Israel/Palestine

In the next few days, I hope to tell everyone about my experience in the middle east. Bare with me!

On the Way:

From Chicago to Minneapolis

From Minneapolis to Amsterdam

Stopped in Amsterdam for 6 hours. This was our train ticket out of the airport and into the city!

From Amsterdam to Tel Aviv

Night 1:

Arriving in Bethlehem around 4am on Saturday, we crashed at the Ararat Hotel.

Saturday - Full Day tour of Bethlehem – Church of the Nativity, Shepherds’ Field, Creche (other organizations in Bethlehem). Overnight in Bethlehem.

Sunday - In Bethlehem. North Central College Ministries. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Ramallah Ministries

Ramallah Ministries

Monday - To Hebron. Drive to Hebron stopping first at Efrat – a settlement on the way, and meet with a Settler to talk about settler activities and missions in the West Bank. From there continue to Beit Ummar to visit with the Center for Freedom and Justice (http://www.center4freedom.org/). Continue on to Hebron to meet with CPT employees and take a walk around Hebron and learn about the work of CPT in Hebron. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Tuesday - Leave Bethlehem early this morning and drive down to Massada, float in the Dead Sea and visit Qumran. Drive to Jericho for overnight (the hotel will have a pool!).

Wednesday - Jericho (visit ancient site), drive up the Jordan Valley to Nazareth. Stop at Mount Tabor before going to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth Village for a late lunch. Overnight in Nazareth.

Thursday - Around the Sea of Galilee: Mt. of Beatitudes, Tabgha/Heptapegon: Church of the Loaves and Fishes, Capernaum, Chorazin. Boat ride on the sea. Overnight at Mt. of Beatitudes.

Friday - Upper Galilee and Golan Heights: Banyas (Caesarea Philippi), nature walk, Tel Dan; return via the Golan Heights stopping at Majdal Shams, a Syrian Druze Village occupied by Israeli in 1967, and view the “shouting hill,” where relatives from Syria and the Golan Heights meet and “shout” to communicate their news. Overnight at Mt. of Beatitudes.

Saturday - Drive to Jerusalem via the coastal highway, followed by Mt. Carmel (Daliyat el Carmel village), Muhrakha, Caesarea Maritima, Jaffa, possible visit to Zochrot (http://www.zochrot.org/en). An Israeli person will take the group on a tour of Jaffa and give a political overview of the situation there. (honorarium not included) Drive to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Sunday - Walking tour itinerary of Holy Week. BUS Transfer to Mt. of Olives, Church of the Ascension, Pater Noster Church; Dominus Flevit, Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. BUS to Mt. Zion and the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. BUS back to St. Stephen’s Gate and walk the Via Dolorosa beginning with the Pools of Bethesda to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Bethesda Pools, Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Monday - Early morning visit to Haram/Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa Mosque and Wailing Wall. Israel Museum, Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem, Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls). Holocaust Memorial Yad VaShem

Tuesday Departure

From Amsterdam to Minneapolis

From Minneapolis to Chicago