Samaria Days 2021
If you’re thinking about a trip to Israel in the year 2021, you might be wondering what Samaria has in store for you. During the Middle Ages, Samaria was nominally independent of the Seleucid Empire, but it was soon under Hasmonean rule. The Samaritans were destroyed during John Hyrcanus’ reign. Today, there are only a few stones left of their temple. Six CE later, Samaria was incorporated into the Roman province of Iudaea.
Samaria is the central region of ancient Palestine, about 40 miles long and 35 miles wide. The region is bounded by the Jordan River, the Mediterranean Sea, and the ancient cities of Galilee and Judaea. It extends into Judaea, without any clear division. Ancient Shechem served as its cultural and political center. However, today, it is a contested region whose borders are constantly being redefined.
Samaria National Park is a wonderful place for walking or hiking in the area. It’s home to one of the dozen national parks in Greece, and the entrance fee is only five Euros for adults. The entrance fee is waived for children under 15 years old and half price for students. The park’s paths are also well-maintained and offer a better experience that those in Crete. The paths are relatively easier to travel in Samaria than in other Greek mountain areas, and the springs are well-maintained.
Despite Israel’s stance against Palestinian construction, a new data on illegal structures was presented in a Knesset meeting recently. The Regavim movement’s director-general, who monitors Palestinian construction in Area C (the portion of Judea & Samaria that is fully under Israeli control), revealed that 5,907 illegal structures had been built by Palestinians in the past two year. At one time, this represented one new building every three hours, meaning that the rate of illegal construction has increased by more than two-thirds.
A morning Jeep Safari in the Judean Desert is one of the activities that will be part the festival. After the festival, guests will be able to visit the Caliber 3 shooting area, where a distinguished speaker will present a talk on the Entebbe liberation raid, which occurred forty years ago. It’s an excellent way to help reduce air pollution, and the experience is guaranteed to be a memorable one.
Every year, the Samaritans celebrate Sukkot on the full moon of Tishrei 15. They can trace their roots to the Northern Kingdom, Israel, but they don’t follow the rabbinic reforms of sixth century that established the order of seven holy holidays and one month later than biblically-based holidays. The high priest decides the extra month. It is a secretive and sacred tradition that has been kept secret for more than two thousand years.