Explore Jerusalem's Old City

Understand the Gates, its inscriptions and history, the observation point from the Tower of David, the bustle of today, the views to the West and my first hand experience as a child growing up on the Israel-Jordanian border before 1967.

From the main street of the Armenian quarter, we enter the courtyard of the St. James Church, the burial site of James, the brother of Jesus, and James one of his 12 disciples. Here we will admire the unique architecture and the stunning traditional Armenian ceramics displayed in the church, and learn the history of the Armenian community in Jerusalem for over 1500 years.

We approach Mt. Zion through the Zion Gate where we will understand the last battle of the Jewish Quarter in 1948 when it fell to the Jordanians, and how it was liberated in 1967. On Mt. Zion, we will visit the Room of the Last Supper, the Tomb of King David, the Dormition Church where Mary Mother of Jesus fell into a coma before her death, and ascend to the lookout point where we can see the Hill of Evil Counsel and the Temple Mount.

The City of David was established by King David himself 3000 years ago as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel. We will walk through the foundations of King David's palace, observe the ruins of the homes and offices of the officials who served the Judean Kings. We will explore a 3800-year-old tunnel that was a passageway to Jerusalem's water supply, the Gichon spring, the very site where King Solomon, the son of King David, was anointed. We will walk through the water in the darkened Hezekiah tunnels with flashlights leading our way and emerge at the Second Temple era Shiloan pool, where pilgrims bringing sacrifices to the Temple would congregate and immerse before alighting to the Temple Mount. This is the site where Jesus miraculously restored a blind man's sight. We will connect to the path of the pilgrims via a shuttle, and walk through the drainage tunnel along the foundations of the Western Wall. We emerge through the tunnel at the ancient Herodian Street including the ruins of shops, the money changers, and pigeon vendors, as well as the entrance to the Holy Temple.

The last remains of the Holy Temple, where Jews for centuries have prayed and wept for redemption and return to the Holy Land. The Western Wall is adjacent to the Holy of Holies from the Temple times, and today the Dome of the Rock and the El Aqsa Mosque are found. According to tradition, people write notes with their prayers and insert them into the Wall. You are invited to pray and insert your message in the Wall.

We will explore the colorful and fascinating bazaar, and the 600-year-old Market of cotton makers, still active today. We will be able to observe the Dome of the Rock and learn about the rise of Islam in the Land of Israel from 638 C.E. until today.

We will also break for lunch at Lina, the best Hummus Restaurant in the City. (lunch not included in price of tour)