Day 5 - Korazim -> Moshava Kinneret -> Hotel Leonardo, Tiberias -> Dinner at Hotel

Next attraction was Korazim in the hills of lower Galilee,overlooking Lake Kinneret, another name for Sea of Galilee.

This town from Second Temple period was very well preserved .

Hardly or no Jew visited this place. When we were there, there were hardly any visitors. However this town was home to the Jewish people for 800 years and their existence was evident.

Local mikve ritual bath underneath, which fills up with water, perhaps because of the rain. It rained a few days when we were there. Two days were heavy rain and that is about 50% of the rainfall they received annually. Israel is a very dry and thirsty land, almost a desert. But the Jews had patented a special method to irrigate the lands and now this promised land is full of milk and honey and greens.


Ruins of the town are evident everywhere. The black stones are cut from the local volcanic basalt stone.





Large, impressive ancient 4th century synagogue which was built with black basalt stones and decorated with Jewish motifs.
The synagogue brought to remembrance the passage from Matthew 4:23 on Christ's ministry in Galilee.
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”

The below verse in Matthew suggests that it is quite possible Jesus visited this town and visited a synagogue on this site. However Jesus didn't have good news for the people of Korazim: in fact, it was a curse.
“Woe to you, Korazim! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you (Matthew 11:20-22).”

After Korazim, it was shopping at Moshava Kinneret . Rows of olive palm trees in the olive plantation.

Entrance of shop

Shop interior - Lots of huge, lovely and tasty olives on sale. There were also sesame jam and olive jam. We enjoyed helping to boost the economy for God's people by buying and buying.

The sun set around 430pm. It was dark by the time we left Moshave Kinneret and it was a short distance back to hotel. Dinner was at hotel and food was an uneventful. Nevertheless, We enjoyed the fellowship over dinner.