Tobias Family – Jerusalem Day Tour – June 2025

Activities:

• Begin your tour at the Jaffa Gate - An imposing entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, the Jaffa Gate is one of the six original entrances built by Suleiman the Magnificent. The Jaffa Gate is full of fascinating details, like the abrupt right-angle turn within the gatehouse, the chamber above the gate, and the huge mezuzah, which is new since the time of Suleiman.

• Ramparts Walk - Discover the Old City on the Rampart Walls which were built in the 16th century for patrolling by the Ottomans' soldiers. Today you can enjoy a bird's eye view of the old city and its surroundings. Begin at the Jaffa Gate and walk north around the Christian and Muslim Quarters, descending at the Damascus gate.

• The Jewish Quarter - The Jewish Quarter is best known for the Western Wall, but there’s a lot more to see and do here. See archaeological finds from the First and Second Temple periods, Roman ruins, vibrant synagogues, and learning institutions, all jostling for space in these busy stone streets.

• Walk through the Southern Wall Archaeological Gardens at Davidson Center - Get a glimpse of the glory of the Second Temple, the heart of the ancient Jewish kingdom, and the devastation that followed. Visit the Davidson Visitors' Center and enjoy a modern and interactive virtual presentation. The museum presents a taste of the archaeology of Jerusalem from different eras - covering the First Temple, Second Temple, Byzantine, Islamic, and the Crusades periods.

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• Explore what’s under the Muslim Quarter through the Kotel Tunnels Tour - The Western Wall is impressive, but its greatness is truly discovered when you descend underground to the Western Wall Tunnels. The tunnels run along approximately 488 meters (1601ft) of the Western Wall, giving visitors a taste of the challenge that stood before Herod the Great during the biggest of all his immense building projects - the expansion of the Temple Mount.

• Take time to reflect at the Western Wall – HaKotel - Over generations, Jews came to pray here, as it was the closest they could come to where once stood the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount. When you see The Wall there are thousands of years and the weight of millions of Jews there piuring their hearts there. Your eyes may just see giant ancient bricks and people praying, but your heart sees infinitely more. What does being here mean to you and your group members individually and as part of the Jewish people?

• Browse in the famous Arab shuk (market) in the Muslim Quarter - Check out the local hummus and sweets, the many stalls selling spices, pastries, pottery, sheepskin, embroidered clothes, and so much more. Meet store owners whose stores have been in their family for generations.

• Christian Quarter - One of the four neighborhoods of Jerusalem’s Old City, the Christian Quarter is home to a rich tapestry of Christians of many denominations. The historic and impressive Church of the Holy Sepulchre, encompassing the last 5 Stations of the Cross, dominates the area. Retrace the footsteps of generations of pilgrims, or eat some of Israel’s best hummus at one of the authentic restaurants in the quarter.