Safed, Tiberias and Meron Tour

Drive north and see on route breathtaking view over Jordan valley. At Tiberias we visit the graves of the world renowned Rabbi Moses Maimonides, Rambam, and of the second century sage, Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes. Drive via the Sea of Galilea and stop at diamond factory for light refreshments. During a walk through the old city of Safed, city of the Kabala, we stop at the synagogue of the Ari HaKadosh, Isaac Luria, the visitors' centre and the artists' quarter. Finally, at Mount Meron, where thousands annually celebrate Lag BaOmer, we visit the graves of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, Rashbi, and his son.

* Modest dress required for holy places
* Minimum 5 participants
* Tour 144: 05:50 am transfer from Jerusalem to join the tour in Tel Aviv!

Places alogn the Safed, Tiberias & Mount Meron Tour route

Tiberias

Tiberius is nestled along the edge of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) in the lower Galilee, the ancient city is one of Israel's four holy Jewish cities and a popular Christian pilgrimage site as Jesus spent time here. Tiberias was established in 18BC and since then the Roman Empire and Crusaders among others have left their mark on the city. At one time Tiberius was the most important city of Jewish religious study and the commentary of the Old Testament, the Mishna, is thought to have been written here.

Maimonides

Among the famous Jewish tombs in Tiberias is that of the Rabbi Moses (ben-Maimon) Maimonides, also known as Rambam. Maimonides died in Egypt in 1204 and his body was brought to the holy city of Tiberius to be buried on Ben Zakai Street. Maimonides is recognized as one of Jewish history's leading Torah scholar. Rambam wrote prolifically and his religious observations and rulings dominate the Jewish interpretations of the Torah and the Oral Torah.

Rabbi Baal HaNes

The final resting place of Rabbi Baal HaNes (literally: He who does miracles) is also in Tiberias. Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes was one of the religious scholars whose teachings comprise the Mishna and his name is frequently mentioned in this holy work. When he died his body was brought to Tiberias and buried in a standing position near the Sea of Galilee. As a popular Jewish pilgrimage site the tomb is often surrounded by worshipers praying for health and reciting Psalms.

Safed

Another of the four holy cities of Judaism, Safed appears to be a city in the clouds as it is perched on hill tops at an altitude of 2,953 ft. The city, like Jerusalem is built entirely of stone and surrounded by green forests. Safed features in the Bible but is best known as the birth place of Kabalah, the 16th century Jewish mysticism.
Synagogue of the Ari Hakadosh
There are two synagogues in Safed dedicated to Ari Hakadosh – the Holy Lion or Isaac Luria whose religious insights are the foundation of the Kabalistic movement. The two synagogues are close to each other, one Ashkenazi and one Sephardic. The Sephardic synagogue, Safed's oldest synagogue, is where the prophet Eliyahu would appear to Ari Hakadosh and the Ashkenazi synagogue is where the holy man studied and prayed here three ornate arks on display.
Safed Visitor's Center
At the Safed visitor's center you can learn about the history of Safed, see maps, models, get brochures and information about anything concerning Safed as well as see an audio-visual presentation of the city's history. What makes the center unique is the tunnel underneath the center of an excavated ancient Safed street where one can descend into a corridor and see ancient rooms.
Artist's Quarter
Along the cobbled lanes of Safed every small store front is an artist's studio or gallery with religiously inspired works of art in numerous mediums. The ancient city has become an enclave of artists seeking the tranquil inspiration of the ancient city.

Mount Meron

This is one of Israel's highest mountains and holds deep religious significance for Orthodox Jews, Christians and Muslims as well as being a stunning nature reserve. Mount Meron is a possible location of the transfiguration of Jesus where Jesus is thought to have conversed with the prophets Elijah and Moses. On the slopes of the mountain are both Jewish and Druze villages and it is here that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is buried.

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi)

One of the significant sites on Mount Meron is the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Tanna Rabbi Elazar. The Rabbi, a renowned Jewish sage, is thought to have written the Zohar, the most important Kabalistic work, and was a follower of Rabbi Akiva, and survivor of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans. The Tomb is the gathering point for hundreds of Jewish pilgrims on the anniversary of the Rabbis passing on Lug b' Omer.
 

Modest dress required for holy places Minimum 5 participants Tour 144: 05:50 am transfer from Jerusalem to join the tour in Tel Aviv!