Can Tiberias Escape Its Shabby Reputation?

Tiberias sits on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, packed with Roman ruins, Crusader history, and the tomb of Maimonides — yet it's one of Israel's poorest cities, often described as "shabby." This episode examines what went wrong and whether a massive government investment — a new promenade, six hotels, and a push for Christian pilgrimage tourism — can actually turn things around. We dig into the demographic shift toward a Haredi majority, the brain drain of secular residents, the challenge of capturing value from religious pilgrims, and whether a nicer waterfront can overcome structural economic problems. Plus: the city's dramatic mayoral swing from a young secular firebrand to a Haredi consensus-builder.