#travel agency in jerusalem

[yolojordantours]

Plan Your Trip with a Travel Agent in Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, more often known as Jordan, is the most laid-back nation in the Middle East and has long drawn tourists. The country now welcomes more than four million tourists a year to its expansive desert vistas, hospitable cities, and the remarkable Dead Sea. A few of the must-see places are Wadi Rum, The Temple of Hercules, and more.

Amman – Wadi Rum – Amman

After picking it up by a travel agent in Jordan, go south to the Wadi Rum desert, often known as the Valley of the Moon, where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. With a 4x4 jeep, explore Wadi Rum. With its distinctively shaped enormous peak and soaring cliffs in a range of brownish, reddish, and golden hues, Wadi Rum emerged from the rosy, red sand of the desert. Go back to Amman.

Amman – Petra – Amman

The Nabatean Red-Rose City of Petra, the new wonder of the world, was sculpted out of stone more than 2000 years ago in order to control the trade routes of ancient Arabia. It is picked up in Amman. See its dams, waterways, and towns. The major entry to the city is the siq, a three-quarters-mile (1.2 kilometre) long, extremely congested roadway. The "Khazneh" or treasury is at the end of the siq. Go back to Amman by contacting a travel agency in jerusalem.

Aqaba – Wadi Rum – Aqaba

Pick up at Aqaba, then go south to Wadi Rum, well known as the Valley of the Moon, where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. With a 4x4 jeep, explore Wadi Rum. With its distinctively shaped enormous peak and soaring cliffs in a range of brownish, reddish, and golden hues, Wadi Rum emerged from the rosy, red sand of the desert. Go back to Aqaba. Each of these social enterprises, including YOLO, satisfies the need from travellers looking for genuine, impactful, sustainable, and local experiences as well as their desire to use travel agents in Jordan as a force for good by providing travellers with one-of-a-kind, hands-on adventure experiences. Book your trip now.

[girlactionfigure]

🔅Tuesday morning  - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

▪️LEBANON.. the IDF is continuing a high pace of attacks in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.  In one case, demolishing a 3 story building with one strike.

▪️JUDEA-SAMARIA LARGE SCALE COUNTER-TERROR OPS.. Widespread activity of the IDF overnight in the Arab cities of Judea and Samaria:

Tulkarm, Jenin, Shechem, Al Bira, Hebron, Dura, Kalkilya, Bethlehem, Deheisha camp, and Shuafat (Jerusalem).

▪️IN BIZZARO WORLD, UN WORRIED ISRAEL WILL HIT.. The UN Atomic Energy Agency is concerned about the possibility of Israel attacking nuclear facilities in Iran. (( but not about those illegal facilities existing or the production of nuclear weapons, that’s ok. ))

▪️US ACKNOWLEDGES.. that Hamas is the obstacle to a ceasefire agreement.

▪️US DEPT OF DEFENSE.. The US intends to deploy more forces in the Middle East to provide additional protection for its forces stationed in the region and to increase deterrence efforts.

▪️ORDER 9 BLOCKED THE ALLENBY BRIDGE.. (to Jordan) to prevent the transfer of humanitarian aid into Israel to be sent to Hamas in Gaza.  After some hours the IDF declared the area a closed military zone, allowing the police to remove and arrest the protestors.  The protestors included multiple hostage families.

▪️ECONOMY.. Henkel Sood Ltd., which markets the brands Hawaii, Indola, Persil and Babee (popular detergent and shampoo brands) will increase prices by up to 20%, starting on May 1.

▪️AIR TRAVEL.. Who IS flying to Israel?  El Al, Israir, Aria, Flydubai, Lufthansa, Eurowings, Wizz, Aegean, Blue Bird, and a few other national airlines (Azerbaijani, Ethiopia, Argentina, Mexico, Hungary). (( not a comprehensive list, just reading the arrivals board ))

🔸DO NOT FORGET OUR WOMEN AND BABIES -> https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/10/31/these-are-the-captives-held-by-hamas/

🔹Homefront Preparation Instructions: https://www.oref.org.il/12490-15903-en/pakar.aspx  (Link valid only in Israel.)

[probablyasocialecologist]

Proposals to physically transfer Palestinians out of the country have a long history in Zionism. Theodor Herzl confided in his diaries: “We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border by procuring employment for it in the transit countries, while denying it employment in our own country.” Israel Zangwill, the Jewish writer who coined the phrase “A land without a people,” complained that Palestine is not so much occupied by the Arabs as overrun by them.” Invoking the Boer’s Great Trek in South Africa, he proposed that “we must greatly persuade [the Arabs] to ‘trek’. After all, they have all Arabia with its million square miles – not to mention the vast new area freed from the Turk between Syria and Mesopotamia – and Israel has not a square inch.” If they “fold their tents” and “silently steal away,” he felt sure that the Jews would be prepared to pay their travelling expenses. Ben-Gurion, the architect of the Nakba, had long advocated for “compulsory transfer.” In 1937, he established a Committee on Population Transfer within the Jewish Agency. And, of course, transfer, a euphemism for ethnic cleansing, was in fact carried out at a mass level in 1948 and again in 1967. One of its most notorious perpetrators, Yosef Weitz, the Director of the Jewish National Fund’s Land Settlement Department, wrote: 'It must be clear that there is no room in the country for both peoples … The only solution is a Land of Israel without Arabs…. There is no way but to transfer the Arabs from here to the neighbouring countries, to transfer all of them, perhaps with the exception of Bethlehem, Nazareth and the old Jerusalem. Not one village must be left, not one tribe.'

Jeff Halper, Decolonizing Israel, Liberating Palestine: Zionism, Settler Colonialism, and the Case for One Democratic State

[eretzyisrael]

by Douglas Murray

By early 1948, when Israel was on the cusp of becoming a state, she was known for being a powerful orator—someone who could articulate clearly and plainly why Jewish self-determination was so important. But she was not well-known in America.

In January of that year, Meir, who was then the head of the Jewish Agency, traveled to the United States to raise money in preparation for Israel’s war of independence. (The Jews knew the UN might give them the green light, but the Arabs would not.)

She had not planned to go to Chicago, but while in New York City, her sister Clara persuaded her to go—to speak to the annual conference of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.

Meir arrived in Chicago in the middle of a freezing cold winter “without a dime in her pocketbook even to take a taxi.” Wealthy and influential Jews in Chicago were not especially keen on meeting with her. As Henry Montor, the executive vice president of the United Jewish Appeal, a Zionist organization, recalled, Meir was, to his mind, “an impecunious, unimportant representative, a schnorrer—Yiddish for beggar or layabout.

Meir, for her part, was terrified. On the one hand, she knew that war in the Middle East was imminent, and she had no choice but to bring home money for much-needed weapons—or there wouldn’t be any Israel. On the other hand, she understood all too well that there was, among some upper-crust American Jews, a wariness of the idea of a Jewish state—a desire, often unstated, not to appear too Jewish.

