Holy Land Trip May 15th – 28, 2017
Jordan Excursion May 28 - June 2, 2017
Teaching Pastor Jane Prestbye
Coordinator Sally Goodgion, Catalyst Travel
Site Tour Company Mejdi Tours
Join us on this comprehensive Holy Land pilgrimage traversing the Holy Land in Israel, Palestine and Jordan. Explore the historical sites of numerous cultures. Learn about the life of Jesus as you visit the places of his teaching and ministry. Experience worship in meaningful settings. Discover the Holy Land with a look at the current situation of its people – and the work they are doing to care for one another. The trip includes preparation opportunities for study and reflection.
Itinerary:
MAY 15th, 2017 - Monday: LOS ANGELES – TEL AVIV
Travelers are on their own to get to Los Angeles. We will meet up at the airport three hours in advance to meet the other travelers. We will designate a meeting place. Travel to Tel Aviv.
MAY 16th, 2017 - Tuesday: ARRIVAL TEL AVIV
We arrive in Tel Aviv in the afternoon and will be met and assisted at the airport by our local representative and transferred to Tel Aviv.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel on the Mediterranean Sea. (D)
MAY 17th, 2017 – Wednesday: TEL AVIV - CAESAREA - AKKO – SEA OF GALILEE
Our day will begin with a short ride north to Caesarea Maritima, the site built by Herod the Great in honor of his patron Emperor Augustus in the mid-first century BCE, and Pontius Pilate ruled the country from there. It was from this port that Paul set sail to preach in communities all over the Mediterranean, and where he was later imprisoned for two years. On to Mt. Carmel and see the Muhraka. Continue to visit one of the oldest and most important coastal cities, Acre is steeped in 4000 years of history. Have a wonderful seafood lunch overlooking the old port. The Crusaders destroyed Acre in 1291 and the Ottoman Turks rebuilt it nearly 400 years later. Architect el-Jezzar’s fortifications were so strong they withstood even Napoleon’s assault. Here we will visit the Old City Port and Templar Tunnels.
Proceed on to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at our hotel on the shore of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. (B,L,D)
May 18th, 2017 – Thursday: CANA – NAZARETH – SAFED
Today, we visit Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding feast.
Continue to Nazareth, home of Mary, Joseph and Jesus until he began his public life. Visit the Church of Annunciation, and view the Cave recognizing the Angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary (Luke 1:26-37). Tour the Old City of Nazareth and see Mary’s Well. Proceed to the Nazareth Village where you will be invited to experience the first century life through the Parable walk tour and lunch reminiscent of biblical foods. During the afternoon we will visit the mystical village of Safed, birthplace of the Kabbalah and walk through the ancient artist colony and visit the synagogues. Along the way we will visit an artist who will discuss her craft and how she connects it to the Torah.
Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
MAY 19th, 2017 – Friday: MT. OF BEATITUDES – SEA OF GALILEE – CAPERNAUM – TABGHA
Begin our day at the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6) where we will have time for reflection and community prayer at the hillside. We will then drive down to Ginosar and enjoy a boat-ride on the Sea of Galilee and reflect in remembrance of Jesus walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-23). Visit the Ancient Boat museum at the Kibbutz. Lunch at a restaurant nearby for a taste of the famous St. Peter’s fish. In the afternoon, visit Capernaum, Jesus’ home town and the place of many miracles and significant teachings. Next, stop at the nearby Chapel of the Primacy of Peter, where Jesus appeared to the Apostles after the resurrection. Proceed to Tabgha and visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, with its famed mosaic depicting the two fishes and five loaves Jesus multiplied. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B,L,D)
MAY 20th, 2017 – Saturday: MEGIDDO – CAESAREA PHILIPPI – GOLAN HEIGHTS
This morning we’ll drive to Megiddo, the Armageddon of Revelation. Tour the remains of one of the most intensively inhabited sites in the country with over 25 levels of settlement, spanning some 3,000 years, including walls, gates, palaces and dwellings from the time of King Solomon, King Ahab and the Assyrians. A highlight will be your walk through the water system, one of the great engineering marvels of antiquity. Then we will travel to Banias, also known as Caesarea Phillipi, and a site that some believe may have been the transfiguration of Jesus. We will then continue to the Druze village of Majdal Shams situated on the border with Syria and enjoy tea and hospitality with locals. We will continue to the top of Mt. Bental for a lookout over Syria and have an opportunity to walk through the former Syrian trenches and fortifications. End our tour day with wine tasting tour at a nearby winery.
