Jerusalem Light Festival

Jerusalem Festival of Lights, a huge and impressive artistic event, the first of its kind in Israel, will take place on June 10 – 16, 2009.

It is a spectacular feast for the senses of art and lights, the lighting of architectonic assets, installations and art displays; street galleries; museum-like displays; different street shows; light sculptures and more – promising unforgettable magical moments!  Continue Reading

Sheraton Plaza Jerusalem

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the world’s largest hotel companies and the owner of the global Sheraton chain, announced last week that as of June 2009 four Israeli hotels will be stripped of their “Sheraton” title.

 The four hotels, all owned by businessman Shaya Boymelgreen are Sheraton Moriah Tel Aviv, Sheraton Plaza Jerusalem, Sheraton Tiberias and Sheraton Eilat. Continue Reading

Yoav Zeitun.

Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israel’s national El Al Airlines officially began marketing travel packages targeting Europe’s gay community on Monday, in cooperation with the Tel Aviv Tourist Association and the city’s Rov Hair faction.

The special packages include a round trip from Europe, and a three-night stay in a Tel Aviv hotel, starting from the attractive price of €250 ($332).  

According to tourism branch sources, this is the first time El Al takes such a direct and upfront approach to gay tourism, that is courted around the world by travel agencies and airlines due to the great profit potential found among this population.

On average, gay tourists spend more time vacationing than non-gay tourists and are known to be bigger spenders. Continue Reading

Pope Benedict XVI who is expected to be accompanied by an estimated More than 15,000 Christian pilgrims, is to visit Israel and Jordan May 8-15.  The pilgrimage will mark the second time a pope has visited Israel. The first was in 2000 when Pope John Paul II made his landmark visit.

The pope arrives in Jordan this Friday at the start of a Holy Land pilgrimage promoting peace and interfaith relations in a visit which the Vatican hopes will help improve its strained ties with both Israel and the Muslim world. Continue Reading

The Pope’s Holy Land Pilgrimage will include a visit to Jordan, followed on 11-15 May by a visit to Israel and the holy sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem. The Pope will also meet with religious leaders during his five day visit. The highlight of the Pope’s visit to Israel will be Holy Mass at the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem, where thousands are expected to participate on the afternoon of 12 May. The Pope will also visit Yad Vashem (11 May) and the Temple Mount, Western Wall, Mount Zion, the Cenacle and Gethsemane Church on 12 May. After a visit to Bethlehem and Mass at Manger Square, (13 May), the Pope will deliver another Mass in Nazareth at Mount Precipice and pray at the Church of the Annunciation (14 May). Continue Reading

Coins have always been, first and foremost, a means of payment, but they have also been used to communicate messages. We also look at coins for the evidence they provide for commercial, religious and cultural relations. The coins that found their way to Jerusalem, are testimonies to the importance of the capital as a cosmopolitan center and focus of pilgrimage. In times of peace, Jerusalem attracted visitors, traders and pilgrims of all religions. In times of war, the political and strategic importance of Jerusalem brought invading and conquering armies into the city. Continue Reading