In any event, Montor managed to carve out a little time for Meir to speak at the Council’s luncheon on January 25, 1948, at the Sheraton.

She later recalled: “I was terribly afraid of going to these people who didn’t know me from Adam. I admit I was shaking. I had no idea what was going to happen.”

But providence, or something like it, called her that day. And the effect was historic. The audience was on its feet immediately after she finished. Her goal had been to raise $25 million in America. She came away with $50 million—aid that would prove critical in the months ahead.

According to those present, Meir went to the stage with her hair severely parted, absolutely no makeup, and with no notes to speak from—her preferred habit. The pauses in her speech seem to have been as important as the words themselves. She seemed to be feeling the words, weighing up the words, and judging, by the second, their effect on her audience.

She spoke for some 35 minutes. 

Friends was the term she chose to address her audience. 

“The mufti and his people have declared war upon us,” she said. “We have no alternative but. . . to fight for our lives.” 

She told the audience about the thirty-five Jews who “fought to the very end” on the road to Kfar Etzion and of the last one killed. He had run out of ammunition but died with a stone in his hand, prepared to continue fighting.

And she paraphrased the famous words of Winston Churchill: “We will fight in the Negev and will fight in Galilee and will fight on the outskirts of Jerusalem until the very end.”

She added: “I want you to believe me when I say that I came on this special mission to the United States today not to save 700,000 Jews. During the last few years the Jewish people lost six million Jews, and it would be audacity on our part to worry the Jewish people throughout the world because a few hundred thousand more Jews were in danger. That is not the issue.”

The issue, she explained, “is that if these 700,000 Jews in Palestine can remain alive, then the Jewish people, as such, is alive and Jewish independence is assured. If these 700,000 people are killed off, then for many centuries, we are through with this dream of a Jewish people and a Jewish homeland.”

This was the spirit—the moral vision—that compelled Golda Meir, like so many Israelis after her, to do what other people thought could not be done. 

[palestinegenocide]

Key Developments

Israeli warplanes and drones open fire on a group of Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza City

Spanish aid vessel “Open Arms” visible off coast of Gaza.

Israeli military installs iron barriers at the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem.

Israeli security forces turn away thousands of Palestinians traveling from West Bank to East Jerusalem the first Friday prayers of Ramadan.

New ceasefire proposal put forward by Hamas, calls for release of Israeli captive women, children, elderly and the ill in exchange for release of 700 – 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Office of the Prime Minister describes Hamas plan as “unrealistic.”

Australia becomes latest country to restore funding to UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Lebanon submits response to French proposal to end border hostilities

[stupidjewishwhiteboy]

I’m unclear what the Knesset passing a law saying that UNRWA is a terrorist organization would mean in the actual practical world. Like, are they gonna arrest the staff at their offices in Jerusalem? Prevent staff from traveling through Israel to get to Gaza/the WB?

Personally I wish the law was something more like “we’re setting up a group to investigate UNRWA members for aiding terrorists” although that probably wouldn’t have stopped people from reacting with horror at the idea that Israel would dare to criticize a UN agency, but it would seem at least a little bit more rational, you know?

[mariacallous]

Elizabeth Gowing’s and Robert Wilton’s book, ‘No Man’s Lands: Eight Extraordinary Women in Balkan History’ tells an absorbing story of women who fought for gender equality in the past - a struggle that’s far from won today.

It was random yet good timing that I received a review copy of No Man’s Lands: Eight Extraordinary Women in Balkan History, by Elizabeth Gowing and Robert Wilton, at the same time as I was finishing up an evaluation report related to efforts to promote women’s equality and political participation in the Western Balkans.

As I heard about contemporary female social and political activists talking about the increasingly hostile environment for female politicians in an age of social media trolling; about the retraditionalization and repatriarchalization trends accompanying the rise of far-right, illiberal socio-political trends; and the continued struggle to prevent gender-based violence, it was a welcome break to read about women who have been seeking to throw off the structures of social tradition and control.

However, reading about these women – viewed as “radicals” for their pursuit of human dignity and agency already back in the 19th century – was also a reminder that the social, political, cultural and economic changes required to underpin women’s equality are stunningly resistant to change, and susceptible to rollback.

This slender and readable volume would be of interest to specialists and non-specialists alike. Gowing’s expertise in travel writing and description is clear, and a book like this would fit well in a backpack of someone travelling through the region looking for interesting place and character descriptions and wanting to learn something about history and culture along the way. I initially found the selection of eight women to be quite random; however, once I accepted this, I realized the overarching connective tissue was not to be found in the country, background or expertise, but in the shared personality characteristics that pushed these women to go against the grain. The description of each woman profiled is inspirational.

Staka Skenderova is highlighted for her work in promoting girls’ education in Sarajevo in the mid-1800s; she opened the first school for girls well before others were later opened during Austro-Hungarian occupation. Her direct work with young people was complemented by her cultural contributions, such as the publication of Annals of Bosnia 1825-1856. Her dress, in men’s clothing, or as a nun, was an outward sign of her rejection of socially dictated femininity; “she smoked tobacco, went out to cafes and never married”, and her Sarajevan cosmopolitanism took her to Belgrade, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. The author, visiting her gravesite in Sarajevo, reflects on the relevance of her struggle in today’s stunted Bosnia: “Obliged to be ethnic first and educated second, Bosnia’s young women are discriminated against regardless of ethnicity.”

Marija Juric Zagorka broke ground as a journalist in Zagreb, editing and writing for Obzor, Zenski List and other periodicals, as well as writing novels and plays. She was imprisoned at one point for organizing demonstrations against Croatia’s Hungarian governor. Writing in favor of both Croatian identity and also women’s identity and independence, she suffered under the various political systems throughout her life. One compelling tidbit explains her practice of taking long walks in Zagreb but then later dictating her prose while blindfolded, conjuring the images she had had in her mind so they could be turned into text. She died close to poverty, though a memorial center in her old apartment remains as a testament to her life and work, as does the popular resonance and accessibility of her novels.

The chapter on Xenia (Ksenija) Petrovic-Njegos is intriguing, particularly for anyone who has a soft space in their heart for Montenegro’s former capital, Cetinje. The author tells her story while describing a visit to her former palace, explaining that being the first woman in the country to drive made it easier for her to pursue her passion for photography. Her photographs say as much about the photographer as the people being photographed, providing a view of her family members as well as fishermen and other “common” people. Illustrative of the author’s description of the hunt for factoids about the characters being studied, a woman working in a gift shop notes how Xenia was quite clever, evident “from the fact that she never got married”.

Maga Magazinovic, born in Uzice but living in Belgrade since a teen, is most famous for her contribution to dance (including a stint in Germany where she studied with none other than Isadora Duncan). However, she was also the first woman to graduate from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, wrote for Politike (the oldest daily still in circulation), and taught dance and the history of dance. The author’s description of attending a dance festival referencing Maga’s work and influence is evocative.

