SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1 ~ Arrival

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport and transfer to Netanya for dinner and overnight

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, our guests will be warmly greeted and taken to the coastal city in central Israel for a relzexing dinner.  Overnight in Netanya

Day 2 ~ Acre/Akko

After breakfast and checkout we will visit Caesarea, the site built by King Herod in honor of his patron Emperor Augustus in the mid-first century BCE, and to where it is believed that Pontius Pilate ruled the country during the trial of Jesus. It was from this port that Paul set sail to preach in communities all over the Mediterranean, where he was later imprisoned for two years and appeared before Felix, Festus and King Agrippa.  We will head north along the coast to the town of Acre, a mixed city of Arabs and Jews, and visit the colorful market in the old city, the Crusader Knight’s halls and the Harbor. After lunch in Acre, we will stop by the “Shop for Meaning” which sells special products for a better world/fairer world and assists people with special needs. We will then continue to Cana, the small village where the Church of the First Miracle is located, which commemorates the miracle where Jesus turned the water into wine. We will end our day by driving to Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 ~ Galilee – Nazareth

We will begin our day by walking the “Gospel Trail” (possible walk to Mt. Tabor if the group is up for it). We will then continue on to Nazareth and explore the old city by foot, seeing the many holy and historically significant sites in the city. Nazareth is the largest Arabic-speaking city in the Galilee and has a sizeable Christian minority within its city limits. We will learn about the religious minorities in Israel from a Muslim perspective and meet with a representative from the Sufi Center. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Nazareth

Day 4 ~ Galilee

After breakfast, we will drive to the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6). We will visit the center of Domus Galilee, with its expansive view of the Sea of Galilee and learn about the life and studies of the seminarians who study at this center from all over the world. We will then continue to the hometown of Jesus’s ministry, Capernaum, visit the ruins of this village, with its synagogue church marking the home of Peter, and dwellings from the time of Jesus. Next, we will stop at the nearby Chapel of the Primacy of Peter, where Jesus appeared to the Apostles after the resurrection. Nearby is the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes at Tabgha, with its famed mosaic depicting the two fishes and the five loaves Jesus multiplied. After enjoying a boat sail from Capernaum to  Ginosar (with seminarians from Domus Galilee based on availability,) we will have a lunch of the famous St. Peters fish. In the afternoon we will tour a local kibbutz and meet with members for a special afternoon program. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Nazareth

Day 5 ~ Valley of Jizreel (Yizre’el) and Jenin

The day will begin with a short drive into the Palestinian Territories in northern Samaria and south to the predominantly Christian community of Zababde, equally distributed among Anglicans, Melkites, Catholics, Protestant Christians and Muslims. We will meet with Priest of the Christian Community and enjoy fellowship at the individual homes of local residents. After a traditional Palestinian lunch we will visit the Burqu’in Church, also known as the Church of St. George, – said to be one of the four oldest churches still in use in the Holy Land and considered to be the place where Jesus healed the 10 lepers. We will visit a local organic fair trade factory to taste the oils and  learn about the establishment of the successful cooperative and how it has impacted Palestinian life in Samaria. Drive to Jenin for dinner and overnight

Day 6~  West Bank – Nablus – Bethlehem

During our morning tour of Nablus we will visit the Turkish Bath, Jacob’s Well, and the Old Market. A local Nablus developer will provide an overview of the history and development activity occurring in this large Palestinian city. We will continue on to Mt. Gerazim and meet with Samaritan community leader and learn about Samaritan life and traditions that have been maintained since biblical times. Our day will end in Bethlehem where we will discuss life in Bethlehem with a local leading clergy and see the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Bethlehem

Day 7 ~ Jordan Valley

We will visit Tel Jericho, the site of the first victory of the Israelites in the Land of Canaan. (Joshua 6), and see the Mt. of Temptations. It is here that Jesus went into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days following His baptism and was tempted by Satan, as described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. We will visit the recently redeveloped baptismal site of Place of Baptism (Qasr al Yehud) along the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). We will then visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and where a community of Essenes lived. It is also possible that John the Baptist spent some time with the community here. We will drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada, ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 A.D. We will end the day with a swim in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem

Day 8 ~ Old City of Jerusalem

We will welcome the day with one of the most magnificent views in the world: ancient Jerusalem as seen from the top of the Mount of Olives. We will then take the “Palm Sunday Walk” down the Mount of Olives in the footsteps of Jesus. On the way, we will stop at Dominus Flevit Church marking the site of Jesus’ weeping over the city. At the Garden of Gethsemane at the base of the mountain, we will spend time pondering and praying about the time Jesus spent here with his disciples before his arrest. After lunch, we will then visit a Jewish residential complex on the Mt. of Olives, tour the area and visit with a Jewish family living in this predominantly Arab community.  In the afternoon we will explore the diverse religions present in the region with a panel of Israeli Jews, Muslims and Christians.  Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Day 9 ~ Jerusalem, Jewish Heritage Sites

In the morning we will visit the excavations at the City of David, and walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel.  We will visit the Eucalyptus and learn about the traditions and laws of Kashrut with a renowned chef and lunch. We will continue to the Israel Museum home to the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century – the Dead Sea Scrolls. An impressive model of Jerusalem in 69 CE sets the stage for us as we enter the special shrine that contains the Scrolls. We will end the day with visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Museum. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Day 10 ~ Jerusalem, Christian Holy Sites

Entering the Old City through the Dung Gate, we will visit the Western Wall, the holiest site for the Jewish people.  We will then walk up the ramp to the Temple Mount plaza and see the Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa Mosque. A representative from the Islamic Waqf will provide an informative personal tour of the important sites situated on the Temple Mount. We will then exit via the Via Dolorosa, see the  Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a paralytic. We will continue along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, which tradition says Jesus went with the cross to Calvary. Today, it passes through the colorful Old City markets to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of the crucifixion of Jesus. We will walk through the Jewish Quarter and see the ancient Roman cardo before ending our day at the Garden Tomb, a site that many Protestants believe may have been the final resting place of Jesus. We will enjoy a festive farewell dinner with music and dancing. Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 11 ~ Departure

We will enjoy a morning at leisure before traveling to the communal moshav of Neve Shalom, a pluralistic community comprised of Jews and Muslims living together. We will learn about the establishment of this special moshav, the unique lifestyle within the community and commitment of its residents to maintain an atmosphere and lifestyle devoted to full equality between Jews and Muslems.

Transfer to airport to departure

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

• Explore one of Israel’s largest mixed cities, Akko, meet with locals and see the renowned Crusader citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site and visit a special “Shop for Meaning”
• Hike down a small portion of the Gospel Trail from Nazareth to the Jezreel Valley below
• Engage with a sheik in Nazareth and life from a Muslem perspective
• Roam the hills and holy sites surrounding the Sea of Galilee and enjoy a boat ride with locals
• Learn about life on a kibbutz and meet with local members
• Discover Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus and home of the Church of the Nativity
• Explore the traditions and laws of Kashrut with a renowned local chef
• Meet a representative of the Islamic Waqf and tour the Haram al Sharif and the Dome of the Rock
• Ascend Massada by cable car and see where the Zealots held their last stand against the Romans in 73 AD
• Roam the Old City of Jerusalem and the City of David–home of the Western Wall (the holiest site to the Jewish people) and the Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa Mosque
• See the Israel Museum, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and  visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Museum.