Peacemakers in the Holy Land Tour
Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Galilee, Israel
$3250.00
Sample Itinerary
Day 1-2: Departure from US and Arrival in Israel
Travelers will arrive by Tuesday, August 19th in Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport we transfer to the Knight's Palace Hotel in the Old City of Jerusalem. Later in the day we meet for for group orientation and an initial venture into the city. Our first two days allow free time to relax, recover from long flights and explore ancient Jerusalem.
Day 3: Jerusalem
Morning breakfast at the hotel is followed by a group orientation and an exciting encounter with the historic region of Jerusalem. Today's focus will be "One City: Three Faiths" including a presentation about the history and sacred geography of Jerusalem. Eliyahu McLean, of the Jerusalem Peacemakers, along with Muslim and Christian guides provide educational and spiritual insight as our small group enters into some of the most ancient and holy sites of the Abrahamic faiths. Our day features visits to the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, The Noble Sanctuary containing the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We travel to Mount Zion to visit the tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper and the Hagia Maria Sion Abbey where, according to local tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary passed into eternity.
Our evening brings us deeper into "the heart of Abrahamic spirituality." We have the unique privilege of meeting with the Jerusalem Peacemakers to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of religion as applied by this unique network for the sake of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace. Our experience includes chant, prayer, the sharing of stories and delicious local cuisine.
Day 4: Jerusalem (Old City)
Our morning is free to enjoy breakfast and some free time, or join our guide, Ibrahim Abu El-Hawa, for Muslim services. A founding and inspirational member of the Jerusalem Peacemakers and the Abrahamic Reunion, Ibrahim is beloved for his tireless work to help those in distress and need. He lives in East Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives and he operates an open house for peace-oriented visitors to Jerusalem. His family traces their roots in Jerusalem back 1,300 years to the time of the Umayyad caliphs.
A walk to the summit of the Mount of Olives awaits us after services at the mosque. From there we proceed down the mount to the Garden of Gethsemane and to the Churches of the Ascension, Dominus Flevit and the Church of All Nations. Our afternoon brings us a visit to the Davidson Center and Archaeological Park, a major center for the historical and archaeological research in Jerusalem. Then we enjoy free time as Sabbath preparations occur in Jerusalem. We welcome in the Sabbath at a Reform synagogue and share a shabbat dinner hosted by Imagine Adventures and members of The Abrahamic Reunion.
(Note: Public transportation shuts down from around sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday.)
Day 5: Bethlehem
Breakfast at the hotel preceeds
a very full day of events, beginning with an optional Sabbath morning Jewish
service. We continue to explore the theme of "One City, Three Faiths." as
we take an interfaith pilgrimage through the traditional burial site of
King David, the room of the Last Supper, and a mosque, all in one building.
Sheikh Abdu'l-Aziz Bukhari joins us for a seminar entitled "Jerusalem
and My Life" and
a walking tour. Sheik Bukhari's family settled in Jerusalem in the year
1600 and has lived next to the Dome of the Rock since then. We gather
this evening with religious peacemaker women who have intriguing stories
to share with us.
Day 6: Tekoa, Bethlehem, Jerusalem
Our morning is free to enjoy breakfast and exploration of the Old City of Jerusalem. At noon our small goup departs for Tekoa (about 30 minutes south of Jerusalem) for a private session with Rabbi Menachem Froman. Rabbi Froman is often called a maverick Jewish religious peacemaker. He is one of the founders of the Gush Emunim religious Zionist movement and a pioneer in dialogue with radical and moderate religious Muslims. His main work involves seeking solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on understanding between the Islamic and Jewish faiths. He is rabbi to Tekoa, a small settlement on the West Bank, south of Bethlehem, which takes an unusual reconciliatory approach to Jewish-Muslim relations.
We next travel to Bethlehem, a central hub of Palestinian culture and traditionally the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth and King David. We are free to visit Rachel’s Tomb and Manger Square where we’ll find the Church of the Nativity, the Holy Crypt, the Mosque of Omar, and the Palestinian Peace Center. Shops selling arts and crafts, jewelry, middle-eastern spices and oriental sweets line the main streets. We return to Jerusalem this evening to pursue further explorations of the Old City on our own or with others from our small group.
Days 7-9: Sulha Way, Near Emmaus
A major highlight of the trip is that it coincides with the gathering of The Sulha Peace Project, a grassroots organization devoted to the healing and reconciliation of the Children of Abraham, and rooted in the spirit of the prophetic voices of the Holy Land. The goal of the Sulha Peace Project is to build trust and restore dignity, from heart to heart and from village to village. Composed of Jews, Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians, the group embodies a new language of peace and desires a culture of co-existence inspired by the Middle Eastern indigenous process of mediation called Sulha.
The Sulha Way integrates listening circles, multi-cultural workshops, sacred interfaith rituals, shared meals and the arts from Arab and Jewish traditions. This unique process prepares people for peace "from below" and compliments peacemaking efforts undertaken at the governmental and diplomatic level. The Sulha Way is held on the grounds of the Latrun Monastery.This Trappist monastery is located on the road between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and very near Emmaus which is famous from the Gospel of Luke (24:13) as the place where the risen Christ appeared to some of his disciples. A choice of accommodations is available: campsites on the grounds of the Sulha gathering, or guest houses and hotel rooms in Neve Shalom, the nearby Arab-Jewish peace village.
Day 10: Safed
Today we rise early, enjoy breakfast and board a bus for Safed (Tzfat), a town located north of Jerusalem in the green mountains of upper Gallilee. Safed is renowned as the spiritual home of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, and is one of Israel's four holy cities. Secluded and serene, Safed features a thriving arts community. Our day includes wandering the cobblestone alleys where medieval synagogues, artist studios, galleries and the Safed Artists' Colony await. A highlight is our small group's opportunity to meet with Kabbalah teachers from the International Center for Tzfat Kabbalah and welcome the Sabbath day.
Day 11: Nazereth, Galilee
Today we travel to Nazareth, capital city of Israel,
where we spend the night at Nof Ginsar Kibbutz Hotel. During the day we
have time to explore the Christian sacred sites associated with the life
of Jesus. The Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Church and St. Mary’s
Well are all found in Nazareth which is, according to Christian tradition,
the home of Mary, Joseph and Jesus during his adult years prior to his
ministry. Reverend Abuna Abu Hatoum, a Greek Melkite priest in Nazareth,
shares with us the experience of Christian mysticism and leads us in prayer
and meditation.
Day 12: The Dead Sea, Jerusalem
After breakfast we begin our final full day of the tour by traveling to the Dead Sea to soak in hot mineral springs and float in the salty sea known as one of the world's first health resorts. The Dead Sea is the saltiest body of water and the shores are the lowest dry land on earth (1378 feet below sea level). We visit the majestic ruins of Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our group returns to Jerusalem to share a memorable farewell dinner and festive evening of chant, song, prayer and fellowship with many of our new Israeli and Palestinian friends.
Day 13: Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport
Our morning is free to enjoy breakfast and relaxed explorations of the Jerusalem area. As our schedules demand, we finish our peacemakers adventure in Israel and depart for the airport.
Note About Booking Airline Travel:
Many travelers prefer to book their own airline travel or use frequent
flyer miles. Our trips, therefore, are priced not including your air
travel to and from Israel. However, if you wish Imagine Adventures to
assist you with ticketing, we can do so. There is a $75 fee for this
ticketing service. We strongly recommend that you schedule travel to
arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel by August 19.
