Tel Aviv is a vibrant city. It’s not a new city, but it’s brimming with fresh energy. Vitality and modernity are its trademarks. Here, the blend of history and modernity creates a relaxed atmosphere, free from the intense religious ambiance.
Thousands of years ago, on this exposed rock bed, the ancient Jebusites worshipped their god—Shalem, the god of twilight—and established the city of Jebus. In 1000 BCE, King David’s Israeli army captured the city and made it the capital, giving it the name Jerusalem (Yerushalaim). Over the following millennia, it became a witness to human faith and civilization, a sacred city where people and gods communicate, and many believe it to be the center of the world.

King Solomon’s First Temple was constructed, and Herod’s Second Temple was gloriously rebuilt, making it the center of Jewish faith and the most sacred city. Jesus suffered, was buried, resurrected, and ascended here, giving rise to the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marking it as an important city in Christianity and the Bible. Muhammad’s Night Journey ascended from here, and on the Temple Mount, two mosques were built—the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock—making it the third holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. A city that holds the sacredness of all three major religions, a unique place on earth.



According to legend, after the Roman Empire conquered Jerusalem, a fire destroyed the Temple. At this time, six angels descended from heaven and sat on a remaining part of the temple wall, weeping. The tears of the angels seeped into the cracks of the massive stones of the wall. It is believed that the wall became incredibly strong and unyielding due to the angels’ tears, and this is the origin of the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall.



Indeed, the Western Wall’s history is a microcosm of the history of Israel and the Jewish people, a poignant and blood-stained symphony of tears. The First and Second Temples built by Solomon and Herod were reduced to ruins after several wars in ancient times. It wasn’t until the overwhelming victory in the Six-Day War of 1967 that the Western Wall was reclaimed from Jordanian control by Israel. As a result, many Jewish people scattered across the globe wept tears of joy, coming to the Western Wall to pray quietly and lament the suffering endured by the Jewish people over the centuries.
The Western Wall is open 24 hours a day, with separate areas for prayer divided by gender: men on the left and women on the right. I once asked a local friend why this separation was necessary. He smiled and replied, “Everyone has an appreciation for beauty. Imagine if a beautiful woman were standing next to you; would you be able to focus entirely on your prayers?” I smiled in agreement, thinking that this indeed aligns with human nature.


The Bahá’í Hanging Gardens
The most famous attraction in Haifa is the Bahá’í Gardens, also known as the Hanging Gardens. It is a holy site for a relatively young religion, with both its religious and architectural history being relatively recent. The gardens have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Built along the slopes of Mount Carmel—revered as the “Mountain of God”—the gardens face the warm, humid sea breeze of the Mediterranean. At their heart is the central building with a golden dome, from which the gardens radiate outward, forming 19 grand, terraced steps that stretch from the base of the mountain to its summit, covering a distance of over a kilometer.
The Bahá’í Faith is an independent monotheistic religion, founded in 1844. It teaches that the world’s nine major religions all originate from the same God, who has sent different “teachers” at different times to spread His message in various places. The religion’s precursor was the Báb (1819–1850), and its founder was Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892), with a relationship similar to that of John the Baptist and Jesus. The Bahá’í Faith has now spread to over 200 countries, with more than 6 million adherents worldwide.


After leaving Haifa, our next stop was Nazareth. Nazareth is a city in northern Israel, located in the Galilee region. The majority of its residents are Arab Muslims, with the rest mainly belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church.
Originally, Nazareth was a small village on a hilltop in Galilee. Its fame comes from being the place where Jesus spent his youth, making it one of the holy cities of Christianity.
The most famous building in Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation.


Safed (also spelled Tzfat) is a small town in Israel with a population of fewer than 30,000. Most of the residents in the old city are devout followers of traditional Judaism. Along with Jerusalem, Hebron, and Tiberias, Safed is one of the four holiest cities in Judaism.
In 2012, CNN named Safed one of the world’s 10 most beautiful small towns. It is the highest-altitude town in Israel and a center for the most orthodox Hasidic communities. Safed is also renowned for its unique blue-colored buildings and for being a hub of Kabbalah, the mystical tradition of Judaism.


Safed is also known as a city of art, brimming with creativity. The art district is home to many artists, filling the ancient town with artistic brilliance.
Although it was April, the weather in Israel was still quite hot. After exploring the town of Safed, we stopped at the entrance of the parking lot for a cup of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice—and it was amazing! The friendly vendor passionately shared local cultural stories as he prepared the juice. To our surprise, he revealed that he had once served as the personal driver of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. After retiring, he started his own small business in Safed, and photos of him accompanying Sharon on visits were proudly displayed on the wall of his juice stand. It was clearly a part of his life that he took great pride in. Before we left, he insisted we take a photo with him—what a fun and interesting guy!


Golan Heights
Our next stop was the Golan Heights, a hilly region located on the northeastern side of the Sea of Galilee, along the border between Israel and Syria. This area has long been a hotspot for conflict.
We climbed a small hill known as Mount Bental, which stands at 1,170 meters above sea level. It was the site of fierce battles during the Fourth Middle East War (Yom Kippur War). To this day, the summit still features permanent bunkers and trenches, preserved for visitors to explore and experience firsthand.
After World War I, the Golan Heights became part of Syria under the French Mandate. When Syria gained independence in 1941, it held sovereignty over the region.
In 1948, following the establishment of the State of Israel, wars broke out between Israel and several Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Syria began constructing military fortifications in the Golan Heights during this period.
In 1967, during the Third Middle East War (the Six-Day War), Israel seized the Golan Heights, prompting the withdrawal of Syrian forces. Most Syrian residents also fled the area.
The Fourth Middle East War (Yom Kippur War) erupted in 1973, leading to intense fighting between Syria and Israel over the Golan Heights. On May 31, 1974, both sides reached an agreement: Israeli forces withdrew from the eastern part of the Golan Heights, establishing a buffer zone, which was monitored by United Nations peacekeeping forces. Today, the Golan Heights is administered by Syria, Israel, and the United Nations.
From the hilltop, we gazed across the Israeli landscape, which stretches out flat all the way to Jerusalem. This is an absolute strategic high point. Given Israel’s narrow geography and lack of defensive depth, relinquishing control of the Golan Heights would leave the country in perpetual insecurity.
Across from us stood Mount Hermon, also known as Jabal al-Shaykh, with its summit rising to 2,814 meters, making it the highest peak in the Middle East. A portion of Mount Hermon is under Israeli control. Due to its elevation and proximity to Syria, Israel has built a military observation post at the summit, equipped with its most advanced electronic surveillance systems—earning it the nickname “The Eye of Israel.”


Church of the Beatitudes
The Church of the Beatitudes is said to be the site where Jesus delivered His famous Sermon on the Mount. According to legend, the church was funded by Mussolini in 1938, with an Italian architect designing it. The yellow marble adorning the interior walls was also imported from Italy.
The church features an octagonal layout, with eight windows at the top, each inscribed with one of the eight Beatitudes.

