THE LAND OF ISRAEL

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The plans for our next Bible Study Tour in Israel are now complete, and we are ready to take reservations. The trip begins with a departure from the USA June 8, arriving in Israel June 9; and we will depart for home June 22. That will give us a good twelve days in the land. People who go on these kinds of trips find it an amazing experience, often a life-changing experience. They certainly never read the Bible the same again, not after having been there and seen the setting and all the remains and remnants of the biblical events. At every stop we consider the relevant passages of Scripture; and they often are then seen in a new light. But our study tour also allows us to see how the Church today is growing and ministering in a very troubled part of the world. The experience of a trip like this is so full that many who go will go again within a few years

We work with Shoresh in Israel, which is centered in Christ Church, Jaffa Gate, Old City, Jerusalem. Christ Church is the oldest Protestant Church in the Middle East; and Shoresh is a branch of CMJ, the Anglican Church’s Mission among Jewish people, and more generally, people of the land, Jews and Arabs as well as many who are there from different places. So Christ Church is a hub of various Christian activities. Shoresh, which means “root,” is the educational branch of this ministry, designed to help Christians understand the historic and spiritual roots of the Christian faith.

Overview

As you can see from the itinerary, we will arrive in Tel Aviv in the afternoon of June 9. Our first night will be in the King Solomon Hotel in Netanya, on the Mediterranean coast. Here we will have a chance to collect ourselves after the flight, get to know one another, and have a brief orientation. On June 10 we will start our journey, and settle in to the Ramot Resort Hotel in Tiberias (www.ramot-nofesh.co.il) for a few nights while in the north. On Thursday, June 14, we will journey to Jerusalem, to our lodgings in Christ Church, where we will stay until the flight home. So we will only have to pack up and move twice after arriving.

Some have expressed a desire to see Petra in Jordan. For those who want to do that, it would mean planning to stay over for three more days and arrange an excursion to Jordan (two nights in Petra). That would be an extra charge; and the return flight would have to be later. All of this would have to be worked out in advance.

Cost: @ $3100

We always divide the cost for a trip like this between the land price and the air price, because occasionally there are some folks who book their own flights and join us there, especially if they want to go early and get over jet lag.

The Land Cost for those flying with the group will be $1576 (based on a group of 30, two to a room). The single supplement fee for those wanting a room to themselves would be an additional $395. This price includes hotels, breakfast and dinner, transportation, entry fees, and tipping--that is about $130 a day! It does not include lunches, since we are not at the hotels at lunch, but out in different areas. It does not include travel or entrance fees you may have on a free day where you go somewhere not on the itinerary. And of course, it does not include spending money.

For any who arrange their own flights (and do not buy the complete package), the land cost will be $1832.

The Air Cost for those flying with the group will be $1529 ($1291 + 238 taxes). We have blocked out 30 seats for this trip on the flight. The cost covers the flight from the gateway city of Atlanta; if that is some distance from your home, additional travel plans will have to be made. The flight is officially the Israeli airlines El Al, but it shares the plane with Delta. It will leave Atlanta at 10:40 p.m. on June 8 and arrive in Tel Aviv 5:25 p.m. on June 9 (there is a 7 hour time difference, so the departure time in Atlanta is already 5:40 a.m. the next day in Israel). The return flight leaves Tel Aviv 10:30 p.m. on June 22 and arrives in Atlanta 5:45 a.m. on June 23.

At this stage we are inviting people to sign up for the trip to secure a place, and to sign up for a place on the flight at the group rate. A deposit of $300 per person (to be paid by check or money order and not credit card) is required to secure a place. You will be invoiced for the final payment which is due April 2, 2007. Airline tickets will be ticketed 30-45 days before the flight. For details of the financial arrangements, due dates, and cancellation conditions, MTS will provide the details. For further information and details, and in order to sign up, contact

MTS Travel also recommends Travelex Insurance; but be sure you know what it covers. Visit http://www.travelex-insurance.com/ or call 877 311 7331 for information. Use code 38-0377.

Every effort goes into these trips to make them as safe and secure as travel can be. If serious trouble broke out in the region and made the trip unsafe, we would cancel the trip (for details about cancellations and refunds, contact Allen P. Ross at drapross2@cs.com, or Trinda at MTS (above). Over there we do not go to places that are the danger spots, such as Gaza, and we do not go on public transportation, or to clubs and malls in modern parts of the big cities. For those who sign up to go, we have prepared a good deal of information on security and advice on preparing for the trip; we also have a Bible study guide that will be given out later to those going on the trip.

Arrive in Tel Aviv in the late afternoon; transfer to King Solomon Hotel in Netanya, on the Mediterranean coast, for a good meal and a good bed, and a brief orientation.

