Celebrating Israel's Crossing of the Jordan and Entry into the Land
One of the great events in Joshua’s conquest of the Land was the miracle at the crossing of the Jordan River, when the river dried up ten kilometres upstream, and the People of Israel crossed on dry land from the Plains of Moab on the east side of the Jordan to the Plains of Jericho on the west side (Joshua 3:16). From there, the People of Israel went on to conquer Jericho, after setting-up camp in the Gilgal, which is at the heart of the Plains of Jericho, just east of the yet unconquered city of Jericho.
The crossing of the Jordan took place on the 10th of the month of Nissan, one month and three days after Moses spoke his last to the People of Israel in the Plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan opposite Jericho, and from there ascended Mt Nebo (above the Plains of Moab) and departed from this world (Deuteronomy 31:1-13 and 33:1 - 34:12). The date of Moses's death was on the 7th of the month of Adar (Babylonian Talmud: Tractates Megilah p13b, and Kiddushin p38a).
On , we will celebrate the crossing of the Jordan into the Land, with a choice of tours or a seminar in the morning, followed by a celebration on the Bank of the Jordan River in the afternoon, as in previous years:
A. Tours & Seminar in the Morning
From 09:00 to 15:30: Choose from one of five tours of the area, or a seminar:
- The Yitav (Uja) Valley (Blue Tour) - and discovering its history. We will visit the Naaran Synagogue in Jericho. We will walk along the Yitav (Uja) Stream, hearing about the history of the area and enjoying the abundance greenery and water. We will visit the memorial to the 54 soldiers who died in a helicopter accident in the area. We will visit the recently discovered Hasmonean aqueduct in the heart of the Mevo'ot Yericho pioneering farm and community. We will complete the tour with a visit to a pioneering family farm in the Jordan Valley and hear its story - you can also buy local produce there.
* Moderately easy walking tour.
* See pictures of a similar tour, that took place a few years ago.
* On-line reservation (in Hebrew) for this tour. - Tel Jericho and Jericho's Synagogues (Green Tour)- We will enter the ancient city of Jericho, the City of Palm Trees, and visit the remains of the original city of Jericho - Tel Jericho - conquered by Joshua Bin Nun, where we will see that the walls on the eastern side are non-existant - having been absorbed into the ground by a miracle. There we will also see Rahab's house, the only building from the period of the conquest still standing whole - as Joshua promised Rahab that Jericho would be destroyed completely except for her house. We will visit Jericho's two Byzantine-Period synagogues with contrasting mosaics: Shalom al Israel, with its unique mosaic full of Jewish symbolism and totally devoid of Hellenistic influence, and Naaran, with its heavily Hellenistic-inspired mosaic.
* Moderately easy walking at each of the sites visited.
* See pictures of a similar tour, that took place a few years ago.
* On-line reservation (in Hebrew) for this tour. - Wadi Kelt as you Never Knew it Before (Purple Tour) - Trekking Wadi Kelt from Jericho all the way up to the St George monastery. We will pass through the Eyn Kelt Spring, see ancient aqueducts and water channels, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, which we will pass through.
* 7 km of challenging trekking.
* On-line reservation (in Hebrew) for this tour. - Green Trees in a Desert Land (Orange Tour) - Tour of the southern Jordan Valley: Where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, Old Beit Arava and the destroyed Abdala Bridge, the new pioneering community of Kedem Arava, and the ruined monasteries along the border. Together with stories of the pioneers who settled and fought in the area.
* Easy walking at each of the siteds visited.
* Some of the sites to be visited can be seen in this photo album and at the beginning of this photo album.
* On-line reservation (in Hebrew) for this tour. - The Desert of the Holy City (Red Tour) - We will go on the trail of dreamers, hermits and poets of three faiths. We will walk the path of the dead Sea Scrolls at the Qumran archaeological site. We will talk about this most significant archaeological site in Israel, and the latest research pertaining to it. We will discover little-known events surrounding to the stone cutters of Kalia. We will see the aqueduct leading to Qumran. We will then visit Nebi Mussa and enjoy the scenery around the St George Monastery and the observation point of the Maale Adumim Tower.
* Moderately easy walking at each of the sites visited.
* On-line reservation (in Hebrew) for this tour. - Seminar about Jericho and the Jordan Valley in memory of Jabo Erlich (may G-d avenge his blood), who fell in Lebanon earlier this year. - Lectures and discussions about the geography, history, traditions and the heritage of the area. Takes place in Beit Hogla, east of Jericho from 10:00 AM.
* On-line reservation (in Hebrew) for this event.
Programme of the Seminar in Beit Hogla
- Erna Covos, the founder of Beit Hogla – Words of welcome;
- Rav Dr. Hagi Ben Arzi – The conquest of the Land according to Jabo Erlich (may G-d avenge his blood);
- Former Minister of Agriculture Avraham Katz Oz – The Jordan Valley and Judean Desert;
- Gen. (res.) Former Deputy Chief of Staff Uzi Dayan – Chairman of the Jordan Valley Solidarity Association;
- Haim Yoavi Rabinovich - a simple citizen.
- Rav Prof. Yoel Elitzur – The borders of four of the tribes near the Site of the Jordan Crossing;
- Former Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel - The challenges of settlement east of the Alon Road in the forthcoming decade;
- Prof. Talia Einhorn – The negation of the Jewish Heritage of the Land of Israel by the International Court of Injustice in The Hague;
- Eli Escozido Director of Antiquities in Israel - The work of archaeologists in the Gaza Envelope in the search for missing persons;
- Eliada Ben Shaul, scholar specialising in the study of the Land of Israel - My heart is in the east;
- Rav Itzhak Amitai, brother of Jabo Erlich (may G-d avenge his blood) - The Balad of Yoel Moshe Solomon;
B. Ceremony at the Site of the Jordan Crossing
From 15:30 to 16:00: Tour and on-location explanation of the Site of the Jordan Crossing (otherwise known as Qasr Al Yehud).
From 16:00 to 17:30: Ceremony at the Site of the Jordan Crossing, with public figures in attendance.
C. Info & Reservation
- Note that the programme in its entirety is in Hebrew.
- Buses are provided from Jerusalem, Latrun, Rosh HaAyn and Tel Aviv arriving in time for the tours. You can also drive by car to the Site of the Jordan Crossing (otherwise known as Qasr Al Yehud), and join the activities from there.
- Info & reservation on-line. You can also reserve through the respective links provided above for each tour / seminar.
- Info & reservation by phone: 058-5508150 between 10:00 and 19:00 Sundays to Thursdays.
- Info only: send a WhatsApp or SMS to Yoni at 052-3527313.