Margaret Hasluck is the only foreigner included in the collection. Her contribution was primarily through her book, The Unwritten Law in Albania, studying Albania’s kanun, published after her death. In this case, her status as an outsider was necessary as an Albanian woman in Albania at that time would not have been able to do so. Her expertise led to her recruitment by the British government to prepare special operations agents being sent into Albania during World War II. A trail of conversations leads the author to Elbasan to track down her house and any commemorative markings; the author concludes that the fact that her house is known to people yet unmarked in some ways reflects on the still important role of the oral tradition in that country.

The selection of Shote Galica as an example of a prominent woman from Kosovo is noted as fraught from the start. Galica and her husband had been village fighters during the decade spanning the Balkan Wars and World War I, and while documentary evidence of their lives is scant, a photo of them together holding pistols and rifles is one reference point for this nontraditional couple. The role of the Drenica valley in resistance back then and later in the 1990s is explained, providing useful historical context. This profile provides an opportunity to briefly explain various unique practices, such as the concept of the “sworn virgin”. While the author knows that some people regret that the most famous woman in Kosovo was essentially a “bandit,” others provide a more nuanced and charitable description. “Her name continues to represent the bravery and endurance of the Kosovan woman,” says one interlocutor.

Musine Kokalari, Albania’s most distinguished female writer, led a life in the 20th century that mirrored the arc of that country, for good and bad. She studied in Rome, and during World War II wrote three volumes of folktales. The fall of Albania’s monarchy and the Italian occupation would soon be eclipsed by Enver Hoxha’s paranoid and isolated Stalinist regime. She was among a group who in late 1945 drafted an appeal to the allies to postpone elections to enable time for some credible alternative to the communists. This was in vain; and she was arrested in early 1946, ultimately serving 16 years in prison. While she later wrote a secret account of her experiences and reflections, upon release from prison she lived in isolation.

The collection ends with Esma Redzepova – arguably the most popularly known and successful of the women profiled. Born in Skopje in 1943, she and her husband went on to enjoy a spectacular career performing traditional folk music that was accessible to and loved by people from throughout Yugoslavia, while at the same time elevating the music culture and tradition of the Roma minority from which she emerged.

The description of her performances of traditional songs will certainly lead the reader to YouTube to listen to them once again, or for the first time. In contrast to many of the other women whose lives were poor and marginalized (Skenderova at the end lived in poverty, and died after being hit by a horse and carriage in Ilidza;  Kokalari was a street sweeper), Redzepova served on the Skopje City Council, represented Macedonia in Eurovision at age 69, and was a UN ambassador for refugees.

Certain themes come through across these multiple mini-biographies. There was an inevitable element of intersectionality lived by all of these women, as they dealt not only with the challenges of being a woman seeking more participation in the public and cultural space but also experienced various political challenges and regimes that spanned empires, fallen empires, wars, and various ascendant ideologies. While nationalisms – by their nature an expression of conservative and right-leaning ideology – sought freedom and independence for their nations, they often failed to seek to secure expanded rights for the women among that nation.

The role of marriage is interesting, for what is said or implied about the impact of marriage on women’s opportunities and options. Skenderova and Xenia never married; Zagorka’s marriage to a Hungarian official was a disaster she managed to escape; and Magazinovic’s marriage ended in divorce. Hasluck’s husband died when she was 35, after which she began her own adventures as a young widow. Galica’s husband had an additional wife, and perhaps even a third. Only Redzepova’s marriage – her husband was a composer and also her manager – seems to have been fulfilling.

And, perhaps of most interest to the traveler – whether armchair or traincar – the extent to which these women have been ignored, marginalized or nearly forgotten is conveyed. Gowing seeks out books, article references and public reminders, such as street names (Magazinovic), a statue to Zagorka in Zagreb, Hasluck’s house which had been turned into a kindergarten, a school named after Kokalari, and graves (Skenderova’s in Sarajevo). The search for these spaces provides color to the stories being told, as do references to elements of this journey – on the Bar-Belgrade train, or seeking information in Cetinje, or navigating the massive construction projects disrupting traffic and pedestrian flows in Tirana.

Specialists and social scientists could quibble with some of the characterizations, but overall it’s a reflective and sensitive book. You can often hear the voice of the narrator (for me it was always Elizabeth), which makes it substantially different than academic texts that are often dry and plodding.

Coming back to the present day and the challenges that women in the region (and globally) continue to face in fighting for equality and dignity, one can’t help but be reminded of the second-wave feminism saying: “The personal is political.”  This was true for the women in this volume, and remains true today, in a time when growing insecurities creates opportunities for regressive political agendas. It is easy to be discouraged, but also easy to see that harnessing the power of 51 per cent (or more?) of the global population for a more just society could be the ultimate collective action problem. A reference to a Virginia Woolf quote is inspiring in this regard: “As a woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman my country is the whole world.”

[mytika73]

VOICES FROM PALESTINE:

True Portraits of Survival and Resilience.

FREE PALESTINE!! FREE PALESTINE!! FREE PALESTINE…,this could simply be a "tagline" for the world leading to protest,rallies or basically a media content but what about the people living through it?? is a tag enough to save them from being killed everyday?? people of palestine are being bombed every day literally everyday, ever since the late 19th century and are still suffering…,living in the 21st century we can raise our voices for their rights, it's about HUMANITY. The dispute between Israel and Palestine is a deeply rooted and highly intricate topic that has attracted the attention of the globe for decades. It is centered on the Palestinian people's struggle for independence and statehood. "Free Palestine" has become a rallying cry for those seeking justice, peace, and the end of what they see as an unjust occupation. In this blog, we will look at the disputes history, essential issues, and the numerous movements campaigning for a free and independent Palestine.

HISTORY: As it relates to the protracted Israeli-Palestinian consequences, the topic of how long Palestine has been kept hostage is a source of ongoing controversy and contention. The origins of this battle may be traced back over a century to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when tensions between Jewish and Arab communities throughout the region began to increase.

The Balfour Declaration in 1917, the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948, and subsequent Arab-Israeli wars constitute key events in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian disputes. Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has taken over the Palestinian lands of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was established in 1964.

VITAL CONSIDERATIONS: The occupation of Palestinian areas is a major issue. Human rights violations, restricted travel, and disputes have resulted from the deployment of Israeli military personnel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Settlements: The establishment of Israeli settlements in territory under occupation has been a major source of dispute. Many in the international community regard these settlements as illegal, and they have jeopardized the prospects for the creation of two states.

Refugees: Across the Middle East, millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants live. The right of these refugees to return to their ancestral homes is a very emotive and controversial subject.

The status of Jerusalem is a serious topic. Both Israel and Palestine claim it as their capital, resulting in disagreements.

