Modern Period
Modern Israel, in historiographical terms, runs from the late-19th-century Aliyot through the British Mandate, the 1948 founding, and the decades since. Posts here cover the Zionist towns established before statehood (Zichron Yaakov, the Jordan Valley moshavim), Tel Aviv’s founding, the Hebrew University on Mt Scopus, Beer Sheva’s development, and the major wars that shaped the state.
11 articles
11 articles
The Hebrew University on Mt Scopus
A walking tour of the Hebrew University on Mt Scopus with a local guide: the botanical gardens, the Cave of Nicanor, the tombs of Ussishkin and Pinsker, and the amphitheatre.
Settlement of the Jordan Valley
A day through the Jordan Valley and the southern Sea of Galilee: the Harod Spring, the Roman bridge and hydroelectric ruins at Old Gesher and Naharayim, the Kinneret Courtyard and Rachel the Poet, Degania, the Motor House and the Kinneret Cemetery.
Beer Sheva and the Southern Coastal Plain
A long day through the southern coastal plain and into the Negev: Mazkeret Batya, the Museum of Philistine Culture and Ashdod Yam fortress, Ashdod Port, the Rutenberg Power Station and Beer Sheva, finishing at the Monument to the Negev Brigade.
Modern Tel Aviv
A second day of touring Tel Aviv, this time tracing its modern development — the cultural quarter, Sarona, the Tachana, the ha'apala memorial, Rabin Square, the old port and the Yitzchak Rabin Centre.
The Battles for Jerusalem
A Jerusalem field trip across two wars: the Greek Orthodox monastery of San Simon and its 1948 battle, Kibbutz Ramat Rachel with its First Temple palace remains, and Ammunition Hill, the memorial to the 1967 capture of the Old City.
The South in 1948
A field trip along the 1948 southern front: the Ad Halom Bridge that stopped the Egyptian advance, Kibbutz Nitzanim and the Women of Valour Centre, Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, and Kibbutz Negba where Operation Yoav broke through into the Negev.
The Road to Jerusalem in 1948
A field trip along the 1948 road to Jerusalem: the Masrek viewpoint over Shaar Hagay, the snow-covered Castel, the Kiriat Anavim cemetery for the Harel Brigade, the Yad Lashiryon Armoured Corps memorial at Latrun, and the Burma Road that finally broke the siege.
Jerusalem in the British Mandate Period
A day touring buildings of the British Mandate period in modern Jerusalem: the Hansen House lepers' home, the garden neighbourhoods of Talbiye and Rechavia, the Tomb of Jason, Yad Ben Zvi, the National Institutions Building, Ratisbonne Monastery and the original Betzalel.
Leaving the Old City walls of Jerusalem
A field trip outside the western Old City walls: the old train station, St Andrew's Church, the Montefiore windmill in Mishkenot Sha'ananim, Yemin Moshe, the King David Hotel and YMCA, Machane Yisrael, Nachalat Shiva and the Mamilla cemetery.
The European Powers in Jerusalem
A walking tour of Jerusalem outside the walls in the 19th century: Mahanaim House and St Paul's Church, the Italian Hospital, the Ethiopian Church, Tabor House and the legacy of Conrad Schick, Beit Ticho and Beit HaRav, the Russian Compound and the Museum of the Underground Prisoners.
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