Return to Hotel for dinner, evening discussion and overnight. (B,D)
MAY 21st, 2017 - Sunday: JENIN – NABLUS – MT. GERIZIM – JERICHO
We will travel south to Samaria, visiting the Church of Burqin in Jenin where Jesus healed the 10 Lepers and enjoy time for prayer. Continue to visit the Old City of Nablus where you will have a walking tour of the historic market, visit the ancient soap factory and enjoy an authentic Palestinian lunch at a Women’s Center. After lunch, visit Jacob’s Well where Jesus met the Samaritan Woman, and continue to Mt. Gerazim where we will visit the Samaritans Museum. Travel for an evening of visiting and hearing about The Church of Hope, the Lutheran church in Ramallah. We will have dinner on our own in Ramallah then travel to Jericho for overnight. Overnight in Jericho. (B,L)
MAY 22nd, 2017 – Monday: JERICHO – QUMRAN – DEAD SEA
After breakfast visit the city of Jericho, one of the world’s oldest cities, starting with a visit to the Mt. of Temptation, view the ancient Tel Jericho from the top, see the “Tree of Zaccheus.” Drive to the Dead Sea region and visit the ancient fortress of Massada, ascending by cable-car. Return to Qumran for lunch and view the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and where a community of Essenes lived, possibly joined by John the Baptist at one time. Opportunity to float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea. Return to Hotel in Jericho to freshen up and enjoy a special dinner in one of Jericho’s Garden restaurants.
Return to hotel in Jericho for overnight. (B,L,D)
MAY 23rd, 2017 – Tuesday: JERICHO – WADI QELT – MT. OF OLIVES – JERUSALEM
Leave Jericho in the morning and drive to a site on the Jordan River (Qasr-el-Yahud) where it is recognized that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). Take time to consider our own baptism. Visit the St. George’s Monastery in Wadi Qelt, one of the many unique monasteries in the Judean desert. On the way to Jerusalem, visit the Good Samaritan Inn and enjoy a picnic lunch, then proceed to Jerusalem. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Old City from the Mt. of Olives. Visit the Augusta Victoria Hospital – an arm of the Lutheran World Federation. Take the "Palm Sunday Walk" downhill to Dominus Flevit, the 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. We will visit the Cave of Betrayal and the Church of all Nations with time for worship.
Check-in at hotel in Jerusalem, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
MAY 24th, 2017 – Wednesday: VIA DOLOROSA – OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM
We start the day very early today by entering the Old City via Lion’s Gate, also known as St. Stephen’s Gate to visit the Church of St. Anne’s with the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a paralytic. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, which tradition says Jesus went with the cross to Calvary. Continue through the colorful markets to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of the crucifixion of Jesus. After lunch near Jaffa Gate, continue to the Armenian Quarter to visit the Church of St. James and enjoy fellowship and afternoon hospitality with an Armenian artist telling the story of her Armenian community. Rest of the afternoon at leisure for rest or more exploration. In the evening there will be a discussion with a representative of the Muslim community.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem. (B,L,D)
MAY 25th, 2017 – Thursday: JERUSALEM – BETHLEHEM
This morning visit the Haram El-Shareef (the Temple Mount) the esplanade where the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque now stand. Leave Jerusalem for the day to travel to Beit Jala to visit educational ministries supported by the ELCHLJ (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holy Land and Jordan). Continue in the afternoon to Bethlehem and visit the Church of Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7), the birthplace of Jesus. Enjoy some free time to explore Bethlehem, , walk along Star Street, shop, find something to eat on your own. Meet to visit the Palestinian Heritage Center and on to Beit Sahour to visit the Shepherd’s Fields. Traditional dinner in Beit Sahour.