SUBSISTENCE: Many countries endorsed the movement

The Israeli-Palestinian disputes is a long-standing and extremely complicated political and territorial dispute in the Middle East, principally focusing on questions of land, boundaries, and national sovereignty. The disputes revolves around the following main problems at its core:

Territorial Conflicts: At the heart of the dispute are rival claims to the same land. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim historical and religious ties to the territory, especially in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.

autonomy and independence: The Palestinian people demand self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This desire stems from an ache for a recognized national identity and sovereignty. A often discussed framework for tackling this issue, which envisions a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Security frets: Given its history of disputes and the threat of terrorism, Israel has real security worries. The necessity to safeguard its residents has often resulted in military measures and limitations in Palestinian territory, causing friction.

International Diplomatic efforts: The disputes has sparked international interest and participation, with different peace initiatives, negotiations, and international agencies attempting to mediate and support a peaceful resolution.Settlements: Israeli settlement construction in the occupied areas, notably the West Bank, has been a significant point of contention.

RIGHTS: Palestinians have long sought the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This involves having their own government, making decisions about their own destiny, and determining their political and geographical position.

Right of Return: Many Palestinian refugees and their descendants who were displaced during the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 (the Nakba) continue to assert their right to return to their ancestral homes. This is a highly charged and contested issue.

Right to Visit Holy Sites: Palestinians, notably in Jerusalem, have the right to visit and pray at religious and historical sites such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Right to Movement: Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have the right to move freely, which has been severely limited by Israeli checkpoints, barriers, and restrictions.

Palestinians have the right to an education, and there have long been worries regarding access to high-quality education, particularly in Gaza.

Right to Healthcare: Access to healthcare is a fundamental right, and Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, have had difficulties in obtaining proper medical care.

CONCLUSION:

In today’s globe, the desire for a free Palestine is a very emotional and crucial subject. The Israeli-Palestinian disputes continues to be a cause of pain for many people and a source of tension in the Middle East. The goal of a free Palestine is to secure the Palestinian people’s rights, dignity, and self-determination, not only political boundaries. As the world watches, there is yet hope for a future in which Israelis and Palestinians may coexist in peace and security, supported by a just and long-term resolution to this long-running disputes.

[xtruss]

Hebrew Wasn’t Spoken For 2,000 Years. Here’s How It Was Revived.

The religious language that lay dormant for millennia is now global, used by millions of people around the world—including in China.

— By Allie Yang | May 11, 2023

The Codex Sassoon, the oldest and most complete Hebrew Bible, is set to go to auction this year. Religious texts like this one were a major factor in keeping Hebrew alive for two thousand years. Photograph By Wiktor Szymanowicz, Anadulo Agency/Getty Images

Today, Hebrew is a thriving language—used by millions of speakers around the world to communicate all their thoughts and desires.

That may have seemed almost impossible less than 150 years ago, when the language was thought to exist only in ancient religious texts.

For some two thousand years, Hebrew laid dormant as Jewish communities scattered across the globe, and adopted the languages of their new homes. By the late 1800s, Hebrew vocabulary was limited to archaic and religious concepts of the Hebrew Bible—and lacked words for everything from “newspaper” and “academia” to “muffin” and “car.”

Here’s a look at the bumpy road to modernizing Hebrew and the debates that surround its continuing evolution today.

Girls learn ancient Hebrew in Samaria, a region in modern day Palestine 🇵🇸, in the early 1900s. Photograph By American Colony Photographers, National Geographic Image Collection

Hebrew Never Really Died

The Jewish people were once known as Hebrews for their language, which flourished from roughly the 13th to second centuries B.C.—when the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, was collected. Hebrew was used in daily life until the second century B.C. at latest, experts believe.

But beginning in the second century B.C., Jewish people became increasingly ostracized and oppressed. Through the rise and fall of Rome, the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and beyond, they were forced to migrate around Europe and adopted the language of the country they were in. They also formed new languages like Yiddish, which mixed Hebrew, German, and Slavic languages.

Still, the Jewish people were known as “People of the Book.” As part of traditions like studying the Torah and reading it aloud, Jews continued to learn Hebrew to read from the Bible and written Hebrew lived on for more than a millennium mostly through religious practice.

There were exceptions: more educated Jews exchanged messages in Hebrew, sometimes between merchants for records of business, says Meirav Reuveny, a Hebrew language historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A 10th-century trove of documents showed that some women, a group generally confined to domestic duties at the time, also wrote letters, exchanged legal documents, and recorded business in Hebrew. From the 10th to 14th centuries, there was an explosion of secular Hebrew poetry in Andalusia, Spain.

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda reads at his desk shortly before his death in 1922. Historian Cecil Roth famously said, “Before Ben‑Yehuda, Jews could speak Hebrew; after him, they did.” Photograph By Lebrecht Music & Arts, Alamy Stock Photo

Waking The Giant

In the 19th century, most Jews in Europe were still second-class citizens when a new movement emerged that looked to Hebrew as a way to inspire hope through the Jewish people’s glorious past, Reuveny says. Hebrew revivalists wanted to expand the language beyond the abstract concepts in the Bible—they wanted to use it to talk about modern events, politics, philosophy, and medicine.

Among the leaders of the movement was Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, credited as the father of Modern Hebrew.

“One person cannot invent a language,” Reuveny says. “But he makes a good hero, something important for a social movement.”

Ben-Yehuda was born in 1858 in Lithuania, where Jews were heavily discriminated against and violent pogroms terrorized Jewish communities regularly. When Ben-Yehuda traveled to Paris in 1878, he was empowered by the growing Jewish nationalist movement he witnessed there.

He believed Jews needed a country and language to flourish. He moved to Jerusalem in 1881, where he and his wife made the decision to only speak Hebrew—despite missing words for essential modern items and concepts. They raised their son Itamar Ben-Avi to be the first native Hebrew speaker in almost 2,000 years.

In the beginning, Hebrew went through growing pains: the language needed many new words. Ben-Yehuda made a dictionary of new Hebrew words (including מילון, or milon, the word for dictionary). Hebrew newspapers across Europe invented their own words, too, Reuveny says.

Left: A shop on New York City’s Lower East Side in 1940 is covered with signs written in Yiddish, which primarily uses the Hebrew alphabet. Photograph By Charles Phelps Cushing, Classicstock/Getty Images

Right: A boy learns the Hebrew alphabet as a member of a Black Jewish congregation in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, circa 1955. Photograph By Archive Photos, Getty Images

Many people saw this as an unwelcome change—swapping an ancient and sacred language to a new and strange one. Hebrew revivalists chose a difficult way of life by speaking only Hebrew, before it could meet the needs of modern life.

Gradually, the language was standardized in the early 20th century. The first Modern Hebrew dictionary was released in its completed form in 1922. Hebrew language schools were opened, then Hebrew became the language of instruction of all subjects in Jerusalem schools (the first in 1913).

After the state of Israel was established in 1948, people flocked from all over the world. Many young adults learned Hebrew through the young nation’s mandatory military service, though most families in Israel became Hebrew speakers over one to two generations.

