THE AKRA, EPIPHANES' LOST CHANUKAH STRONGHOLD IN JERUSALEM, IS FOUND AFTER 2,000-YEAR SEARCH
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One of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries has been solved through the discovery of the Greek Akra, Epiphanes' lost stronghold in Jerusalem. The finding, after a 100-year search, reveals the location of city boundaries, main streets and monumental buildings at different times throughout history. Akra was a famous stronghold built more than 2,000 years ago by the Syrian-Greek King Antiochus IV in order to control Jerusalem and monitor activity in the Temple. Its eventual liberation by the Hasmoneans more than two millennia ago is commemorated in the annual festival of Chanukah, celebrated by Jews every December.
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ARCHEOLOGICAL FIND IN JERUSALEM BRINGS BIBLE TO LIFE
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Archeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology recently unearthed a discovery imprinted with the rare seal of King Hezekiah of Judea near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The discovery is an impression of the royal seal of the Biblical King Hezekiah, who reigned between 727-698 BCE. The seal, which is imprinted on a soft bulla (piece of inscribed clay), bears an inscription in ancient Hebrew script reading: "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah." The script is accompanied by a two-winged sun, with wings turned downward, surrounded by two symbols meaning "life." The discovery of King Hezekiah's Royal Seal impression vividly brings to life the Biblical narratives about King Hezekiah and the activity conducted during his lifetime in Jerusalem's Royal Quarter.
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MOSAIC UNCOVERED IN LOD
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While excavating in the Neve Yerek neighborhood of Lod to prepare the ground for construction of a visitors' center, a new colorful mosaic was found. The mosaic is believed to have been used as the courtyard pavement for the villa that once stood on this space. Some 1,700 years ago, another mosaic was found in this same area, which once served as the villa's living room floor. In the current excavations, the southern part of the complex was exposed, which included the magnificent courtyard and mosaic. The scenes in this mosaic depict imagery of hunting, fish, baskets with flowers, vases and birds. In light of the new discoveries, this part of the villa will also be incorporated in the visitor center.
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TEL AVIV RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST GAY-FRIENDLY CITY IN THE WORLD
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Travel website WowTravel.me has recognized Tel Aviv as the top gay-friendly city in the world. Tel Aviv topped 11 other major international destinations on the list, including London, Berlin, Miami, San Francisco and New York. A number of factors were taken into consideration to create the list, such as economic growth, legal protection, social acceptance, LGBT nightlife and economic opportunities. Tel Aviv is described as "a bubble of sanity in an otherwise difficult and tense area." Commended for being one of the most liberal cities in the world, WowTravel describes Tel Aviv as the "undisputed queer capital of the Middle East," highlighting its 24/7 scene, year-round warm weather, incredible cuisine, gay beaches and nightlife. In June, Gay Pride takes over the city with a week of celebrations and events, including an LGBT Theater festival, LGBT Film Festival and the famous Pride Parade.
Find the full article here.
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HIGH OCCUPANCY ON FLIGHTS INTO EILAT FROM EUROPE THIS WINTER
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Europe's largest low-cost airline Ryanair has recently launched six weekly flights to Eilat from Kaunas, Budapest and Krakow. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin commented, "Thanks to the Tourism Ministry incentive to airline companies, about 4,000 tourists flew into Eilat in the last three weeks. This is a vote of confidence for tourism into Israel in general and Eilat in particular." The city is currently planning for the construction of an international congress and convention center adjacent to the casino, an international sports complex, a camping area, a golf course and thousands of additional hotel rooms. The Minister also remarked that "the arrival of Ryanair in Israel proves to us all that it is possible to bring the largest airlines into Israel and, with them, many tourists."
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AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE TOWER OF DAVID MUSEUM
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The Tower of David Museum received a bronze medal for its Virtual Tour as part of the closing ceremony of the International AVICOM Conference. The 360-degree audiovisual tour highlights the breathtaking views of Jerusalem, the magnificently restored citadel as well as a tour inside the guard rooms that shows the permanent exhibition of the history of Jerusalem. The virtual tour can be found on the Tower of David Museum website here as well as an explanatory video in English about the tour.
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CLASSICAL MUSIC COMES TO EILAT IN EARLY 2016
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Eilat, Israel's southernmost resort destination on the Red Sea, promises a year of festivals and entertainment for 2016. The first festival of the new year will be the 18th annual ClassiCameri Festival from January 7-9, bringing in top soloists from Israel and abroad to celebrate 50 years of the Cameri orchestra. From February 1-6, the 11th annual Eilat Chamber Music Festival will take place, which is one of the leading international festivals in Israel and attracts audiences from around the world. The 2016 performances will include flamenco dancing, a baroque orchestra from Germany, Jewish music from Spain and Morocco, and much more. Other upcoming festivals include the Eilat International Bellydance Festival from February 10-13, and the Red Sea Winter Jazz Festival at the end of February.
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| Concerto Koeln; photo credit: Harald Hoffmann |
Find more information here.
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EILAT BIRDS FESTIVAL:
MARCH 20-27, 2016
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The 10th annual Eilat Birds Festival will take place March 20-27, 2016. The festival, the most significant international event in the Western Palearctic birding scene, is designed to bring together birders from all over the world for an unforgettable week during the peak of spring migration. The festival includes day and night birding tours of all the best sites in southern Israel, as well as bird-related activities, presentations, talks and more. In 2015, some significant birds made an appearance over the week, including rare breeds such as the Caspian Plover, Cyprus and Pied Wheatears, and Black Bush Robin.
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| Photo Credit: Dov Greenblat, SPNI |
Find more information here. |
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MOUNTAIN TO VALLEY RELAY RACE:
MAY 18-20,2016
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The Mountain to Valley Relay Race is an annual sporting event that has taken place for the last eight years in the North of Israel and organized by the Mountain to Valley (M2V) Association. Close to 10,000 people are expected to participate in this year's race, taking place from May 18-20, 2016. Following the success of last year's race, the relay will for the second time be open to tourists visiting from abroad. The route starts in Tel-Hai, continues along the Northern Jordan River Valley, passes the Hula Valley Nature Reserve and meets the north section of the Sea of Galilee. The route then climbs and crosses the Lower Galilee Mountain Range, crossing the Jezreel Valley into the Mountains of Menashe, and finally ends at Timrat, just west of Nazareth.
Find more information here.
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