The Flag of Israel

In 1948, after nearly two thousand years of exile, the State of Israel was reestablished as the Jewish homeland. The new flag of the modern state was unfurled at the United Nation in 1949. The flag has been a symbol of the proud return of the Jewish nation to its homeland.

Climate

Israel is located, between 29°-33° north of the equator, which is characterized as a subtropical region, between the temperate zone and the tropical zone. Israel’s climate is characterized by much sunshine, the rainy season extends from October to early May, and rainfall peaks in December through February. Total annual precipitation ranges from 20-50 inches (50-125 cm.) in the north to less than an inch (2.5 cm.) in the far south.

Regional climatic conditions vary considerably: hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters on the coastal plain; dry, warm summers and moderately cold winters, with rain and occasional light snow, in the hill regions; hot, dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and semi-arid conditions, with warm to hot days and cool nights, in the south.

Jerusalem

The capital of Israel

Located in the Judean Hills, is the capital of Israel, the seat of government and the historical, spiritual and national center of the Jewish people since King David made it the capital of his kingdom over 3,000 years ago.

During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE.

Jerusalem has been the holiest city in Jewish tradition since, according to the Torah, King David of Israel first established it as the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel in c. 1000 BCE, and his son, King Solomon, commissioned the building of the First Temple in the city.

The “Western Wall” of the Temple Mount

All branches of the Israeli government are located in Jerusalem, including the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), the residences of the Prime Minister and President, and the Supreme Court.

Although Jerusalem is known primarily for its religious significance, the city is also home to many artistic and cultural venues.The Israel Museum attracts nearly one million visitors a year, approximately one-third of them tourists. The 20-acre (81,000 square meter) museum complex comprises several buildings featuring special exhibits and extensive collections of Judaica, archaeological findings, and Israeli and European art. The Dead Sea scrolls, discovered in the mid-20th century in the Qumran Caves near the Dead Sea, are housed in the Museum’s Shrine of the Book.

The Shrine of the Book

Many national institutions of Israel are located in Kiryat HaMemshala in Givat Ram in Jerusalem as a part of the Kiryat HaLeom project which is intended to create a large district that will house most government agencies and national cultural institutions. Some government buildings are located in Kiryat Menachem Begin. The city is home to the Knesset,[246] the Supreme Court,[247] the Bank of Israel, the National Headquarters of the Israel Police, the official residences of the President and Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and all ministries except for the Ministry of Defense (which is located in central Tel Aviv’s HaKirya district) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (which is located in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rishon LeZion).

Knesset Building in Jerusalem

Jerusalem has been sacred to Judaism for roughly 3000 years. Jerusalem was the site of Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple. It is mentioned in the Bible 632 times. Today, the Western Wall, a remnant of the wall surrounding the Second Temple, is a Jewish holy site second only to the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount itself. Synagogues around the world are traditionally built with the Holy Ark facing Jerusalem, and Arks within Jerusalem face the “Holy of Holies”. As prescribed in the Mishna and codified in the Shulchan Aruch, daily prayers are recited while facing towards Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Many Jews have “Mizrach” (meaning “East” – Towards Jerusalem) plaques hung on a wall of their homes to indicate the direction of prayer.

Tel Aviv

Haifa

Haifa is the third largest city in Israel, and it’s northern capital, with a population of about 250,000, and perhaps its most progressive.

Located in a natural bay and Mount Carmel, Haifa has beautiful views in all directions. The city is built all up the slopes of Mount Carmel and has different neighborhoods at each level.

Although it does not appear in the Bible, Haifa is mentioned in Talmudic literature as a well-established Jewish community. Across from the National Maritime Museum on Allenby Road are steps to Elijah’s Cave. According to a Byzantine tradition, this is where Elijah the Prophet hid to escape the wrath of King Ahab. The first Sunday after Tisha B’Av, Oriental Jews recite Isaiah 40 and ask the prophet to bless their children, cure their illnesses and better their lives.

