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Samuel Green

Samuel has been a licensed tour guide in Israel since 2014 and has won multiple industry awards. In addition to his tour guide license, he has a BA and MA from the University of Cambridge in Hebrew and Israeli Studies. You can follow Samuel's adventures around Israel on his Instagram @myisraeliguide.

120 articles

120 articles
Church of the Transfiguration, Mt Tabor
North · Galilee

Christianity in the Galilee

My first Christianity-focused field trip in the Galilee: the Church of the Transfiguration on Mt Tabor, the wedding-miracle churches at Kfar Kana, four churches in Nazareth, and the views from Mount Precipice.

View from Mount Tabor Church of the Transfiguration, Mt Tabor Catholic Church of the Wedding, Kana Orthodox Church of the Wedding, Kana Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth Mary's Home: inside the crypt at the Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth Home of the Holy Family: Church of St Joseph, Nazareth Church of the Synagogue, Nazareth Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth View over Nazareth from Mount Precipice View over the Jezreel Valley from Mount Precipice
Everlasting Hill at Mt Gerizim
West Bank

Benjamin and Samaria

A field trip into the West Bank: the archaeological site at Shiloh (briefly home to the tabernacle), a fog-bound viewpoint from Mt Kabir, and Mt Gerizim — holy site of the Samaritans.

View from Shiloh Model of the Altar of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) at Shiloh Sheikh Bilal at Mt Kabir Everlasting Hill at Mt Gerizim Byzantine Church at Mt Gerizim View over Nablus / Shechem from Mt Gerizim
The Western Wall (the Kotel)
Centre · Jerusalem

Jerusalem: First Temple and Second Temple Periods

A field-trip filling in the gaps between the two Jerusalem temple-period days: the Roman 10th Legion's camp under Binyanei Hauma, the Western Wall Tunnels, an advance preview of the Eastern Cardo, the Kidron mausolea and the burial tombs at Ketef Hinnom.

Roman Kiln at the Jerusalem ICC King David's Tomb Inside the Western Wall Tunnels The Western Wall (the Kotel) Excavations in the Western Wall Plaza Mausoleum in Nachal Kidron (Valley of the King) First Temple Period Tomb at Ketef Hinnom View into Gei Ben Hinnom
Avdat - view from within the fortified area
South · Negev

Nabatean Cities in the Negev

A field-trip to two of the Nabatean cities of the Negev, Mamshit and Avdat, now a UNESCO world heritage site: the ingenious cisterns, the spice and wine trade, the assimilation into Roman and then Byzantine Christian culture.

View over Mamshit Mamshit: 'Nilus' Church View from Avdat - note the greenery to the left coming from revival of ancient irrigation techniques Avdat: Church of St Theodore
Machpela Cave (Cave of the Patriarchs)
West Bank

South Mount Hebron

Returning from glandular fever for a complex field-trip to the South Hebron Hills: the Cave of Machpela, Tel Rumeida, the Byzantine ruins of Susya and Anim, and the illegal outpost at Avigail. Politics unavoidable, the day deeply absorbing.

Machpela Cave (Cave of the Patriarchs) Ancient ruins at Tel Rumeida View over Hebron from Tel Rumeida Byzantine era synagogue at Susya Byzantine era synagogue at Susya Byzantine era synagogue at Anim View over the Hebron hills from Avigail
"The Broad Wall": remains of Hezekiah's 7 meter wide northern defensive wall in Jerusalem
Centre · Jerusalem

Jerusalem in the First Temple Period

Our first field-trip to Jerusalem, focusing on the First Temple period: a panorama from the Haas Promenade, the archaeology of the City of David, Hezekiah's Broad Wall and the Israelite gate tower, and the Ariel Centre's model of the early city.

View north over Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade View from the top of the City of David over South and East Jerusalem Inside the water tunnels in the City of David "The Broad Wall": remains of Hezekiah's 7 meter wide northern defensive wall in Jerusalem Remains of the gate tower from Hezekiah's wall around Jerusalem Model of Jerusalem in First Temple times at the Ariel Center
Samson's Tomb on Tel Tzora
Centre · Judean Lowlands (Shfela)

The Biblical Judean Lowlands (Shfela)

A field-trip day across the Judean Lowlands (Shfela) — the Tzora forest, Tel Beit Shemesh, the recently discovered Khirbet Qeiyafa, Tel Azeka over the valley of David and Goliath, and Tel Lachish.

Samson's Tomb on Tel Tzora Sculpture Garden in Beit Shemesh Inside the ancient cistern at Tel Beit Shemesh The Israelite fortress from the period of King David at Khirbet Qeiyafa View over the Judean Lowlands (Shfela) from Tel Azeka View over the Judean Lowlands (Shfela) from Tel Lachish
Sunset over the ruins of the Israelite fortress at Tel Arad
South · Negev

Archaeology of the Biblical Negev

A field-trip day through the biblical Negev — the Joe Alon Centre for Bedouin culture, then south to the UNESCO-listed Tel Beer Sheva and the early-Canaanite ruins of Tel Arad.

Learning about Bedouin culture at the Joe Alon Centre Descending into the vast water system at Tel Beer Sheva Remains of a late Canaanite period 'Arad House' at Tel Arad The original altar in the temple at the Israelite fortress in Tel Arad Sunset over the ruins of the Israelite fortress at Tel Arad
El Ahwat
North

The Ancient Sea Road (Via Maris)

A storm-soaked field trip along the ancient Sea Road: El Ahwat, the Katzir viewpoint, Tel Megiddo and Tel Jezreel, the Beit Alfa synagogue mosaic, and a hail-pelted finale on the Gilboa ridge.

El Ahwat Katzir Viewpoint Model of the Israelite city at Tel Meggido View from the east side of Tel Meggido View from Tel Jezreel Ancient Beit Alfa Synagogue View from Mt Barkan on the Gilboa View from Mt Shaul on the Gilboa
Dining room at Martyrius Monastery
South · Judean Desert

The Jordan Valley

A field trip down the Jordan Valley: the Byzantine monasteries of Martyrius, St Euthymius and St Gerassimos; the baptism site at Qasr el Yahud; the Jordan Valley Monument; and an evening sing-song at the Mabua spring.

Dining room at Martyrius Monastery Inside a vast cistern at St Euthymius Monastery Inside the church at the Monastery of St Gerassimos A pilgrim collects water from the Jordan River at the site of Jesus's Baptism Jordan Valley Monument View over the Jordan Valley at the Jordan Valley Monument Remnants of Hasmonean Aqueducts at Ein Mabua
What guests say

If you are going to Israel, you would be mad not to give him a call.

Amol Rajan, BBC presenter and broadcaster

Having been on trips in Israel with seven different tour guides, Samuel stood above all the rest.

Seasoned Israel traveller

Samuel is one part walking encyclopedia, one part storyteller, one part stand-up comedian.

Berkeley Haas Business School student
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