The Ministry of Tourism Promotes a New Tourist Route in the Footsteps of Moses Maimon

The route will includes stops in Moses Maimonides's route in life, starting with his birthplace in Córdoba, Spain, through the city of Fez in Morocco to Tiberius, where he was buried

The suggestion to open a new tourist route entitled "a Journey in the Footsteps of Maimonides" was first presented to Morocco's Minister of Tourism Mohamed Boussaid during the European-Mediterranean conference of Ministers of Tourism from countries who are members in the Euromed organization, which was held in Paris last month.

Following Boussaid's interest in the idea, the CEO of Israel's Ministry of Tourism, Shaul Tsemach, approached the Moroccan Minister and invited him to visit Israel and discuss ways of cooperation and of promoting tourism between the two countries.

The planned tourist route includes visits to the main cities and sites associated with Maimonides's spiritual and geographical route, starting at the city he was born in, Córdoba, Spain, through the city of Fez in Morocco, where he wrote his first works, his life in Egypt and his burial in Tiberius on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Maimonides, Rabi Moshe Ben Maimon, was one of the great sages and important philosophers during the Middle Ages. He was known as a leader, a doctor, and a spiritual authority, and was therefore recognized by all the Jewish communities in Europe. He was born in Spain, but following religious persecutions his family emigrated to Morocco. He visited Israel, but spent most of his life in Egypt.
After he died, he was buried in Tiberius next to a tomb associated with Rabbi Johanan ben Zakai.

According to Shaul Tsemach, "There are many historical, archeological, religious and cultural sites in Israel, which can form the basis for attractive tourist routes with a fertile collaboration with countries from the region. Such a collaboration will increase Israel's tourism supply, will deepen cooperation with international forums based on international products and will enable joint marketing and sales." Tsemach mentioned that his office has recently prepared additional tourist routes, planned to take place in cooperation with the region's countries, including a trek following Abraham's routes in Israel, Turkey and the Palestinian Authorities, a route following the Incense Route which includes Egypt, Jordan, Oman and other Mediterranean countries.

June 1, 2008

Maimonides's statue in the city he was born in, Córdoba

The city of Fez in Morocco. From Wikipedia