In 1099 C.E., the city was conquered by the Crusaders, who slaughtered all the Jewish inhabitants. The Carmelite Order was established in 1156 C.E. over Elijah’s Cave. In 1265 C.E., Haifa fell to the Mamlukes, and in 1750 C.E. was captured by the Bedouin, Dahar al-Omar, who destroyed, then rebuilt and fortified it. From 1775 C.E. until World War I, Haifa was under Turkish control with two interruptions in 1799 C.E., it was conquered by Napoleon and, from 1831-1840 C.E., it was under Egyptian rule. Early in the 19th century, Jews from North Africa settled in Haifa. In 1868 C.E., German Templars established Haifa’s German Colony and in 1879 C.E. European Jews settled in the city.

“Israel’s MIT,” the Technion, is in Haifa. The only subway in Israel is also in Haifa.

At the top of Mount Carmel is the Carmel Hospital, noted for its architecture. The building looks like a pyramid standing on its point.

At the foot of the Carmel is the MATAM industrial center which is one of the largest concentrations of high technology business in Israel.

The Technion

Tiberias

Tiberias plays an important role in Jewish history. It was part of the land bequeathed to Naphtali (Joshua 19:35). The Sanhedrin (the High Court of Israel during the period of the Second Temple) relocated to Tiberias from Sepphoris.

Tiberias was an important spiritual center in the Mishnaic and Talmudic period. The Mishna was completed in Tiberias in 200 C.E. under the supervision of Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Nasi (“Judah the Prince”). The Jerusalem Talmud was compiled in 400 C.E. After his death in 1204, the great Jewish sage Maimonides was buried in Tiberias. His tomb is on Ben Zakkai Street, a short distance from the town center. The street’s namesake, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, is also believed to be buried nearby. Yet another shrine is the Tomb of Rabbi Akiva.

Tiberias and Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee)

Tiberias and Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee)

A Samaritan center existed in Tiberias in the middle of the 4th century. The Crusaders later captured the city and made it the capital of the Galilee, but Saladin retook the city for the Muslim Empire in 1187. The city suffered a decline until it was revived by the Ottoman Turks. After the city was built up over a period of about a century, it was devastated by an earthquake in 1837.

The early Zionist pioneers established some of Israel’s first kibbutzim at the turn of the century in this area. After the establishment of the state, newcomers flocked to the city and the population quadrupled. Today, it is home to about 30,000 people.

Tiberias has been a popular destination for tourists for more than 2,000 years. As early as Roman times, this thriving recreation spa, built around 17 natural mineral hot springs more than 600 feet below sea level, welcomed visitors from every part of the ancient world. Built by Herod Antipas (one of Herod the Great’s three sons who divided up Palestine after their father’s death), the city was named Tiberias in honor of the Roman Emperor Tiberius.

Tiberias at night

1862 CE Photo of Tiberias

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a very salty lake that is located between Israel and Jordan. At 420 meters (1,378 ft) below sea level, it is the lowest point on Earth that is dry land. It is also the second most saltiest body of water in the world. It is also the deepest salt lake on earth at 330 m (1,083 ft) deep.

The Dead Sea is called “Yam Hamelach” in Hebrew.

Floating on the Dead Sea

Salt Formations

The Dead Sea’s climate offers year-round sunny skies and dry air. The northern part of the Dead Sea receives only 100 mm (4 in) of rain a year. The southern section just 50 mm (2 in).

Because the Dead sea is so salty, you can actually float on the water. The Dead sea is home to many resorts and spas.

This is the site of Sodom and Gomorrah. There are large pillars of salt and some people point to one of them and say: “That’s Lots wife.”

Many companies use the salt from the Dead Sea for bath salts. The entire southern end of the Dead Sea has big evaporation pans that is used to get the industrial chemicals potash, caustic soda, magnesium metal, and sodium chloride.

Dead Sea Minerals