17 July – 26 July 2023
Genesis 12:1-3
Now YHVH said to Abram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Day 1: Departure: 16 July 2023
Our Israel Journey start to Israel.
Day 2: Monday, 17 July 2023
Egypt, Pyramids, Sphinx, Nile
We arrive in Egypt. We visit the soaring pyramids at Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx. We visit the monastery of Simon the Tanner which is located inside the El Mokattam Mountain. We make our way to the Nile River where we will cover the Scriptural readings of Moses and the exit of the Israelites before we make our way to Israel.
Meals: Dinner Overnight: Tel Aviv
Day 3: Tuesday 18 July 2023
Jaffa, Ramla, Gezer, Ramat Gan, Tell Qasile
The Bible comes alive as we start our journey reading the Scriptures. We take a drive to Joppa with a charismatic, beautiful city and the oldest port city in the world that dates back thousands of years. It known as the place where Disciple Peter had his vision on the rooftop of the House of Simon the Tanner and raised Tabitha from the dead. Jonah set sail to Tarshish from Jaffa and King Solomon built his port on the Mediterranean there.
We learn about the discovery in Ramla, with a underground pool fed by a central aqueduct coming from the region of Gezer and leading to the reservoirs. We learn about Tell Qasile, one of the most fascinating and important archaeological site excavation in the Tel Aviv area. We arrive in Eilat.
Meals: Breakfast Overnight: Eilat
Day 4: Wednesday 19 July 2023
Eilat, Red Sea
Today we will visit the Red Sea and experience the Biblical story of the crossing of the Israelites trough the Red Sea. The Bible tells us approximately 3,500 years ago, Moses parted the Red Sea and led the Israelites out of Egypt across to the other side. Then, when the Egyptian chariots crossed after them in pursuit, God caused the wheels to come off the chariots and the waters to quickly recede upon them, drowning all Pharaoh’s army. When travelling through “the wilderness of the Red Sea” Ex.13:18, escaping Pharaoh’s army, God told Moses to turn south, so they headed through a wadi or canyon area that is called the Wadi Watir which led to the sea. The Bible in Ex. 14:3 says, “They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.” Gazing across we can begin to imagine the miracle of the parting of the sea. The Children of Israel camped at Ezion-Geber (Numbers 33,36). Ezion Geber is part of the Red Sea resort-port of Eilat.
Meals: Breakfast Overnight: Eilat
Day 5: Thursday 20 September 2023
Mt Carmel, Jezreel – Megiddo Valley, Haifa, Akko, Mt Precipe
After enjoying the few over the Mediterranean sea we will drive to Mt. Carmel where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. We drive through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, the Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. Next we drive to Haifa for a panoramic view. We make our way to cover ancient history of Akko. The city was first mentioned in the Bible as part of the tribe of Asher’s inheritance, and then reappeared as Ptolemais in the book of Acts. Caesar Septemberus brought his army to Akko while pursuing Mark Antony, and feasted here with Herod the Great. King Richard the Lion heart made Akko the capital of his Crusader Kingdom after the fall of Jerusalem in the 12th century. Napoleon tried to capture the city from the Ottomans, but failed to penetrate the massive sea walls. We visit Mount Precipice, where Yeshua escaped the attempt of throwing him off the cliff.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight: Nazareth/Tiberius
Day 6: Friday 21 September 2023
Nazareth, Cana, Mt Tabor – Transfiguration, Mount of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, Capernaum Mt Arbel, Tiberius, Magdala. Ancient Boat, Sail on Galilee Boat
This morning we visit Nazareth where Yeshua spent his boyhood years before beginning his ministry at the age of 30. We travel to Cana of Galilee where Yeshua performed His first miracle at the wedding. We are ascending Mt. Tabor for a spectacular view, the place of transfiguration and ascension of Yeshua. We enjoy special time at the Mount of the Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount and for a beautiful view of the entire Galilee. We visit Tabgha the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. We descend for a visit to Capernaum which form what has been called the “evangelical triangle” because most of Yeshua’s miracles in Galilee were performed in these cities. Capernaum (The Town of Yeshua) we will visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue, where we’ll view the ruins of a 1st century synagogue and likely a location that Yeshua taught and a view of Peter’s home. Early morning after breakfast we visit Mt Arbel to have a view of Galilee and beyond, to the Golan Heights, and Israel’s tallest peak at Mount Hermon, There is no better place to get the “big picture” of Yeshua’ public ministry in the Galilee than from the cliffs of Mount Arbel, overlooking the Sea of Galilee from the west. In Tiberius we visit the remains of an ancients Synagogue. We have a visit Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene, was a prosperous fishing village at the time Yeshua was active in this region. We visit the ancient Yeshua Boat located at the Nof Ginnosar Kibbutz before we end the day with a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee and devotional on board brings to life the experiences of Yeshua and the fishermen disciples.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight: Nazareth/Tiberius
Day 7: Saturday 22 September 2023
Judean Desert, Bethabara – Baptism, Qumran, Dead Sea, Jericho, Wadi Qilt
We take a journey through the Judean desert to the Baptism Site, the Biblical place Bethabara that played an important role in the life of Yeshua, as he returned there many times after his baptism. He went there after his rejection in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication, “He went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.” (John 10.40). We start heading towards Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Afterwards we proceed the Dead Sea where you will enjoy a relaxing float in the Dead Sea. We continue to Jericho, where God had an awesome plan for the battle of Jericho. The scriptures describes the Israelites being led by Joshua crossing the Jordan where they laid siege to the city of Jericho. God spoke to Joshua telling him to September around the city once every day for six days with the seven priests carrying ram’s horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day they were to go around the city seven times and the priests were to blow their ram’s horns. We visit the Mount of Temptation where Yeshua was tempted by Satan after fasting 40 days & 40 Nights. We visit a Sycamore Tree where Zacchaeus climbed up into a to see Yeshua passing by. Next is Wadi Qilt where we will spend some time in prayer. David’s flight from Absalom (2 Sam 15-16), Zedekiah’s flight from the Babylonians (2 Kgs 25:4), the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), and Yeshua travelled from Jericho to Jerusalem (Luke 19:28).
