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DAY 1:
We start our Journey to the Land of the Bible, as we depart New York to Israel.
DAY 2:
We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel-Aviv. We start our visit with a trip to Caesarea to see the City built by Herod the great and named for his benefactor, Augusts Caesar. Paul landed here several times, and from here was sent in chains to Rome for trial (ACTS 10,21,23,24) . Nowadays, this is a great archaeological park with an impressive Roman Theatre, a Hippodrome for horse and chariot races, Palaces, Roman bath houses and much more. A most important finding originating from here is the Pontius pilot pillar, proving totally wrong those many bible deniers who tried to claim that Jesus was never trailed and that the accounts of the Gospel never took place. The more you dig out of the ground – the more the Bible proves to be true! We continue to our hotel on the sea of Galilee in Tiberias for dinner and the end of our day.
Day 3:
This morning we witness the sun rising over the magical sea of Galilee. After a hearty Israeli breakfast we start our sightseeing with a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. We then continue to Tabgha, site of the miracle of the multiplication of the "Loaves and fish". From there, we proceed to Capernaum to visit the Synagogue where Jesus founded his ministry and taught, then, Visit Peter's mother in law's house. Next we visit Mensa Christi (John 21) where Jesus had breakfast with Peter ("Do you love me, do you love me, do you love me") Then we visit a ‘Kibbutz’ which shows the original ancient boat going back to the time of Jesus. Enjoy the silence and breeze while on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. This is a good time to reflect about the holy sites we've witnessed and for prayer. Arrive at our restaurant on the Dock for a St. Peter fish lunch. That afternoon we drive to a special site of the River Jordan for a Baptismal ceremony. We then view the Golan-Heights (the Bashan Heights) . We finish our day going back to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.
Day 4:
We start this morning as we drive through Cana, site of the First Miracle of Jesus, "Turning water into wine at the wedding ceremony". On to Nazareth, the city of Joseph and Mary, to visit Mary’s well and the site of the Annunciation. We drive through the Jezreel Valley to the city of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), the city of King Solomon and King Ahab. We then walk through the remains of the biblical tunnel and water system going back 3000 years ago. Then we ascend to the top of Mt. Carmel - where Elijah demonstrated the power of God (1st Kings, Cp. 18) and fought the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Ashtaroot. Enjoy the superb view from the rooftop of the Carmelite monastery. Return to our hotel in Tiberias for another great dinner and overnight on the Sea of Galilee.
Day 5:
Today we go up to Jerusalem and up to Zion! We visit Beth She'an, an superbly preserved Canaanite, Roman and Byzantine city along the Jordan Valley. Here is where the bodies of Saul & Jonathan were put on the city walls by the philistines (2nd Sam 1, 21-22). Explore the Cardo, Deco-manus, Agora, climb up the Tel and view Mt. Gilboa. We Continue through the Jordan valley, view Jericho, the oldest city on earth , and view the Mt. of Temptation (Luke 4) and Elisha's spring. We start climbing up to Zion on the old Roman road. We stop and view the curves of the ancient road leading from Galilee to Zion that was used at the time of Jesus ("the valley of the shadow of Death"). We enter Jerusalem and head to the Mt. of Olives observation point. Standing here in the footsteps of Jesus looking over to: the temple Mt, the old city of Jerusalem, the Golden Dome of the rock, David's city, the Garden tomb, the church of the Holy sepulcher and the modern city. We finish with dinner and spend the night in Jerusalem.
Day 6:
Start this day at the Israeli Museum with the Model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. Continue to the Shrine of the book and see the amazing Dead sea scrolls, maybe the most important archaeological finding in history: each and every one of the books of the Bible, especially the book of Isaiah were found on 2000 year old ancient scrolls, near Qumran Dead sea. After lunch we continue to Bethlehem and the Shepherds fields.
Back to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 7:
This morning we head up to the Temple Mt., Mt. Moriah (where Abraham brought his only son Isaac as a sacrifice, where the first and second temples were built, where today the Golden dome stands). See the "Pool of Bethesda" where Jesus healed the paralytic (John 5). Visit Church of St. Ann, birthplace of Mary. Continue to the Litostartus, the Fortress of Antonia, the judgment place. On this holy ground we'll retrace the events in the final hours of our Lord's life .
After lunch we visit the Wailing Wall – the western retaining wall of the 2nd temple. Walk through the old city bazzar to the Jewish Quarter, see evidence from the time of the first temple, enjoy free time at the Cardo for Lunch.
After lunch we continue to the picturesue villige of Ein KArem (Luke 1), known as the birthplace of John the Baphtist. Walk through this tranquile village to the Churcjh of John the Baptist. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem.
Day 8:
Today we start early and head out south to the "no-man's land", to the wilderness of Judea. We view Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found then, head to visit the amazing fortress of Massada. This World Heritage site tells the remarkable story of the brave zealots who fought the Romans for the right to worship the only one God of Israel. Walk to the Northern Palace of King Herod the great, sit and pray here in one of the most ancient synagogues in the world, see the breaching point and the Roman Ramp, and visit the chaple. View Sodom and Gomorrah. Enjoy some free time to Swim and float in the mineral rich Dead Sea waters. Afternoon we drive up to the field school of Ein Gedi, See the Waterfalls of King David at Ein Gedi Natural Reserve. This is where David hid from King Saul (1ST Sam, 24), and where David wrote many of the Psalms. After this adventures day we ascend back up to Jerusalem to our hotel for a good dinner and overnight In Jerusalem.
Day 9:
We start today with a visit to the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent his last night before being extradited to the Romans. Visit the magnificent church of all nations, with the beautiful mosaic depicting the events that took place in the Garden (Mark 14). In the church, be sure to see the alter, built upon the rock of agony on which Jesus wept and sweat blood. Walk though the Kidron Valley (Zechariah 12) and see the tomb of Absalom son of David. Continue to the house of Chiapas (where Jesus was brought the night before being trailed by Pontius Pilot). Visit the upper room, the site of the last supper. After a hearty lunch, we visit the Garden Tomb, one of the pilgrimage’s highlights, and have a special communion service next to the empty Tomb. ("He is not here for he has risen" Matt 28:6 ).
Later - Enjoy free time to explore Jerusalem. Those who wish may walk on the old city walls of Jerusalem. After dinner we head for the airport for the midnight flight home.
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