Pastor Allan’s Itinerary for His Holy Land Trip!
Hosted by Rich and Judy Hastings
Sat, May 24-In the air!
Pittsburgh to Washington DC, Washington DC to Vienna, Vienna to Tel Aviv
Sun, May 25-Arrival Tel Aviv 3:05 PM.
After collecting our luggage, we board the bus and drive along the Mediterranean coastline to Netanya. We will stay at a resort hotel and you'll be able to walk along the Mediterranean shore. Dinner at our hotel.
Mon, May 26---Traveling to the Galilee
Continuing along the coastline, we will stop at Ceasarea, visiting the place of Paul's imprisonment as well as the ancient ruins and aquaduct. From there, we head to Mt. Megiddo where we will overlook the Jezreel valley. Traveling further inland, we'll arrive at Nazareth Village for a delicious lunch and tour of this village which is reconstructed to represent the 1st Century home of Jesus. We end the day on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where we will stay for the next 3 nights at Maagan Village.
Tuesday, May 27---Northern Israel
Our day begins with a sunrise service on the Sea of Galilee. After breakfast, we will board the bus for our journey through the Northern part of Israel. Traveling along the Golan Heights we first stop at the restored Jewish village of Katzrin to get a first hand view of daily life 2000 years ago. To catch a panoramic view of the Northern terrain we will visit Ben Tal, a military outpost (if possible), and have a typical lunch at a Druize restaurant, which has the best falafel in Israel. The afternoon will take us on a gentle hike through the preserve of Tel Dan and a final stop at Ceasarea Phillipi. Overnight at Maaghan.
Wednesday, May 28-Footsteps of Jesus
Our focus today will be the life and activities of Jesus along the Sea of Galilee, beginning on the Mt. of Beatitudes where we will read the Sermon on the Mount as we overlook the Sea. Then we will walk the streets of Capernaum, where the ministry of Jesus was based. We will provide time for quiet reflection at the church of the Primacy of St Peter where Jesus appeared after the resurrection, cooking fish for the disciples. After lunch, we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and conclude the day by visiting the "Jesus Boat" exhibit containing a 2000 year old boat. Our last stop will provide an opportunity for baptisms in the Jordan River. Overnight at Maaghan.
Thursday, May 29---Up to Jerusalem
Traveling through the Jordan Valley, our first stop is the Biblical city of Beth Shean to examine the recent excavations of its Roman-Byzantine period. For lunch we will have the best hamburgers in Israel at the Texas Burger House, a ministry of our friend Homer Owen, which is located in the settlement of Ariel. If possible, we will visit the ancient ruins of Shiloh, where the Tabernacle stood for over 300 years. Finally, we arrive in Jerusalem! For the remainder of our time in Israel we will stay at Christ Church Guest House which stands within the walls of the Old City and has an amazing history itself.
Friday, May 30---Tour the Old City
Today we examine the city of Jerusalem, as it existed in the times of Jesus. After a short walk to Mt. Zion, we will visit David's tomb and the upper room. Continuing through the Jewish Quarter, we will see the ancient streets of the Roman Cardo. After lunch in the Quarter, we will walk to the Southern steps of the Temple Mount, standing on the very steps that Jesus would have used. We conclude the day at the Western Wall. There will be an option of further exploring in the old city or you may return to the Guest House. Around 5:30 or 6:00 we will gather again at the Western Wall to experience the joy of the Jews welcoming the Sabbath. We will have a late Shabbat dinner.
Saturday, May 31---To the Desert
The day begins with an early departure to Massada, Herod's Judean Desert fortress that became the last stand of the Jewish rebels during the great revolt against Rome. After touring the mountain top, we have a short to En Gedi, where we will enjoy the beautiful pools and waterfalls in the desert where David hid from Saul. Lunch will be at Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered and we end the day on the shores of the Dead Sea, where you will have the option of floating in the Sea. We will arrive back to Christ Church for a late dinner.
Sunday, June 1-Worship and Fellowship
We will begin the day with worship at Christ Church. We will travel to Bethlehem to have lunch and then visit the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot where Jesus was born, according to tradition. Then we stop at the Shepherd's Grotto and finish the day at Bethlehem shopping for the famous Bethlehem carved olive wood. Upon returning to Jerusalem, we will stop at the Israeli museum to see a large model of 1st Century Jerusalem and then you will have the option of being dropped off at Ben Yehuda Street for some shopping and dinner or returning to our guest house where dinner is provided.
Monday, June 2-The Last Week of Jesus
Our attention today is directed to the last week of the life of Jesus. On the Mount of Olives, we recall Jesus' triumphal entry into the city. We will walk down the Mount of Olives ending up at the Garden of Gethsemane. We will then reboard the bus which will bring us back to Jaffa gate. We'll walk as a group through the Arab Christian Quarter and have lunch in the Quarter. We'll walk to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (the Roman Catholic sight for the death and resurrection of Jesus.) And then down the Via Dolorosa, through Damascus Gate, and to Gordan's Tomb, or the Garden Tomb (the Protestant sight for the resurrection). Here we will have the Lord's Supper and then the bus will return us to Christ Church Guest House.
Tuesday, June 3-Celebrating 60 Years
Today we focus on the establishment of Israel just 60 years ago. We begin at the Valley of the Communities and Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. Then we will travel to TelAviv, stopping for lunch on the way. The next stop is the Palmach Museum which continues the story of the early settlers in Israel and we then finish at Independence Hall, where the nation of Israel was born. If time permits, we will visit the ancient city of Joppa. After dinner back at Christ Church, we will take an evening tour of the Western Wall Tunnel, which runs the entire length of the Temple Mount.
Wednesday, June 4-Digging in the City of David
We hope to arrange for you to do some digging at Emek Tzurim in the ancient City of David. As the Muslims have been digging out under the Temple Mount in order to build a new mosque, they have dumped huge amounts of ancient artifacts, some dating back to the 1st Century. A dig has been organized to sift through these items and we hope to do this. You will have free time in the afternoon for those that want to walk through Hezekiah's tunnel or just do some shopping.
Thursday, June 5---Free Day
Free day for shopping or visits on your own. We will have suggestions for you, including David's Tower or the top of the Temple Mount.
Friday, June 6
Depart 6:55 AM for US & Pittsburgh-Arrive 6:06 PM