The Hasmonean Palaces are an impressive relic of the latter, and thoroughly corrupt, generations of the Hasmonean kings, who built for themselves luxurious winter palaces on the western side of Jericho.
The palaces were built in six stages by three kings: Yohanan Hyrcanus (the son of Shimon Ben Matisyahu), his son Alexander Yanai, and finally King Herod who built three palaces, furnished with all the luxurious depravity inspired by his Roman masters.
Timetable
Come in your own car. Meet at 08:45 outside the main entrance of Mitzpe Yericho.
Info & Registration
Advance registration required: Send a text message / WhatsApp to Yoni at 052-3527313, stating your name, and the number of participants.
Cost: 40 NIS. Half price for children under 13.
Advance payment required: By PAYBOX to Erna Covos, telephone 052-8699300 or by bank transfer: Bank Discount, Branch 159 (Jerusalem Center), account No 3212507, in the name of "Jewish Life in Jericho".
Security at the Hasmonean Palaces is assured by the Israel Defence Forces.
2nd Day of Hol HaMoed - Tour of the Biblical Gilgal, the Jordan Crossing and Beit Hogla
Tour:
The Jordan Crossing - the 12 stones are buried in the riverbed
Tour of the Biblical Gilgal, where the People of Israel set-up camp after crossing the Jordan River, underwent mass circumcision and celebrated the first Passover in the Land.
Followed by a tour of the site of the Jordan Crossing, where the People of Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Land, under the leadership of Joshua Bin-Nun.
Come in your own car. Meet at 08:45 at Beit Hogla.
Getting to Beit Hogla
Beit Hogla is on Highway 90 (the Jordan Valley Road), 3 km north of the "Beit Ha'Arava Junction". Beit Hogla is next to the "Mahane Nevo" military base. The entrance to Beit Hogla is to the right of the military base's main gate.
With Google Maps: click here, or enter "Nevo Camp" on the app.
With Waze: click here, or enter "Nevo Camp" on the app.
Info & Registration
Advance registration required: Send a text message / WhatsApp to Yoni at 052-3527313, stating your name, and the number of participants.
Cost: 40 NIS. Half price for children under 13.
Advance payment required: By PAYBOX to Erna Covos, telephone 052-8699300 or by bank transfer: Bank Discount, Branch 159 (Jerusalem Center), account No 3212507, in the name of "Jewish Life in Jericho".
Hoshana Rabbah Night Study in Beit Hogla East of Jericho
We celebrate Hoshana Rabbah in Jericho, commemorating the 7 times its walls were circled, by circling the Bimah 7 times.
For many years now, we study on the night of Hoshana Rabbah in Beit Hogla, east of Jericho. In the morning, we go to the ancient Shalom al Israel synagogue in Jericho and circle the synagogue 7 times with the four species in hand - a well-established Jewish tradition which commemorates Joshua Bin Nun's final seven encirclements of Jericho, after which the walls fell down and the city was conquered.
Refreshments will be available throughout the night.
Getting to Beit Hogla
Beit Hogla is on Highway 90 (the Jordan Valley Road), 3 km north of the "Beit Ha'Arava Junction". Beit Hogla is next to the "Mahane Nevo" military base. The entrance to Beit Hogla is to the right of the military base's main gate.
By car, navigating with Google Maps: click here, or enter "Nevo Camp" on the app.
By car, navigating with Waze: click here, or enter "Nevo Camp" on the app.
By bus, from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station: Egged buses 961, 966, 967, or Electra-Afikim buses 941, 943, 946. Alight at "Mahane Nevo" (Nevo Camp army base), bus stop 61422 or 60782. Beit Hogla is just to the right of the army base's gate.
Hoshana Rabbah Festive Prayer in Jericho
Hakafot in the Shalom al Israel Synagogue with great joy
We will pray a festive Shaharith prayer in the ancient Shalom al Israel Synagogue in Jericho.
Bring Aravot!!
This will be followed by a tour of Tel Jericho whose walls fell by a miracle, and the Elisha Spring, whose water was sweetened by the Prophet Elisha.
Bus
From Jerusalem: Chords Bridge (bus stop 4216) at 04:40, and Hativat Harel/Shmuel HaNavi (bus stop 1625) at 04:45.
From the Mitzpe Yericho Junction, east-bound, across from the main entrance of Mitzpe Yericho (bus stop 60425), at 05:10.
From the main entrance of Beit Hogla, on the Jordan Valley Road at 05:30.
From the main entrance of Moshav Naama, on the Jordan Valley Road at 05:45.
Back in Jerusalem at approx. 10:30.
Info & Registration
Advance registration required: Send a text message / WhatsApp to Yoni at 052-3527313, stating your name, the number of participants and where you want to board the bus.
Cost: 85 NIS per person. Half price for children under 13.
Advance payment required: By PAYBOX to Erna Covos, telephone 052-8699300 or by bank transfer: Bank Discount, Branch 159 (Jerusalem Center), account No 3212507, in the name of "Jewish Life in Jericho".
Security in Jericho is assured by the Israel Defence Forces.
Bring Shofars!
Full details below 
1st Day of Hol HaMoed - Tour of the Hasmonean Winter Palaces
