There have been archeological findings dating back to prehistoric times, and through the ages, including modern times, large and small settlements have been established around the lake, which has always been a source of sustainability.

Its major historical significance relates Christianity, being the principle site of Jesus’s ministry and where some of his famous miracles (walking on water, multiplication of fishes and bread) occurred. As such it has become a prime destination for pilgrims who wish to visit the many holy sites surrounding the lake, such as Capernaum, Tabgha, Mount of Beatitudes, and more. It is customary to take a boat ride on its waters and feast on its plentiful fish. Some of Jesus disciples were in fact fishermen who made their living from the lake, and historical evidence of this can be found today at the newly excavated archeological site of Magdala, as well as at the Kibbutz Ginosar Museum on its northern shore, where a 2000 year old fishing boat discovered in the lake has been preserved and is on exhibition.

During the Roman era, the Jewish population of Jerusalem was banished from the city and many moved to the Sea of Galilee region, with the city of Tiberias becoming a seat of Jewish learning. It is still considered one of the four holy cities to Judaism in Israel. In the 17^th century, Tiberias was completely destroyed and it remained uninhabited for almost a hundred years before being rebuilt in the mid-18^th century.

With the beginning of the Zionist movement, returning Jews began to establish agricultural settlements around the Sea of Galilee, which was also the site of the first ever kibbutz – Degania, followed by many others that remain a major portion of modern day Galilee settlements. In addition to agriculture, many of these settlements serve the ever growing tourism movement, providing guest houses and other attractions for visitors.

The Sea of Galilee is also known as the “Mood Gage” of Israel – with the level of its waters indicating whether there will be elation – when the lake fills, or despair – when its level drops. In 2018 the lake level dropped so low, following several years of drought, that there was concern it would reach a point of disaster. Luckily since then, with the rains of 2019 and 2020, the lake has refilled almost to its highest point. Unfortunately the Corona crisis has prevented Israelis from celebrating by visiting its’ shores in hoards, which they would have done in normal times. Hopefully we will be able to do so soon again.

It was slowly rebuilt, becoming a principle city under Egyptian rule, as is testified in the Amarna letters dating to this period which were found in Egypt.  By the 11^th century BC, the Pharaohs were losing control of the region, and the city was finally destroyed again by fire when the Israelites invaded, led by Joshua, after which the site remained abandoned for over 200 years.

Lachish was rebuilt into a major city of the Kingdom of Judah, protecting the country from invasion by the sea peoples (the Phillistines). As one of the fortified cities guarding the valleys and roads to Jerusalem, it had a massive wall a moat, with a royal palace erected on a plateau inside.

Lachish was invaded and destroyed by Sennacherib, during the revolt of King Hezekaya, who resisted falling under Assyrian rule, and remnants of the siege ramp built by the Assyrians to breach the city were found on site, embedded with thousands of arrows and a chain from one of the battering rams. This siege ramp is the oldest in the world, dating back to 2700 BC, having been constructed 700 years before the Roman siege ramp at Masada, is the only surviving remnant from the Assyrian conquests throughout its empire.

With the decline of the Assyrian Empire, the city was rebuilt, only to fall into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, who exiled the inhabitants to Babylon as part of the captivity and erecting a solar shrine in the city. Some returning inhabitants, following the fall of Babylon, rebuilt the city which was once again invaded and destroyed by Alexander the Great, never to be rebuilt.

Excavations that have taken place on the site, initially by the British from 1932-1939, led by archeologists Starkey and Tufnell, who were the first to establish the mound as the site of the city and to uncover several layers of its history. Among others, he discovered the Lachish letters, written in ancient Hebrew written to the garrison commander before the city fell to the Babylonians. A later dig by the Israelis led by David Ussishkin in 1974 and 1983, uncovered evidence of the Judean kingdom city, including a well 44 meters deep, which supplied water to the city.

The site is currently being restored and prepared for touring by the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority.

Dominated by an archeological mound, diggings have found evidence of settlements going back beyond the Bronze Age with Canaanite graves dating back to 2000 BCE. During the 15^th century BCE the city was conquered by the Egyptians, who set it up as an administrative capital and occupied it for almost 300 years.  After losing its control over the Eastern Mediterranean, the site was completely destroyed by fire and abandoned by the Egyptians, who did not attempt rebuilding it.

Beit Shean is mentioned in the Bible as the site where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung on the walls, after their defeat against the Philistines, although it was not a prominent city at the time.

Beit Shean revival began in the Hellenistic period reaching its heights of prosperity during the Roman era, when it was moved to the lower slopes of the mound, and became the leading city of the region, with its name changing to Scythopolis. At its peak, the city was inhabited by some 40 thousand, and had an amphitheater, hippodrome and various temples and other magnificent buildings. Many of these can be seen in today’s Beit Shean archeological and nature park reserve, with the amphitheater having been restored to a functioning theater.

Beit Shean was destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake in 749, and has never returned to its former glory. Although settled during the Muslim, Mameluke and Crusader times, it was never more than a village in terms of inhabitants, however due to its locality is remained an important township, being a relay station between Cairo and Damascus, finally losing its regional importance during the 400 years of Ottoman rule.

