A living-breathing place, it is continuously changing. The Sorek Cave in the Avshalom Nature Reserve is a small but impressive cave with a wide array of stalactites and stalagmites. Small as it may be (82-yards/meters-long, 60-yards/meters wide) this cave is unique among caves of the earth; it has all the known formations of stalactites and stalagmites in the world. As you tour the hills around Beit Shemesh, do not miss this glorious work of nature where minerals and water create a silent majestic symphony, underground.

At the end of a beautiful road, flanked by green fields on either side, you will find the country’s first meteorological station. Located in the Beit Jamal monastery it was established by Salesian monks in 1919. What is perhaps no less amazing is that it is still maintained as an official meteorological station, by the monks – to this day. Precipitation, wind, and temperature are all routinely measured here.

It is perhaps appropriate that the place identified as home of Zachariah and Elizabeth and the birthplace of their son, John the Baptist, (Luke 1:5-25, 57-80) is also home to the World of the Bible Gardens, full-scale archaeological replicas that help interpret the scriptures.

Concerts are held in a small hall that seats 100 in the Beit Jamal monastery. The concerts are on Saturdays at 12:00 PM. To attend the concert, you should make a reservation in advance (see below).

If you are planning to visit the Temple Mount when you are in Jerusalem you should note that opening hours are based on Jordanian time and not Israeli time. Factoring in both Daylight Savings Time and winter and summer hours, things can get a bit confusing.