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 8: Sunday 23 September 2023
Shepherd Field, Promenade, Friends of Zion Museum, Virtual Second Temple, Zion Gate – Jaffa Gate,
We journey to the Shepherds field and Bethlehem. Yeshua was born in Bethlehem, which was a fulfillment of prophecy (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-7) and also the place of death and burial for Rachel. The name Bethlehem actually means “house of bread.” Bethlehem was also the birthplace of David (2 Sam 23:24; 1 Chr 11:26). The roads descending to the east of Bethlehem lead through the Christian village of Beit Sahour (or Bait Sahur), which includes the Shepherds’ Fields identified since ancient times where the shepherds seen the Star. (Luke 2:8-10). Standing on the Promenade we will be overlooking the expanse of the Old City, traditionally, known as the spot from which God first showed Abraham Jerusalem. We visit the friends of Zion Museum where we will travel back in time. We experience a journey that begins with the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 CE and continues through incredible adventures experienced by the Jewish nation for over 2,000 years. On this journey, you will visit almost every spot on the globe, pass through the most significant events in history, and then end up back at your starting point. and walk to Jaffa Gate where we will end our day at the Tower of David and time to explore the lively Yehuda Market.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 9: Monday 24 July 2023
Mt Zion, Last Supper Room, Tomb of King David, Cardo, Jewish Quarters, Western Wall,Southern Wall, Golden Gate, Mount of Olives, Palm Sunday road , Church of All Nations, Garden of Gethsemane
This morning we walk through the historic ancient pathway from Zion Gate with a spiritual experience of the stories of the Scriptures unfolding before our eyes. We start at Zion Gate and visit the Upper Room (Luke 22) the traditional site where Yeshua instituted the “Last Supper” – Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-23; John 13:1—17:26. Visit the Tomb of King DavidJewish Quarter, down the Cardo. On our way down the stairs we see the Golden Lamp Stand. We exit the Dung Gate to view the Southern Wall Excavations and the Temple Stairs. We walk pass the Mercy Gate to the Golden Gate. We head to the top of the Mount of Olives to stand where Yeshua had a breathtaking view of the city across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate where the Prince of Peace will enter (Ezekiel 44) also the place where He ascended into heaven (Acts 1). We walk pass by Pater Noster Church and Dominus Flevit where “the Yeshua wept” as he beheld the Holy City and walk down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane and see 2,000 year old olive trees that date back to the time of Yeshua. We visit the Church of All Nations. We spend time praying in the Garden.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 10: Tuesday 25 July 2023
Caiaphas House, Panoramic view, Pools of Bethsaida, St. Anne, Stations of the Cross, Golgotha
We visit the house of Caiaphas where Yeshua was kept during the night. Our day continue with the way of the cross starting at the Lions gate as we continue to the Pools of Bethsaida John 5:2-9 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades, also known to have supplied water to the First and Second Temples until Herod the Great’s time. These very baths are where the healing miracle of Yeshua took place. We visit the place where the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe (“behold [the] man” John 19. We continue to the Stations of the Cross starting where Yeshua was condemned to death(Mark 15: 1-15, Matthew 27:23-31), Yeshua takes up the Cross (John 19:13-17, John 19: 5), Yeshua falls for the first time (Isaiah 53: 4-7, Matthew 11:28-30). Yeshua meets his Mother (John 19: 25-27), Simon of Cyrene helps Yeshua carry his Cross, (Mark 15: 21), Yeshua consoles the women of Jerusalem, (Luke 22: 28-32), Yeshua stripped of his garments (John 19: 23-24), Yeshua nailed to the Cross , (Luke 23: 33-43), Yeshua dies on the Cross (John 19: 28-37, Matthew 27: 50), We end at Golgotha (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, John 19:17) We start with our reading and special time in the Garden Tomb reminding ourselves that Yeshua was taken down from the Cross, (John 19: 38-40), Yeshua is laid in the Tomb (Mark 15: 46-47) .He has risen, the tomb is empty, not even death had hold over Him. We visit the Yad Vashem holocaust and share the history of great persecution but also of the victory. Our journey continues to Ein Kerem a pilgrimage site where John the Baptist was born. Next we will have a visit to the village of Abu Gosh, it was known in Biblical Times as Kiryat Ye’arim, and was a ceremonial center where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. The biblical Kiryat Ye’arim, from where King David brought the Holy Shrine back to Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Wednesday 26 July 2023
Home
We on our way home with mind and hearts filled with a new and revived passion of Faith. We say goodbye to our new friends and Jerusalem remains on our lips.
