Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa

Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa
Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa
Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa
Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa
Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa
Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa
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Contact / Register - directly with the instructors
Contact / Register - directly with the instructors

Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa

Technical details

Duration

By arrangement.

cost

100 NIS per participant in an open tour.

2,000 ILS – 1,770 ILS for a private tour.

Comments

kashrut

Meeting point

Multiculturalism and coexistence are not dirty words in Haifa. This modest city is home to communities and movements of all kinds, which we will learn about during our tour.

Tour structure:

We will visit the Bahá'í Gardens, learn about the religion and its characteristics, hear stories about its history and its connection to Israel and Haifa in particular. We will enjoy a panoramic view from which we can see the Haifa Bay to Rosh Hanikra and hear some of the myths that have been built around the Bahá'í Gardens in Haifa.

Not everyone is familiar with or has heard of the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam, a movement that differs from many others in that it calls for peace and brotherhood and interprets the Koran differently from other Muslims.

The picturesque neighborhood, located at the very top of Mount Carmel and sloping down almost to Wadi Sheikh, was established in the 19th century. Initially, most of the neighborhood's residents, who were members of the Odeh family, were ordinary Sunnis like most Muslims in Israel, but after a few years they became part of the Ahmadiyya movement, which originated in India.

The Kabir neighborhood is a unique neighborhood where both Arabs and Jews live together. There is a radio station in the Kabir mosque.

Stella Maris is a unique complex in Haifa because it is actually the most sacred and important place for the worldwide Carmelite Order.

The complex includes a monastery for men and a stunning church dating back to the 19th century, which underwent renovations, the most recent of which took place just last year. When leaving the church and heading towards the sea, you can also visit the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, where, according to tradition, the Holy Family stopped on their way back from Egypt.

The Carmelite Order, as its name suggests, revolves around Mount Carmel. The Carmelites arrived in Haifa with the Crusader conquest.

There are many Christian denominations in Haifa. We have already discussed one of them, and now we will talk about the Armenians. Haifa has a relatively large Armenian community. Relatively speaking, that is, compared to other cities in Israel, but the community is still very small, numbering only a few hundred people.

The Armenians arrived here in the 19th century following the Armenian genocide, and of course there are Armenians who have been here since the Byzantine period – among the first to recognize Christianity, which is why they have their own quarter in Jerusalem.

The Armenian Church is part of the Orthodox tradition, like most of the ancient churches in our geographical region, which are originally Orthodox.

Diriary, the priest and spiritual leader of the Armenian community, is happy to explain about the place, the traditions, and the beautiful church located on Hana Nakara Street, next to Huri Street in Wadi Nisnas.

The Maronite Church in Haifa is a fascinating place for several reasons, the first of which is Father Yosef, who knows how to explain the history of the Maronites and more in a language that everyone can understand. He is an inspiring figure.

Another reason is that the place has a long history, and the church was built about 200 years ago. In general, the Maronites are a community that is very worth getting to know, their story, where they came from, and why they speak Aramaic. They insisted that their identity cards list their nationality as Aramaic, and how similar Aramaic actually is to our Hebrew.

Famous figures from the Maronite community in Haifa that you have probably heard of are actors Norman Issa and Youssef Sweid, and Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran.
The Bahá'í Gardens
The Maronite Church in Haifa
Armenian Church Haifa
Stella Maris
Ahmadiyya Mosque
Tour of Religions and Communities in Haifa

Guide details:

Gili Dror

Guide Gili Dror

I have always loved traveling. Short tours and long trips, far and near, what could be more fun than breathing fresh air and gazing at the horizon? After a first career working with computers, in 2015 I finally became a tour guide who loves the country, especially Haifa and the Galilee!

Today, I invite you to discover our country and open your hearts to the sights, people, hidden corners, and strong flavors. I believe that there is nothing like an experience that combines our senses to connect us to this place.

Additional information and frequently asked questions

In Haifa, you can do anything, depending on what you feel like doing. Nature? Urban life or a bustling market?.

If you choose nature, you can hike in a variety of streams in Haifa. The recommended route is, of course, Wadi Sheich, which starts at Lotus Street in the Carmelia neighborhood and reaches Bustan Kiyat, which is already close to the sea.

You can visit the Stella Maris Church in the French Carmel and descend from it to Bat Galim Beach or hike in one of the Carmel streams that start at the Little Switzerland parking lot, near the University of Haifa.

If you are looking for urban activities or a combination of both, you can wander between the Carmelit stations, which is an attraction in itself, and observe the different neighborhoods and their characteristics – the Carmel Center – Hadar with all its stations and the lower city with the port and the Turkish market.

If you enjoy visiting markets, there are markets that are open all week (Nissnas and Talpiot), but on weekends, we highly recommend visiting the Flea Market near Wadi Salib, which has recently been developing and revitalizing with new galleries, cafes, and restaurants. We highly recommend it.

The classic cable car above Stella Maris can be combined with a visit to the most important Carmelite church in the world, and from there, take the cable car with the children over the mountain to the sea, arriving at the wonderful Bat Galim neighborhood, where you can stroll along the beautiful promenade and enjoy cold ice cream in front of the warm beach.

Additional attractions for children include:

  • Haifa Museums – Tiktin Museum of Japanese Art
  • Children's Art Museum
  • The National Maritime Museum
  • And, of course, the Madatech Museum, which is open on both Friday and Saturday.

Of course, it is preferable not to, because the whole point and beauty lies within, but if there is a group that prefers to remain outside, it is always possible to coordinate in advance and arrange meetings outside the churches.

Public transportation operates on Fridays until noon.

Parking is subject to local signage. In most parts of the city, blue and white parking spaces are free to park in from noon onwards.

In the evening, we recommend strolling along the harbor street, where there are excellent restaurants. It is advisable to make a reservation in advance.

You can also go to the Talpiot Market, but it is important to check whether the restaurant is open because some of the restaurants in the market are closed on Fridays.

For pubs and bars, we recommend visiting Derech Yafo Street, where you will find the Turkish Market and many pubs.

The wonderful customers who were on the tour recommend!

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