Today Beit Shean is a pleasant and quiet town, with an almost entirely Jewish population. During the early years, before the peace accords with Jordan, it was sometimes subject to rocket and terrorist attacks, but nowadays it is peaceful, with the magnificent antiquities park having restored its historical importance, and contributing to a budding tourism industry.

In biblical times, the changing seasons and the ripening and harvesting of the various crops and fruits were also times when tithes were given to the temple in support of the priests and other religious leaders and helpers, and these were signified by traditionally four celebrated Jewish new years – the new year of years, celebrated in September, with which coincides the tithe of vegetables, the new year of trees – the tithe of fruits, the new year of kings and festivals in April – marking the beginning of the yearly cycle of religious festivals, and the new year for the tithe of cattle at the end of August.

With the establishment of the new Jewish state in 1948, the New Year of Trees was celebrated by the planting of new trees throughout the country, organized and sponsored by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), to reclaim the forests that had been almost completely obliterated during the many years of rule under foreign empires. This tradition continues to this day.

Since the 21^st century, Tu Bishvat has taken on an environmental aspect, with this day serving as an opportunity to increase awareness for the environment and nature.

It is customary to eat dried and other fruits that are native to the land – such as figs, dates, pomegranates, almonds and olives.

This year the New Year of Trees will fall on January 28^th. Hopefully we will be over lockdown and able to continue this wonderful tradition of planting trees, looking after nature and of course feasting on delicious fruits.

Proceed to the city of Bethlehem located in the Judean hills south of Jerusalem, passing Rachel’s tomb on the way, we arrive in the center of Bethlehem, visit the Manger square,  the Church of Nativity situated on the traditional site of Christ’s birthplace, see the Grotto of Nativity where a silver star marks the the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Walk to the nearby Milk Grotto where according the tradition the virgin Mary nursed Jesus the baby and a drop of milk turned the local rock white.

Drive to the Shepherds field located east of Bethlehem, visit the local Church.

On our way back we make a stop at a souvenirs shop.

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Enter the Old city of Jerusalem for a walking tour, view of the Armenian quarter, visit the Jewish quarter, see the Cardo, the Western (Wailing) Wall, view of the Temple Mount proceed along the Via Dolorosa to the Christian quarter, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

In the afternoon, we continue to West Jerusalem-the New city passing the city center, view of the Knesset-the Parliament of Israel, the Israel Museum with the Shrine of the Book housing the Dead Sea scrolls, visit to Yad Vashem Memorial Museum of the Holocaust.

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On Saturdays and Jewish holidays – no visits to Yad Vashem – Holocaust Memorial, instead, drive to the picturesque quarter of Ein Karem, visit the Church of Saint John the Baptist and Mary’s well, view of the Church of the Visitation.

Proceed via Cana of Galilee, view of the Church of the Wedding situated on the traditional site of Jesus 1st miracle. Travel through Turan valley to the Sea of Galilee, arrive in Tiberias overlooking the Sea of Galilee for a short sightseeing tour. Tiberias named after Tiberius the Roman Emperor is one of the four holy cities of Judaism in Israel.

Drive along the Sea of Galilee passing Magdala and Geinosar on the way, view of Mt. of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee, visit Tabgha-the Church of the Multiplication and Capernaum, see the ruins of the village and the ancient Synagogue, view of the Golan height. We continue further south to the Jordan river where we make a short stop at Yardenit-the baptismal site. We make our journey back passing Yavneel valley and Mt.of Transfiguration on the way.

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Proceed to West Jerusalem-the New City, drive through the city center,  walk along Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall and continue to Machne Yehuda open market.

Travel through Mea Shearim the ultra orthdox quarter of Jerusalem,  continue to the Government City, view of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Government offices, stop at the Knesset-the Israeli Parliament for a visit, see the Menorah.

Proceed to the nearby Israel Museum, visit the Shrine of the Book housing the famous Dead Sea Scrolls and see the model of Jerusalem of the 2nd Temple . Our next stop is Mt. Herzle, known as Mt.of Remembrance, visit the National cemetery of Israel and Yad Vashem-the memorail site of the Holocaust.

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We continue through the Shfela, passing the archeological site of biblical Beit Shemesh, not far from the modern day city of its name. We proceed to visit Tel Azeka overlooking the Elah Valley, named after the Elah or Turpentine trees that are indigenous to the valley, and site of the historical battle between David and Goliath, with the Philistines encamped at Azekah and the Israelites encamped at Socho. Today Socho is renowned for the Blue Lupines that carpet its slopes every March. In season we will be able to enjoy this wondrous sight.

We continue to Beit Guvrin, a national park encompassing the ruins of Maresha, which was one of the important towns of Judah during the time of the First Temple, and which was succeeded by Beit Guvrin as the main town of the region in the Roman era. We will have a view of archeological Maresha and visit the magnificent manmade caves of Beit Guvrin – the columbarium, the Phoenician cave, the Bell Cave and others.

Our last stop on this journey is Tel Lachish, site of an ancient Near East city, now an archaeological site and an Israeli national park. According to the Bible, Lachish was an important city in the Kingdom of Israel, which was first destroyed by the Assyrians, and later by the Babylonians. The Lachish region today is renowned for the longevity of its grapes, which are grown using innovative natural methods, with no genetic engineering.  The scenery is filled with vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see.

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