Shimon Bar Yochai
Shimon Bar Yochai was a 2nd-century Mishnaic sage traditionally credited with authoring the Zohar, the foundational text of kabbalah. His tomb at Meron draws large pilgrimages on Lag BaOmer, and is discussed here as part of a day across the central upper Galilee.
3 articles
3 articles
Safed / Tzefat
A return to Tzefat, where I spent three months on my gap year, this time as a guiding student. Akhbara, Mt Canaan, the kabbalists' synagogues of the Old City and a sunset over the Crusader citadel.
Campus Upper Galilee day two: Central Upper Galilee
Day two of our Upper Galilee campus: the Druze village of Pekiin and its synagogue, Nebi Sabalan, the summit of Mt Meron, the Paar Cave, the tomb of the Rashbi, Rehaniya's Circassian community, and the Baram synagogue.
Tiberias
A day in Tiberias, one of Judaism's four holy cities: the Sapir Station of the national water carrier, Ottoman ruins from Daher el-Omar's era, Roman and Byzantine remains, and the ancient synagogues of Hammat Tiberias.
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