Cast your vote for the Dead Sea as one of the World's Seven Wonders!

Have you ever floated in the Dead Sea or emerged from the salty waters with baby soft skin only to think what a wonder it was? That very same body of water is up for a vote now to become one of the world's new seven wonders in an international campaign.

"The Dead Sea is one of Israel's natural and tourism treasures that offers an experience rich in history, archaeology and wellness to its many fans around the world who have been casting their votes since the campaign began," said Tou

Dry weather and an army drill contributed to a fire on Thursday that swept across the Golan Heights and threatened the Gamla Nature Reserve, home to vultures and waterfalls.

The afternoon fire is believed to have destroyed vegetation in the reserve, but, thankfully, the Nature and Parks Authority saved 15 vultures that were hatched in captivity. The vulture population is in danger of extinction.

Israeli news sources reported that the Fire Service believed the fire b

The name Ben Hinnom most probably means Son of Hinnom, Hinnom being the owner of the land, but the valley's name in Hebrew, Gei Ben Hinnom, resembles the Hebrew word for Hell, Geihenom, and despite its peaceful and innocent appearance, its history makes the name well deserved.

Right below Mt. Zion, outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, lay a deep valley, green and wide, that separates the old city of Jerusalem from the modern neighborhoods of the city. In fact, the valley, known as the Ben Hinnom valley or Gei Ben Hinnom in Hebrew, separates the Old City from the first Jewish neighborhood built outside the Old City walls, Mishkenot Sha'ananim (established 1860).

The name Ben Hinnom most probably means Son of Hinnom, Hinnom being the owner of the land, but the valley's name in Hebrew, Gei Ben Hinnom, resembles the Hebrew word for Hell, Geihenom, and despite its peaceful and innocent appearance, its history makes the name well deserved.

 It was here, in the Ben Hinnom Valley, that people in ancient times used to sacrifice their first born children to the foreign gods, the Molech and the Baal. The Israelites that a few hundred years back had adopted

While working on Jerusalem’s present day water infrastructure, workers uncovered a section of the city’s ancient aqueduct and a 14th century bridge near Sultan’s Pool, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Tuesday.

The aqueduct conveyed water to the Temple Mount during Solomon’s time.

“The bridge, which could still be seen at the end of the 19th century and appears in old photographs, was covered over during the 20th century,” said Yehiel Zelinger, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “We were thrilled when it suddenly reappeared in all its grandeur during the course of the archaeological excavations.”

Zelinger explained that the aqueduct actually began in Bethlehem at Solomon’s Pools and ended at the Temple Mount cutting through the neighborhood today known as Yemin Moshe, across from Mount Zion. Its route has been documented by scholars. The bridge, Zelinger said, was built in order “to maintain the elevation of the path along which the water flowed.”

“Two of the original nine arches that were in the bridge were currently excavated to their full height of about 3 meters,” Zelinger said.

Tags: jerusalem archaeology temple aqueduct