If it is not, then nobody knows where the Hebrew name stems from. Not that it really matter to the average Israeli, who on holidays or Saturdays will stream to the shores of the Sea of Galilee to bathe, water jetting or visit one of the water slide sites, nor to the tens of thousand of Christian or Jewish visitors to the area.

And it is not just the Kinneret itself that attracts. The mountains around – to the west the mountains of the Galilee, to the east the Golan Heights – are strewn with historical sites and great hiking trails for all ages.

If you should happen to be hungry, there are no lack of eating places. Some are a little away, maybe up in the mountains on either side offering not only excellent foot but often a stunning night view of the Sea. Others are nearer the shoreline or on the shoreline itself. The majority of eating places are in Tiberias, the only town at the Sea of Galiee.

Certain parts of the population prefer the eating places in Tiberias, whether down on the promenade or in one of the small side streets. One thing is for certain – a lack of restaurants is not the reason for you to go hungry.

But the Sea of Galilee is much more than the fun  place for Israelis. On the north shore are some of the most important places to the Christian visitor.

Capernaum – where Jesus spent the greater part of his ministry
Mt. Beatitudes – the place where tradition says that Jesus gave his longest sermon, The Sermon on the mount.
Tabgha or Church of the Multiplication – just below Mt.Beatitudes, the place where Jesus fed the four thousand
Primacy of St. Peter – where Jesus appears to his disciples for the third and last time

Other places important to the Christian visitor are at some distance from the lake, such as Caesarea Philippi and Nazareth. Also within reach are places like Safed and Beit Shean.

There are many hotels in Tiberias of various levels of comfort. But around the Sea of Galilee are kibbutzim who have established hotels as part of their industries.

There is no lack of anything in this beautiful corner of Israel, and to make a long story short a visit to the area of the Sea of Galilee, the pearl of Israel, is a must for anyone visiting Israel.

Actually, there is a lack of something – water. For the last 10 years or so the area has been in a drought. As The Sea of Galilee is also Israel’s main fresh water reservoir, the results have been that the level of the lakes has dropped substantially. Measures are being taken throughout Israel to minimize damage. The questions hovers all the time … Is it too late? Will next winter bring good rain?

Israel will pray for rain as will many around the world. While waiting for the rain Israelis as well as visitors from all over the world will continue to flock to the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

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