After Morning Prayers we start with a visit to Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s gem of a seaport city. Here we will see all the remains of the city and be able to discuss the clash of cultures that this city represented. It was to this place that Peter came to meet Cornelius; here Herod Agrippa died after his performance on stage in the theater; and here Paul was imprisoned as he spoke to governors and kings about the Gospel. From Caesarea we will drive up the coast to Dor, another ancient port and now a center for underwater archaeology. Then we will go up into the Carmel range of hills for lunch, and have overview of the whole Jezreel Valley where we have a chance to talk about Elijah on Mount Carmel. Our next stop will be Tel Megiddo, an ancient site known for its strategic location in one of the mountain passes, and therefore its many battles. The “mount,” har, of Megiddo, is forever associated with the biblical prophecy of Armageddon. Our last stop of the day will be Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation where we can see remains from the first century village where Jesus grew up, and possibly the well of the town. Then on to the region of Galilee, to Ramot Resort Hotel, overlooking the sea. In the evening we will meet for a time of worship.

Today we will see the places around the lake, Lower Galilee. We will start with a visit to Chorazin, to see the remains of the synagogue and the ritual bath, and consider Jewish worship as well as Jesus’ warning to the town. Then we will stop at the Church of the Beatitudes, the traditional site for the sermon on the mount, overlooking the sea of Galilee. We shall also visit a couple of churches by the sea, one in commemoration of the multiplication of fish and bread at Tabgha, and the other the commissioning of Peter, the Church of Peter’s Primacy, where we will have a short communion service. After lunch we will have an overview of the whole western side of the sea from the cliffs of Arbel, and then go down to Genneseret to see the “Jesus Boat.” From there we will take a boat ride along the shore to Capernaum, to see the remains of the great synagogue there as well as Peter’s house that became a basilica.

Today we will go into Upper Galilee. We will drive up into the Golan Heights along a narrow winding road at the border of Jordan for a brief overview of the whole sea of Galilee, bird’s eye view. Our first main stop of the morning will be at Qatsrin, the remains of a Talmudic village where the archaeologists have put one of the houses back together. The visit here will enable us to see how people lived--cooking materials, bedding, pottery, oil lamps, ovens, and all. From there we will drive north for an overview of the crossing point between Syria and Israel, the general location of the “road to Damascus.” After lunch in a Druse village we will come to Banyas in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Here we will consider Peter’s great confession of faith and Jesus’ transfiguration. We will go down to the waterfalls, part of the headwaters of the Jordan River, and then walk along the flowing stream of “living water” to Tel Dan to see the remains of the altar and high place the kings set up for their false worship, as well as the ancient “Abraham’s Gates,” and the main entrance to the Israelite city with the king’s seat and the seats for the elders. On the way back to the hotel we may have just enough time to make a quick stop to see Tel Hazor, the main Canaanite city in the north, its ancient Canaanite shrines, Solomonic gates, and excellent water system.

This will be a less strenuous day for our group. We will start with a visit to the remains of Gamla and its early synagogue; and then go to the city of Sepphoris, the capital of the region, to see some of the mosaics found in the dig. Then we will take a fast (!) taxi ride to the top of Mount Tabor, one traditional site of the Transfiguration of Christ. There we will see the beautiful church commemorating the event as well as take a wonderful overview of the whole valley. In the afternoon we will go to a great park for lunch and for a time of relaxation--and swimming for those interested. On our way back to the hotel we will stop at Beth Alpha to see the mosaics of an early synagogue.

We leave the Galilee today, but first make a stop at Yardenit, a place set up for baptisms in the Jordan River. Our first stop down the Jordan Valley will be at Belvoir Castle, a crusader castle high above the valley. Here we can have a good view of the valley and of Jordan on the other side, discuss Jesus’ baptism, and talk about the crusades. Our first big stop will be at Beth Shean, a great place to see for both Old Testament--the mount of ruins, or tel--and the remains of the Roman city down below. This was also one of the cities of the Decapolis. Then we will drive to Jerusalem. If conditions permit, we will stop at Jericho to see the ruins of the ancient city from even before the days of Joshua. At the end of the day we will come to Christ Church in old Jerusalem, where we will stay for the rest of the time in Israel. For those who do not want an early night, we will have a brief walk-about in the old city.

A Free Day to relax, shop, wander about, or visit a place or two not on the itinerary.

