holocaust memorials around the world. Conceived by film director Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer, the rows of empty shoes–iron yet detailed and lifelike–were installed in 2005. The memorial pays tribute to the lives lost under Hungary’s Arrow Cross party, which shared many ideologies with Germany’s Nazis, including a particularly violent anti semitism, and took to the streets to shoot Jews during 1944 and 1945.
“The shoes are very touching in their simplicity: This was the scene that Budapest residents woke up to on various locations along the Danube embarkment after a night of violence.” says Szonja. “It shows the void, that something is missing, something is terribly wrong. It is a beautiful initiative and effort of non-Jews, civilians, and locals trying to commemorate, to face, to understand a shameful part of their history, of the common history of the city. To show guilt as well as emptiness.”
Amsterdam’s National Holocaust Memorial is part of the city’s Jewish Cultural Quarter, which today also comprises the Portuguese Synagogue and Jewish Historical Museum and is the last o the Holocaust memorials around the world that we’ll look at.
Until 1940, what is now the Hollandsche Schouwburg was a popular theater, but in 1941 the Nazis, who were then occupying the city, changed its name to the Joodsche Schouwburg– Jewish Theatre. Initially, it became the only theater Jews were allowed to act in or attend, but over the years it took on an even more sinister role.
Tulips on the wall of the Holocaust memorial,
Amsterdam; photo by Juliane H. via Wikipedia
“It was also used as the holding centre for the Jews of Amsterdam prior to them being sent to the Westerbork Camp (the transit camp for Dutch Jews. From Westerbork people were sent to the concentration camps of Central and Eastern Europe),” explains Context docent and expert Michael Karabinos.
After the war ended, authorities initially wanted to revive the Hollandsche Schouwburg to its former use as a people’s theater, but the attempt was met by strong protest. In 1947, the Hollandsche Schouwburg Committee took possession of the building and in 1962 the city council installed a monument in remembrance of the Jewish victims of Nazi terror.
Later, in 1993 a memorial room was added, which included a list of the 6700 family names 104,000 Dutch Jews murdered in the war. “It’s a room meant for reflection and recollection,” explains Michael. The space is meant for survivors and relatives of those who perished, who have no grave.
Explore Amsterdam’s Jewish Cultural Quarter with Michael or another of our local experts during our Jewish Amsterdam tour.
The most commonly known Purim food is the hamantaschen (Yiddish for “Haman’s pockets”), also known in Hebrew as oznay Haman, meaning “Haman’s ears.” These delicious triangular pocket cookies have Ashkenazi roots and are often filled with prune jam, chocolate chips, berries, and apricot filling.
In addition to hamantaschens, there are several other purim foods such as the extensively braided Purim challah, known as keylitsh, which is a reminder of the braided rope used to hang Haman.
Kreplach, another purim food, is commonly eaten whenever a “beating” takes place. Though these beatings are uncommon in modern times, they traditionally took place before Yom Kippur, on Hoshanah Rabbah, and on Purim when Haman was beaten.
During purim, it is also common to eat bean dishes such as salted boiled beans or chickpeas. This tradition reminds us of the many beans and peas Esther ate at the court of King Ahashuerus because she would not eat unkosher foods.
Nosher, by My Jewish Learning, offers a variety of unique hamantaschen and purim recipes. Whether you prefer a classic hamantaschen or want to spice yours up with sprinkles, chocolate, and creme filling, there’s a recipe for everyone!
Mimouna is a traditional North African Jewish celebration dinner, held annually the day after Passover and marking the return of the chametz. Though the tradition originated in North African countries like Morocco, cities around the world with a Maghrebi Jewish population now celebrate the holiday.
In Morocco, on the afternoon of the last day of Passover, Jewish families prepare flour, honey, milk, and butter to be used to prepare post-Passover chametz celebration dinners. Historically, Jewish congregations would walk to an orchard in order to recite Birkat Ha’Ilanot, and following the conclusion of Passover, would recite passages from the Book of Proverbs and the Mishna.
