Hiking

Passover and Song of Songs: What spring teaches us about freedom

HIKING THE HOLYLAND: Israel's hiking trails are quieter than they used to be. And yet – spring does not wait.

IT IS no accident that Song of Songs is read every Passover. The book is saturated with an explosive, summoning, and impossible to resist spring – an explosion of energy and new life
The stunning newly-active Neolog synagogue in Trencin.

From Alpine adventures to deep history: Exploring Slovakia’s high tatras

ISRAEL’S DESERTS are the opposite of boring. From the dramatic cliffs of the Judean Desert to the vast craters of the Negev and all the way south to the Red Sea shores of Eilat, the natural terrain here is as varied and striking as anything in the country’s lush North.

The Dead Sea isn’t dead: A winter hike through Israel’s most misunderstood landscape

Cliff Cafe.

Gravity-defying coffee bar teeters above a sheer drop


Israeli teens find dead body on hiking trail, rescue units struggle to help

Rescue forces announced that the operation had been complex, involving a series of rope systems in a difficult environment.

HIKERS ENJOY the Israel National Trail at the dry Amud Stream Nature Reserve, near Kibbutz Hukuk in northern Israel, November 29, 2025.

Hiking in the Holy Land: The almond tree, Israel's ancient clock

Spring has not arrived, yet blossoming almonds in Israel signify the arrival of Tu Bishvat, the new year for trees, a time when some seasonal quality has shifted.

THE ALMOND TREE has been watching over the Land of Israel for longer than we can fathom.

Hiking the Holy Land: Biblical secrets in Yatir Forest

In Israel, biblical history isn’t locked away in museums – it’s just there, scattered across the hillsides, waiting for anyone who takes the time to look.

YATIR, NESTLED in the mountains of southern Judah, was a spiritual anchor – a place where priests lived, taught, and served.

In Hula Valley, a Hanukkah crane ritual connects modern families, ancient texts - opinion

Israel’s bird migrations offer a Hanukkah ritual that echoes the natural world Jeremiah once used to teach his people.

Wings beat in perfect unison, massive birds rising into the brightening sky.

The patient hiker: Finding patience in politics, hiking, healing - opinion

Life is not a straight, flat road, but “patient hiking” is definitely worth it.

HIKING KATLAV.

A place to sit, breathe, and forget everything: KKL unveils a new iInitiative

KKL launches "Simply a Place" – natural spots with stunning views or hidden forest corners, inviting people to pause, breathe, and connect. The first opens in Begin Park, Jerusalem Hills.

"Simply a Place" space, Begin Park in the Jerusalem Hills.

The heat has broken, and our land is beautiful: Grab your shoes, water, and explore nature

Now that the heatwave is ending, it’s the perfect time to enjoy Israel’s beauty. Recommended spots: Hammath Tiberias, Gan Hashlosha, and Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.

Gan Hashlosha National Parkץ

Hiking the Holy Land: When olives disappear

The olive tree is such a fitting symbol for the Jewish people and our uncanny ability to survive, to come back, to bear fruit again, even after seasons of scarcity.

IN SEVERAL PLACES throughout the ‘Tanach,’ Israel is likened to an olive tree.

Hiking the Holy Land: Between harvest and rain

There are vineyards as far as the eye can see, vibrant and lush, with ripening grapes hanging in bunches in shades of red and green.

SUKKOT FALLS precisely at the moment when the land’s productivity peaks and its vulnerability becomes most apparent.

Hiking the Holy Land: The land that wakes the soul

Back in Israel, walking once again through its dry hills, I turned to our tradition for insight. Was this feeling something real, or just post-vacation sentiment?

Walking in the Judean Hills, it’s clear that the end of summer has descended upon the Land of Israel.