Seminar on the shore of the Sea of Galilee with Shishi Shabbat Israeli

Summer is over, but the Sea of Galilee hasn’t realized it yet: the water is warm, and swimming is still possible. The sun has become gentler, though, and evenings by the water are cooler and more pleasant. We’re heading north for an entire weekend.

How did the Sea of Galilee actually come into being, and what was it before it became a lake? Josephus Flavius was already asking two questions in The Antiquities of the Jews: Why is the Sea of Galilee shrinking, and why is the fish there always so expensive? At the seminar, you’ll be able to find out all this and… believe it or not, because, as you understand, these are strange times.

Where we’ll stay: Karei Deshe

Karei Deshe (כרי דשא, “grassy meadows”—the name echoes the biblical “green pastures”) is a wonderful hotel right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, on its northwestern shore. Huge green lawns, palm trees, and the water just a few steps away. We regularly hold seminars here, because it’s impossible not to fall in love with this place.

The hotel also has its own beach right by the lawns. In October, the water in the Sea of Galilee is still warm, and you can enter it straight from the grass. Between lectures and excursions, you can swim, warm yourself in the now-gentle sunshine, and watch the sunset over the water.

And all around is real history: nearby lie the ruins of Minnim, an Umayyad-period palace estate (8th century) with monumental walls and mosaic floors, and not far away is an 18th-century caravanserai. A little farther on is Tabgha, “Seven Springs” (Ein Sheva), with warm sulfur springs that were believed for centuries to have healing powers.

They say that if you stand above the lake at noon and look carefully, you may see a huge freshwater ray—the local “Loch Ness Monster.” In any case, it’s better to hear about that at the seminar itself.

Friday: An excursion on the way north

We’ll leave in the morning, and an adventure awaits us along the way.

If you’d like to find yourself in Switzerland for a couple of hours, this is what awaits us. We’ll walk along one of the trails in the “Little Switzerland” National Park on Mount Carmel.

At the end of the excursion day, we’ll enjoy a tasting of Galilean liqueurs at a boutique winery.

From there, we’ll continue to Karei Deshe.

And then, the seminar itself

Two days at the comfortable Karei Deshe hotel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, lots of conversation and new acquaintances—after all, we’ll be an entire busload! Unique lectures, a special atmosphere, and wonderful guests: as always, the best storytellers and lecturers will be with us. A fun and educational weekend is guaranteed. In the evening, after Shabbat, we’ll head home.

The SHISHI-SHABBAT ISRAELI program was created so that people can enjoy time in warm company, relax, travel, and learn together.

Details

When: We leave Friday morning and return after Shabbat, October 16–17.
Price: ₪500 (a heavily subsidized trip).
Included: Full board; transportation from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and a point in the north.
Places: 55 people.
Conditions: Ages 18–35, plenty of good cheer, and a desire to socialize and learn.
What to bring: A swimsuit and towel (we’re still swimming in the Sea of Galilee!), shoes you don’t mind getting wet, a hat, sunscreen, and a warm sweater for the evening.

Together, we choose what to study, where to go, and what we want to do.