First Steps

The first time I toured Israel I cut my trip short a few days. A parishioner in my congregation passed away and I came back to do the funeral.

Traveling alone with a schedule change flagged my itinerary for the folks at El Al. After being ticketed a very beautiful woman approached me. I am generally unaware of people’s appearance, but this young woman was quite amazing. Later I would discover, this was part of their tactics.

“Where are you traveling,” she asked?

I muttered something about the US as she gently took my tickets. Scanning the pages she said, “what holy sites did you visit during your stay in Israel?”

The question threw me. “I didn’t go to holy sites. We visited archeological sites or historical sites that are mentioned in the Bible. But not holy sites.”

She flashed me a look that discerned I was more a risk to myself than anyone else and then invited me to meet her colleague for my next set of questions. Her colleague had a good four inches on me and at least 60 pounds which means he was enormous. As this hulking tree trunk rummaged through my suitcase I got it. The first person, the woman, was to disarm me; the second was to alarm me.

The impressions the two made have lingered as a fun memory, but what has really stayed with me as a kind of perennial question is the one of “holy site.” Why did I not view the places we visited as “holy”?

My first tour was in 1999. I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and the Wailing Wall. All of which are considered as the most holy of sites by three major religions of the world. Why did I not share their sense of awe?

Part of the answer was the nature of the visit. I was invited by Princeton Seminary to travel with classmates five years out of seminary. The trip was subsidized by a lovely donation from an Atlanta businessman and it was led by professors and directed by the leading archeologists in the Holy Land. The trip, then, had the feel of an academic endeavor. We talked a lot about competing theories for interpreting archeological finds; we found every site couched in caveat with the words “this isn’t the real site, but it’s a traditional one"; and our guide was doing his PhD in Hebrew studies so there was little that he didn’t doubt.

Another big part of the answer of not seeing the Holy Land as holy was the Protestant strain in me that said, God makes us Holy, God makes the church holy, not the building, not the place upon which we stand. Holiness was within the soul, not within a relic or surrounding a spot.

Yet, in the years that followed my first visit, I have changed my tune. If I were asked the same question by the El Al security person, (what holy sites did you visit?), I would start rattling off the churches of St. Helena and the tombs of this figure and that prophet, and it wouldn’t be just an attempt to avoid having my bag searched. It was a change of heart.

Contacting EO

If you need to contact EO for any reason please be sure to contact Jackie at extention 356.

Sometimes the easy things are the most illusive

The trip begins on the 17th. So each day should be adjusted. Alas.

Itinerary in Full

Day 1 March 18
Depart the USA
Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight (the camel option does take a few more days of travel).



Day 2 March 19
Arrive in the Holy Land
You will be welcomed to the Holy Land by our airport representative and transferred to your hotel to enjoy a meal and rest.
The food is fabulous in Israel. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, olives, and delicious bread.

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Day 3 March 20
The Galilee
With Bible in hand, cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee aboard a Kinnereth Sailing Company boat. Along the way, participate in a special on board worship service. Travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee. Visit the synagogue which stands on the site where Jesus taught. Recall his teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matt.4: 13, 23). At Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar, you’ll learn about the “Ancient Boat”, a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed. Travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached to the people (Matt. 5-7). At Tabgha, the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the 5000, you’ll visit the Church of the Fish and the Loaves (Luke 9:10-17). You’ll also visit the Chapel of the Primacy where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ (John 21). At the River Jordan you can remember your baptism in the Yardinet Baptismal Site. Galilee is a place whose holiness is coupled with amazing beauty and serenity. In March the hillsides will be green and the flowers will be blooming. The water of the Jordan does run “chilly and cold” but it warms the heart.

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Day 4 March 21
Beit Shean, Nazareth, Megiddo and Caesarea
Visit the ruins of Beit Shean which was continuously inhabited for 5000 years and was one of the Roman cities Jesus passed on his way from Galilee to Jerusalem. Visit Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2: 23). Travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other. Visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians. Here, Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion (Acts 10) and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for Trial.




