Holy land private tours

Posted by Eli on December 28th, 2020

Holy Land Private Tours

Millions of Pilgrims visit the Holy Land on a Yearly Basis

Holy Land Private Tours have existed forever. For ages, Christian and Jews have been coming to Israel on Religious Pilgrimages. Today with the upcoming jet era, it has become common practice for many Churches or Synagogues to promote a visit to Israel, the Holy Land, or in Hebrew “Eretz Hakodesh” to renew the links with this ancestral land.

Cradle of Christianity

Christianity was born here more than two thousand years ago. Jesus' history begins in this Land where he left a mark on every corner of Galilee, Jerusalem, and more. For this reason, many Christians come to this land to follow Jesus Walks again and again.

In my years in the travel industry, I brought to Israel on a Holy Land Tour thousands and thousands of pilgrims from churches of all Christian Denominations from countries of the American continent.

The Tour guides in Israel are licensed to work as tour guides after an exhaustive period of studies. I assure you that many Jewish guides know about Christianity much more than many priests. This is their job and they do it with love and identify with their pilgrims to a point of becoming close friends.

I personally know pastors or priests that visit Israel, the Holy Land once every year for many decades. For us this is a source of pride.

Ancestral Land of the Jews

For Jews this is the country that God offered to Abraham before leaving Ur and came here to establish what today is the Jewish People. Time and time again this land has been promised to the Jews. After many exiles in Egypt, Babylonia, and the rest of the world they have established a modern Israel that in just a few decades has become an example to many countries.

Places of Interest

We all visit the same Holy Land but the places of interest are different for Jews and Christians. Even among Christians, the places vary a little. Catholics want to visit certain places that Protestants don’t and vice versa.

Here I write about my country Israel and its Capital Jerusalem from all aspects and will try to cover all the sites of interest to all.

Holy Christian Places

The Holy Land is for Christians one of the holiest places on Earth. It is in the Land of Israel that Jesus was born, where he preached, and where eventually died on the cross.

His followers were just a few and created one of the most important religions in the world, Christianity.

Follow the Steps of Jesus

In Israel, but especially in Jerusalem and in the Galilee, a Christian pilgrim can literally walk on the Steps of Jesus.

Everywhere you turn in the Galilee your tour guide can mention a place where Jesus was or where Jesus preached.

Nazareth

Nazareth is located in the center of Galilee. It is sometimes called the Arab Capital of Israel; because it is mainly Arab and it Municipality is composed of mostly Arab members.

The claim of fame of Nazareth is that Mary and Joseph lived here and this is where the Archangel Michael told Mary the great news of the birth of the Lord.

The Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth is the largest Basilica not only in Israel but in the whole Middle East.

Please read more about Nazareth here:

Mount of Beatitudes

This is the Holy Site where Jesus gave the famous Sermon on the Mount known in Spanish as “El Sermon de la Montaña”

This is the most important of Jesus’ Sermons and once you sit on top of the hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, you have the feeling of being there at tha particular moment in history.

Tabgha

Called Ein Sheva in Hebrew, is located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is the traditional site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, and the fourth resurrection appearance of Jesus.

In the times of the Ottoman Empire it was an Arab Village inhabited until 1948 at the outbreak of the Independence War of Israel.

A church is located on this spot and called The Church of Multiplications built on a small chapel dating to the 4^th century A.D.

The Sea of Galilee

Called in the Bible as the Lake of Gennesaret and in Hebrew Kineret, this is only real lake in Israel. The Jordan River that is born on the slopes of Mount Hermon, flows through it and continues its course to the Dead Sea.

This lake is tied to the life of Jesus in many ways. He preached here, sailed on the lake and performed my miracles.

Cana of Galilee

This is the traditional site where Jesus performed a wedding feast and turned water into wine. It is also the home town of the disciple Nathanael (also called Bartholomew)

The Franciscan Wedding Church on site was built in 1879 at the location of the Miracle.

I have had many couples as part of my Holy Land Tours that have renewed their wedding vows on this site. Couples going through this ceremony get a Certificate that may be obtained in several languages.

Old City Jerusalem

Jerusalem Churches

The city which is holy to all, has a collection of Christian Churches. You may find many churches in other countries, but the spirit felt in Jerusalem is unique.

There are many more Holy Christian sites in Israel:

Bethlehem

Church of the Nativity

St George’s Monastery

Bethsaida

Jerusalem

Church of Holy Sepulchre

Via Dolorosa

Please share with me your experiences of the Holy Land. I’d love to hear from you.