This is a day in the desert. We will drive south to visit Arad, an ancient Canaanite city as well as an Israelite fortress, to see the temple that was built there by Israelites in the days of Solomon. Then we go to Masada and have a good look at Herod’s famous stronghold in the desert where the Jewish zealots held out against the Romans. Lunch and a swim--or, float--in the Dead Sea will be a refreshing break. Then we will stop at En Gedi and walk up the canyon

to the caves and waterfall, the place where David met the sleeping Saul in the cave. Our final stop of the day will be Qumran, the remains of the Essene community and the area in which some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

A restful morning for meditation, contemplation, and worship in Christ Church or in one of the other churches in the old city. After lunch we will have a short visit to Yad weShem, the memorial to the holocaust. But afterward we will go to visit a settlement of Christians, a moshav, called Yad HaShmoneh, to witness how the Lord can bring new life out of the ashes of the holocaust.

Today we will study the temple area of Jerusalem. We will visit the Western Wall and then the ruins at the street level of the first century. From there we will go around to the southern steps and see the remains of the baths and the entrance arches into the sanctuary. If conditions permit, we will go up on the platform where today the mosque and the dome are located, and get a better idea of the size and location of Herod’s, and Solomon’s, temple. After a break for lunch, we will walk down to see the excavations of the remains of David’s city. If conditions are right, we will walk through the water tunnel Hezekiah had dug--those of us who do not mind getting a little wet on a warm day.

Once again we will be walking around the old city of Jerusalem. We will start in the area now called Mount Zion to see the approximate area of the upper room, and have a good overview of the valleys from the Church of Gallicantu (“cock’s crow”). Then we will visit the Herodian Villas, the incredibly rich remains of the residences of the wealthy from the time of Jesus, very possibly homes of the high priests. Our afternoon will be free, because in the evening we will go to the Israel Museum to see some of what has been found in all the places we have visited.

A more relaxing day away from the busy city. We will first visit a nature reserve called Neot Kedunim, where we can see many of the plants and crops mentioned in the Bible, as well as see demonstrations of olive presses and threshing floors and scribal activity. We will have lunch in Joppa. On our way back we will stop at the caves of Mareshah, and also at the site of the fight between David and Goliath in Socoh. If possible, we will visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the grotto of St Jerome. In the evening we will have a Passover Seder meal.

Today we walk through the places of the Passion of Jesus. We will start from the top of the Mount of Olives for an overview of the old city, and walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane, stopping at a little chapel that commemorates Jesus’ weeping over the city. From Gethsemane and its wonderful Church of All Nations, we will walk up to Stephen’s Gate and enter the old city. We will first stop at the site of the Pools of Bethesda and talk about Jesus’ miracle there, then sing in the wonderful Church of St Anne on the grounds. We will continue up the traditional Via Dolorosa, stopping at several of the stations of the cross to recall the events leading up to the crucifixion. We will come finally to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the place of the crucifixion and the burial of Jesus. In the afternoon we will go to the Garden Tomb to have a short communion service there.

Since the flights leave later this night, we will have time during the day to visit a few things not on the itinerary, or to shop. (If any are going to Petra, this is the morning they will leave, and be back Sunday evening.) Departure for the airport will be after dinner, because we have to be there to check in about 3 hours before the flights. We will arrive in the USA early the next morning.

Some have asked about extending the trip in order to take an excursion to Petra in Jordan. This can be worked out, but it would be a separate expense and would require the flights home to be booked differently. We will use a company in Jordan that we always work with, a Christian tour guide service that is very good. The plan would be to leave for Jordan on June 22^nd, the day when the rest of the folks will have a free day, waiting to go to the airport that evening. The drive would go south to Eilat and cross into Jordan at the Arava border at Aqaba. People would take only a small travel bag, and leave their normal luggage at Christ Church. The Jordanian folks would meet us on the other side of the border and take us up to Petra for our dinner and overnight in a hotel. On the 23^rd we would have the whole day to tour Petra. After another night in the hotel, we would start the trek back on the 24^th the way we came, back to Christ Church and hopefully on to the airport for the flight home. We would arrive home 2 days after the others.

The Jordan rates include being met and assisted with border crossings, all transfers and sightseeing with guides, entry visa price to Jordan, departure tax from Jordan, entry fees into Petra, horse ride in Petra (some like to ride down to the entrance on fast horses), hotels and breakfasts and dinners. Price excludes drinks with meals, horse drawn carriages in Petra, camel rides, all tips, any insurance.

The price listed below does not include the bus cost to get from Jerusalem down to Eilat and the border, and the bus trip back. Depending on the number going, that could vary a good bit. The price does not include the departure fee from Israel, $18.

If only a few went, they would probably take public transportation to the border. If a good group was going, we could get our own mini-bus, and perhaps stop along the way to see a couple of things, the salty end of the Dead Sea, Timnah, Solomon’s mines, and the like.

But it will add two days to the trip, have two long drives with some spots of interest along the way, one full day in Petra, and it will be hot in the Arabah and in Edom in the end of June.