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adult. Those who do decide to brave the heights will be rewarded with a truly unique view of the city and surrounding landscape – it’s almost as if you were floating in the air. In the evening, the bridge lights up to stunning effect. Open all week from 8am to 10pm, entrance is free 03 | A visit to Herodium Park King Herod’s royal fortress Adam Ackerman, an expert of the city of Jerusalem, organizes guided tours of the ancient park of Herodium, a unique historical, archeological, and architectural marvel. About 15km south of Jerusalem, lies Herodium, a fascinating archaeological site and architectural wonder that holds stories of personal and historical significance - from the reign of King Herod and the 2 nd century exploits of Bar Kokhba, to the tragic death of Prof. Ehud Netzer, the discoverer of King Herod’s tomb, in 2010. “Herodium was Herod’s personal palace and fortress, and the place he chose to be buried in. It’s one of the most ancient and fascinating sites in Israel”, says Ackerman. “In recent years, many new archeological discoveries have been made here, including a

The suspension bridge in the Hinnom Valley I Photo: Arnon Bossani

beautiful guest room with fresco paintings, the royal entrance gate, a theater, the king’s personal vineyard, a cache of weapons believed to have been those of Bar Kokhba and his men, and more. Prof. Ehud Netzer was an Israeli archeologist who spent 30 years studying and excavating Herodium. In 2007 he discovered Herod’s sarcophagus and mausoleum. In 2010, Prof. Netzer sadly came to his death on the very site of these discoveries, after a terrible fall above the theater he had uncovered. Herod created Herodium to be his own personal oasis, with a giant swimming pool surrounded by a vast garden, two

Roman baths, a six km aqueduct, etc. A visit to this extraordinary site offers an opportunity to walk through amazing archeological findings and admire the breathtaking, 758m above sea level hilltop views. Herodium is as archeologically rich as Masada, another of King’s Herod’s architectural feats, and constitutes an absolute must-visit. On May 17 th and 26 th , Adam Ackerman will be leading tours, starting with a gathering at his home in Ein Karem. A tour for Shabbat observers will take place on May 9 th . For further information, and for booking a tour, look for Adam Ackerman on Google.

Herodium Park (on the left): The restored model of the Mausoleum I Photos: Adam Ackerman

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ATMOSPHERE MAY 2025