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Hurvah Synagogue
Inside the Sephardi Synagogues
Zion Gate
Where the Jews surrendered in 1948
Jewish Defender's Memorial

Private Full Day Return to Zion Jerusalem Tour

By Imagine Israel Tours
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Features
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
Overview

Our tour takes place in the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and is themed on the return to Zion. First, what is Zion – it is from the Jewish bible and was first used as the name of the fortress King David captured when the Israelites captured Jerusalem about 3000 years ago. Then it became synonymous with Jerusalem and Israel.
From the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE 2000 years ago in Jerusalem, Jews have been trying to regain again a permanent foothold in their most holy city. As Jews were exiled all around the world, Jerusalem was the magnet drawing Jews back here - returning to Zion even under the most harrowing of circumstances. On our tour, we will hear and see what happened when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and hear stories of how Jews returned at different times over the Centuries. The loss of the Jewish Quarter in 1948 and then the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 once again to be the Eternal Capital of Israel.

Activity location

  • Old City of Jerusalem
    • Jerusalem, Israel

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Old City of Jerusalem
    • Jerusalem, Israel

Check availability

Sorry this activity isn't available on Sun, 17 Nov
Please choose a different date

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedPrivate transport
  • What's includedWhat's includedLicence English Guide
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedLunch will be in the Jewish Quarter. The cost is excluded from the tour price

Know before you book

  • Specialised infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Activity itinerary

Old City of Jerusalem
  • 45m
We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem at Jaffa Gate. Built by the Turkish Emperor Suleiman the Magnificent with the walls of Jerusalem
Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem
  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
We will the Tower of David fortress dating back 2000 years. Climb Phasael's Tower built by Herod the Great in the year 20 BC for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. We will see the Dome of the Rock, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the two largest Synagogues in the Jewish Quarter. Great Photo Opportunity.
Jewish Quarter
  • 1h
We will walk through the Armenian Quarter and enter the Jewish Quarter. The first thing we will visit is the Cardo, the ancient Roman road created in Jerusalem in 136 CE after the Roman Emperor Hadrian had defeated the rebellion of Bar Kochba, changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitalina and banned Jews from living in the City.
Hurva Synagogue
  • 45m
  • Admission ticket included
We visit the Hurva Synagogue and learn about how Ashkenazi Jews returned to Zion in the 18th Century and how this Synagogue became the main Ashkenazi synagogue in the Old City. Learn of its destruction by the Jordanians in 1948 and how it was rebuilt 15 years ago. We will go in the synagogue and walk around its dome.
The Four Sephardic Synagogues
  • 45m
We then go to the 4 Sephardi Synagogues and learn about the Return to Zion of the Sephardi community after the Jews were kicked out of Spain in 1492. We will hear about how the Jews were treated in these synagogues up to the 20th Century.
Herodian Quarter/Wohl Archaeological Museum
  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
We go back in time 2000 years and see the remains of the Priest's houses that stood at the time of the Second Temple. We will see the amazing drawing of the Temple Menorah and learn about the role the Priest's played in the Temple
Burnt House
  • 45m
  • Admission ticket included
We next visit the Burnt House. The "Burnt House" is a residential building from the Second Temple period discovered during the restoration of the Jewish Quarter after 1967. We see a stone weight engraved with the name Katros, the name of the family of kohanim that we know from the Pesachim of the Talmud. A second stone weight was recently discovered nearby, under the Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue, bearing the name of this family. Alongside the stone weight, you’ll see a spearhead installed by the Jewish rebels while defending themselves against the legions of Romans who had furiously stormed their houses, pottery and tools carved from Jerusalemite stone.
Jewish Quarter
  • 1h
  • Admission ticket not included
We will have lunch in the various cafes and choices in the Jewish Quarter.
The Davidson Center
  • 1h 15m
  • Admission ticket included
We will visit the archaelogical site around the Temple Mount. See the Western and Southern Walls of Herod's Temple Mount platform. Learn about how the Romans destroyed the City and threw down the Temple. We will walk along the road used by the pilgrims and see where they would enter the Temple Mount.
Western Wall
  • 1h
We then walk to the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism and see the last remnant of the Holy Temple destroyed in the year 70 AD.
Batei Mahseh Square
  • 45m
Here we will learn about the War of Independence in 1948, and how the Jewish Quarter was lost and destroyed by the Jordanians. We will visit the memorial to the fallen soldiers who died to defend the quarter. Hear about how the Jews were exiled from the Old City via the Zion Gate.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESOld City of Jerusalem
    • Jerusalem, Israel

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLEOld City of Jerusalem
    • Jerusalem, Israel

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