Trips

Sat., 1/28/23 - Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Sermon Mount

Today we drove counter-clockwise around the Sea of Galilee. The sea is the “Heart of Israel” because it supplies 60% of the country’s water. It is 22 by 12 km big and 130 feet at its deepest.

Our first stop was at the ruins at the ancient fishing village of Capernaum. This village was an important center for Jesus' activities and was the home of apostles Peter, James, Andrew, and John.

The ruins include the remains of the ancient village - houses, the synagogue, a church - and other artifacts from the time including a variety of capitals and friezes or lintels found in the area with carvings of menorah, ark of the covenant, pomegranates and grapes, 5 and 6 pointed stars, etc. The Octagonal Church has been built above the “possible” home of St. Peter. The foundations of the house are exposed.

Location of Capernaum and the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee
More signs - wonder if anyone enforces these "don'ts"?	Administration building
Statue of St. Peter
	Ruins of the "White Synagogue"
Village ruins	Village ruins
Village ruins	Ruins of the "White Synagogue"
Ruins of the "White Synagogue"	Ruins in front of the Octagon House purported to be built over the ruins of St. Peter's house
Ruins in front of the Octagon House	Ruins, under the Octagon House, purported to be of St. Peter's house
Village ruins	Friezes
Grinding wheels	Columnar stone mile marker from the ancient trade route Via Maris, which stretched along the Mediterranean from modern-day Egypt to Syria. The inscription honors Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The six-pointed "Star of David" known from biblical times as "David's Shield", became a symbol of Judaism only as recently as the 18th century.
Capital	This is either a representation of the Ark of the Covenant or a carriage that was used to transport and house the large, handwritten scrolls of the Jewish Torah.
	Boat on the lake
Boat on the lake	The next stop was at the site of the Sermon on the Mount - at the Church of the Beatitudes. The nine Beatitudes are written on stones on the walkway to the church. Of interest here was a large group of Ethiopian Coptic Christians singing and swaying and clapping and all dressed in white.
Tattered orchard protection	Fertilizing from a John Deere
	Church of the Beatitudes
Church of the Beatitudes	Church of the Beatitudes
Altar in the Church of the Beatitudes	Ethiopian Coptic Christians
Mosaic in the gardens
The next stop was at a kibbutz in the seaside town of Ginosar, Israel where two brothers found a 2,000 year old boat sunk in the mud. The boat is currently located in the Yigal Allon Museum, also called the Man of Galilee Museum. It is thought to be an ancient fishing boat of the type used in the 1st century CE. We watched a movie about the find and what they went through to raise it, preserve it, and display it. It is also referred to as “the Jesus boat” but at least it is the type that was used at the time of Jesus and by his fishermen apostles.
	Gate of Peace - each of 20 sculptors created one of the stone panels in the arch
One of the panels on the Gate of Peace	Sculpture on the grounds
Model of the Ancient Galilee Boat	Remains of the Ancient Galilee Boat
Remains of the Ancient Galilee Boat	Art work on the grounds
Art work on the grounds	Art work on the grounds
Art work on the grounds	Art work on the grounds - Migdalon - a mosaic by Arik Halfon
Noisy green birds - invasive parakeets - someone let their pet birds escape and now there are many of them!
After the tour of the Museum, we drove on to Tiberias which is one of the four “Holy Cities” of Judaism. We ate lunch at a seaside restaurant - more starters, then chicken or tilapia filet from the Sea of Galilee. There was a brief view of St. Peter's Church which was founded in the 12th century by Crusaders.
Unexpected	Nice sign
	St. Peter's Church
Mosaic	The last stop of the day was at the Yardenit Baptismal site on the River Jordan. There was the option to be baptized at the site. None of our group elected to do so.
Yardenit Baptismal Site at the River Jordan	A translation of Mark 1: 9-11 - there is a plaque like this in each of MANY languages at the site
Baptismal Site at the River Jordan	Baptismal Site at the River Jordan
Baptismal Site at the River Jordan	Lots of cats - this one was cute
From the bus	Agriculture
From the bus	Bedouin camp
Bedouin herd and herders	Bedouin camp
Finally, we arrived at our hotel in Jerusalem, got checked in, and went for an orientation walk, in the rain.	Montefiore Windmill
Antique horse carriage	Carousel at First Station - Old Jerusalem railway station

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