Another deep dive into Israel's epic past - and a special winery visit

Simon says: “Join us on an exclusive ‘Histillery Tour’, where Israel’s rich historical legacy intersects with the entrepreneurial spirit of the present – and always with a deep connection to The Land - & a winery or distillery visit"
During this tour – back in September – we embarked on an exploration of two epic tales of resistance & bravery, spanning over 2,000 years.
As I live in Zichron Ya’akov, it meant an early start to drive meet my visitors who were staying at Kibbutz Ma'ale HaHamisha. During the 1948 War of Independence, the kibbutz was the base for the “Portzim” battalion, the Palmach fighters from the Harel Brigade.
Driving along route 1 on the approach to Jerusalem, you can't miss the shells of a number of very old armoured vehicles on the side of the road, symbols of the struggle to break the siege of Jerusalem imposed by fighters from The Arab League.
This road saw fierce battles & our first stop was a new heritage centre established & dedicated to the memory of the men & women who broke through the blockaded road to Jerusalem.
Khan Sha'ar Hagai, built as a wayside inn during the Ottoman period, served as a resting point for merchants & pilgrims travelling between Jerusalem & the coastal city of Jaffa. Now part of the Israel Nature & Parks Authority, the original Ottoman-era buildings have been restored.
A series of rooms highlights the personal stories of those who took part in the hundreds of convoys that brought food, ammunition & medical supplies to the besieged citizens of Jerusalem, giving an understanding of the importance of those battered trucks & transport vehicles.
Sha’ar Hagai is situated in a narrow valley just before the ascent to Jerusalem, & we watched video interviews with commanders & truck drivers describing how they came under fire from Arabs who controlled the hills overlooking this one & only road into Jerusalem. The convoys were easy targets. If one truck was firebombed or broke down, all the vehicles behind it were sitting ducks for Arab fire.
Sitting inside an armoured truck, we listened to the diary of an 18-year-old nurse who helped the wounded & dying fighters who didn’t make it to Jerusalem.
Adjacent to Khan Sha'ar Hagai, is Castel Park; the backdrop for Operation Nachshon, a pivotal battle in the establishment of the State of Israel. Our exploration led us through bunkers and a hall displaying videos of the War of Independence battles for control of this strategic fortress.
A gentle hike following a marked trail led us through bunkers that were used during the War of Independence and into a hall to watch a video of the battles during the war for control of this strategic fortress.
Half an hour away is Yekev Tzafririm, (not kosher), where we were headed for a wine tasting paired with an excellent cheese platter. The vineyards are planted in nearby Ella Valley (Where David slew Goliath!), and Hakhlil Valley, producing around 8,000 bottles a year. Owned by an archaeologist, the winery's blends are named after nearby ancient ruins.
Our final stop was Adullam Grove Nature Reserve Mesilat Tsiyon. The park was established in 2008 for public recreation & is run jointly by the KKL (Keren Kayemeth Leisrael), the Nature & Parks Authority (INPA) & the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
It's full of archaeological sites, with evidence of settlement from the Byzantine period but our visit was centred on findings from the Second Temple period & the Jewish-Roman wars.
We explored the remains of 2 Jewish villages from The Second Temple period; firstly Horvat ‘Ethri, containing a synagogue, mikva’ot (ritual baths), wine presses & burial caves. The village had a columbarium for breeding doves & producing fertilizer, (similar to one found on Masada).
However, numerous wine presses suggest most of the town's inhabitants were involved in wine production!
The name of the site is based on an ostracon that was discovered here, bearing the name “‘Ethri”. It provides a probable identification to the village name: Caphetra, or: Kefar Ethra, which was described by Josephus Flavius as one of the Jewish villages destroyed by the 5th Legion in 69 CE
At Horvat Shu’a, we climbed down into the hiding tunnels & caves used during the Bar Kokhba revolt 132-135 CE.
Archaeological excavations were carried out from 1999-2000 & in 2004. Of special interest were the discoveries of a silver half-shekel coin from the 3rd year of the Bar Kokhba revolt, on which are the words "Half-Shekel" and a bronze coin with a date-palm tree and the inscription, "El'azar the Priest," on one side & a cluster of grapes with the inscription, "Year One of the Freedom of Israel," on the reverse.
Please don't hesitate to be in touch imagineisrael8@gmail.com, or by phone/WhatsApp +972 54 2390412 if I can help you plan a tour.
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