Return to Jerusalem for overnight. (B,D)
MAY 26th, 2017 – Friday: JERUSALEM – YAD VASHEM – EIN KAREM
Begin the day with a tour at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. Continue to visit Ein Karem with the Church of John the Baptist and the Church of Visitation. Meet with the sisters and learn about the Chemin Neuf at the Sisters of Zion Monastery. This afternoon we review the experience of the past 10 days in the quiet of the Garden Tomb – time to reflect and worship. We will return to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure when you can rest or explore more of the Old City. Lunch is an adventure on your own. In the evening, the group will enjoy a special Shabbath Dinner in the homes of Jewish families who will explain the traditions of the Shabbath meal. Return to hotel for overnight. (B,D)
MAY 27th, 2017 – Saturday: WESTERN WALL – MT. ZION – ISRAEL MUSEUM
After breakfast enter the Old City through the Dung gate and visit the southern steps, where Jesus stood. Continue to the Western Wall, the holiest site for the Jewish people. Visit the Davidson Center which focuses on Jerusalem during the second temple period. ending with a Walk through the Western Wall Tunnels. Continue to Mt. Zion where we will visit the House of the high priest Caiaphas, and the room of the Last Supper also known as the "Upper Room" and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied the Lord three times. At Mt. Zion enjoy a unique lunch that will incorporate biblical foods. In the afternoon visit 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 before entering the special shrine that contains the Scrolls. In the evening there will be a discussion with representatives of the Palestinian church.
Overnight at hotel in Jerusalem. (B,L,D)
MAY 28th, 2017 – Sunday: SUNDAY WORSHIP
We will worship on this morning at the places of your choice in the Old City and have time to converse with worshippers after.
The group returning home will leave in the afternoon to Tel Aviv.
Included: 12 Nights lodging at the Grand Beach Hotel (Tel Aviv), Kibbutz Ginosaur (Galilee), Tourism Village Hotel (Jericho) and the Legacy Hotel (Jerusalem) or similar accommodations (double occupancy)
1 Full-time MEJDI-trained guide for 13 days
Private bus and driver for 13 days, including one group transfer from and one group transfer to Ben Gurion Airport
Breakfast every day
18 Additional meals, as indicated on itinerary
All speakers, sites, and entrance fees[1]
2 free land and air packages for group leaders (double occupancy; flight stipend as determined by MEJDI Tours up to $1,600)
Dedicated customer service representative in USA and Jerusalem
Not Included: Airfare
Travel Medical or Cancellation Insurance STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Customary tips to drivers, guides, and hotel staff
Additional meals, snacks, water bottles
Single Room Supplement ($782)
Online payment collection, including credit card processing fees
Optional Jordan Extension: May 28 – June 2, 2017
Anything not explicitly mentioned in included section
Price: 30+ participants $2,499
(Price per person based on double occupancy in hotels)
OPTIONAL JORDAN EXTENSION
MAY 28th, 2017 – Sunday: OLD CITY EXPLORATION
Those continuing to Jordan will have the afternoon in the Old City. Possible places to visit include Caves of Zedekiah’s/Solomon’s Quarries, Tower of David – Museum of the history of Jerusalem, The Hurva Synagogue, The Cardo, The Herodian Quarter – the Wohl Museum of Archaeology, The Karaite Jewish Heritage Center, Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, and much more. There are also opportunities to walk on the ramparts or in Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Lunch and dinner on your own. (B)
May 29th, 2017 – Monday: JORDAN EXCURSION
You will arrive at the Allenby Bridge and cross over to the Jordanian side. There you will be met by your guide who will assist you in crossing into Jordan. The driver will then take you up through the mountains to Mt Nebo - according to ancient tradition this is the mountain from which Moses saw the Promised Land before he died. Because of its connection to Moses, Mt. Nebo has long been an important place of Christian pilgrimage. Excavations led by Franciscans, who own the site, have uncovered significant remains of the early church and its magnificent Byzantine mosaics. Next you will be taken a short distance to Madaba, a small town mentioned in The Bible, famous for its mosaics, most especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of the Holy Land. After St Georges Church, it’s time for lunch at the picturesque Haret Jdoudna. Then on to The Archaeological Park which encompasses the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the fantastic mosaics of the Church of the Virgin and the Hippolytus Hall. In the afternoon, you will be driven down to Petra, arriving in the early evening at your hotel, dinner is included. (B,L,D)