Tuesday, November 19th
DEPART THE USA TO TEL AVIV
Today, we depart from the USA to Tel Aviv, Israel. Meals served in flight.
Wednesday, November 20th
ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV. Overnight in Netanya
Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv and be transferred to your hotel in the Netanya area for check-in, dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Thursday, November 21st
Caesarea maritima, Mount Carmel, Tel Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana, OVernight in Galilee
Wander through the Roman aqueduct and theatre at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians. Here, Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new covenant (Acts 10) and where Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial (Acts 23). Go to the top of Mount Carmel, where Elijah the prophet called down fire from heaven to prove to Israel the identity of the One true God. Travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo, where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other. Recall Jesus’ first miracle as you pass through Cana (John 2). View Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus (Matthew 2:23) from the Mount Precipice, where Luke describes how Jesus was rejected by those in the synagogue after He taught them. Filled with anger they, “led Him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong” (Luke 4). Check in at the hotel in Galilee (Tiberias hotel) for dinner and your overnight stay.
Friday, November 22nd
Sea of Galilee, Ancient Boat Kibbutz, Boat Ride, Fish Lunch, Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Magdala, Jordon River Baptism, Shabbat of a Lifetime
Drive along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, passing the area of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. See the remains of the synagogue that was used by that community 2,000 years ago. Travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee. Visit the synagogue that stands on the site where Jesus taught. Recall His teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4). Visit the peaceful Mount of Beatitudes that overlooks the Sea of Galilee. In this area, Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). Stop at Tabgha, where the feeding of the 5,000 is remembered at the Church of the Loaves and Fish (Luke 9). Cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee aboard a Kinneret Sailing Company boat. Along the way, you will enjoy a special onboard worship service. Disembark at Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar, home of the remains of an ancient 2,000 year old boat that sailed the Kinneret just like we did! There will also be a stop at the Jordan River for baptism and a time of spiritual blessing. We will end the day with a Shabbat of a Lifetime. This special event is where we will enjoy a private dinner inside of a Jewish home and participate in Shabbat with the family.
Saturday, November 23rd
Beit Shean, Shiloh, Psagot, Jordan Valley, Valley of the Shadow, Bethany, Jerusalem
Start the day in Beit Shean, a city continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years. Here, Saul and his sons’ bodies were hung from the walls of the city (1 Samuel 31). The uncovered ruins date back to the Greek/Roman city that was part of the Decapolis of Jesus’ day. See colonnaded streets with marble sidewalks, Roman public baths, and a theater. Explore Shiloh, the spirtual center for the Promised Land, where Joshua established the Tabernacle. Enjoy lunch at Psagot Winery close to Shiloh. Pass through the Judean Wilderness paralleling the ancient Roman road to view the Valley of the Shadow. From here, you can see St. George’s Monastery across the gorge. Visit Bethany, the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Here, Jesus visited on several occasions, and raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11). Arrive in Jerusalem to check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Sunday, November 24th
Mt. of Olives, Palm Sunday Road, Garden of Gethsemane, Emik Tzurim Park, Bethlehem
Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1). Enter the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper, and was arrested (Matthew 26). You will also have the opportunity to find ancient treasure from dirt taken from the Temple Mount at the Sifting Project. Cross the border into Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus (Luke 2). Look out on the “Shepherd’s Fields”, where angels spread the Good News.
Monday, November 25th
Qumran, Masada, Dead Sea, Jerusalem
Travel to Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of the Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. Enjoy a visit to Masada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by Herod and famous as the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Ride the cable car to the top to explore the fortress. Peer down upon the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp below. On our way to Jerusalem, stop at the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth, where those who desire may take a quick dip in the mineral-laden waters.
Tuesday, November 26th
City of David, Pilgrimage Road, Southern Steps, Western Wall, Yad Vashem
See the 3,000 year old remains of what was the City of David on the southern slope of the city of Jerusalem. This leads down to Hezekiah’s Tunnel, built by King Hezekiah to provide water to the city in time of seige. Water from the Spring of Gihon is still flowing in this tunnel today. Hezekiah’s Tunnel was an amazing engineering feat that was dug from either end and met in the middle! (Note: Those who are claustrophobic may want to meet the group at the other end of the tunnel!). In this same area, the Pool of Siloam was located – the site of the healing of the man born blind as referenced in John 9. We can walk on the 2,000 year old Southern Steps that lead into the southern entrance of the Temple platform compound. Many ancient Mikvahs are located at the foot of the steps. See the Temple Mount, once the site of the Temple of Solomon. Finally, visit the Western Wall and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Continue to modern Jerusalem and visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and be touched by its poignant images.
Wednesday, November 27th
Mount Zion, Upper Room, King David's Tomb, House of Caiphas, Pool of Bethesda, St. Anne Church, Old City, Cardo, Garden Tomb
Stand in the Upper Room, revered as the place of the Last Supper (Mark 14). View the site of King David’s Tomb. Walk through some of the ancient rooms of Caiaphas’ the High Priest’s house beneath the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. Here, it is believed by many, Jesus was held overnight before His crucifixion (Luke 22). Walk through the Old City and enjoy the preserved, ancient culture found in the narrow streets as well as the modernized Cardo in the Jewish Quarter. Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross.” View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5), where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23). Take time to reflect on the agony of the cross at Gordon’s Calvary and the exhilaration of the resurrection at the Garden Tomb. At the end of your time in the Holy Land, we prepare for our return journey to the USA.
Thursday, November 28th
DEPART TEL AVIV / ARRIVE IN THE USA
Arrive in the USA with a lifetime of memories to cherish!