History Comes Alive in Israel

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When I was in Poland, I made friends with an Israeli lady who was also visiting Auschwitz, the concentration camp where so many Jewish people lost their lives. She asked me to visit her native land one day and we continued our friendship by email when I returned back to England.

I was fortunate to have been able to stay with my friend during my visit to Israel or Holy Land as it is also called. Her family were very hospitable and took me to many historic sites in Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Jerusalem.

Some of the highlights of my trip included:

• The Dome of the Rock

The most famous Islamic shrine in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock which is built over a sacred stone. This stone is believed to be the place from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven.

• The Western Wall

This is the place of the holiest of Jewish sites for it supported the Second Temple, but it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. Also known as the Wailing Wall, it is a place where the Jews gather to lament the loss of their temple

• The Muslim Quarter

Wandering down the Via De La Rosa (The way of the Cross) you encounter shop keepers and vendors selling everything from exotic fruit to bargain treasures. I took time to sit down and drink a cup of mint tea and admire the colourful shops

• Jaffa

The biblical figure Jonah departed from this ancient city in his flight from God. It is a city steeped in history

• Dead Sea

The high salinity of the water makes the sea a dead zone where no animals can flourish and hence the name: Dead Sea. It is highly buoyant so you can stay afloat and even read a book without needing to paddle

• Bethlehem

Crossing into Palestine, I was able to visit Bethlehem where Christian religions describe as the place of Christ’s birth. The Church of the Nativity is a site where people of many faiths come to pay their respects

• Celebrating a Shabbat Meal

A traditional meal celebrated by Jews to exercise their rest from regular labours of everyday life. It offers participants the opportunity to contemplate spiritual practices and spend time with family

• Massada

A short car ride from the Dead Sea is an isolated rock plateau where Herod the Great built a fortress and a palace for himself between 37 and 31 BC

• Dancing with some Ethiopian Jews who had been airlifted to safety

My friend took me to visit some Ethiopian Jews who had sought refuge in Israel. It was humbling to hear of their struggles to escape Ethiopia and being airlifted to safety by helicopter. They shared with me a simple meal and we danced an Ethiopian dance which was fun to take part in and a perfect end to my Israel trip.


Have you travelled to Israel? What was your best experience there?