The Dead Sea: A condemned lake?
Western shore of the Dead Sea, between Qumran and Ein Gedi. Photo: Eyal Asaf. The Dead Sea is the sea of all superlatives: at 420 meters below the Mediterranean, it is the lowest point on Earth; with salinity levels almost ten times higher than those of the ocean, it...
The Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of...
Sukkot: The Festival of Booths
With the week of Sukkot—the Festival of Booths, Cabanas, or Tabernacles—the cycle of holidays for the month of Tishrei (September/October) in the Jewish lunar calendar comes to an end. In Jesus’ time, as well as today, this was one of the major festivals,...