Beit Jamal

Beit Jamal is located on the slopes of the Judean Mountains, south of the city of Beit Shemesh. The meaning of its name is House of Beauty for the magnificent view that it overlooks. This is a Catholic monastery, established in 1881, and the local tradition recognizes it as the burial place of St. Stephen, considered to be the first Christian martyr. Local tradition also recognizes this place as the burial place of Rabban Gamliel I– the grandchild of Hillel the Elder, President of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Rabban Gamliel I is significant in Christianity as he was also the teacher and mentor of Saul of Tarsus before he became the Christian Apostle Saint Paul. The church in this place has unique stained glass windows and the local monks work in agriculture, vine cultivation (especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling), olive harvest, preserving olives and making olive oil. Some of the olive trees that belong to the monastery are hundreds of years old. The vines serve in the production of wine at the Cremisan winery, which also belongs to the Salesian Order. The monastery has a small shop that offers olive oil, pickled olives, honey, candles and ceramics. On Saturdays, classical music concerts are held here.