Day 1
Arrive Tel Aviv Upon arrival in Israel we are met by our guide who will be with us for all the time we are in Israel. Then we travel to Jaffa (Joppa) the ancient port where Jonah left prior to being swallowed by the great fish and where Peter had his housetop experience at the home of Simon the Tanner. Then we will visit Independence Hall where on the 14th of May, 1948, the re-born State Of Israel was announced. We now turn east through the valley of Aijalon, where the sun stood still and ascend into the hills and enter the Holy city of JERUSALEM
Day 2
The day starts with an unforgettable time on the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, proceeding down the mount to the Garden of Gethsemane we will read about many of the events that occurred on this very spot. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we pass the tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James, then we will see the newly excavated Pool of Siloam and Caiaphas' House. We enter the Old City this afternoon through the Zion Gate and see the Cardo and Nehemiah's Wall on the way to the Jewish Quarter and the Western (Wailing) Wall. We may visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, and Pilate’s judgment hall, the Praetorium. We will follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Our last stop of the day will be at the site of Oskar Schindler’s grave (“Schindler’s List”) on Mt. Zion. JERUSALEM.
Day 3
An ongoing archaeological dig on the Mount of Olives (Emek Tzurim) is recovering evidence from destruction on the Temple Mount; and we can participate in it. This experience is one you will always savor. Following the dig we will drive to the Valley of Elah and view the place where David defeated the Philistine Goliath. Then we will go underground at the Aylon Institute which was a kibbutz where armament was being manufactured secretly in a cleverly hidden site right under the noses of the enemy.Visit Kibbutz Mordechai where the Israelis held off the Egyptian army in 1948 and prevented an attack on Tel Aviv. On our way back to Jerusalem we will stop at the Pillars of Fire. JERUSALEM.
Day 4
Today we proceed to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and stop at En Gedi where David hid in a cave and confronted King Saul. Then we continue south along the Dead Sea and arrive at Masada where we will ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70 to 73 AD, the Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. From here we will turn west and climb into the Negev Desert and go by way of Arad to Abraham’s city of the seven wells, Beersheba. JERUSALEM
Day 5
Easter Sunday. We will have the bus take us to the Garden Tomb to celebrate the Resurrection. The bus will then return us to the hotel. The rest of the day will be a free day. JERUSALEM
Day 6
We will visit Yad Vashem, the memorial of the Holocaust, which explains so much about the conflict and the re-birth of the Jewish nation. Mount Herzl is our next stop. This is the final resting place of Theodore Herzl, Golda Mier, Yitshak Rabin and many of the heroes of modern Israel. Then we will visit Ptil Tekhelet, Then we will see the Dead Sea Scrolls and all the vaunted archaeological finds at the Israel Museum. JERUSALEM
Day 7
This morning we will visit Caesarea on the Mediterranean where Herod constructed this beautiful port city. Here Paul preached to kings and queens while under house arrest. Then it’s on to Haifa to the indescribable Bahai Gardens, before we go up Mt. Carmel where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. The site is Muhraka on the Carmel. Following lunch we proceed to the chariot city of Megiddo overlooking the Valley of Armageddon. On our way to the Sea of Galilee we will stop at En Harod (Gideon’s Spring) and also see Mt. Tabor, believed by many to be the site of the Transfiguration. Our hotel is on the eastern shore of Galilee at EN GEV.
Day 8
An early morning boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, the city where Jesus made his home during his short ministry. We will read the scriptural section of Jesus’ most famous address on the nearby Mount of Beatitudes. We will also see Tabgha and Chorazim which are recorded sites associated with his ministry. The majestic cliff of the Arbel and the Horns of Hittim are two nearby locations where important historical battles were fought for control of the holy land.
Lodging in Upper Galilee
Day 10
Today we drive up to the Golan Heights after visiting Bethsaida and then on to Gamla overlooking the Sea of Galilee. We will visit the ancient reconstructed Jewish village from Biblical times, Qazrin and go up on Mt Ben Tal to see the borders that separate Israel from Lebanon and Syria. We will continue to Masada, a Druze village for lunch before heading to Mount Hermon. On our way down from the Golan we will see majestic Crusader castles and visit the site of ancient Dan and Caesarea Philippi. On our way home we will visit Tel Hai and the unique valley called Emeq Hula. Lodging in Upper Galilee.
Day 11
This morning we will see Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. We pass through Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle and stop at the very unique site of Kfar Keddim where we will do some “hands-on” experiences just as they were done in Biblical times. Then it’s on to Zippori, the large Roman city that was expanding during the time of Jesus and in his neighborhood. We will head back to the hills of Judah and stay.
Day 12
Free day. Check out. Transfer to Ben Gurion for flight home.
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