Page 6 - Holyland Magazine - 2018 Edition
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Encounter Chapel
independence. Jerusalem is the beating means that modern-day visitors can trace When you head north towards the Galilee
heart of people of all faiths, and has become Jesus’ steps from the Pool of Siloam in the and Golan Heights, visit the ancient
one of the most popular tourist destinations City of David, where he miraculously healed Rehavam Arches synagogue (Umm el
in the world. As we begin the year marking the a blind man (John 9), over the great bridges Kanatir) that has been fully reconstructed
70th anniversary of Israel’s independence, leading to the remnants of the Holy Temple. so that all of the walls of this 1,400-year old
I invite you to visit the reconstructed, Archeological excavations in 2017 beneath synagogue are now standing. The building
ancient archeological and pilgrimage sites the enormous bridge that was named after was reconstructed using digital mapping
mentioned in the Bible, and to discover the archeologist Charles Wilson, revealed all technology that is almost like building with
fascinating world of our ancestors through of the layers of the Western Wall, reaching Lego. A digital chip was inserted into each of
sites all across the country. as far as the foundations constructed by the stones, a special computerized scanner
Herod. Another fascinating finding was the accurately mapped the ruins, and computer
Israel of 2018 is a modern, western, Odeon. Flavius Josephus and other Roman software reconstructed the building by
developed country that is proud of its historians described the theater located near returning each stone to its original location.
expansive historical and cultural heritage. the Holy Temple, but its precise location Stones with inscribed images of the menorah
Israeli innovation is the source of great remained unknown. Jerusalem researchers and other vessels from the Holy Temple,
national pride, as well a significant economic had been searching for this newly exposed such as a coalpan and a shofar, were found
growth engine. In the past, tourists visited theater for many years. This amazing at the site as well. The most fascinating
only the holy sites in the Land of Israel, but discovery presents a more accurate picture discovery was a magnificent holy ark located
70 years of independence have produced of Jerusalem’s landscape during the Second on the southern wall of the synagogue facing
developments in Israel’s tourist attractions as Temple era, and places this much sought- Jerusalem. The ark was found almost entirely
well. Many new sites have been opened to after theater adjacent to the remnants of intact, including a podium with a staircase
the public. New archeological findings have the temple and near the main road that led mounted on ornamented columns and a
been revealed, hiking trails in the Galilee and thousands of pilgrims to their destination. niche in which the Torah scroll was placed.
in the desert have been renovated, and some The synagogue dates back to the Byzantine
of the world’s best museums and visitor Magdala Stone. Where they era, when a flourishing Jewish community
centers present the rare discoveries that can would lay the Torah scroll in the Golan Heights lived alongside a
only be found in the land of the Bible. The prosperous Christian community near the
Israel Antiques Authority has loaned some of Sea of Galilee. Historians believe this to be
its most fascinating exhibitions to prestigious an era of excellent cultural and commercial
museums in capital cities around the world. relations between the two groups who
lived under Christian Byzantine rule. A visit
If you are planning a trip to Israel, here to this ancient synagogue in the Golan
are some of the sites that feature new, Heights, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, is an
exciting discoveries that you won’t want to extraordinary experience.
miss. Start with Jerusalem, Israel’s capital,
where new archeological excavations have Bible lovers who visit Israel as it celebrates
uncovered the entire main city street from its 70th anniversary will enjoy a tour of the
the Second Temple era, and the Herodian biblical archeological tells of the Judean
Road, taken by pilgrims en route to the Holy Foothills. Exciting new excavations are
Temple, has been completely exposed. This underway in Elah Valley region, a popular
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