Category Archives: News, Politics and Culture

Antonia’s Fortress

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Jeff Block

Antonia’s fortress was built by Herod the Great in 34 BC, as part of his fairly significant expansion of the temple and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Situated on the northwest corner of the expanded temple mount esplanade, the fortress … Continue reading →

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The Muslim Quarter and Jerusalem Markets

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Jeff Block

Our tour today briefly took us through the Muslim quarter in the old city, as we walked from the Temple Mount esplanade (near the eastern gate), past the pool of Bethesda, to Antonia’s fortress, and briefly down part of the … Continue reading →

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The Pool of Bethesda

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Jeff Block

Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number … Continue reading →

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Overpriced Olive Wood

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Jeff Block

Both leading up to the trip and once I got there, I heard a lot about the rules of shopping in Israel. Rule #1: Always haggle. If you buy the thing you’re looking at for sticker price, they’ll think you’re … Continue reading →

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In the Golan Heights, on the border between Israel and Syria

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Jeff Block

We took a short detour on our way back to the Sea of Galilee (where we’d spend the rest of the day) to get a better view of the Golan Heights and the Syrian border. We stopped at a produce … Continue reading →

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Caesarea Philippi

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Jeff Block

From Tel Dan, we headed east just a few miles to Caesarea Philippi – founded by Philip, one of the three sons of Herod the Great during the time Jesus walked the earth. Since then, it has been renamed Banius … Continue reading →

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