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Tiberias

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city story of Tiberias

One of the four original holy cities of Judaism, Tiberias is renowned for its archaeological sites, hot springs, burial sites, and some of the best meat skewers in the Galilee. The city and its history reflect the different periods of habitation within the region and is tied to several prominent figures in Jewish history. Pilgrims from across the world belonging to all three Abrahamic religions journey to Tiberias to get closer to the physical representations of their faith and the respective histories. Expect your trip to this ancient city to be filled with surprises beyond your wildest imagination.    

The History of Tiberias

Tiberias’ story begins in 18 AD with the Roman vassal and Tetrarch Herod Antipas, who constructed the city in honor of Emperor Tiberius. Throughout its illustrious and somewhat tumultuous history Tiberias has always hosted a Jewish population. In the days of Herod Antipas, Jews were in the majority...

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אתרים מומלצים Sites to see

Sites

Katzrin

Known as the “capital of the Golan Heights”, Katzrin is full of beautiful scenery and fascinating history. The original Katzrin, which dates back to the Byzantine era, was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 CE. Thousands of years later, you can still see some of the ruins that tell the story of the ancient town. Lovely hikes, great wineries, and fascinating archeological sites make Katzrin an essential stop in the Golan Heights. Here are our top picks for what to do there. Some of the most exciting attractions in the Katzrin area are the ancient ruins throughout the area. Many of these sites trace Jewish settlement to the era of Herod the Great, from 39 BCE to 4 CE. Immerse yourself into the Talmudic era at the restored Jewish village at Ancient Katzrin Park. Explore a synagogue and private homes, and see demonstrations of ancient wine, olive oil, and pita production. You can find more relics of Byzantine-era synagogues and churches at The Golan Archeological Museum in Katzrin. An audiovisual presentation tells the story of the heroic revolt of the Jewish town of Gamla against the Romans. Roman arrowheads, clay oil lamps, and coins are also on display. The Golan Heights is truly one of the most beautiful areas in Israel, and the areas around Katzrin are home to some standout natural gems. For an introduction to the beautiful surroundings, hit the Golan Magic complex for their award-multi-sensory presentation that immerses you in the sights, smells, and sensations of this beautiful region. Then take a nature walk at Eden Springs Park, which surrounds the spring supplying the Mey Eden water brand. You’ll see many plants, animals, panoramic views, and springwater pools, perfect for refreshing along the way. Gamla Nature Reserve and Majrase Nature Reserve offer two other hiking opportunities nearby. But if you’d like to take a more hands-on approach to the beautiful environment, the Bell Ofri farm is an animal refuge with a petting zoo. If you get hungry, the es also features a boutique winery and dairy restaurant. Description from Tourist Israel

Sites

Tomb of Rabbi Akiva

Akiva ben Yosef, also known as Rabbi Akiva, was a leading Jewish scholar and sage, a tanna of the latter part of the first century and the beginning of the second century. Rabbi Akiva was a leading contributor to the Mishnah and to Midrash halakha. He is referred to in the Talmud as Rosh la-Hakhamim, "Chief of the Sages". As a leading Mishnaic sage (and teacher of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNess), Rabbi Akiva played a major role in establishing rabbinic (ie post–Second Temple) Judaism. He was tortured to death by the Romans because of his support for the Bar Kochba Revolt, his enthusiasm for resistance to the Romans was such that he declared Bar Kochba to be the Messiah. A visit to Rabbi Akiva’s tomb in Tiberias is a chance to consider this great sage’s life and its significance for the Jewish people and all humanity. Rabbi Akiva started out as a poor, illiterate shepherd. His wife Rachel married him against the wishes of her affluent father, who balked at Akiva’s lack of education. Rachel encouraged and supported her husband’s utter devotion to Torah study and lived in abject poverty for twenty-four years. Akiva’s formal study of Torah did not begin until age forty, but his diligence, combined with his keen intellect, enabled him to become one of the foremost sages of the Mishnah with 24,000 students. He supported the 2nd-century rebel leader Bar Kochba. He was arrested by the Romans and subjected to a horrifyingly painful death; he lovingly recited the words of the “Shema” at the end. According to tradition, his body was miraculously transported to Tiberias for burial alongside his students who had died in a plague. His tomb, on the mountainside behind the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood, overlooks Tiberias and the Kinneret, and has been a pilgrimage site since the early Middle Ages. It became a special tradition to pray for rain at Rabbi Akiva’s tomb during drought years. Among those who visited Rabbi Akiva’s Tomb was the famed kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Ari Zal, making the site even more sacred.

