Imagine a place where you find all the plants mentioned in Bible and the corresponding Scripture references highlighted. Neot Kedumim (In Hebrew, Neot=Pasture; Kedumim=Ancient) in Israel could be the closest place for fulfilling such a wish. This 624-acre spread Landscape Reserve is located near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and it conserves hundreds of varieties of plants mentioned in the Holy Bible and Talmud. In addition to that, the reserve also maintains wild and domesticated animals; ancient and reconstructed olive and wine presses, threshing floors, cisterns, and ritual baths: all done to bring life to the literal roots of the Biblical tradition in the land of Israel. In 1994, for its special recognition, Neot Kedumim won the Israel Prize, the highest honor awarded by the State of Israel. The reserve also offers self-guided tours complete with a plant guide, guided tours based on themes or texts of our choice and even a “biblical meal”. You can read more from the official site
Do also see this very nice article
To reach Neot Kedumim via public transport is not an easy option. But I took the hard (or rather the wrong) way and dedicated one day for Neot Kedumim during these Passover holidays. From Sede Boker via Metropolin 60 (6.30 am), I went to Beer Sheva and took Egged 446 to Jerusalem (7.40). Since Neot Kedumim is near the modern town of Modiin (built near the Biblical Modin), I took Egged 465 (9.35) from Jerusalem Central Bus Station that passed via Modiin. Egged 465 goes the Jewish Settlement Immanuel in West Bank and thus it was bullet proof. Getting down at the Modiin Junction (Tzomet), I decided to walk the rest 3 km towards the Reserve. After walking a few minutes through the highway 443, I was interrupted by a police officer who dropped me at the site after checking my ID. Being Passover period, the whole Nature Reserve was open to the public free of cost.
Fetching a map and a Plant List from the entrance, I decided to hike through the different trails depicted in the map. Altogether, there are 5 hiking routes inside the reserve marked in different colours. In fact, I could cover only three (A, C and D) and left the remaining two trails for some other time. The longest and more difficult was the 5 km long trail D. Walking 10 km in that relatively unpleasant weather was more than what I could do at that time. The whole reserve was crowded with families who have taken off to celebrate Passover.
Around 4.30, I winded up the visit and walked 3 km to Tzomet Modiin for the return bus to Jerusalem. Hardly did I realize that I needed to walk 7 more kilometers to get an Egged Bus to Jerusalem!!! Walking 20 km a day in hot weather was more than my body could bear. Any way the long tiresome walk enabled me to visit the traditional spot where the ancient Maccabees are buried. By the time I took Egged 181 from Tzomet Shalit it was already 6.00 pm and I was almost exhausted. Egged 181 also started from a West Bank Jewish settlement called Nahaliel and thus was bulletproof. From Jerusalem, Egged 470 (7.00 pm) brought me to Beer Sheva and via Metropolin 60 (9.00 pm), I was back in Sede Boker by 9.45. Visiting Neot Kedumim was indeed worth an experience. On the other hand it was almost impossible to observe all the plants in the spot and to cover the whole trails. As an ending note, I would strongly discourage anyone who plan to visit Neot Kedumim via public transport.
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