Nir talked about Magdala - as in Magdeliene - and that "Miriam" was really "Mary."
We stopped in Tiberias at the tomb of Maimonedies - the Rambam. He was born in Spain in 1136 and traveled through Moracco to Fustat - a suburb of Cairo. He was the physician to the ruler Saladin. He wrote the Guide to the Perplexed, which was in the form of three letters to one of his students. He also wrote commentary to the Mishnah. He died in 1203 and it was said that his coffin was placed on a camel. The camel was then slapped on the back to move to the location (to be determined by the camel) where the Rambam would be buried. It is said to have stopped in Tiberias.
Also buried at the same location is Rabbi Yohanan ben Zachai. When King Titus burned the Temple in Jerusalem and Jerusalem was under seige, Rabbi Yohanan ben Zachai got out of Jerusalem in a coffin and said that he would acknowledge the King's rule, but asked to be able to open a school - the school is located in Yavneh.
Rambam's tomb is a bit strange. The walkway from the street to the tomb had 14 pillars of basalt representing the 14 volumes of Rambam's commentary on the Mishneh Torah.
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| Mishpatim - Rights |
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| Shofetim - Judges |
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| Zera'im - Seeds |
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| Hafla'ah - Separation |
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| Kedushah - Holiness |
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| Nashim -Women |
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| Zemanim - Times |
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| Ahavah - Love |
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| HaMadda - Knowledge |
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| Avodah - Divine Service |
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| Korbanot - Offerings |
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| Tohorah - Cleanness |
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| Nezikin - Injuries |
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| Kinyan - Acquisition |
The tomb itself is divided by men and women - the women's side had a buffet and the women appeared to be praying to the tomb.
After leaving Rambam's tomb, we drove past the Kineret so many could take pictures. It was easy to see where the love of blueness came from in this country. The Kineret and the sky blend together so that it is difficult to tell one from the other; where one ends and the other begins.
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| A home in Tiberias - Limestone and Basalt |
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