Jerusalem Forrest, Ein Kerem and Church of the Visitation

Jerusalem Forest

It's a man made forest planted in the 1950's by the Jewish National Fund. We hiked through this forest on our way to the Ein Kerem neighborhood.

Ein Kerem

Literally means spring of the Vineyard. This neighborhood is located southwest of Jerusalem. Ein Kerem is where John the Baptist was born. The homes are so unique and there are many artists who live in this neighborhood.

Below is a Studio we stumbled upon. The artist's name is Ruth Havilio. Her specialty is in hand painted tiles. They were beautiful. She lives below her studio and decided to move to Ein Karen because it inspired her work. I would agree.
The Church of the Visitation:

We saw a number of churches while walking around Ein Kerem neighborhood but the Church of the Visitation was by far the most beautiful. It is said to be built over the home of John the Baptist's parents.

In Luke 1, the pregnant Mary visited her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and stayed for three months (Lk 1:56). Upon Mary's arrival, the unborn John the Baptist recognized the unborn Jesus and "leaped with joy" in Elizabeth's womb (Lk 1:44).

Elizabeth exclaimed, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" and Mary sang a hymn of thanksgiving known as the Magnificat:

The Magnificat is translated into many languages and posted on the wall in the courtyard of the church.