ISRAEL 2015: Preliminary Announcement
As promised, here is the itinerary for the Israel teaching tour in 2015. Arrival in Israel will be May 23. Departure date is June 3. Since people are coming from all over the world, air transportation will be handled by each individual. You must be at the hotel in Tel Aviv by the evening of May 23 and the tour ends on June 3, but you are free to arrive beforehand or stay later (as many people did this last trip).
I will have the total LAND ONLY price within the next 10 days, but I wanted to give each of you a heads-up on the dates.
Here’s how it works. This is a first come-first served tour. We will limit the total number of participants, so if you are planning to come, you must notify me as soon as you can. Once we reach the limit, we will close the tour for anyone else. I do not expect you to make up your mind before you have the cost (which will be close to the cost for this year), but I am letting you know now since this year’s tour was sold out in 24 hours.
You can contact me at my email address skipmoen@mac.com
LOOK FOR THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT SOON
Here’s the itinerary: New things to see and do plus some old favorites
12 Days tour of Israel
1 night in Tel-Aviv, 4 nights in Galilee, 5 nights in Jerusalem
May 23 – June 3, 2015
May 23 (Sat.) – DAY 1: Flying over the ocean, we reach the shores of God’s land. Upon our arrival to the Ben Gurion airport we will be met by our guide and transferred to our hotel on the coast of the Mediterranean, for a wonderful buffet dinner and a good night’s rest.
May 24 (Sun.) – DAY 2: COASTAL PLAIN
After a rich Israeli breakfast we will begin our tour of Israel at Caesarea, city of Cornelius the Centurion, the first Gentile to convert (Acts 10). We will visit the Roman theatre, walk on the pier used by the apostle Paul on his way to Rome and see the impressive water aqueduct built by Herod the Great. Leaving the Mediterranean, we will travel north to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah held the contest with 450 prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). At noon, a memorable experience is awaiting for us, as we stop for a typical Falafel Meal at the Druze village of Daliat El-Carmel. We will continue to Haifa for a view of the extra ordinary Bahai Gardens, considered one of the most beautiful handmade gardens in the world, before we continue to our hotel in the beautiful region of Galilee.
May 25 (Mon.) – DAY 3: AREA OF THE TRIBE OF DAN
Today is dedicated to the spectacular northern part of Israel. Following the accounts described in the Gospel of Luke chapter 9, we will drive through the Hula Valley. Overlooking the magnificent Mt. Hermon, where the miracle of Transfiguration occurred, we will reach Dan Nature Reserve. After a refreshing walk through the beautiful reserve and a taste from the cool water, we will see Jeroboam’s Altar (I Kings 12). We will also see a city gate from the time of Abraham the Patriarch and learn about the importance of the gate in the social life of the city in the Biblical times. We will also visit Banias, one of the headwaters of the Jordan River and site of Caesarea Philippi, where Peter confessed Yeshua as the Messiah. Next we willstop at the crusader Nimrod Fortress. Situated on a cliff, it offers a magnificent view of the entire northern region. We will make our final stop at Har Ben Tal, a military post overlooking the border of Israel with Lebanon and Syria, and the road Paul took on his way to Damascus.
May 26 (Tue.) – DAY 4: AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE
Today we will be visiting the places where Yeshua spent most of his public life. Using a replica of the wooden fishing boat from the disciples’ time, we will sail on the Sea of Galilee and recall Yeshua’s experiences with the fishermen. At Korazim, one of the cities cursed by Yeshua (Mat. 11:20-24), we will visit the beautiful synagogue made of basalt. We will notice a carved seat used by the community’s most respected members, known in the ancient sources as the Moses Seat (Mat. 23: 1-7). From here we will continue to Gamla a city conquered by the Romans and known as “Masada of the Galilee”.After a breathtaking view of the area, we will walk through the city’s synagogue, Mikveh and Oil press and hear the story of this unique town. Finally, we will visit Katzrin, an ancient village from Yeshua’s days, where we will get a chance to learn about daily life in Biblical times.
May 27 (Wed.) – DAY 5: THE GREAT GALILEEAN TOWNS
We will begin our day at Beth Shean (I Sam. 31), a Decapolis Capital mentioned in the Gospels. Here, we will walk on the ancient streets, view the Roman steam baths, the theatre, coliseum, market and temples. Then we will visit Sephoris (Tzipori), the capital of the Galilee in Second Temple period, and view some of the most impressive mosaics discovered in the land. In the early afternoon we will make a final stop at Mt. Arbel, for a breathtaking view of the entire Sea of Galilee and the region surrounding it, before we continue to our hotel in the beautiful region of Galilee.
