TIBERIAS

Tiberias the capital of the Galilee is waking up from its slumber and is nourishing its future with its glorious past.  Both the old and the new exist in the city. One wants to hear the stories, which are full of exciting adventures about Tiberias. Houses made out of Basalt stones in the area of the ancient city hide wonderful history among their walls. The remains of the city’s ancient Wall appear here and there as a testimony to the Wall, which once surrounded the city. Ancient synagogues are still functioning alongside churches, and colorful sailing boats sail in the Kinneret. One can also see a busy pedestrian mall in the evening hours.  The Open Archeological Park is located on the Habanim Street. In the local slang it is called “Habor”—“the Hole”. The Park contains remains of a Jewish Synagogue from the Byzantine period and the beginning of the early Moslem conquest.  The Park also has a restored Mosaic floor where one can see obvious Jewish motives (like the four species).  The Park has other remains from the Crusader period as well as some of the Mamelukes period.

Distances Approx.: From Tiberias
to Nazareth    -     32  KM
to Akko          -     52  KM
to Tel Aviv    -    134  KM
to Jerusalem  -    160  KM
to Haifa          -     65  KM
to Ben Gurion Airport  -  150  KM

The Beach: Beaches in Tiberias and the Kinneret region around:

Gai-Beach:
It has a Water Park, which is adjacent to the Gai Beach Hotel and offers:  Challenge Water Slides, Family Water Slides, and Water Slides for youth and small children. In addition, the Park has a Wave Pool, a regular pool, a restaurant and a cafeteria.
Bereniki-Beach:
It is located at the southern entrance to the city, with camping grounds and a parking lot.
Lido-Beach:
It is located at the northern entrance to the city. The beach has a Chinese restaurant, a very special barbeque/grill restaurant, a fish restaurant and a “self serve” restaurant. In addition, there are sailing/cruising boats with dancing, food and an opportunity to hold events
Hashaket Beach (the quiet beach):
It is located in the northern entrance to the city, adjacent to the Mercure Hotel.  The beach has large areas of grass and a cafeteria. 
Hatchelet Beach (the blue beach):
It is located in the northern entrance to the city.  It is a very well kept beach.
Sironit Beach:
It is located in the southern entrance to the city with possibilities for camping.
Ganim Beach (municipal beach):
It is located in the southern entrance to the city.  It has a swimming pool for children, grass areas and possibilities for camping over night.
Ron Beach: It is located in the northern entrance to the city adjacent to the Ron Hotel
Holiday Inn Beach: 
Is located in the southern entrance to the city adjacent to the Holiday Inn Hotel.
The Luna Gal Park and Dugit Beach: 
It is located on the other side of the Kinneret. It has a Water Park, which includes slides and a swimming pool. The beach offers a variety of water activities.
Chof Shikmim:
Is located in the southern entrance to the city where there is camping grounds and parking, free of charge.

Swimming Pool in Ramat Egoz:
The swimming pool is open every day between the hours of:  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Visitors can swim at night, or have their own personal swimming time, as well as hold events there. 

Water Sports:
Along the Elon Promenade you have 3 water centers that offer a variety of water activities

Separate Beaches:

The Separate Beach:  Is located across Rabbi Meir’s Tomb. 
Chof Hamehadrin: Men only
Chof “Be’er Miriam”: Women only, adjacent to the Chof Mehadrin

Geography, Climate, etc.:
The Kinneret is the biggest source of drinking water in Israel. Its length is 21 kilometers and its maximal depth is 42 meters. The Kinneret, besides being a source for drinking water, is also one of the most important tourist attractions in the country. In the summer, its beaches are bustling and are full of life because of the visitors who come to enjoy the water activities that it has to offer.  During The morning hours, the fisherman cast their nets into the water and the famous fish of the Kinneret like: St. Peter fish (Musht), Buri, and others are served fresh the same day in the restaurants of Tiberias and Sea of Galilee.
During the summer, fall, winter and spring, many Christian Pilgrims come to Tiberias to visit the holy sites for Christianity where Jesus spent his time and performed his acts and where they have a very special spiritual experience.

Lifestyle, People, Shopping, Nightlife, Festivals, etc. Restaurants
Tiberias has many wonderful and well-known restaurants:

“Galei Gil” Restaurant:  Well known for its fish
“Decks” Restaurant:  A very special barbeque/grill meat restaurant. 
“Habait” Restaurant:  Chinese style (Open on Fridays and Saturdays).  “Pagoda” Restaurant:  Kosher Chinese Restaurant. (Open Sunday-Thursday and Saturday evening)
“El Rancho” Restaurant:  Argentinean Steaks - part of a restaurant chain.  “Little Tiberias” Restaurant:
“Italian” Restaurant:  Diary Italian Style

Culture, History, Museum etc.
Tiberias is one of the four Holy Cities of Israel, which was built by Antipas in the 17-20 C.E. Antipas names the city, Tiberias, in honor of the Roman Caesar, Tiberius. At this time the city was flourishing both spiritually and economically. It was the period of the Mishna and Talmud.  The Institution of Jewish Leadership, the Sanhedrin and the Presidency move to Tiberias from Tzipori.  The Jerusalem Talmud is compiled there in the 5th century. Schools of poets, Rabbis and Scholars are thriving during the period of the Geonim. “The Tiberias Vowel Punctuation” was developed at this period and is still in use today.  Tiberias kept its status as a city during all the periods: Roman, Byzantine, Moslem, and Crusader. The city faced many difficult times during those periods: earthquakes, repeated conquests, diseases and epidemics. At times it seemed as if the Jewish community of Tiberias was decreasing and disappearing.  Two experiments were attempted to renew the Jewish Community in Tiberias.  Dona Gracia Mendes tried the first experiment in 1564.  She saw Tiberias as the base for a Jewish State. Rabbi Chaim Abulaffia did the other experiment in the 18th century.  150 years before the First Aliya, the ruler of the region, the Sheikh Daher El Omar, invited the Rabbi to renew the Jewish Settlement in the area. Rabbi Chaim Abulaffia built the base for the city, as we know it today.  Here, among the different neighborhoods, are the graves of righteous people and scholars like the Rambam (Maimonides), Rabbi Meir Ba’al Hanes (the miracle maker), Rabbi Akiva, and others who created a special attraction for Jews around the world and in Israel to settle in Tiberias.  Today, sailing boats sail on the Sea of Galilee for the pleasure of many visitors who come to Tiberias each summer. There are many organized recreational activities around the Kinneret on all the beaches.  From the Swiss Forest one feels as if he touches the Golan Heights, the different lookout posts, the history, the archeology, the markets and the bazaars. The present and the past are all intertwined for us to experience.