Posted by Travelujah You’re coming to the Holy Land and perhaps you aren’t sure if you should visit Bethlehem. You’ve always wanted to go to Bethlehem and see the Church of Nativity but what else is there? Is it worth planning a a full day, or even two? Yes. And to make it easy for […]
Category Archives: What to See
Taybeh Village – Holy Land’s Oktoberfest within Biblical Ephraim
The picturesque village of Taybeh, located 12 km northeast of Ramallah, is home to around 1500 people, and is the only all-Christian Palestinian community in the Holy Land (*Majority). From its elevated spot, it overlooks the desert wilderness, the Jordan Valley, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. It’s prominent reputation includes its notoriety as the only Palestinian city that has its own beer factory, Taybeh beer. And every year it rises to prominence in early October as it hosts the Holy Land’s only Oktoberfest. This year it is slated for October 6 and 7, 2012.
Biblical Ephraim
The history of Taybeh goes back 5000 years, well before Oktoberfest. The site was first settled by Canaanites. It is mentioned in the Bible (Joshua 18:23) as a town of Benjamin – Ophrah. However later, the place was renamed Ephraim. Jesus Christ with His disciples visted the village after the Sanhedrin decided to execute Him. “Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim…” (John 11:54).
Why the village is called ‘Taybeh’?
In the late 12th century Islamic ruler Salaheddin entered the Holy Land. The folk story states that one day the leader was invited by the Christians of Ephraim to their village. The Muslim ruler found village’s people very hospitable and generous and called them “Taybeen” (“good and kind” in Arabic). Since that day Biblical Ephraim took the modern name “Taybeh.”
Four Churches in Taybeh
People of Taybeh belong to three Christian denominations: the Latin (Roman Catholic), the Greek Orthodox and as well the Melkite (Greek Catholic). Each denomination has its own church in the village: the Roman Catholic Church, dedicated to “The Last Retreat of Jesus”, was inaugurated in l971, the St. George Greek Orthodox Church was rebuilt in l929-1932 and the Melkite Church was built in l964, however the Melkite worship was founded in the village already in 1869.
All the communities celebrate Christmas according to the Western calendar, on December 25th, and Easter, according to the Eastern calendar.
But there is also a fourth church in the village…
Ruins of a Byzantine church known as ”El Khader” (Saint George) are situated east of town. Still standing are two chapels, an entrance portico and stairway, parts of a mosaic floor, and its well-preserved baptistery. The church was rebuilt by the Crusaders during the 12th century.
Famous Taybeh Oktoberfest – Festival of the Village
Taybeh became very famous for its brewery producing the only Palestinian beer named after the village “Taybeh”. The brewers produce four types of beer – Golden, Amber, Dark and Zero (non-alcoholic) and promote the drink as the “The Finest in the Middle East.”
Taybeh Oktoberfest is an annual village festival organized in September/October since 2005. The event aims to promote not only the famous beer, but all the local products produced in the village.
Oktoberfest 2012 will be celebrated on October 6 and October 7 and festivities will include music, dance performances and a wide selection of local food. The schedule of activities can be found below.
Planning your visit:
How to get there?
If you are driving a car from Jerusalem, take road number 60 and after 20-25 km of driving you will notice a sign saying “Taybeh”, turn right and follow the signs. For those taking public transportation, take bus 18 from the Arab Bus station next to the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem to Ramallah and then you’ll need to transfer into a shared taxi (service) to Taybeh.
Where to stay in Taybeh:
The village offers couple of options of accomodation:
- Beit Efram Guest House , 16 rooms, call Fr. Aziz (02) 289 8020
- Pilgrim’s Hostel next to Latin Church, call sisters (02) 289 9364
- Pension Al Khader, 6 rooms, (02) 289 9771 or 0599 676 747
- Khouriya Guest House in Jifna (around 20 km away from Taybeh), (02) 281 1485 or 0599587476, E-mail: rkhouriya@yahoo.com
- And there is also coming soon Taybeh Golden Hotel with at least 80 rooms, which will be a theme hotel centred around “The Finest (beer) in the Middle East.” The place is still under construction.
Where to eat in Taybeh:
Recommended restaurants are:
- Taybeh Zamaan Park (Tel: 0599 774 092 or (02) 289 9411)
- Peter’s Place - www.hoshbutros.webs.com. Tel: 054 983 8349 or (02) 289 8054)
To learnmore about Taybeh check the website of its municpality: www.taybehmunicipality.org.
Beata Andonia works for the Bethlehem tourist bureau and blogs regularly about Bethlehem for Travelujah-Holy Land Tours. She is originally from Poland and moved to Bethlehem in 2010.
The Dead Sea
Oct 27
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Geographic location: The Dead Sea, Salt Sea, is a geological formation belonging to the Great Rift Valley, located between the Jordan Valley to the north and Wadi Arrabah to the South. It separates the Hebron-Jerusalem hills in the west from the mountains of Ammon and Moab, in Jordan, in the east. It serves as a […]
“El-Bariyah” The Wilderness: Palestine’s New Ancient Destination
Sep 20
This gallery contains 8 photos.
El-Bariyah, also called the ‘Jerusalem Wilderness’ or the ‘Judean Desert’, is a semi-arid zone that extends between the central hills of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Hebron on the west and the Dead sea on the east. Today, El-Bariyah is one among twenty sites that are nominated to be enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is proposed […]
Palestine Top 10 for First-timers
Aug 29
This gallery contains 12 photos.
Round up the best of Palestine – the holy shrines, the historical treasures, the hospitality, the folklore, the hiking, the biking, the culture, the handicrafts, the food, the beer – and you have the building blocks for one of the most interesting journeys you’ll ever take. While so many things in Palestine are interesting, some things […]
Things to Do While you are in Palestine: A Day in Ramallah
Aug 17
This gallery contains 6 photos.
Most first-time visitors to Palestine will stick to highlights like the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Old City and Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and Tel Es-Sultan and Quarantine in Jericho. But for those that have been to Palestine before or have some time to discover other parts, there is an abundance of […]
Have you met a Samaritan?! The answer in Mt. Gerizim
Aug 9
This gallery contains 3 photos.
Probably the first thing that comes to one’s mind is the Good Samaritan mentioned in the Bible. But have you ever asked yourself if you have met one or he/she is more than a biblical figure!!! The answer is simply: mount Mt. Gerizim and discover for yourself! The Samaritan community is considered one of the […]
Bethlehem: Palestine’s unrivalled museum hotspot for both quality and variety
Jul 30
This gallery contains 1 photo.
From Museums of Bethlehem There is more to the “house of meats” than Christmas. Bethlehem has become Palestine’s unrivalled museum hotspot for both quality and variety. Here we present you with some reasons to visit during the other eleven months of the year. The Environmental Education Center (EEC) The EEC’s natural museum is unique in […]