May 28 (Thur.) – DAY 6: JORDAN VALLEY
Before leaving the beautiful Galilee area we will drive by Mt. Gilboah, where King Saul fell on his sward and found his death (I Samuel 31). Our first stop will be at the ancient Beit Alpha synagogue, where a spectacular mosaic floor awaits us at. Depicting the Ark of the Covenant, the Zodiac and the offering of Isaac, it tells us the story of Jewish life in the Galilee. From there, driving down the Jordan Valley, we will make a stop at the Baptismal Site on the Jordan River. Located across from Jericho, the oldest city in the world and a beautiful oasis, (Joshua 3), it is believed to be the traditional site where Yeshua was baptized by John (Mathew 3:13). Finally, crossing part of the Wilderness of Judea, we will become acquainted with the Bedouin life and start ascending to the Golden City of the Mighty King: JERUSALEM. Before arriving at to the hotel, we will make a stop at Mt. Scopus, for a first glimpse of the city in its glory.
May 29 (Fri.) – DAY 7: JERUSALM: PAST AND PRESENT
We will walk through the Kidron Valley to the Pool of Siloam, where Yeshua healed the blind man (John 9). On the way we will stop at the Absalom Memorial, erected by King David’s son, Absalom before his death (II Samuel 18). Following the footsteps of pilgrims since the first century we will climb to the Ophel, using an old pipeline that was only recently opened to the public which follows the First Century Street that led from the City of David to the Temple Mount. We will view the remains of the Temple and the steps used by Yeshua when entering the Temple Mount (Luke 19, Matthew 21). Then, a fun experience awaits us as we join the Jerusalemites on their shopping for the Sabbath at the famous Machane Yehudah Market. You might like to have some cash handy and enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables, delicates, cheeses, local sweets and many other tempting surprises. At the end of the day, right before the sun sets down, we will make a stop at the Western Wall to receive the Sabbath in the most glorious way possible.
May 30 (Sat.) – DAY 8: SABBATH IN JERUSALEM
In the morning we will attend the Sabbath services with the “Roeh Israel” (Israel’s Shepherd) congregation, headed by Joseph Shulam. We will spend the rest of the morning at the world famous Israel Museum. Among the many discoveries housed in the museum are the Ossuary of Caiphas the High Priest, the Pontius Pilatus Stone, the stele bearing the House of David inscription, the Bulai of Gemariah the son of Shaphan, the bone with a nail of a crucified person, glass like crystal and many other remains from Yeshua days. The afternoon will be free.This will allow us to rest and absorb in much of the information we have come to obtain. You may want to use this day to re-visit a certain site, to stroll on your own or to do some shopping. Our tour bus will function as a shuttle bus and different activities will be suggested.
May 31 (Sun.) – DAY 9: THE WILDERNESS
We will leave the magnificent city of Jerusalem behind us and enter the Wilderness of Judea. Crossing a part of it we will become acquainted with the Bedouin life. We will continue down toward the Dead Sea located in the lowest place in the world, 1300 ft. below sea level! Our first stop will be at Massada. Using a cable car we will reach Herod’s magnificent fortress, site of the Zealots’ stand against Rome. Well preserved storehouses, cisterns and palaces will be among the features to visit. Here we will discuss the enormous role that Herod the Great played in the life of Israel. Our next stop will be at Ein Gedi, where David wrote some of his beautiful psalms. After a short hike we will reach the waterfall where David cut off Saul’s skirt (I Samuel 24). We will stop for lunch and an opportunity to experience floating on the Dead Sea. We will then ride a portion of the Old Jericho Road used by pilgrims to ascend to Jerusalem in Yeshua’s days. We will speak about Rahab and the necessity of understanding her actions as symbolic of God’s grace. As we make a stop along the desolated road we will learn the meaning of Psalm 121 and better understand the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25). We will also view one of the amazing isolated monasteries of the area, where the monks still try to follow the example of Yeshua on the Mt. of Temptation.
June 1 (Mon.) – DAY 10: THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM
After a quiet moment of prayer at the Western Wall, while we enjoy the many Bar-Mitzvah’s taking place here on Monday mornings, we will continue to the Jewish Quarter, to visit the extensive area uncovered by archaeologists, including the Burnt House at the Herodian Quarter, where we will see the interior of houses from Jesus’ time with ashes indicating Jerusalem’s destruction. Then we will visit the newly renovated Hachurvah Synagogue. Built in the 18th century and destroyed in 1948, it is considered the most important and most beautiful synagogue in the Old City. Towards the end of the day we will walk through the Cardo and Hezekiahs Wall, towards the Arab Market and bazaar and leave the Old City through the Jaffa Gate.
June 2 (Tue.) – DAY 11: TEMPLE MOUNT – THE ELLAH VALLEY
We will begin our day with an early visit to the Temple Mount and the impressive Dome of the Rock. Then we will make a short stop at a park located in the heart of Jerusalem to view an original First Century Tomb and the Rolling Stone that closed it. We will leave Jerusalem and drive to the Ellah Valley, whereyou will be able to pick up your own stone from the brook where David slew Goliath (I Samuel 17). Using the Old Gaza Road, which Philip rode with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8) we will reach Tel Maresha, holding outstanding remains from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine days.
June 3 (Wed.) – DAY 12: Following a wrap-up teaching in the morning, we depart for home, after fulfilling a lifetime dream of seeing, touching and breathing the very places we have only read about until now. Arriving home our Bible will never be the same, for it will be alive in front of our eyes and in our hearts forever.