Day 5 March 22
Jericho, Qumran, and Bethlehem
Travel to Jericho and visit the ruins of the ancient city, which was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 6: 1, 2, 20). From Jericho, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4: 1-11). Even today, the road from Jericho to Jerusalem twists for miles as it climbs from below sea level into the Judean mountains. Jesus traveled the nearby Roman road, the setting of His parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-36). Travel to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. In Bethlehem, you’ll visit the cave revered as the place where Jesus was born (Matt. 1: 18 - 25; Luke 2: 1- 7). The church, which was constructed on the site, is the world’s oldest functioning church. Nearby you’ll view Shepherds’ Field where the Good News was first heard.



Day 6 March 23
Jerusalem
Visit the Haas Promenade and enjoy a panoramic view from the south of Jerusalem, the Old City walls and the hill called Mount Moriah where Abraham was commanded by God to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen. 22: 2, 4). View the Kidron Valley and the Valley of Gehenna. Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1: 9 - 12). Visit the Chapel of the Ascension. Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed (Matt. 26: 36 - 44). Continue to Mount Zion to visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas where Jesus was imprisoned for a night (Matt. 26: 57 - 65). Stand in the Upper Room, revered as the place of the Last Supper
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Day 7 March 24
Jerusalem and the Old City
Visit the Southern Wall Excavations of the ancient Temple including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. Walk the Cardo, the ancient main street of the Old City once lined with shops, now partially restored. View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1-31) where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle, and sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23: 1-11). Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and stand in reverence at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.






Day 8 March 25
Leisure Day with Optional Masada and Dead Sea Tour
Explore on-your-own or visit Masada (additional charge), Herod’s mountaintop fortress which became the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. Ride the cable car to the top to explore. Peer down upon the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp below. Time permitting, you’ll stop briefly at the Shores of the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the salt and mineral laden waters.

Day 9 March 26
Jerusalem
Travel to Ein Karem, known as the birthplace of John the Baptist and the place where the Virgin Mary visited Elisabeth (Luke 1: 26-40). Time permitting, you will visit Yad Vashem. Visit and worship at the Garden Tomb, possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea and experience the reality of the Resurrection. Your afternoon is free for exploring.




Day 10 March 27
Travel to Jordan
Madaba and Mt. Nebo







Day 11 March 28
Petra

Day 12 March 29 Jerash and Return to Israel

Day 13 Arrive in the US

The Web Brochure and Itinerary

Educational Opportunities is a travel company that was created by the Methodist church more than 30 years ago and now is an independent organization. They offer trips all around the world, but they focus on what they call "travel with a purpose."

If you have found this blog then you can find their site and the brochure on line. Rest assured if you sign up, EO will send you a nice packet full of stuff and a really good sheet of suggestions for travel.

You can find their web site at http://www.missions.travelwithus.com

Look for the link to "Holy Land" and then look under 2009 and it will bring up the itinerary as well as the costs.

In the coming weeks I will flesh out their lists of sites with more information and suggested reading. But for now, perhaps, just take a look at their web site.

Initial Questions

Welcome!

Kathy and I are very excited about leading another tour of Israel. It has been three years since we’ve been and we look forward to having another pilgrimage/study tour with you.

This blog is for those who are interested in going as well as those who are ready to sign up.

Please feel free to post comments or questions. Your question is most likely someone else’s and a blog will help us answer more than just one person at a time. That is the fun part of a blog.

The questions that have already arisen:

How do I sign up?
Call 1800 247 0017 and tell the folks at Educational Opportunities you would like to on the “Holy Land Classic” leaving the US March 17. Please provide them with our tour host # 49336.

Is there a limit?
We would like to limit our group to the size of one bus, which is 50. After that we cannot guarantee that everyone will be together or have the same itinerary.

Is it physically taxing?
There is a lot of walking and lot of climbing in and out of a tour bus. You can count on seven hours of touring a day which is also demanding.

Where can I find more information?
The blog will have all the information in the next week, but if you would like a brochure immediately just call the number above or post a comment on this blog and we will get you one in the mail right away.

Is there a deadline?
It gets tough for EO to do all the flight reservations if you sign up too late. I would encourage everyone to see December as a deadline.