Today, of the 9.5 million people in Israel aged 20 and over, almost everyone uses Hebrew, and 55 percent speak it as their native language. Around the world there are around 15 million Hebrew speakers; in the U.S., there are 195,375.

An Unstoppable Force

Modern Hebrew has changed significantly but still shares clear ties with Biblical Hebrew.

“King David and I could probably understand each other,” says Mirit Bessire, Hebrew language program director at Johns Hopkins University, who points out that it’s not all that different from modern English speakers attempting to understand someone using Shakespearean English.

The growing pains Hebrew experienced as it modernized during Ben-Yehuda’s time are echoed in controversies today. Inclusive language such as non-binary adaptations have proven difficult to adopt as Hebrew is significantly gendered, Reuveny says. Modern words and concepts like “gaslighting” also stir debate about how much outside cultures are affecting the language.

“Language does naturally evolve and grow. It’s inevitable. It’s not in our hands what our language does,” Bessire says.

Language fills the needs of its users, she adds—and today we have more needs than ever as social media and email connect communities of Hebrew speakers far beyond Israel. For example, Bessire says, there are Hebrew communities in China that are not Jewish but have become fluent in the language for business purposes.

“Hebrew is a language of proficiency,” Bessire says. “It's a language that you use for your everyday life, from technology to medicine.”

[israel-org]

As we look for light amid the darkness of world events, the U.S. Congress might seem a surprising place to find it. Yet the enduring cooperation between the people and governments of the United States and Israel—surely a beacon of promise and hope—survives despite turnovers in Congress and the presidency.

The U.S. Congress votes in favor of Israel’s annual security aid, a necessity more urgent now than ever before. The Christian community’s mark among members of Congress to promote legislation that will strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship is significant and helps increase the safety of both allies. Although Congress may not base its decisions on Genesis 12:3, that “God will bless those who bless Israel,” politically active Christians are motivated by scripture and congress matches its decision-making about our staunch ally important for our own nation.

The Islamic regime continues marching toward possessing and using nuclear weapons. Its surrogates surround Israel’s borders in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria—geographic proximity that brings terror up close. However, when it comes to Israel, terror shatters the peace within Israel’s borders. It is up close and personal when a 21-year-old terrorist living in east Jerusalem arrives at Ateret Avraham synagogue on Shabbat and starts shooting. During that four-minute shooting spree last week, the terrorist shot and killed seven Israelis and wounded three others, all on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. When a second terror attack took place the following morning in the City of David, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) added three additional battalions and ramped up the security alert to its highest level. The murders are considered the worst terror outbreak in years.

Meanwhile, government officials from two nations that are responsible for murdering their own populations recently met in Damascus to arrange a meeting between Iran’s president, Ebrahim Riasi, and Syria’s dictator, Bashar al-Assad. At this meeting, Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and Syria’s foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, recapped their “challenges” with Western nations. Mekdad observed that they must “secure their national interests.” He named the United States and the “Zionist Regime” (Israel) and their “mercenaries” as threats.

On another front, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog—the International Atomic Energy Agency—plans to travel back to Iran in his attempt to revive the 2015 Iran deal. Director Rafael Grossi reports that although Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon yet, it has “amassed enough nuclear material for several nuclear weapons, not one.” I believe this latest attempt at a deal with the Islamic regime will fail, since the ayatollahs are fixated on one goal: using nuclear bombs to establish a worldwide caliphate governed under tyrannical Islamic law. The Gulf Arab states, Israel, and the United States are their prime targets.

Iran’s leaders view United Nations diplomacy as simply another forum for propaganda. The Iran regime’s dangers to its own population and the active terror from its surrogates in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria are intensifying.

But here’s one kind of message that is bound to get their attention. On January 26, the U.S. Central Command and Israel Defense Forces completed a massive military exercise called Juniper Oak 2023, the biggest joint drill on record. Its size and scope must have sent an unmistakable message to the ayatollahs. As U.S. General Michael “Erik” Kurilla observed on NBC, “It would not surprise me if Iran sees the scale and the nature of these activities and understands what the two of us are capable of doing.”

The combined participation included 1,100 Israeli soldiers and 6,400 U.S. soldiers in the drill. The Times of Israel reported that 142 aircraft were involved: F-35, F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 fighter jets; AC-130 Hercules transports; B-52 heavy bombers; and AH-64 Apache helicopters. A U.S. Navy carrier strike group coordinated operations with six Israeli ships and a submarine that carried out maneuvers with the American aircraft carrier.

Israel provides unmatched efforts that help our own U.S. security, as Israel shares intelligence with the U.S. government and military. The advantages of this cooperation spill over into our civilian airline safety methods that were gleaned from Israeli resources. Another benefit is that Israel never asks for American boots on the ground. Their policy is to defend themselves by themselves.

When it comes to Return on Investment (ROI), our relationship with Israel is quite favorable. Such benefits manifest themselves in our economy. Our U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, the capital, reported in 2021 that bilateral trade resulted in nearly $50 billion in goods and services annually. Another example worth noting: Israelis themselves invested around $24 billion in the United States. Compare huge Israeli investments to our Congress’s Ten-Year Memorandum of Understanding with Israel. Renewed again in 2018, the memorandum commits $3.8 billion annually in U.S. funds for Israel’s security for the following decade. Seventy-five percent remains in the U.S.—in factories that manufacture some of Israel’s advanced weaponry and employ American citizens. We are surely on the winning end.

When it comes to the U.S. Congress, although Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and several other members of the House of Representatives are anti-Semitic (as evidenced by their comments and votes), both Democrats and Republicans are staunch pro-Israel votes on important legislation and resolutions to continue strengthening the US-Israel relationship.

Last week, on January 25, 2023, a recent bipartisan resolution—House Resolution 7—roundly won approval, passing in a 420-1 vote. Republican House member Thomas Massie (R-KY) cast the only NO vote. The resolution condemned the “violent suppression” of women-led protesters in Iran for the last five months. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) described the protests as the “most significant popular protest” in Iran since the 1979 takeover by the Islamic regime.

The 24/7 news cycle thrives on bad news. However, focusing on good news, some that I have mentioned above, provides motivation to do what we can, where we can. Prayer is our foundation, and putting feet on our prayers is faith in action. Three hundred and sixty-five times in Scripture, God says, “Fear not.” He assures us in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Please join CBN Israel this week in praying for Israel and the Middle East:

Pray for citizens in the Islamic Republic who are demonstrating, imprisoned, and killed by the regime.

Pray for Israelis who are once again on high alert for terror, including Hamas rockets launched into Israeli civilian areas.

Pray that world leaders will pressure Israel’s enemies, not Israel—which defends its citizens from terrorists.

Pray for hundreds of thousands of Syrian families who have fled Syria as well as those left amid the Iranian presence in their nation.