The celebration begins after nightfall on the last day of Passover. In many communities, non-Jewish neighbors sell chametz back to Jewish families as a beginning of the celebration. Moroccan and Algerian Jews throw open their homes to visitors, after setting out a lavish spread of traditional holiday cakes and sweetmeats. One of the holiday favorites is Mofletta. The table is also laid with various symbols of luck and fertility, with an emphasis on the number “5,” such as five pieces of gold jewelry or five beans arranged on a leaf of pastry. The repetition of the number five references the five-fingered hamsa amulet common in both Jewish and Muslim North African and Middle Eastern communities from pre-modern times. Typically all those in attendance at a Mimouna celebration are sprinkled with a mint sprig or other green dipped in milk, symbolizing good fortune and new beginnings.
Early in the day of the Mimouna, families go to the sea, splash water on their face, and walk barefoot in the water, to replay the scene of the miraculous crossing of the Reed Sea, which is believed to have taken place on the last day of Passover.
In Israel, Mimouna has become a popular annual happening with private parties, outdoor gatherings, picnics and BBQs. One of the most notable Israeli celebrations takes place in Jerusalem’s Sacher Park, drawing about 100,000 people each year, often including the president and prime minister. Israeli law now requires employers to agree to grant an employee unpaid leave for Mimouna if asked. It has been estimated that in 2012 nearly two million people in Israel participated in Mimouna festivities.
Other cities in Israel such as Tel Aviv and Ashdod are also known for their Mimouna celebrations as well. In Tel Aviv, many of the bars and clubs hold special events for Mimouna, and Ashdod is known for hosting former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, at a Mimouna celebration in 2014. Ashkenazi Jews living in Israel will often seek out these public celebrations or join family’s of Moroccan friends who hold large celebrations at home.
The Dead Sea, known in Hebrew as Yam Ha-Melakh (the Sea of Salt), is Earth’s lowest point on land (430.5 meters below sea level) and is surrounded by the stunning landscape of the Negev Desert. While actually a lake, the Dead Sea is part of the long border between Israel and Jordan, whose towering mountains can be seen from the Israeli side, and part of the Judean and Negev deserts. One hour from Jerusalem, the sea is a popular place for Israeli’s and tourists to relax, experience the unique surroundings, and take advantage of the infamous and unique medical properties of the dead sea. This includes covering oneself with the mineral-rich mud and floating in the salty waters. The saline water also gives lead to the name because no fish can survive under these circumstances.
Masada is another great attraction in the surrounding area. Atop a mountain to the side of the sea lies the ancient Masada fortress. With a steep history and ascent, Masada is now an Israeli national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is traditionally climbed by tourists wanting to see the ruins at the top as the sun rises over the Dead Sea. Masada is an ancient fortification in the Southern District of Israel, located on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea 20 km (12 mi) east of Arad. The 840-acre complex holds well-preserved ruins attesting to the history of the ancient kingdom of Israel and the courage of its people in the face of a Roman siege.
Herod the Great, who had been made King of Judea, contributed greatly to the ancient history of this famous fortress. On the mountain, he built two palaces for himself between 31 and 37 BCE. According to Josephus, between 73 to 74 CE Roman troops seized Masada at the end of the First Jewish-Roman War. After Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 CE, rebels joined forces at Masada to live in Herod’s former palaces. With Jerusalem in ruins, the Romans turned their attention to destroying Masada by building camps surrounding the base, a siege wall, and a ramp on a slope of the Western side of the mountain. These invasions came to an abrupt end following the mass suicide of the 960 Sicarii rebels who were in hiding there. However, according to Kenneth Atkinson, there is no archaeological evidence that Masada’s defenders committed mass suicide. Today, Masada is one of Israel’s most popular tourist attractions and currently attracts around 750,000 visitors a year.
A bit further North of Masada is the Ein Gedi National Park. Situated in the famous Kibbutz, this park contains a range of cool water, hiking trails, beautiful foliage, and served as a water source during biblical times. Located on the Dead Sea’s western shore, Ein Gedi, which directly translates to “spring of the goat”, is a desert oasis with waterfalls, pools of water, and two large streams. The higher you go, the quieter it will be and the more likely you will be able to find your own little oasis. Ein Gedi also has a public beach and spa, which is situated near Jerusalem.
About 40 minutes north of Ein Gedi is one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites, the Qumran National Park. It is in the caves of the ancient settlement where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. Located on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert, Qumran is located between Jerusalem and the major Dead Sea region attractions such as Ein Gedi and Masada. Remains dating back to the Iron Age have been uncovered at Qumran as well as walls, pottery, and a cistern from later settlements. Freshwater was a consistent issue in this dry environment, and as a result, aqueduct systems were added to bring fresh water to the city from the greener regions of the north.
