Sightseeing in the Parsha - Naot Kedumim

In the the Ben Shemen forest, near the city of Modiin there is a park called Naot Kedumim. This unique park imitates biblical Israel; it has a few areas dedicated to visualising different parts of the Tanach. For example there is a trail that passes through all seven of the Shivat Haminim with the appropriate verses quoted along the way and a path through foliage that relates well with love and romance complete with quotes from Shir Hashirim. Additionally they have various tools and contraptions right out of the Bible and Mishna. Visitors that come at the right time of year can find themselves crushing olives to make oil in a way only familiar to us through books.

One of the fascinating exhibits is the collection of Sukkahs that demonstrate the meaning behind the words of the sages in Masechet Sukkah. This exceptional collection includes over 20 Sukkas amongst them a Sukkah on the back of a camel, a sukkah in a tree and a Sukkah on the deck of a boat. Each Sukkah has the relevant excerpts from the words of our sages.

The park, which received the Israel prize in 1994 for its contribution to society and the State of Israel, is a great place to visit to learn from and to enjoy a magnificent view of Eretz Yisrael.