We're diving into a new week of virtual tour with a visit to Qumran, where, in 1947, a Bedouin shepherd tossed a rock into a cave to scare a lamb out of the cave. Instead, he heard the crash of a large pottery jar. It contained an ancient scroll which became the first of many …
Continue reading Exploring Israel – Qumran and Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea area embodies lots of history. Whether it is David hiding from Saul at Ein Gedi, sets of scrolls hidden in caves for safekeeping at Qumran, or the Jews' last stand at Masada before being dispersed all over the world in 73 AD, history is rich and the experiences are fascinating! We've got …
Continue reading Dead Sea Area: Filled with National and Biblical History
The beauty of Ein Gedi with great friends The diversity of Israel is astounding! Five different climate zones are found in this tiny country the size of New Jersey. Unbelievable! Lush, fertile soil found along the upper Jordan River Valley gives way to arid, barren desert south of Jericho. The Dead Sea comes into view, …
Continue reading Tour Rewind: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran and Dead Sea
We left the beloved Galilee and headed south today, passing through the Jordan River Valley, running alongside Israel's border with Jordan. Passing Jericho, we continued south all the way to Herod's mountain fortress, Masada. A towering plateau, this was the sight of the Jews last stand, after the Romans drove them from Jerusalem in 70 …
