Page 44 - Holyland Magazine - 2016 Edition

Neot Kedumim
Biblical landscapes come to life in modern Israel
By Shahar Shilo
"But the land that you are going over to
possess is a land of hills and valleys, which
drinks water by the rain from heaven"
(Deuteronomy 11:11)
Neot Kedumim is a Biblical Landscape
Nature Reserve in the heart of Israel, 15
minutes from Ben Gurion Airport. It re-
creates the physical setting of the Bible, Songs and Isaiah’s Vineyard. By reuniting text
which was the birthplace of biblical
values and a rich vocabulary to express them.
The Bible does not convey its ideas in abstract
terms, but through a clear and vivid record
of long human interaction with the Land of
Israel. Neot Kedumim draws on a variety of
disciplines, such as Bible scholarship, botany,
zoology, geography, history, and archaeology
to bring the Bible and its commentaries to life.
At the oil press
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"A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and
fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil
olive, and honey" (Deuteronomy 8:8).
Neot Kedumim offers a network of natural
and agricultural landscapes bearing names
that indicate their textual sources: the Forest of Jesus regarding the good shepherd (John
of Milk and Honey, the Dale of the Song of
and context, we understand Israel’s nature as
the idiom of the Bible. The symbols, prayers
and holidays of the Jewish and Christian
heritage blossom in the 625-acre biblical
nature reserve of Neot Kedumim.
Our experience (following the seasons of the
year) includes:
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me”
(John 7:37).
Understanding the ancient water cistern
of the Bible, as we draw water from it like
Rebecca, Moses and Zipporah, and as we
see in the story of Jesus and the Samaritan
woman (John 4).
“Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean”
(Psalms 51:7).
Come face to face with the famous biblical
herb, as we use the mortar and pestle to
make our own traditional spice mixture and
enjoy it with olive oil and pita bread.
Herding sheep and goats - “The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1).
Guided tour of the biblical park. Photos: Neot Kedumim
The biblical land of Israel is a grazing land for
herds, and the Bible looks up to shepherds
as natural born leaders (Abraham, Jacob,
Moses, King Saul, King David and many
others). We will experience leading a flock of
sheep and goats, as we practice the words
10, 11).
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will not walk in darkness” (John 8:12).
Experience the world of the olive oil industry
- the light source of the ancient world.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew
6:11).
Experiencing the world of bread making:
harvest wheat with a sickle, thresh it on the
threshing floor, winnow it and finally grind
the grain for flour.
Torah Scribe at work - “Till heaven and earth
pass, not one jot or title shall not pass from
the law.” (Matthew 5:18).
A demonstration of the famous ancient craft
of Hebrew calligraphy with reed pens.
For more information
www.neot-kedumim.org.il
The author, Shahar Shilo, is a historian and expert
guide on biblical archeology