2 days at the Dead Sea

Program

Day One

• Departure from Jerusalem. The ancient Red Road leads from the Jerusalem mountains to the Dead Sea. For thousands of years, armies marched, pilgrims and caravans of merchants walked along it. The road was named for the color of its stones, stained with human blood.
• At the Good Samaritan Museum, we will read, discuss, and understand the biblical parable of the same name. We will see mosaics from ancient synagogues and churches collected from all over Israel.
• We will visit the oldest city in Israel, Jericho, which is 9000 years old. We will explore the excavations of biblical walls and the palace of Caliph Hisham, the Sycamore tree and the spring whose water was purified by the prophet Elijah.
• We will take a cable car to Mount Karantal, to the monastery where, according to Christian tradition, the Devil tempted Jesus.
• We will approach the waters of the Jordan River, in the very place where John called the people to purify themselves from sins and where Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended upon him, where the waters of the river parted before the disciples of Moses, Jesus, and Joshua. Those who wish can plunge in and reaffirm their baptism.
• In the evening, rest at a hotel on the shore of the Dead Sea.

Day Two

• We will ascend to Masada Fortress, the last stronghold of Jewish rebels against Rome.
• Then we will relax in the oasis in the Ein Gedi desert.
• We will visit Qumran, from whose community arose the ideas of communism and monastic movement 200 years before the emergence of Christianity.
• We will visit the "AHAVA" shop-factory, where you can buy Dead Sea cosmetics. After bathing in the Dead Sea, you can return to Jerusalem or continue your stay here.