The Second Temple period, between 538 BCE and 70 CE is considered to be a time of Jerusalem’s glory. This is due to the magnificent castles and walls that were built in the city, especially towards the end of the 600 years, with the rise of King Herod. The temple, built in 516 BCE by the Jews returning to Zion after the Babylonian exile was the heart of the city till its destruction in 70 CE. Having said that, one must understand, that the political and social situation in those days was extremely complex, with so many different religious streams trying to get hold of the spiritual leadership in Jerusalem, it seems that the rip inside the Jews, was what inevitably brought to Jerusalem’s destruction by the Romans. This suggested tour follows some of the archeological milestones of the time through the old city and its surroundings, which give light to the historical period and political background of the time as well.

Probably the best way to start off the journey would be by visiting the Model of Jerusalem in the late second Temple Period, located at the Israel Museum. The model, which is the size of 2,000 square meters at a 1:50 ratio, displays the entire city at that time from a birds view, showing off the temple and the roads and buildings surrounding it.

After having seen the model and understanding the destruction the city went through (by comparison to what’s left today) it’s time to go to the Old City. Entering through Jaffa gate, we will already be able to see parts of the Second temple’s time architecture. Originally believed to have been built by King David, the Tower of David situated at the entrance to the old city, was actually built during the time of the second temple by the Hashmonaim, as noted by Josephus Flavius, a historian who lived in the time of the great revolt. Later on it received a face lift and two more towers around it, as part of Herod’s plans of glorifying the city. After the destruction of the city once more, the ancient citadel continued to serve the Romans as barracks for their soldiers. Throughout the years, the tower had been destructed and reconstructed by many, yet still the lower layers of the tower and of the old wall, are genuine to the period.

Passing the tower, we head to the Jewish Quarter to the Wahl Museum of Archeology, also known as the Herodian Suburb. The museum depicts life in the time of the second temple in Jerusalem. Original mosaics, stone tools and various objects of art portray the high quality of life experienced at the time in the city. In order to complete the picture it’s recommended to continue to the excavated Burnt House, said to have been burned by the Romans, where you can watch a 12 minute audio–visual presentation about the political and social events which led to the house’s burning.

Ending the tour near the western wall, you can either choose to walk underground through the Western Wall Tunnels, where you can take a tour of the most ancient layers of the wall, or walk above ground in the area of The Archeological Garden of Jerusalem. There you can see the excavated Robinson’s Arch which once stood at the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount as well as the old market street and the steps that used to lead to the temple up until 70 CE.

A group of architects and designers use artificial fibers – nano textile fibers – which grant a futuristic significance to the items on display, as well as a sensory experience for visitors. The exhibit will run through September 4, 2010.

On Tuesday evenings, the museum invites families and children aged 8 and up to engage in creative thinking through a game and experience according to Italian artist Burno Manori.

Tuesday, 8:00 P.M., space is limited, tickets should be reserved ahead of time.

Museum Address: Pinchas Ayalon 8, Holon 58459
Phone Number: 073-515-1512

Opening Hours:
Sunday: closed
Monday, Wednesday: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Friday: 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Saturday: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Eden Hotel is location is convenient for shopping, cafes and restaurants in Baka and the German Colony neighborhoods.The Eden hotel Jerusalem offers 17 double / twin rooms and 6 mini-suits that can accommodate up to 6 people. All the rooms are comfortable, air conditioned and include kitchenettes, cable TV with free parking and internet access.

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The Eden Jerusalem Hotels is located within walking distance of the promenade with its panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem with easy access to the city center, the Old City, and all of Jerusalem main attractions.

For the past two years the municipality of Jerusalem has been hosting free parties for teens and over. This year, after feeling the parties have turned to be gatherings for teens only, students and young adults above the age of 21 have set out to party their own way, introducing the Backstage parties.

Spreading like a virus over Facebook, the Backstage parties have managed to make a name for themselves in the hipster’s community in Jerusalem. So this year in August, depending on your age, or even if you’re in between, you get to choose from a variety of free parties set in different venues across the city, that are either sponsored by the city or partied the underground way!

While at the market, don’t forget to take your time wandering through it while visiting the different authentic restaurants it has to offer.

