Neot Kedumim is a 250-hectare biblical landscape reserve in the hills between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the only park in the world dedicated to recreating the physical landscape of the Bible. The reserve grows every plant mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud, in the terrain and conditions described in the ancient texts, creating a living encyclopedia of the flora that the biblical writers knew.
Concept
The reserve was founded by Nogah Hareuveni, a botanist who spent his life connecting the plants of Israel to the texts that describe them. When the Bible says “the righteous will flourish like a palm tree” (Psalm 92:12), what does that mean? What does a palm tree do that makes it a metaphor for righteousness? When Jesus says “I am the vine” (John 15:5), what does the vine teach about the relationship between God and humanity? Neot Kedumim answers these questions by growing the plants and letting visitors see, touch, smell, and taste the world of the Bible.
The Gardens
The reserve is divided into themed gardens: the Seven Species (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates), the Forest of Milk and Honey, the Dale of the Song of Songs, the Isaiah Peace Garden, and others. Each garden is planted with the species mentioned in the relevant texts, and interpretive signs connect the plants to their biblical references. An ancient wine press, olive press, and threshing floor have been reconstructed and are demonstrated during guided tours.
The Experience
Guided tours at Neot Kedumim include hands-on activities: pressing olives, treading grapes, baking bread on a tabun (clay oven), and making ink from natural materials. The experience is particularly powerful for groups reading the Bible, because the metaphors that seem abstract on the page become vivid and physical when you are standing in the landscape they describe.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Neot Kedumim brings the Bible’s natural world to life. Hoshen Tours includes it for groups who want to understand the land behind the text.