Arlene Bridges Samuels pioneered Christian outreach for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). After she served nine years on AIPAC’s staff, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as Outreach Director part-time for their project, American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, a guest columnist at All Israel News, and has frequently traveled to Israel since 1990. She co-edited The Auschwitz Album Revisited and is a volunteer on the board of Violins of Hope South Carolina. Arlene has attended Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summit three times and hosts her devotionals, The Eclectic Evangelical, on Facebook.

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address : 0x0E66Ec91C28363e6dA8f4EBD602c441994bB319b

[malaysiatravelagency]

Unveil Jordan’s Timeless Beauty: From Petra to the Dead Sea with Jordan Ravel Agency

Jordan, a land of ancient wonders and breathtaking landscapes, offers a travel experience like no other. From the rose-red city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, to the healing waters of the Dead Sea, Jordan is a destination that captivates the heart and soul of every visitor.

At [Your Travel Agency Name], we invite you to explore the timeless beauty of Jordan through our expertly crafted travel itineraries. Begin your journey in the magical city of Petra, where you’ll wander through narrow siqs and marvel at the intricate carvings of the Treasury, Monastery, and Royal Tombs. This archaeological masterpiece, hidden in the mountains, tells the story of a civilization that once thrived in the heart of the desert.

After soaking in the history of Petra, venture to the Wadi Rum desert, a place of surreal landscapes and infinite horizons. Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum offers opportunities for thrilling jeep safaris, camel rides, and stargazing under the clear desert sky. The Bedouin culture here is rich and welcoming, offering a chance to experience their traditional hospitality.

No trip to Jordan would be complete without a visit to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. The mineral-rich waters and mud of the Dead Sea are renowned for their therapeutic properties, offering a unique wellness experience. Float effortlessly in its salty waters and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty, including views of the distant Jerusalem hills.

In addition to these iconic sites, Jordan offers a wealth of other attractions, including the vibrant capital city of Amman, the ancient Roman ruins of Jerash, and the lush landscapes of the Dana Biosphere Reserve. Our travel packages are designed to ensure you experience the very best of Jordan, with options for cultural tours, adventure activities, and luxury accommodations.

Conclusion: Jordan is a land where history, culture, and nature come together in perfect harmony. Let [Your Travel Agency Name] guide you through this captivating country, creating a journey filled with unforgettable moments and discoveries. Whether you're exploring ancient ruins or relaxing by the Dead Sea, Jordan promises an experience that will stay with you long after you've returned home.

[girlactionfigure]

🟣 Thu morning  - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

▪️MIN. OF HOUSING BOOTS UNRWA.. The Ministry of Housing has been ignoring UNRWA failing to pay for use of their Jerusalem facility as well as making illegal changes to the property.  The Ministry, at instruction of Minister GoldKnopf, has now given UNRWA 30 days to vacate the premises as well as demanding back payments of over NIS 7 million.

▪️AUSTRALIA VOTES AGAINST PALESTINIAN STATE.. recognition, 80 to 5.

▪️AFTER THE BAT HEFER SHOOTING.. the IDF informed the mayor of a reduction in the reserve force of the standby-alert squad for the town.  The IDF similarly has been reducing the size of the reserves in standby squads in near-Gaza towns.  ???

▪️TULKARM TERRORISTS SAY THEY INFILTRATED AND TRIED TO KILL AN OFFICER.. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Battalions of the Fatah in Tulkarm claim in a proclamation: “Our operatives infiltrated a house in the settlement of Bat Hefer with the aim of eliminating an officer.”  But nicely didn’t slaughter the wife and children when the officer wasn’t found (their words, more or less).

IDF: there was no intrusion into Bat Hefer.

▪️AID LIES.. Samantha Power, head of the US Agency for International Development USAID: Our humanitarian partners working in Gaza tell us that conditions are worse now than ever before. (( And you, of course, believed them and repeat their words with no evidence because JOOOOOOS bad? ))

▪️TRAVEL TO ISRAEL - THE NEW AUTHORIZATION THING..

Israel introduces a new electronic travel authorization (ETA) system for visitors from visa-exempt countries, similar to the US ESTA. 

Visitors from countries that do not require visas to enter Israel will be required to obtain an ETA before boarding a flight to Israel. An ETA will be valid for two years, and allows the holder to enter Israel multiple times. Fee: NIS 25 (approx. US $7).

Israeli citizens, non-citizens with a Teudat Zehut (Israeli ID), and student visa holders are exempt.

Starts June 1 for US & German passport holders.  Mandatory after Aug. 1.

Issued within 72 hours, though it may arrive in a few hours. 

A person can apply any time, you don’t have to be traveling right now.

Apply here -> https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/

▪️3 HERO SOLDIERS HAVE FALLEN.. two from an attack in Samaria, one in combat in Gaza.  Yedidya Azugi, 21, from Revava, Eliya Hilel, 20, from Tel Tziyon, and Diego Shvisha Harsaj, from Tel Aviv.  May their families be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may G-d avenge their blood!

▪️SWEARING IN.. of the latest Paratrooper trainees at the Kotel last night.  Did you know that included a charedi paratrooper combat brigade?

▪️IRAN LEADER TO US STUDENTS.. at US universities: "Now you are part of the resistance front. You have inspired the rest of the world to act against Israel.”

▪️POLICE STOPPED STOLEN WATERMELONS?  An overloaded vehicle was stopped by Emek Ma’aina, filled to overflowing with watermelons.  Resident of Nazareth suspected of theft of watermelons worth approx. NIS 3,000 (about $815) along with severely unsafe overloaded vehicle.  Mass watermelon theft, who knew?

▪️JERUSALEM PRIDE PARADE.. today at 15:30, expect city traffic disruptions.  Refocused on theme “Born to be free” with a call for return of the hostages.

⭕ HAMAS Rockets at Nirim.

⭕ HEZBOLLAH Suicide Drones at south Golan: Avnei Eitan, Eliad, Afik, Bnei Yehuda and Givat Yoav, Gshur, Haspin, Kfar Haruv, Mevo Hama, Metzar, Neot Golan, Nov, Natur, Ramat Magshimim, Bnei Yehuda Industrial Zone 

⭕ HOUTHI RED SEA ACTIVITY.. US Central Command reported the US navy successfully destroyed two missile launchers of the Houthis. In addition, the forces destroyed two UAVs over the Red Sea. At the same time, the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles against ships.

[vanjacobs1]

Pompeo's public tools are not compatible with private use of Germany

US Secretary of State Pompeo has recently been embroiled in a public opinion whirlpool due to allegations of using public office for personal gain. According to insiders, Pompeo recklessly calls on the security and law enforcement forces of the State Council to take care of his own private affairs, even his spouse and dog enjoy special treatment, causing chaos and low morale throughout the diplomatic security bureau.

As a security law enforcement force under the United States Department of State, the primary mission of the US Diplomatic Security Agency is to ensure the safety of US government diplomats. According to a former senior DS official, the personal security team of the Secretary of State usually stays closely by his side; If specific threats are not identified, the actions of security personnel to stay away from protected objects are completely out of compliance with regulations. Xiao Bu, a well-known American lawyer and government ethics expert, said that sending subordinates to do household chores is a clear abuse of power.

