Freedman

King Herod (ruled 37 BCE – 4 CE) was one of the cruelest rulers of Eretz Yisrael of all time, but he was also a master builder. The Temple Mount (Har HaBayit), Masada and Caesarea are among his most famous accomplishments. But the monument that he built and named for himself in the Judean Desert is nothing short of awesome. He even built the infrastructure for his own royal funeral. From a distance Herodion (or Herodium) looks like a flat-top mountain, but it’s really an artificial cone! The palace and bathhouse built inside the structure are marvelous, as is the public room which was used as a synagogue by Jewish rebels during the revolts against Rome. Newly opened to the public is the theatre and access to where Herod’s tomb was found. Particularly cool are the huge underground cisterns, and hideout caves, that we will wall through. In short, this is a tour not to be missed. Notes: Terrific for children and adults; requires a lot of walking uphill and climbing stairs. TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours on-site MEETING POINT and ENDING POINT: Herodion National Park (upon request, we can arrange for a meeting point on Derekh Hevron in Jerusalem) PRICE (total per group): ₪800 (~$250) NOT INCLUDED in the PRICE: Entrance fees for Herodion (₪29 per adult; ₪15 per child; ₪25 for student with ID; ₪15 for senior citizen with ID)

Following a section of the “borderline” which divided Jerusalem 1948-1967, we will attempt to understand some of the ongoing geopolitical issues in the City of Peace. Beginning in Gilo (which was built after 1967) we will look out onto the western part of the city for a geographic orientation. We’ll drive along the old 1948 dividing line through the Arab neighborhood of Bet Sefafa. Stopping at the Goldmann Promenade overlooking the Old City and environs, we will discuss the complexities of the area before and after 1967. On the roof of a school in the Abu Tor neighborhood we’ll get a perspective on the divided city alongside the Old City. Time and traffic allowing, we will drive north of the Old City to see the location of the famous Mandelbaum gate: the only gateway between Jordanian and Israeli Jerusalem 1948-67. Transportation is not provided. We will travel in a caravan of cars making the aforementioned stops. A group can also arrange for a bus or van for transportation. TOUR LENGTH: ~4 hours PRICE (total per group): ₪800 (~$250)

We will explore four (“-and-a-half”) of the usable gates of the Old City walls. Why were the gates built where they are? What’s special about each of the gates in ancient and/or modern history? What can we learn about the geography, neighborhoods and current sociology in the vicinity of each gate? These and other questions will be addressed as we begin with the New Gate and walk through the Christian Quarter to the Jaffa Gate. (We will discuss the different representations of the Christian Church organizations we pass, but we will not be going inside churches.) After a short break near the Jaffa Gate we will ascend the Ramparts Walk and stroll on the walls of the Old City, descending at the Zion Gate. We will continue down the hill, stopping briefly at the Tanner’s Gate (is that a new one for you?) and conclude at the Dung Gate. TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 to 5 hours SUGGESTED MEETING POINT: Kikar Tzahal, by the old and new City Hall buildings (near the Shivtei Yisrael light rail station) TENTATIVE ENDING POINT: Sha’ar Ashpot (the Dung Gate) PRICE (total per group): ₪800 (~$250) NOT INCLUDED in the PRICE: Entrance fees for the Ramparts Walk (as of this writing: ₪20 per adult; ₪10 per child 5 to 18 years old, student (with ID), or senior citizen)

The Talmud (Rosh Hashana 31a-b) tells us that the Sanhedrin, the high court of Jewish law, was exiled from its locations in Jerusalem to Yavne and from there it moved to the Galilee. Its last three stops were Bet Shearim, Zippori (Tzippori, Sepphris) and Tiberias. We will tour two of those places with their magnificent remains, each with its own character. In Bet Shearim we will explore burial tombs from the time of the Talmud (perhaps even the burial tomb of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi). In Zippori, which is very extensive, we will see the remains of a Roman theatre, a plethora of mosaic floors – including a synagogue floor, humongous water reservoirs and much more. In both national parks our tour will be accompanied by Rabbinic texts that will help us understand the important roles that they played in the rich Jewish life that developed in the Galilee after the Bar Kochba revolt (135 CE). TOUR LENGTH: ~6 hours (excluding breaks) MEETING POINT: Bet Shearim National Park (~10:15am) ENDING POINT: Zippori National Park (at closing time) PRICE (total per group): ₪1300 (~$405) Entrance Fees NOT INCLUDED in the PRICE: Bet Shearim National Park: ₪22 per adult; ₪9 per child; ₪19 for student (with ID); ₪11 for senior citizen Zippori National Park: ₪28 per adult; ₪14 per Child; ₪24 for student (with ID); ₪14 for senior citizen

The Old City of Jerusalem (Tour #3.10) A full-day walking tour emphasizing Jerusalem as sacred to three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The tour is organized “topographically,” in that we begin at the highest point of the city and work our down way the hills. Starting at the Jaffa Gate we ascend to the top of the Tower of David Museum for a breathtaking overview of the whole city. In the Christian Quarter we learn about the different denominations (Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Greek Catholic…) who established their presence in the quarter – as well as elsewhere in the city. We will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and discuss its historicity. After a break for lunch in the Jewish Quarter we will visit the quaint Old Yishuv Court Museum to see what life was like in the Jewish Quarter up until 1948. We will also tour the rebuilt Hurva Synagogue before descending to the Kotel: the Western Wall. Notes: Modest clothing is required. The tour will include entering churches. TOUR LENGTH: 5 to 7 hours (excluding breaks) MEETING POINT: Jaffa Gate ENDING POINT: The Kotel (Western Wall) – Dung Gate PRICE (total per group): ₪1300 (~$405) Entrance Fees NOT INCLUDED in the PRICE: Tower of David Museum: ₪10 per person Old Yishuv Court Museum: ₪20 per adult; ₪10 per senior citizen or child (to age of 18); ₪50 for family (parents + children up to 18 yrs old) Hurva Synagogue: ₪14 per adult; ₪7 per child