Held at the beautiful and historical Sultan’s Pool in Jerusalem, the International Arts and Crafts Festival occurring in the midst of August for over 30 years in the city, is a huge fair celebrating arts and crafts from around the world and Israel. Just taking a walk at the foot of the Hassenfeld Amphitheater and shopping for fine art while listening to performances of famous Israeli musicians is fun for everyone. So why not try it? The view of the tower of David is set in the price of the ticket.

The Dan Bus Company, along with City Tour, sponsored by the Tel Aviv Municipality and the Tourism Association, invite you on a panoramic, urban tour of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. The tour bus stops at the loveliest, most important spots in the city.

Visitors are provided with headphones and may choose to listen to the explanations and guides in Hebrew, English, Russian, French, Arabic, Italian, Spanish and German.

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The tour lasts two hours. Visitors are provided with headphones and may choose to listen to the explanations and guides in Hebrew, English, Russian, French, Arabic, Italian, Spanish and German.

Tickets may be purchased on the bus, using cash or credit card.

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The Israel Museum offers a wide range of fascinating exhibits, activities for the entire family and special events at the Shrine of the Book, a model of Jerusalem’s Second Temple, activities in the Youth Department and a 24-dunam sculpture garden.

This summer, museum renovations will be complete and it will feature new programs, fascinating exhibits and interesting activities.

Special opening hours during the first week after reopening:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (July 26-28): 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Thursday (July 29): 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 A.M.
Opening Hours
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Tuesday: 4:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Friday and Holiday Eve: 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Saturdays and Holidays: 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

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Jerusalem Events >>

Tower of David Museum – Night Spectacular

The citadel walls serve as the backdrop for this stunning nighttime performance, which is a celebration of sights and sounds projected on the archaeological remnants in the citadel courtyard. The impressive story of the city of Jerusalem is conveyed, accompanied by original music, dramatized by huge, breathtaking imagery.

The sound and light show uses the advanced, innovative trompe-l’œi technique, as fascinating scenes seem to replace the walls and remnants of the buildings. The impressive imagery envelops the audience, providing a multi-sensory, unique experience.

Innovative techniques are provided through advanced computer systems that include twenty projectors, ten video devices, 14 computers and 14 speakers. In addition, the system includes some ten kilometers of cables and two projection rooms.

Producers: Skertzo, from France; Original Score: Etienne Perruchon; Sound Effects: Jean Goudier; Curator: Renee Sivan, Tower of David Museum.

The sound and light show is the first of its kind in the world and is aimed at tourists, Israeli audiences, families, speakers of all languages and anyone who loves Jerusalem, all of whom will enjoy the performance.

The show is sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality, Tourism Ministry, the Jerusalem Foundation and the Israel Government Tourist Corporation.

Show Dates: Every day after dark. For exact times please check….

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With an exciting original film written by historians and archeologists, featuring special effects, viewers can enjoy a fascinating journey to the most dramatic moments in Jerusalem’s history. Visitors meet the Prophet Jeremiah, confront King Zedekiah and relive the destruction of the First and Second Temples. The audience goes through the Roman occupation of Jerusalem, the birth of Christianity, the rise of Islam, hundreds of years of occupation in the Holy Land and the drama of the establishment of the State of Israel.

Visitors are provided with surround sound headphones and may choose to listen to the show in English, Russian, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Italian or Hebrew.
A visit to the Time Elevator has become an important and essential part of each visit to Jerusalem.

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Located between Jaffa and Agripas St. “The Shuk” can be easily reached by walking from the bus station or by almost any bus route in Jerusalem. Inside, it is divided by streets named after fruits and has both an open aired area and a covered one.
With over 250 vendors in the market, selling mostly foods from a large variety of Jewish communities from all over the world, even if one plans on simply absorbing the market through his senses, it’s always a good idea to have a list with the market’s finest restaurants and vendors, to make the best out of your day in the market.

Here is a Virtual tour of the Mahane Yehuda Market >>

Marzipan, 44 Agripas St.

Start off just before entering the market at the famous Marzipan bakery. Besides having a name after a delicious almond treat, Marzipan is famous for its sweet pastries dispersing its fragrances from outside the market. If you’re a chocolate lover (and who isn’t?), don’t miss out on their famous chocolate rogalach, yummy.

Uzi-Eli, 10 Ha’egoz St.