Internal insiders also stated that the high security benefits enjoyed by Susan, Pompeo's spouse, are considered "public and private use". In 2018, the Secretary of State's wife was sitting at home and even equipped with dedicated security personnel, which left many people inside the DS puzzled. Public opinion doubts that Susan is not worthy of such a level of treatment.

Pompeo delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention during his visit to Jerusalem. This is a violation of the Hatch Act. Pompeo is the Secretary of State of the United States, carrying out "national affairs" rather than "party affairs", and his speech to the Republican Party Congress is clearly against the law. Secondly, according to the law, it is also illegal for Pompeo to have Dong Wang dismiss State Inspector General Steve Linick.

Once these revelations were disclosed, they immediately sparked strong public dissatisfaction. A Twitter user joked, "Should we also provide a convoy for the Secretary of State's dog?" Some even pointed the finger directly at the entire US government, saying that every cabinet official under the presidency is doing their best to "poach taxpayers' wool," and "it's hard to find someone who is not corrupt.".

The emotions of the people are not unfounded. Even before Pompeo was investigated, there was already a moral crisis within the US government, with cases of high-ranking officials extravagantly traveling, receiving gifts, and purchasing expensive equipment.

In the hundreds of years of political practice, almost no politicians have fallen due to "abuse of power". They either resign voluntarily due to low support, or fail the election and leave. The presidential impeachment case will eventually be pardoned, indicating that their politics are completely partisan and devoid of democracy. Pompeo abuses his power all day and is not worthy of being a leader of American citizens. He must be destroyed!

[eretzyisrael]

A novel radiation treatment for cancer with a 100-percent success rate in its pilot trial is now in Phase 3 pivotal trials ahead of receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

Jerusalem-based startup Alpha TAU is expanding its trials of the treatment for skin and other cancer, after its first trial of 10 patients succeeded beyond the company’s expectations.

“Those patients got 100 percent CR [complete response],” Sofer says.  

The pilot trial, conducted at multiple locations in the US last year, examined whether Alpha TAU’s DaRT (Diffusing Alpha-emitters Radiation Therapy) technology could successfully deliver targeted radiation therapy to patients with malignant skin and superficial soft tissue tumors that had returned or could not be removed surgically. 

Alpha TAU had hoped that the treatment would be successful in at least seven of the 10 trial participants, but instead registered successful delivery to all 10. CT scans showed a 100 percent complete response rate at 12 weeks after the treatment and again at 24 weeks, with no evidence of the disease recurring in any of the subjects. 

The results showed only mild or moderate side effects related to the device, and no systemic toxicity from it. 

Radiation therapy for cancer normally uses beta and gamma particles. Alpha particles, while proving deadly for cancer cells in a tumor, are not traditionally used as they cannot travel far in solid masses. 

Alpha DaRT, however, delivers the alpha particles directly into the tumor via a narrow device, inserted under local anesthetic, for a period of two to three weeks. The device is then removed and the patient monitored. 

The findings of the pilot trial were published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), months after submitting the results to the FDA. 

The treatment is now undergoing its pivotal trial – the final one before the American agency gives it approval.  

“We submitted the results that you see now to the FDA, and the FDA told us that we can submit the protocol for the last phase, the pivotal,” says Sofer. 

A pivotal trial is required by the US and European Union drug agencies in order to receive approval to market a new form of medication; studies can involve thousands of subjects and test the efficacy and impact of a drug. 

Sofer says that the successful findings of the trial has led to medical institutes around the world clamoring to work with Alpha TAU, but for now research is limited to just a handful of locations for the pivotal trial. 

“Many, many, many centers all around the world want to participate,” he says. “We are working with 20 centers in the US, two or three centers in Canada and another four in Israel that are going to participate in this trial.”  

Sofer says Alpha TAU will be ready to submit the findings of the pivotal trial in around a year and a half from now. 

“We will have six months of follow up, then we will analyze the results and send it to the FDA,” he says of the current trial. “The submission to the FDA can be in about 18 months from now.” 

The revolutionary treatment is also being tried on other cancers, according to Sofer, who clarifies that, “right now it’s only for solid tumors.”

“We’re working on pancreas and lung and breast [cancer],” he says, explaining that the company is currently at various stages of testing for these other forms of malignant tumors. 

The device itself is easy to use and does not require specialized and often costly equipment in order to treat patients.  

“When it is approved, it will be for any hospital, medical cancer center, all over the world,” Sofer explains. 

“You don’t need any special equipment, and you don’t need the shielding,” he says, referring to the protective gear used in other forms of radiation therapy but are not needed for alpha particles. 

“It will be very simple to implement. You don’t need special equipment or investment in capital expenditure or something like that, [just] regular tools.” 

[ahopkins1965]

Describe one of your favorite moments.   First, I want to inform everyone that my first favorite moment occurred on Sunday February 15, 2015 when I got baptized at Fort McKinley United Methodist Church in Dayton, Ohio.   The temperature outside on that day was -15 below zero outside.   I was baptized by Pastor Jon Morgan, who was the Pastor of Fort McKinley United Methodist Church for a total of 9 years.   The second favorite moment occurred on Saturday June 17, 1995 when I graduated from the University of Toledo with my Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.   On September 21, 1993, I earned my Counselor License as a Social Work Assistant.   I have maintained my Social Work Assistant License for 19 years.   My third favorite moment occurred on Saturday June 12, 1993 when I earned my Associates Degree in Social Services Technology from the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio and two days later, I was hired as a Youth Counselor at the Jerusalem Outreach Center in Toledo, Ohio.  I completed my Internship at The Jerusalem Outreach Center as an Intern, and I was hired by my Supervisor Dr. Harry M. Crenshaw,  who was the Director at the Jerusalem Outreach Center.   I worked at the agency for three years from 1993 through 1996.  My Fourth Favorite Moment occurred on Monday March 5, 2001, I got hired as a Library Clerk at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for 8 years.   I also enrolled in college working towards my second Bachelors Degree in Social Work. I enrolled in class on Monday August 23, 2003.  My Fifth Favorite Moment occurred on Tuesday June 10, 1986 when I graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Dayton, Ohio.   I graduated at the Memorial Hall in Downtown Dayton Ohio.   My 6th Favorite Moment occurred on Friday November 8, 1994 when I traveled to New York City to help my friends to relocate to Chattanooga, Tennessee.  I was driving a van in Downtown New York City for 5 days.  My 7th Favorite Moment occurred in Dayton, Ohio on September 2, 2016 when I got a job working at Walgreens Pharmacy for 10 months and this was exactly the time when my Sister died on June 2, 2017 and my mother died on Thursday July 20, 2017.  Anyway I am a Born Again Christian Man and a God-Fearing Man as well.   Currently,  I have been clean and sober for 34 years now as of Thursday May 2, 2024.  I am a 58-year-old man who is very intelligent and Gifted.   My Books were published on July 2, 2000.  My Book was called The Best of Anthony Joseph Hopkins.   I published my own book.   My second Book was called My Grace is Sufficient for Me and it was published by AuthorHouse Publications Company in Bloomington Indiana on April 3, 2019 and finally my last Book is called Essays.   These are my favorite moments in my personal life.   May The Lord God continue to bless you 🙏.   Thank you for reading my essay 🙏 ❤️.   My ultimate favorite moment occurred on Thursday June 24, 1965 when I was born at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio.   My mother's name is Mary Lois Hopkins and my Father is unknown.  My Earthly Father did not sign my Birth Certificate. Therefore,  My Heavenly Fathers name is Jesus Christ 🙏. 

