The Israeli Arab Village of Abu Ghosh is situated about 10 km west of Jerusalem, just off the main road from Tel Aviv. During Israel’s War of independence, out of all the Arab villages in the area, only the residents of Abu Ghosh remained neutral and, in many cases, helped by assisting in keeping the road to Jerusalem open so that essential supplies could be sent to the besieged Jewish residents of the city. To this day, relations between the village of Abu Ghosh and the Jewish community of Israel remain friendly and cooperative.
More than 6000 years ago, during biblical times, Abu Ghosh was called Kiryat Ye’arim and was a center where the Ark of the Covenant was kept up until it was taken to Jerusalem. About 1,500 years ago, during the Byzantine era, a church was built in the village. During Crusader times, the village was attributed to being the place of Emmaus (The place where after his resurrection, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples). This is the site of the beautiful Benedictine Monastery.
One of the most beautiful crusader buildings to have survived in Israel is the Abu Ghosh Benedictine Monastery built about 1000 years ago on a water spring site. In the 19th century, this crusader church was handed over to the Benedictine Order by the French Government after careful restoration. On the monastery walls, frescoes from the 12th century are still in evidence, and a small spring can be seen flowing from the monastery’s crypt. The monastery is divided into a section for nuns and a section for monks.
At the highest point of the village and facing the inspiring views of the Jerusalem Hills and surrounded by gardens is the lovely Church of our Lady of the Ark of Covenant (The Church of Notre Dame de l’Arche d’Alliance) was built on the ruins of an ancient Byzantine Church. In the Church Courtyard, there is a large statue of the Virgin Mary, visible from all points of the compound. The convent itself belongs to the French order of St.Josef de l’apparition, and the imposing church is home to the Abu-Gosh Liturgical Festival. During the 1948 War of Independence, the convent was used as a military hospital.
During Shavuot (the festival of the first fruits) and Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles), both the Church and the Benedictine Monastery hold vocal music festivals. Groups and Choirs from around the world participate in these festivals, which music lovers from both Israel and abroad attend.
The village has several excellent restaurants. If the word hummus is mentioned, Abu Ghosh immediately comes to mind as it is known as the countries hummus center with its different varieties of garnishes and spices. Therefore, visitors should definitely put the village of Abu Gosh on the list of places to visit when touring Israel.