Abraham Path

Abraham Path
Route information
Length	1,078 km (670 mi)
Existed	2007–present
Major junctions
From	Urfa
To	Negev

TheAbraham Pathis a cultural route believed to have been the path of the patriarchAbraham's ancient journey across theAncient Near East.The path was established in 2007 as apilgrims' wayto mimic the historical believed route of Abraham, between his birthplace ofUr of the Chaldees,believed by some to have beenUrfa, Turkey,and his final destination of the desert ofNegev.

Urfapond

Abraham

Main article:Abraham

Abraham/Ibrahim is believed to have lived in theBronze Age.He traveled with family and flocks throughout theFertile Crescent,the Arabian peninsula, and the Nile Valley. His story has inspired myriad communities includingKurds,Muslim,Jews,Christians,Alevi,Bedouin,Fellahin,Samaritans,and countless across the world. The Abraham Path Initiative aims to build on this narrative of shared connection with its rich tradition of walking and hospitality to strangers.

Nabi Musa

Modern reconstruction

A reconstruction of the ancient path was created in 2007 by the Abraham Path Initiative, a registered501(c)(3)nonprofit organization based inCambridge,Massachusetts, United States, with a global network of partners.William Ury,negotiator and author ofGetting to YEShelped found the project at Harvard University'sProgram on Negotiation.Ury'sTED Talkspeaks about the beginnings of the path and the vision behind the initiative. Ury says that every culture has an origin-story, and that the origin-story of the Middle East is about how a man and his family walked the Middle East about four thousand years ago.The Abraham Path Initiative is endorsed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, theUnited Nations Alliance of Civilizationsand other international partners.The initiative is a non-profit, non-religious and non-political organization, whose mission is to support local partners in developing the Abraham Path as:

• a catalyst for socioeconomic development andsustainable tourism.
• a place of meeting and connection between people from the Middle East and people around the world.
• a creative space for stories that highlight the unique culture, heritage and hospitality of the region.

Mar Saba(Beduin youth)

Overview of the current path

The main historical Abrahamic sites on the current path areUrfa,the birthplace of Abraham according to some Muslim traditions;Harran,according to the Hebrew Bible, a town Abraham lived in, and from which he received the call to start the main part of his journey;Jerusalem,the scene for the binding of Isaac upon theFoundation Stone,according to the Hebrew Bible; andHebron,the location of the tomb of Abraham and his wife Sarah, according to Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions.

Major junctions

• Urfa
• Harran
• Nablus
• Jericho
• Jerusalem
• Bethlehem
• Hebron
• Negev

See also

• List of long-distance footpaths

Further reading

• Feiler, Bruce (2005).Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths,William Morrow Paperbacks.
• Bonder, Nilton (2010).Taking Off Your Shoes: The Abraham Path, A Path to the Other,Trafford Publishing.

External links

• Official website
• "10 of the best new walking trails".National Geographic Traveller.
• "Monumental change".The Australian.
• "Echoes of an ancient land along Turkey's Abraham Path".BBC Travel
• "How to plan a trek along the Abraham Path".Lonely Planet
• "Back to the Beginning with Christiane Amanpour".ABC News
• Simmons, Gail(July 7, 2011)."Follow in the Footsteps of Abraham".Time.
• "In Search of An Alternative Palestine".Al Jazeera