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Tours of Tiberias

Tours

Yam L' Yam, Israel

The Yam L' Yam Hike (Sea to Sea) is one of the most popular hiking trails in Israel literally crossing the country from west to east, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee, crossing some of Israel’s most beautiful scenery in the Western Galilee and Upper Galilee regions. The Sea to Sea hike is walked by thousands of Israelis and tourists every year, and takes between three to five days depending on how fast you walk, along marked scenic trails.   The trail starts in the city of Nahariya on Israel’s Mediterranean Coast, in the Western Galilee region of the country and heads directly inland through the flat Coastal Plain, and the fields belonging to kibbutzim and moshavim who grow a huge variety of crops. As the Coastal Plain is left behind, the terrain begins to pick up and the final glimpse of the first sea (the Mediterranean) is left behind. You will pass the Montfort Fortress. Heading from Abirim, the trail continues east until the village of Fassuta, when it turns south winding its way past the villages of Elkosh and Hurfesh and towards Mount Meron. Following this is largely the descent down to the Sea of Galilee (the lowest freshwater lake on earth!) passing the famous city of Safed and ending on the shores of the Sea of Galilee just north of Kibbutz Ginosar.   The hike is a total of approx. 90km starting at sea level, climbing to 1,200 meters, and then descending to -210 meters.    Whilst you can do the hike all-year-round, the nicest times are spring and fall – temperatures in the summer can be incredibly high. If taking this trail during the hot season, close attention must be made to the temperature and advice should be taken from the Park Rangers.    

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מסעדות בסגנון יהודי RESTAURANTS

Restaurants

Avi's Restaurant

Avi's restaurant is a strictly kosher restaurant in Tiberias that stands in front of the Leonardo Club hotel, near the magical shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee. Its location, inside an old and classic Tiberian structure with its unique appearance and design (stone walls and arched windows with stained glass) creates a pastoral atmosphere that is enhanced by the colorful aquarium. The restaurant was established in 1977 with the name, My Father's Tea Houseand, selling over 20 types of tea as it was decorated in a regal English style. The winter ended, and with it, the demand for warming tea. Then, Italian dishes and pizzas began to be served at the place in accordance with the hot Tiberian summer. Pizzas have become a household name in the city and the place has become a major entertainment hub that attracts people from all over the area. In 1982, on the advice of a friend and restaurateur from Tel Aviv, the place was converted into a restaurant and renamed "Avi's Restaurant". The place is characterized by a warm atmosphere, professional and pampering service and of course quality meat that has no competition. The meat is carefully selected and professional grills treat it with love. The restaurant staff is committed to optimal and dedicated service and serves the delicacies professionally and courteously. A large and loyal diner from Tiberias and the region, as well as tourists from Israel and abroad come to "Avi's restaurant" to eat a good meal that will be engraved in their memory, as the culmination of the trip they make in the region.

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מדריכים בעיר CITY GUIDES

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קראו עוד בלוגים וספרים אלקטרוניים READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

World Jewish Travel Official April 15, 2024

Tiberias, Israel: An Extraordinary City for the Ages

One of the four original holy cities of Judaism, Tiberias is renowned for its archaeological sites, hot springs, burial sites, and some of the best meat skewers in the Galilee. The city and its history reflect the different periods of habitation within the region and is tied to several prominent figures in Jewish history. Pilgrims from across the world belonging to all three Abrahamic religions journey to Tiberias to get closer to the physical representations of their faith and the respective histories. Expect your trip to this ancient city to be filled with surprises beyond your wildest imagination.    

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Hotels in Tiberias

Hotels

Shirat Hayam Boutique Hotel

The Shirat Hayam Boutique Hotel lies on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, in front of the Golan Mountains scenery. This rare structure was built entirely of basalt blocks and arches typical of numerous Ottoman style constructions, and in 1850, it opened up with the name “Haifa hotel”. The hotel is among the first hotels to opened in Tiberias, in a time that hotels were called the names of cities in Palestine. In 1946, the hotel was hosted a famous Egyptian singer, Umm cul-tum, nicknamed “the star of of the East” and following the her visit – the hotel was renamed “Oriental star” After the establishment of Israel the famous artist Shimshon Holzman lived in in the building, where he created an art gallery that was available to visitors. Among the numerous bohemian visitors that stayed at the hotel, a few are many famous artists: Nahum Gutman, Reuven Rubin, Amos Yaskil, and obviously, Holtzman himself. One of the most famous paintings of the place drawn by Gutman called “the promenade in Tiberias”. For several years the hotel was reconstructed from its foundations, the unique rooms and porches were preserved and its now knows today as “Shirat Hayam” boutique hotel. Preserving the nature beauty of the structure, while creating a perfect harmony and well-planned integration between the old and the new, the compound provides an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in front of the scenery of the Sea of Galilee. Shirat Hayam Boutique Hotel is located on the “Yigal Allon” promenade in the city of Tiberias, on the shores of Lake Kinneret. The Hotel is located in the heart of an open museum where sculptures are displayed of the best-known sculptures, among them Ilana Goor, Amos Yaskil, Payne and many others, and represents the renewing core of the Tabernacle of culture and Arts.

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See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.

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