TIBERIAS or TVERYA

Tiberias at the shore of Sea of Galilee was established in AD 17-20 by King Herod Antipas in honour of Tiberius Ceaser (14-37 AD, under whose reign Jesus was crucified). Located on the shores of Lake Kineret, today Tiberias is Israel's lowest city (200 meters below sea level) and one of the most prominent holiday destination in Israel. Built around 17 natural mineral hot springs, Tiberias has been a popular destination for tourists for more than 2,000 years. The prestige of Tiberias was so great that the sea of Galilee soon came to be called the sea of Tiberias.

During Herod Antipas's time, the Jews refused to settle there; mainly because Antipas built the city on the top of a cemetery that rendered it ritually unclean. Although Tiberias is mentioned several times in the Gospels, it is said to be never been visited by Jesus Christ. Interestingly, Herod Antipas is the same Herod whom Jesus called " a fox" (Luke 13:31-33). However, the surroundings of Tiberias have witnessed some of the most important events in the life of Jesus. The baptism of Jesus, His first meeting of James, John and Simon Peter, the miraculous Draft of Fish, the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Walking on the Waters; all happened near Tiberias.

In the 6th century the Byzantine emperor Justinian, built a wall around the city. By 635 Tiberias had been conquered by the Moslems. The Crusaders (11^th century) captured the city and made it the capital of the Galilee, but Saladin retook the city for the Muslim Empire in 1187. Modern St: Peter's Church is built on the foundation of a crusader church built during these periods. The city suffered a decline until it was revived by the Ottoman Turks. Tiberias was under the influence of Mamluks (1265-1516), Ottoman Turks (1516-1922) and British (1922-1948), before it became a modern Israeli city. More than 15 earthquakes have been recorded from Tiberias.

Tiberias' is one among four holy cities of Jews (the other three being Jerusalem, Hebron and Safed) and one of the most important spiritual centers for Jewish studies, culture and history. In Bible, it was part of the land given to the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:35). After the destruction of Jerusalem Temple (AD 70), Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of ancient Israel was relocated to Tiberias (2^nd cent AD) from Sepphoris. The Mishna (Oral Law) was completed in Tiberias @ 200 AD under the supervision of Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Nasi ("Judah the Prince"). The Jerusalem Talmud was also compiled at Tiberias around 400 AD. In the 6th Cent AD, Tiberias produced Masorah, or fixed Hebrew text of the Bible.

Tiberias is the City of Rabbis and a famous pilgrimage spot for Jews today. Many prominent Jewish sages and scholars like Yochanan ben Zakkai (30 BC-90 AD), Rabbi Akiva ben Joseph (50-135 AD) and the great Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon or Maimonides (1135-1204 AD) are buried here. Tradition says that the following mothers are buried in Tiberias: Zipora – Moses’ wife, Yocheved –Moses’ mother, Miriam-Moses’ sister, Elisheva –Aharon’s wife, as well as Zilpa and Bilha-Jacob’s wives. One can still visit the site called Mother's Tombs in Tiberias today.