The Wadi Bokek in the Dead Sea basin displays the resiliency of life and the power of erosion. Walk through the water in this desert oasis. See the video below.
Khirbet Qumran: All Greened Up
The winter rains have “greened” the area around Khirbet Qumran. It’s a perfect moment for a group shot, taken on a trail just below Cave 1 where the first set of the Dead Sea Scrolls was found. Among that set was “the Great Isaiah Scroll,” the oldest complete copy of the book of Isaiah (ca. 100 BC).
Pilgrims below Cave 1 near Khirbet Qumran where Dead Sea Scrolls were first discovered.
The Acacia: The Ironwood of the Desert
If you want to understand resilience, look no further than the Acacia tree. Scattered across the scorched valleys of the Negev and the Sinai, these thorny, flat-topped silhouettes are the only things that thrive where everything else withers. In the biblical narrative, the Acacia (or Shittim wood) isn't just a plant—it’s a symbol of endurance under pressure.
Come sit under the tree with me! Watch the video below.
Northern Palace, Masada
The Northern Palace at Masada is a magnificent three-tiered “hanging” palace built by King Herod the Great between 37 and 31 BC. It cascades dramatically down the northern edge of a steep cliff. A modern metal stair transports our pilgrims from the Mosaic Christian Church down dizzying heights.
The Dead Sea stretches off in the distance.
Explorers walk the stair down to the lowest tier of the Northern Palace, Masada.
