There are so many fascinating experiences to be had in the Holy Land that it is difficult to call just one the "most unique," but going on a historical scavenger hunt in Jerusalem's Old City has got to rank pretty high on the uniqueness scale.

Pilgrimage tours to Israel are nothing new for many Christians. In fact, for some it is becoming old hat. And most Christian tour groups only get the opportunity to see Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land as a piece of antiquity, an impersonal history lesson. The team at Jerusalem Scavenger Hunts is determined to change that.

"It is easy to see Jerusalem as one big museum, but it's so much more - it is a real place where people live, love and die," Jerusalem Scavenger Hunts host Jeremy said as our team prepared to set off in search of historical gems in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City.

Scavenger hunt in the Jewish Q

A special commemorative stamp honoring 100 Years since the laying of the Technion University cornerstone located in Haifa, s being released by Israel's National Post beginning January 31st.

Sasi Shilo, chairman of Israel Postal Authority,said that the stamp "salutes the first academic educational institute established in Israel, and one of the most prominent institutes in its field worldwide".

The stamp design brings encorporates the past, present and future not only of the Technion, but also of the State of Israel,and illustrates the country's contribution as a science and technology pioneer.

The Technion's building façade, designed by on of Israel's pioneers in architecture, the Jewish-German architect Alexander Baerwald, one of the pioneers of modern Israeli architecture. is featured in the stamp.

Credit: Technion University

The stamp also illustrates the Technion's research in and advancement of nano-technology and showcases a photo, taken by Miki Koren, of a nano-parachute growing out of one of the buildings. 

The stamp tab featu

One of the central themes of Jesus' ministry on earth was unity. Prior to his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus prayed that those who followed him "may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me." (John 17:20). But unity has often proved elusive, especially for the many Christian denominations represented in the small, but holy city of Jerusalem.

While all Christians may be united in faith, they are typically divided by doctrine. So fierce are those doctrinal divisions at times that they erupt into physical confrontations, such as the annual inter-denominational scuffle during the ceremony marking the Miracle of the Holy Fire on Easter Eve at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City. Opponents of the Church like to point to such conflagrations and the divisions that spawn them in order to criticize our faith.

Whoever said that Christmas only comes once a year does not, obviously, live in Jerusalem. Thanks to a glut of Christian denominations confined in one small geographical space, Christmas comes three times in the Holy Land - more here than anywhere else in the world.

In every other part of the world, Christmas can be penciled in on two dates: Dec. 25, celebrated by Catholics and Pentecostals; and Jan. 7 as celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox church.

But due to a calendar glitch, the Armenian Orthodox church in the Holy Land celebrates the Nativity of Jesus on January 18 and January 19th. This also coincides with Russian and Greek Orthodox faithful who will make their annual pilgrimage to Qasr El Yahud for the Feast of Theophany, which they celebrate on that 18th. The Ethiopian Orthodox church will celebrate the Baptism of Jesus on the afternoon of the 18th while on the 19th, the Coptic Orthodox and the Syrian Orthodox Churches will celebrate Epiphany at Qasr El Yahud.