Qumran was established during the Hellenistic Period of 134-104 BCE and remained inhabited up until 68 BCE. Multi-level structures, reservoirs, pottery kilns, and houses have been excavated in this era. It was during the Hellenistic Period that the Essenes Jewish sect settled here, isolating themselves from big city life and living as a communal monastery-like community.
Famous Figures
King David of Israel was known for his diverse skills as both a warrior and a psalm writer. Countless battles and victories against Saul provoked his jealousy and malicious behavior towards David. In Ein Gedi, David confronted Saul about his consistent hatred but did not kill him, proving his respectable character traits. David was a poet and the rabbis believe that he wrote the Book of Psalms. Throughout his life, David prepared for the construction of the Holy Temple by setting aside the necessary physical materials, commanding the Levites, and others in their duties for the Temple, and giving the plan for the Temple to Solomon. Today, Jews pray daily for the coming of the Messiah, the “Son of David.”
Herod the Great was crowned King of Judea who ruled the territory with Roman approval. While Judea was an independent kingdom it was under heavy Roman influence and Herod came to power with Roman support. The history of his legacy starts with his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his renovation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the expansion of the Temple Mount, and the fortress at Masada to name a few. His reign polarizes opinion amongst scholars and historians, some viewing his legacy as successful, while others believe it was a form of tyrannical rule.
Titus Flavius Josephus was a first-century Roman Jewish historian born in Jerusalem. He initially fought against the Romans during the First Jewish Roman War as the head of Jewish Forces, until surrendering in 67 CE to the Romans. Josephus recorded Jewish history with special emphasis on the first century CE and the First Jewish–Roman War, including the Siege of Masada. His most important works were The Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews, which recount the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation and the history of the world from a Jewish perspective for an ostensibly Greek and Roman audience.
X
תרגום לעברית
*Please enter the Full name and Email
השפה העברית בחלקה, תורגמה בעזרת גוגל. לפיכך, מתנצלים מראש אם נמצאו טעויות.
תיאמנו את פריסת הדף. אנו עושים כל מאמץ לשיפור מיטבי של התרגום.
מקווים שתהנו מהאתר!
X
Sent
If your email address is associated with an account, a link to reset your password has been sent to you. Please check any spam folders if you don't receive it.
An email will be sent to you shortly to verify your account. If you don’t receive this, please check your spam folder (and promotion tab if you use Gmail).
🌍 Celebrating One Year of the Jewish Silk Road Portal
World Jewish Travel was thrilled at #IMTM 2024 to present a copy of the WJT Jewish Silk Road Pressbook to the CEO of the Azerbaijan National Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Jamilya Talibzade its Israeli representative Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).
The Pressbook celebrates the one year anniversary of the Jewish Silk Road Portal launch, an amazing example of using Jewish travel as a means of cultural diplomacy, whilst highlighting the significant Jewish contribution to the ancient trade route. Kudos to our participating partners from the Kiriaty Foundation (Turkey), National Board of Tourism of #Georgia, National Board of Tourism of #Uzbekistan, and Israeli Embassy of #India.
See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.
👉Link to WJT Jewsih Silk Rad Pressbook and more is in our bio
🌍 Celebrating One Year of the Jewish Silk Road Portal
World Jewish Travel was thrilled at #IMTM 2024 to present a copy of the WJT Jewish Silk Road Pressbook to the CEO of the Azerbaijan National Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Jamilya Talibzade its Israeli representative Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).
The Pressbook celebrates the one year anniversary of the Jewish Silk Road Portal launch, an amazing example of using Jewish travel as a means of cultural diplomacy, whilst highlighting the significant Jewish contribution to the ancient trade route. Kudos to our participating partners from the Kiriaty Foundation (Turkey), National Board of Tourism of #Georgia, National Board of Tourism of #Uzbekistan, and Israeli Embassy of #India.
See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.
👉Link to WJT Jewsih Silk Rad Pressbook and more is in our bio...
39
2
Step into the soul-stirring Pesach traditions of Jerusalem virtually. Experience the resonating echoes of Birkat Kohanim🌿
