Jerusalem Journeys
with Tour Guide Leah
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Meaningful, engaging, and inspiring experiences thoughtfully designed for families, professionals, and visitors of all backgrounds
Jerusalem Site Descriptions for Embassy Tours
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Jaffa Gate
This key entrance to the Old City is a wonderful place to start tours. We will meet in the plaza just before the gate. If it’s raining, I will send you a link to a location inside the Mamilla Mall nearby where we can start with a brief introduction. We can learn about the history of this great city, by looking closely at the stones, and about the geopolitics of the area from the view we see here.
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Church of the Holy Sepulcher
The Church is revered by many Christians as the location of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The Church has been built and rebuilt since the 4th century and it echoes with history, artwork, processions, prayer, and fascinating stories.
We will see all the key areas of the Church as well as some of the off-the-beaten-path chapels. Note: There can be long lines (one hour wait or more) to enter the "Edicule" the actual burial place and also to touch the place where the cross stood on Cavalry/Golgotha. It's best to plan to return to the Church on your own later in the evening when lines are shorter if you would like to enter those places. Sometimes, there are processions in the church so certain areas are blocked off; however, it's always exciting to see them, even if they limit access to some chapels. No entrance fee.
Tower of David Lookout
The rooftop of this ancient fortress has the best panoramic view of Jerusalem including the 4 quarters, the Mount of Olives, the Temple Mount, and modern Jerusalem outside the Old City. As 19th British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said, "The view of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more. It is the history of Heaven and Earth". We can go up to the rooftop for a special rate of 15 shekels pp.
Armenian Quarter
Armenian Christians have a unique history in Jerusalem and they have made handmade ceramics an iconic symbol of Jerusalem.
We will take a short walk through the Armenian Quarter which is on the way to other key sites. There's an option to visit one of Jerusalem’s Armenian Ceramic workshops. If you would like a brief tour of the workshop with the owner, it’s best to buy something (minimum 50 shekels). If you would like to just browse the shop, it’s not necessary to buy anything. There's also an impressive new museum about the history of Armenians in Jerusalem and the Armenian genocide which you might enjoy visiting on your own.
Jewish Quarter
Today home to 4,000 Jewish residents, many schools, shops and restaurants, the Jewish Quarter dates back 750 years. Due to the destruction of the Jewish Quarter in the war in 1948, Jewish homes from 2,000 years ago and other amazing archaeology was discovered underground after the 6 Day War in 1967. The Herodian Quarter homes beneath the Jewish Quarter is highly recommened! Visitors literally walk into a fancy home of Jerusalem which has remained from 2,000 years ago. Ask for more information. The Jewish Quarter is also a perfect place for a coffee break or a quick lunch and is on the way to other key sites.
Southern Excavations/Davidson Center
This site is a great place to understand the significance of the Temple Mount to Jews, Christians and Muslims - highly recommended!There's an option for a 2,000 year old tunnel that leads to this site.
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The Temple Mount
Going up on the Temple Mount is possible, but it is complicated to include into a tour, because of the limited opening hours, long lines and its location. If you would like to go up, in any case, let me know and we can include it in your itinerary. On every tour, we will see the Temple Mount from various vantage points.
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Western Wall Plaza
The Western Wall (sometimes called the Wailing Wall) is the most visited site in Jerusalem. Most days it's possible to approach the ancient stones, and anyone who would like can place a prayer note, as has been a tradition for hundreds of years. It's possible to see hidden parts of the wall and learn about the history of the Temple Mount over the last few thousand years in the Western Wall Tunnel Tour.
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Mount of Olives
Lookout from the Mount of Olives – Picture perfect view of the Temple Mount and Old City.
Pater Noster – the first Church on the Mt of Olives, today is dedicated to the Lord’s prayer. The Lord’s prayer is written in over 100 languages on ceramic tiles in the courtyard. (10 shekels pp cash)
Tomb of the Prophets – this 2,500 year old Jewish burial cave gives us a better insight into the burial of Jesus and the layout of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. (10 shekels cash pp). A little bit of adventure!
Gethsemane and Church of All Nations – The Garden where Jesus prayed the last night and was arrested and a church was built and re-built in the same place over the generations. See almost 2,000 year old Olive trees and Church of All Nations with emblems of different countries who donated to rebuild the Church in the 1920s.
Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene – a fascinating part of Russia’s Orthodox Christian history as well as Jerusalem’s history. Church is only open Tuesday and Thursday mornings 10-12.
Tomb of Mary – Mary, Joseph and Mary's parents are memorialized in this ancient tomb as well as a Crusader Queen.
Via Dolorosa
For over 1600 years Christian visitors to Jerusalem have been walking in the footsteps of Jesus from the Trial to the Crucifixion. Amazingly, Jerusalem still looks similar to the ancient times. There are some remarkable archaeological sites such as Bethesda and others along the Via Dolorosa that can be included in a 3/4 or full day tour.
On Friday afternoons the Franciscans do a procession through all the Stations 1-14 including the Stations that are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Processions and prayer service times in Jerusalem: click here.
Souq (or Shuk) - Old City Market
Browsing Old City shops can be a fun part of a Jerusalem tour and a great way to meet local residents in all the quarters. I do not take commissions; but rather, I ask owners to give you a discount instead. Some shop owners offer better customer service than others, so I will try to direct you to the best places. Of course, bargaining is part of the atmosphere, so always feel free to ask for an even better deal. Some shops have unique items from Jerusalem or nearby such as antiquities, local textiles and jewelry, handmade Syrian wood furniture, olive wood Manger Scenes, handmade Armenian ceramics, and artistic Judaica, in addition to the fun t-shirts and magnets. Let me know if you are looking for something particular. I am happy to entertain children so parents can enjoy a few quiet moments to shop. If you would like to browse after the tour, I can point out a few places as we walk by. The shops are spread throughout many of the key Old City sites, so we can't avoid them completely, but we can just walk by without stopping inside if you prefer.
The City of David
This is an active, fun and fascinating site for kids and teens and anyone interested in Biblical archaeology. For a detailed description of the site and tour options including a challenging but fun water tunnel click here.
Tours are private tours, custom designed for your group. Most tours will start and conclude near Jaffa Gate. Guiding fee, entrance fees and transportation costs will be detailed on your personal itinerary before the tour. Itinerary will include suggested changes in the event of heavy rain.
All tours can be modified for children or anyone with mobility limitations. All tours can include games and prizes to engage children ages 4 - 12 in the content of the tour. I can arrange transportation round trip from Tel Aviv, the Allenby crossing from Jordan or other locations, if required. Don't know which sites are best for your tour? I can suggest an itinerary for you. Contact me at tourguideleah@gmail.com or Whatsapp +972-50-655-8670.
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