TOUR TO THE SAMARITAN PASSOVER SACRIFICE--join US this coming Wenesday the 20th The Samaritans or "Shomronim" have been living in the Shomron for 2,500 years where they still practice many ancient rites from the Torah, including the Passover Sacrifice. This year the Samaritan Passover falls out a couple of days before Pesach on Wednesday April 20th. This gives us a unique opportunity to witness this ancient ceremony which has taken place on Mt. Gerizim for 2,500 years! Normally it is hard to get there or on Shabbat. This time we will have once in a life time timing. I've created a special full-day, pre-Pesach tour around this event which will help us prepare for Pesach while getting a sense of how our ancestors celebrated this holiday thousands of years ago. (Security precautions will be taken, including an armored bus and armed guard) Leaves Jerusalem 10 am Returns by 10 pm HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO:
ANCIENT SHILOH
Before the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the Mishkan in Shiloh was the center of Jewish worship for 369 years! This is where all of Israel would bring their Passover Sacrifice. Shiloh is also where Chana prayed for her son Shmuel who became the leader of Israel and anointed the first Kings. We'll do a short hike/walk around the archaeological site, including the site where archaeologists say the Mishkan actually stood.
Multimedia presentation at Shiloh
Hiking at Ancient Shilo
Ancient olive press - Tel Shiloh
Model of the Altar at Tel Shiloh
WINE TASTING AND TOUR AT THE G'VAOT WINERY
The Gvaot winery is a unique winery that sits on the ruins of an ancient winery from the First Temple period. Using the latest in wine making techniques they produce some of the finest wines Israel has to offer! We'll get a tour of the winery, and have an opportunity to taste some of their wines and purchase wine for Pesach.
The vintner, Dr. Shivi Drori
Ancient Vineyards near the winery.
Gvaot Wines
BEIT EL LOOKOUT
We will see where Abraham stood near Beit El when G-d promised the Land of Israel to his children for all generations. From here you can see down to Tel Aviv on the coast Jerusalem in the north and the Judean Desert in the east. From here you can also see the traditional site of Jacob's dream!
Showing what Abraham saw from here
View of Beit El
SAMARITAN PASSOVER
We'll learn all about the Samaritans and their religion and witness this 2,500 year old ceremony at the Samaritan neighborhood atop Mt. Gerizim.
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