Take a right from Agripas St. into the first entrance of the covered market on Ha’egoz St. (Nut St. in Hebrew) and walk until you reach a picturesque juice stand on your right called Uzi-Eli. Uziel the owner, is a cute looking 68 year old man originally from Yemen who’s referred to as “The Dr.” Besides his juices which are said to have unique healing qualities from helping headaches to improving your stamina, the doctor offers creams and sprays as well for the skin and will happily give you your own personal diagnosis.

The Halva Kingdom, 75 Etz Ha’haim St.

Once you get to Hashaked St. (Almond), turn right and then left on Etz Ha’haim St. (Tree of Life) and walk until you see a large halva stand to the left, known as The Halva Kingdom. There you’ll find every kind of sweet tahini and honey mixture you could ever dream of, plus a few baklavas if you have an endless sweet tooth. Make sure to try the excellent King’s Halva and maybe even take a few packs with you back home – where the sweet delight will be even more appreciated.

Ha’agas Ehad, 1 Banay St.

Located in the heart of the market on the old Pear St. (Ha’agas) is Ha’agas Ehad. Although today the street is named Banay St., after Eliyahu Yaakov Banay, one of the four fathers of the famous Banay family in Israel, we can still find on the same spot, the well known fresh vegan cuisine restaurant, Ha’agas Ehad. If at this point of the day your only craving is for a salad, no doubt this place would be your best choice.

Mizrahi, 12 Hashazif St.

Another famous establishment of the market, on Hashazif St. (Plum) parallel to Banay St. is the Mizrahi restaurant. Once a home to a spice stand, today, the daughter of the spice stand owner, runs a family based restaurant called Mizrahi, serving deliciously authentic cuisine on Kerosene stoves.

Mazetim, 11 Hashazif St.

Just across the restaurant, if you’re thinking of eating in, is a great cheese shop called Mazetim, where you can get the best cheeses from all over the country and abroad. Just be careful while walking around the shop, near almost every cheese you can find a few cut squares from it for you to try, not the best for someone on a diet.

Mousseline, 17 Ha’egoz St.

Another thing that’s best to stay away from if on a diet is Mousseline ice-cream shop. Fairly new to the market, back on Ha’egoz St, Mousseline has already managed to get quite a fan base for itself, with hard ice-cream addicts going crazy for their odd but tasty basil grapefruit flavor.

The Iraqi Shuk

After so much eating it might be a good idea to relax a bit and watch others relax as well. The Iraqi part of the market, set in its back is probably a good bet for that. Watch a large group of diverse grandfathers (not only Iraqi) play backgammon and cards, relaxing under the sun, either rain or shine. Try talking to them, if you look naïve enough, they might even let you play with them…

Hachipuria, 6 Eshkol St.

If you become hungry after your backgammon game, take a right when coming out of the Iraqi market just before going back into the shuk, to Eshkol St. There in a Georgian bakery, you can enjoy some yummy Georgian cuisine consisting mostly of cheese and dough. Hachipuria has a large variety of oily dough with cheese but if still on a diet, just take a sip of their local Georgian drink.

Mahneyuda, 10 Beit Ya’akov St.

Oddly enough, the one thing your day out to “The Shuk” won’t be complete without is a visit to a new restaurant just outside the market named Mahneyuda. Run by three of the best chefs that Jerusalem has to offer, Mahneyuda prouds itself in having a different menu everyday, printed daily on recycled paper, that’s decided on according to the catch of the day from the market. With small to main courses set by prices from low to high (only up to 130 NIS per course) on the menu and an open kitchen where you can actually see how the food is made, there’s no wonder one needs to book at least two days in advance to get a table.

Mahne Yuda Restaurant

The people, the smells, the flavors and the sounds of the bustling market will all boil down as night sets on Jerusalem. At that point you can find yourself going back to your hotel after a crazy but definitely filling day at “The Shuk”.

Trip Duration: One Day

Trip Schedule: The trip begins in northern Nazareth with a visit to the Church of the Annunciation, one of the holiest Christian sites. According to Christian belief, the church was built on the site where the Virgin Mary lived, and where the angel Gabriel told her that she was pregnant with the son of God. From there we will continue to Capernaum, along the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus lived. We will visit the Church of the Multiplication, in Tabgha, where Jesus carried out the miracle of the loaves and fishes. We will continue driving through the city of Tiberias to the Yardenit baptism site, on the Jordan River.

