Israel Day 4/9: Jordan River

Our next stop was the western bank of the Jordan River across from Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the place believed to be where John baptized Jesus. Is it considered to be the place where Joshua and the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land and where Elijah was taken to heaven in the fiery chariot.

Bethany Beyond the Jordan is actually in the country of Jordan was on the other side of the river.

you can see the dome of the Greek Orthodox Church

of St. John the Baptist 

But the site has a more modern history as well...

Between 1967 and 1994, it was a heavily mined military zone. A peace treaty in 1994 meant that pilgrims could visit the area only twice a year to celebrate the baptism of Jesus, once in January for the Orthodox and in October for the Catholics. It wasn't opened to the public until 2011.

there are still signs in the area warning of buried landmines

these 2 IDF soldiers said we could take their picture

Every year more than a half a million people come to be baptized or renew their baptism here. 

Some in our group chose to remember their baptism...

When I saw the water I realized why Naaman reacted the way he did to Elisha telling him to dip himself in the Jordan to be healed of leprosy. Ugh!