Page 46 - Holyland Magazine - 2017 Edition
P. 46

Come Walk the Bible With Us at

Neot-Kedumim Park

The world’s only biblical nature reserve

Iris Pomerantz Golan

"Consider the lilies of the field…"                      7a:n3y7o)n. ePhwohtoo:isEltdhairdstMy aceosmtreoto  me  and  drink"  "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11)
(Matthew 6:28)
                                                “...Let
Did you ever ask yourself why the dove          (John
        returned to the ark with an olive leaf
        after the flood? Why the righteous      15-minute drive from Ben Gurion Airport.                                      come to me and drink” (John 7:37). We can
        compared to the date palm in Psalm      The vast 625-acre reserve is flourishing with                                 enjoy the scent of the hyssop and explore
        92? Why Zacchaeus actually climbed      hundreds of species of plants mentioned in the                                its symbolism: “Purify me with hyssop, and I
the Sycomore tree?                              Christian and Jewish sources. Visitors to the                                 shall be clean” (Psalms 51:7), while we make
                                                site will find authentic agricultural installations                           our own traditional spice mixture.
Often when we read the biblical verses          which were discovered during archaeological
in church or with family, we may miss the       excavations: ancient cisterns, wine presses,                                  We are all aware that many of our ancient
richness of the text and the hidden messages    oil presses together with restored agricultural                               leaders were shepherds. Here you can lead a
behind the words. The day-to-day farming        facilities. Experienced and enthusiastic                                      flock of sheep and goats like Abraham, Jacob,
and shepherding life of our biblical ancestors  guides lead groups on inspirational tours                                     Moses, and King David and experience the
is not always easy for us to understand today.  that combine history, archeology, botany                                      meaning behind the phrase, “The Lord is my
Ancient sources are packed with descriptions    and zoology with an emphasis on hands-on                                      shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1). You
of the landscape which our ancestors, the       activities.                                                                   can meet a Torah scribe and even plant a tree
prophets, Jesus and the apostles walked                                                                                       to help revive the ancient forest of milk and
through every day.                              While walking on pastoral trails, we draw                                     honey. At the end of your visit, you can enjoy
                                                water from ancient cisterns, exactly as                                       a catered biblical meal or cook your own meal
Neot Kedumim - the only biblical nature         Rebecca and Jacob, Moses and Zipporah,                                        outdoors.
reserve in the world, was established to        Jesus and the Samaritan woman did in the
endow the biblical stories with life and        Bible. We can understand the meaning                                          Your trip to Israel is not complete without
relevance. Neot Kedumim means: an oasis of      behind the words, “Let anyone who is thirsty                                  visiting Neot Kedumim!
the ancient days. This is where we can come
to learn about our heritage, and where we
can find answers to biblical questions.

Neot Kedumim is located in the center of
Israel, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, a

46
   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51