Must Bring: Hat/head covering, comfortable walking shoes.
Please Note: Visitors must wear modest dress to holy sites (head covering, covered shoulders, pants or long skirts).

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Tour Schedule: Drive to Mount of Olives for a stunning panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem and the lovely Garden of Gethsemane. Enter the Old City and walk through the Armenian Quarter and Jewish Quarter until reaching the recently conducted archaeological digs – reconstruction of the Cardo (the Roman street), the Western Wall and walking to the Christian Quarter. From there we continue along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

From Jerusalem we will head to central Bethlehem, where we will see Shepherd’s Fields, where, according to Christian belief, an angel of God informed a shepherd of the birth of Jesus. We will visit the Franciscan chapel and a church from the fifth century, built atop a tomb. We will visit Rachel’s Tomb, the Church of the Nativity and the famous Manger Square. From there we will return to Jerusalem.

Must Bring: Passport (to enter Bethlehem), hat, comfortable walking shoes.
Please Note: The trip is not held during Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Visitors must wear modest dress to enter the holy sites (men must cover their heads, women must cover their shoulders. Men and women may not wear shorts). The trip fees include entrance to the sites, but not lunch. Scheduling may be changed due to holidays, higher powers or restrictions over which we have no control.

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Trip Duration: One Day

Trip Schedule: Depart from Jerusalem and drive through the Judean Desert to the vicinity of the Dead Sea. Visit Masada, which was King Herod’s fortress and the last sanctuary of the zealots. The tour will continue along the Dead Sea shore – the lowest point on Earth, until we reach the Ein Gedi Spa for an enjoyable dip in the hot mineral springs, cover our bodies with therapeutic mud and bathe in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea.
Must Bring: Hat/head covering, comfortable walking shoes, bathing suit, towel and sandals.

Please Note: The trip includes a ride in a cable car.

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Trip Duration: One Day

Trip Schedule: The tour begins at a panoramic observation point overlooking Jerusalem and sets off from there to the Old City, Mount Zion – which features sites holy to the three religions, as well as battle sites – the Cardo (which was the main street during the Roman and Byzantine eras), Via Dolorosa, where Jesus walked on his way to the crucifixion, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall. In the afternoon we will visit Yad Vashem – The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority.

Must Bring: Hat/head cover, comfortable walking shoes.
Please note: Individuals visiting holy sites must wear modest clothing (covered shoulders, pants or long skirts)
Yad Vashem is closed on Saturdays and holidays; alternative destinations will be visited on these days.

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Scenes and sights from colorful city of Jerusalem

The Red Sea Jazz Festival (RSJF) established in 1987 as a four day international jazz festival with 9 concerts per evening, 6 clinics with guest artists and nightly Jam sessions. The festival is held yearly in the last week of August.

RSJF strives to introduce to the public the broadest possible musical spectrum, from New Orleans jazz to the contemporary, including Latin and World music. The festival presents guest groups from all around the globe plus Israeli top groups. RSJF is also active in the jazz education field in Israel, promoting original jazz compositions and youth jazz bands.

This year same as previous years – we are following the tradition of hosting world top jazz performers and also headlining young jazz artists and Israeli groups.

Every evening at 19:00 we welcome you to an open concert featuring the best Israeli young jazz groups. During 4 days, the festival will feature 3 different concerts in each of the halls, performed by international and Israeli artists – participating in the festival.

The concerts will be held in three venues: The CLUB with the capacity of 1,000 seats around tables serving food and beverage, the HALL with 2,000 regular seats and the ARENA with 4,000 seats, some arranged gradually overlooking the Red Sea.
Tickets

Wide PASS allowing 4-day admission to the two big halls and to the club on an availability basis. Daily PASS and single tickets for each concert will be available as well. The youngsters, honor guests of the festival, remain with their young PASS allowing free admission to all concerts on availability basis. Blue/Yellow PASS allowing admission to 4 concerts per day.

The Eilat Port is waiting you again, music aficionado, to celebrate the end of the summer vacation with lots of good music and pleasant ambiance complemented by encounters with friends and top musicians from Israel and abroad.

The Red Sea during the day and Eilat Port at night – what could be better?