Nearby, stands the famous mountain of Masada – a stronghold during the time of the destruction of the Second Beit Ha’Mikdosh. It was originally fortified by either Alexander Yannai or Yonnassan, one of the Hasmanoim, and later on Hurdus (Herod)…
Category: Places
Israel Guide: Kotel Hamaaravi
This wall, a remnant of the large wall that once surrounded the Temple Mount-the Har Ha’bayis- during the time of the second Bet Ha’Mikdosh, was built by Hordus (Herod) who rebuilt the second Bet Ha’mikdosh and extended its walls. The…
Israel Guide: Kever Shmuel Hanavi
On the north-western outskirts of Yerushalayim lies the kever of the famous Shmuel HaNavi. For thousands of years, Jews have been coming to pray and study at this holy site. Shmuel passed away on the 28th day of Iyar at…
Israel Guide: Kever Rochel
Rochel Imainu, our mother, died as she was giving birth to her second son Binyamin. Before dying, she named him Ben Oni; the child of my pain. His father however called him Binyomin. She died as Yaakov entered Eretz Yisroel…
Israel Guide: Har Hazaytim
The Har Ha’zaytim (the Mount of Olives) also called the Har Ha’Mishcha, is the mountain directly across and to the east of the Har Ha’bayis (the Temple Mount). The valley in between the two mountains is called the Kidron Valley…
Israel Guide: Har Habayit
The holiest part of the city is, of course, the Har Habayit upon which the Beit Ha’Mikdosh stood. This area which measured 500 amos (cubits) by 500 amos remains holy to the present day and therefore Jews (who nowadays are…
Israel Guide: Har Chermon
Way up north stands the tallest mountain of them all, the snow-capped Chermon which rises to an altitude of 2,800 meters. In fact, the Torah (Devorim) tells us that it had three other names as well; Snir, Sirion and Shion.…
Har Gerizim and Ayval
The twin peaks of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal stand above the Shomron Valley. They may be twins, but they are not identical twins. Mount Ebal is the taller of the twins. Its barren slopes are strewn with gray rocks.…
Israel Guide: Har Arbel
Right to the east side of the Yam Kinneret stands the beautiful mountain of Arbel which soars to more than 181 meters above sea level. From the top of its northern cliffs, one can easily see the Golan Heights, the…
Israel Guide: Gamla
Gamla is a very high mountain resembling a camel’s hump. Gamal means camel in Hebrew. It is mentioned by Yosefus as the place where the Jews tried to defend themselves against the powerful Roman Army. Gamla’s Jewish soldiers fought to…