Blog

If one had to finish the oft-quoted sentence, “When in Rome…” with only one directive, it should be “When in Rome…visit the Pantheon.” That’s because this ancient edifice is not just a 1,900-year-old architectural marvel; it may just be the architectural marvel of all time. Perhaps the most well-preserved ancient structure anywhere on earth, the...Read More

Influenced by its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, and blending Jewish and Arabic traditions, Israeli cooking has a diverse, undefinable flair. And according to many restaurateurs and foodies, Israeli cuisine was dubbed the newest food trend to watch for in the coming years. Staple foods like hummus, falafel, Israeli salad, shakshuka, and shawarma—all rustic, simple...Read More

Widely considered to be the center of the world, Jerusalem was named the capital of Israel by King David in 1004 BCE/BC after his conquest of the Jebusites. The Old City walls of today were built in 1535–1542 by the Ottoman Turkish sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The old city boasts numerous gates—some opened, some sealed—towers,...Read More

Hanukkah is a very special time of year for Jewish people in Israel and all over the world. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” the holiday originated over 2,000 years ago, when the Jewish people were ruled by the oppressive Syrian king Antiochus, who looted and desecrated the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, outlawed the Jewish...Read More

Known as the childhood hometown of Jesus, Nazareth is nestled in the hills of the lower Galilee region and is an important site for pilgrims as well as tourists. Pronounced Natsrat in Hebrew, Nazareth is a city with a rich history and a vibrant culture, but it is perhaps best known as the place where...Read More

Who doesn’t think that a year-long cruise traversing the high seas in a ginormous wooden ark, accompanied by a boatload of cool animals, would be a unique—and fun—way to escape a sin-saturated world? Well, kind of. As endearing and amusing as animals can be, for Noah and his family, it was more laborious than uproarious...Read More

Its name may take on an ominous tone, but the Dead Sea is anything but dead. Deriving its title from its inability to sustain most forms of marine life, it is a place of tranquil beauty, and perhaps a bit of mystery. Sandwiched between Jordan to the east and Israel to the west, the Dead...Read More

AD 95 marked the beginning of the end after Roman emperor Domitian exiled the apostle John—by then an old man—to a small volcanic island off the coast of Greece. John the Revelator (perhaps most fittingly called St. John the Erupter), would use his time alone as a prisoner on Patmos Island to pen the apocalyptic...Read More

Following the conclusion of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish communities throughout the world begin a joyous and colorful celebration called Simchat Torah, meaning the “rejoicing of the Torah,” or the “rejoicing of the Jewish law.” A spectacular holiday focusing on the gift and significance of the Torah, Simchat Torah is a compilation of ancient...Read More

Regarded as the holiest and most solemn holiday on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement in the Bible. Commencing on the tenth day in the Hebrew month of Tishrei, as commanded in the Bible, Leviticus 16:29–34, Yom Kippur signifies the final opportunity for Jewish people to seek atonement,...Read More