The house of beatitude is the meaning of the name- Beit Jimal.

It is a Catholic monastery that had been established in 1881, on the slopes of the Judean Mountains, near the city of Beit Shemesh.

Beit Jimal Monastery Beit Jimal Monastery Beit Jimal Monastery Beit_Jimal_Monastery_0328

Tradition has it that this was the burial site of St. Stephen, who is considered to be the very first Christian martyr.

At later years, tradition also placed the SANHEDRIN (the Jewish high Rabbinical court) nearby as they ahd been the mentors and teachers of Saul of Tarsus (later known as Saint Paul).

The church’s unique stained glass windows offer a glimpse at agricultural sites of times gone by.
These days, it acts as a monastery.

The monastery has a small shop that offers olive oil, pickled olives, honey, candles and ceramics.

The view is simply breathtaking.

Info
Tel. +972-2-533-5814

Opening hours:
8.30-11.30 am
and
1.30-4.30 pm
Closed on Sunday

Directions:

The monastery is located via Route 38, about 3 kilometers south of the city of Beit Shemesh.

About the Author

One of the online niche veterans; a Tech savvy professional; lives & breathes Web, globalization and people. In addition, Aaron is an avid traveler, mainly in the south of Israel; being well known as a desert expert.

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