Samaria Shiloh and Beit El Tour
Beit El –
We will start at, Beit El, an Israeli settlement that maintains the name given by Jacob to the Canaanite city of Luz. After stepping outside of the village we’ll find ourselves standing at the ancient site of Jacob’s dream, using the Bible in one hand and the archeological research in the other we’ll try to trace the true site of Beit El – Genesis 28:17 “And he was afraid, and said: ‘How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
After overlooking the spectacular scenery and hearing a review of the stories of the Bible associated with the area we’ll continue to Shiloh.
Shiloh
Shiloh was the first capital of Israel in the period of Judges and the residence of the Tabernacle. The city existed almost consecutively from the Israelite period up to the Middle Ages due to its sanctity and status. We will visit this unique ancient and holy site, hear the history of Shilo throughout the generations and see with our own eyes the ancient ruins and the place where the Tabernacle stood until it was destroyed by the Philistines.
Visiting Tora Winery –
On the way to Mount Gerizim, we will stop at a local boutique winery, learn about the production process of wine and olive oil, and taste the winery’s superb wines which won many prizes for their quality. We shall then go on our way feeling happy and joyful.
Mount Gerizim
We will go to the Mount of Blessing which is Mount Gerizim, the place in which Moses ordered Joshua and the People of Israel to perform the oath ceremony upon their entry to the Land of Israel. We will meet the Samaritans, an ancient people who according to the Bible were settled in the land of Israel by the Assyrian Empire who exiled the Kingdom of Israel. The Samaritans, who converted to Judaism 2700 years ago, preserve a remarkable tradition of the Israelites from the biblical period. We shall hear about this and more, from Yefet, the brother of the Samaritan community priest.
Itamar – Optional
We shall visit the settlement of Itamar and go on Givot Olam Farm which is situated in a spectacular location. The farm specializes in organic animal and vegetable products. We will tour the farm, hear about the Jewish settlement in Samaria, and whoever is interested will be able to buy from the farm’s variety of quality products.
Mount Kabir -optional
Towards the end of the day, we will climb Mount Kabir for a spectacular observation of Dotan Valley, Nablus, and Joshua’s altar in Mount Ebal. During the observation, we will be able to identify the many sites in which the biblical stories took places, such as the story of Joseph and his brothers, Yotam’s allegory, and more.