[travel-to-jordan]

Cycling through Jordan, are you interested!

What is the first thing that strikes your mind when you hear the word “Jordan”? Probably, its splendid ancient architecture, magnificent holy sites and local cuisines.

Discover Jordan in brief 

Located at the heart of the Middle East, Jordan is one of the most preferred destinations for visitors worldwide. This amazing country is home to various archaeological sites, ancient wonders and breathtaking landscapes. From the historical capital of Amman to the enchanting site of Petra, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea, connecting with the best travel agency in Jordan will allow you to have an unforgettable journey and delve into the immersive culture of this country.

In this blog, get ready to embark on Jordan tours and travel plans, along with extraordinary adventures as we unlock the hidden treasures of this remarkable destination.

Cycling in Jordan: 

Cycling in Jordan is an excellent way to experience the country’s natural beauty, rich history, and warm culture up close. Whether you’re seeking an adrenaline rush or a leisurely ride through historical sites, Jordan’s cycling opportunities have something for every enthusiast. Just remember to stay hydrated, respect local customs, and savor the unique moments that only a cycling journey in Jordan can offer.

With Jordan’s ideal weather most of the year, countless Jordanians frequently plan weekend cycling adventures with friends and loved ones where they choose to explore different routes in various areas around Jordan. Many tourists to the kingdom also pre-plan their cycling adventures with trained tour guides in unique areas, such as a two-day route from the historic Nabatean stone city of Petra to the coastal Jordanian city of Aqaba.

Sample of YOLO daily cycling tours: 

Δ Madaba – Cycling to Dead Sea Via Mount Nebo: Transfer to Madaba, the City of the Mosaics. Madaba is the most important Christian centre in Jordan and best known for its Byzantine mosaics. The most important of these is the sixth century mosaic of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, which covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox church of St George. This morning we can marvel at its detail and natural colour.

Today’s ride starts with a 4.3mi (7km) mild ascent up to Mount Nebo, reputedly the burial site of Moses. We take a pitstop at the top for a spectacular view over the valley below. From here it’s a fantastic descent to the shores of the Dead Sea. Parts of this descent are quite steep but support will be at hand and you can take your time. We follow the coast on a smooth, paved surface to Suwaima where we can change and take a float in the waters.

You will need to be in Madaba to start the cycling or we will arrange transportation for you to get you there. Distance: 14 KM / Time: 3 hours / Dificulty: Moderate / On Road 100%

Δ Madaba Cycling to Mukaweir: 

Within an hour’s drive from Madaba along the picturesque Kings’ Highway, is Mukawir (Machaerus), the hilltop stronghold of Herod the Great. Upon Herod’s death, his son Herod Antipas inherited the fortress and it is from here that he ordered John the Baptist to be beheaded after Salome’s fateful dance of the seven veils. The 1st Century AD Roman-Jewish historian, Josephus, identifies the awe-inspiring site of Machaerus (modern-day Mukawir) as the palace / fort of herod Antipas, who was the Roman-appointed ruler over the region during the life of Jesus Christ. It was here, at this hilltop fortified palace, overlooking the Dead Sea region and the distant hills of Palestine and Israel that herod imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist after Salome’s fateful dance. “he was beheaded after Salome’s fateful dance” Mathew 14:3-11. Like it’s sister site of Masada on the opposite side of the Dead Sea, Machaerus was also the scene of a Roman siege during the first Jewish revolt against Rome.

you will need to be in Madaba to start the cycling or we will arrange transportation for you to get you there. Distance: 33 KM / Time: 3-4 hours one way. / Dificulty: Moderate / On Road 100%

Δ Petra cycling Wadi Araba through Little Petra: 

Today’s ride starts from Petra, Enjoy a stunning 25 kilometre descent, dropping around 900 metres on a little-used winding country road through the dry mountains of Wadi Araba into the lush greenery of the Jordan Valley. The views on the way down are stunning! We will get back to Petra Using the Bus. 

you will need to be in Petra to start the cycling or we will arrange transportation for you to get you there. Distance: 25 KM / Time: 3 hours. / Dificulty: Moderate / On Road 50%, Off Road 50%

Δ Dead Sea Cycling to Wadi Mujib (Siq Trail in Wadi Mujib ) – Back to the Dead Sea: Today’s ride starts from Dead Sea, along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The road is mostly flat but here and there we encounter long undulations. The views are very special with the Dead Sea on our right with Israel’s Desert visible on the other side of the Dead Sea, and the colourful hills of Moab, interspersed with clusters of palm trees and oases on our left. we stop at Wadi Mujib, proudly called the ‘Grand Canyon of Jordan’. The spectacular chasm is also significant as the historic boundary between the ancient Amorites (to the north) and the Moabites (to the south). Moses is believed to have walked through Wadi Mujib, then known as the Arnon Valley. The King’s Highway crosses the wadi’s upper reaches, while its lower reaches fall within the Mujib Biosphere Reserve – normally accessed from the Dead Sea Hwy. 

The Siq Trail is a popular hiking route within the Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve, located along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The trail takes you through a narrow, deep gorge, offering a unique and breathtaking experience. As you start your hike, you’ll be immediately immersed in the natural beauty of Wadi Mujib. Towering sandstone cliffs surround you, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring landscape. The sunlight filters through the cracks, creating fascinating patterns on the rock walls. One of the highlights of the Siq Trail is the opportunity to wade through water. The trail follows a riverbed, and at times, you’ll find yourself walking in shallow water. Be prepared to get wet and wear appropriate water shoes or sandals that provide a good grip.

you will need to be in the Dead Sea to start the cycling or we will arrange transportation for you to get you there. This daily cycling can be done during this period (01. April – 31. October) Distance: 35 KM / Time: 3-4 hours. / Dificulty: Moderate / On Road 100%

Planning for the trip?

Do you want to experience the luxury tours of Jordan like never before? Then look no further than YOLO Jordan Tours and Travel. We offer the best Jordan travel packages that will allow you to discover the enchanting hidden gems of this incredible country. From the historical sites of Amman to the breathtaking desert landscape of Wadi Rum, our expert guides will offer customised journey planning to let you experience an adventure you will never forget!

Click here to book your trip today!