A Sabbatical in Jerusalem: Book 2

A Sabbatical in Jerusalem: Book 2

John Walker msc

A Sabbatical in Jerusalem: Book 2

John Walker msc

A Sabbatical in Jerusalem: Book 2

A Sabbatical in Jerusalem: Book 2

John Walker msc

A Sabbatical in Jerusalem: Book 2

John Walker msc

A Sabbatical in Jerusalem: Book 2

This second book continues the timeline of my three months in Israel opening with the Bedouin in the Negev Desert and concluding with a visit to Bet Shean at the end of our five days in the Galilee. The Galilee is a place of extraordinary natural beauty in stark contrast with the dry desert regions further south. It borders with the Lebanon and Syria; the latter border region is known as the Golan Heights that was annexed by Israel following the 1967 war. This territory is also home to an ethnic group known as Druze; a most hospitable people. John Walker msc December 2012

Secret photography through the back window of our coach as we passed through a check-point en route to visit the Bedouin in the Negev Desert

With Jared Goldfarb a Jewish archeologist, leading us into an experience of the wilderness walking in the Negev

The modern city of Beersheva on the desert horizon

Bedouin hospitality and initiatives using the herbs from the desert

Tel Beer Sheba (below left), camel muster (top right), and Esther, Alejandro and Sanne on safari (bottom right)!

Tel archeological sites: Beit Guvrin and Lachish with Swedish archeologist Tina Blomquist

Exploring underground cisterns with Tina

The Salesian monastery at Beit Jamal, and the chapel of the Sisters of Bethlehem overleaf

Caesarea Maritima

The port at Caesarea Maritima from which Paul sailed en route to Rome

Tel Megiddo

Welcome to Nazareth

Distant view of modern Nazareth (above left), and the archeological site of Sepphoris

The waters of Banias receive their flow from the southern slopes of Mt Hermon in the Golan and are the headwaters of the Jordan River

Ancient Canaanite site of Tel Dan on the border with the Lebanon

Caesarea Philipi

Nimrod fortress on the slopes of Mt Hermon; a Druze bride and Druze hospitality

Mt Hermon, Golan Heights

The ears of Israel on the Syrian border. UN housing over the border (bottom right)

Ghada Boulos, Palestinian archeologist/anthropologist and our guide extraordinaire in the Galilee

Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes at Tabgha (above), and Church of the Primacy (right)

Lakeside at Tabgha

Sailing on the Sea of Galilee

A ritual of farewell: scattering moms ashes on the sea to calm stormy waters

Approaching Mt Tabor that many Christian traditions hold is the site of the Transfiguration (Mt Hermon is another site)

The Jezreel Valley from Mt Tabour

From the bus cloud formations over the fertile Jordan Valley

The ancient city of Bet Shean an-Scythropolis and Tel Bet Shean