1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

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A Journey
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H o ly L a n d | M e n n o J e r u s a l e m B i b l e L a n d s T o u r
S Y D N E Y
DEPARTURE DATE: 13 APRIL 2015
- A 22 Day Pilgrimage Journey from
$7,490
AUD
Inclusive of all taxes / levies TOUR CODE: 5PV26
I T I NE R A R Y O VER VIEW
Basilica of the Annunciation
DAY 5: FRIDAY, 17 APRIL
9:00 Jerusalem to visit the Garden Tomb, with a
tour and reflection on the ‘Resurrection’ theme.
10:30 St. Anne’s/Bethesda Pools: site of Jesus’
miracle as recorded in St. John chap.5. 12:30
LUNCH at Tantur
2:30 Songs for shabbat, and study of the parashat
hashavuah/Torah reading for the week
5:30 Kol HaNeshama Synagogue, erev shabbat
service Followed by a Shabbat DINNER at
Tantur.
Jerusalem overnight (BLD)
DAY 6: SATURDAY, 18 APRIL
SHABBAT
8:00 Depart for Old City, Holy Sepulchre
Church (of the Resurrection); tour of the
site and chapels of the Crusader Church built
over Constantine’s masterpiece; followed by
free time in the Old City, strolling along the
Via Dolorosa /shopping in the Muslim &
Christian Quarters - oriental spices and scents,
bustling suqs (shops), middle-eastern pricebartering, photo-ops.
LUNCH on own during this time.
Return to Tantur: Movie screening (optional)
The Lemon Tree, highly acclaimed, moving
Israeli production of “the situation” in the Land.
106 min.
6:00 Hebrew Mass in town with the St James
Hebrew speaking catholic community and
a chance to meet members of this small but
significant community, followed by DINNER
at nearby restaurant.
Jerusalem overnight (BD)
DAY 1: MONDAY, 13 APRIL
DEPART SYDNEY
DAY 2: TUESDAY, 14 APRIL
ARRIVE ISRAEL
7:00 Arrival at Ben Gurion airport, near Tel
Aviv, Israel. Clear immigration into Israel, for
bus transfer to Jerusalem.
Check-in at Tantur Ecumenical Institute,
Jerusalem campus of Notre Dame University,
Indiana, USA, inspired by participants in the
Second Vatican Council, and encouraged by
Pope Paul VI.
General Orientation, Tantur and Touring
Program: “Our feet are standing within your
walls, O Jerusalem…”
12:30 LUNCH at Tantur
2:00 Biblical orientation at site of city
panoramas, Abraham’s lookout, (Genesis 22) to
the Hinnom Valley, (Jeremiah 7) view of the
Old City, Dome of the Rock, Kidron Valley,
Mount of Olives. Visit Herod’s family tomb
(best example of a rolling stone tomb in Israel)
for story of Hinnom Valley and Jeremiah’s call
for repentance.
6:00 pm DINNER at Tantur. Evening free, for
early bedtime option.
Jerusalem overnight (LD)
DAY 3: WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL
7:30 Departure for West Bank: Herodion,
fortress ruins, burial site of King Herod the
Great, outside Beit Sahour.
9:30 Return across the Fields of Boaz [Ruth
4] to Shepherds Fields - carol singing in the
caves… Luke 2. 11:00 Mass, nativity setting
LUNCH on own, Nativity Square, time to stroll
through the ancient town and shops.
With Salwa Musallam, tour of Nativity Square
and Basilica, Jesus’ birth grotto, caves of St.
Jerome under St. Catherine’s Church [worldwide Christmas Eve Catholic TV service
originates here].
4:00 Visit Bethlehem University, conversations
with Palestinian students re: their stories.
6:00 DINNER in Bedouin Tent Restaurant,
including conversation with Palestinian
guests, folkloric music and dance.
8:00 Return to Tantur.
Jerusalem overnight (BD)
DAY 4: THURSDAY, 16 APRIL
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
8:00 With Jared Goldfarb, tour City of David,
wade through Hezekiah’s Tunnel to the Pool
of Siloam.
Climb up to Davidson Center and the Ophel
excavations, Teaching Steps, miqva’ot of the
Temple Mount area. Discuss role of second
Temple in Judaism, see ritual baths/miqva’ot
(Lev. 11:36).
Jewish Quarter, Roman Cardo, Hezekiah’s
Wall, Hurva Synagogue
1:00 LUNCH on own in Old City
2:30 To Kol HaNeshama Synagogue,
presentations and discussion:
Rabbi Arik Aschermann, Rabbis for Human
Rights, Teachings from the Torah on dealing
with conflict
Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman: “Preparing for
Shabbat” and songs of shabbat
6:00 DINNER at Tantur.
Jerusalem overnight (BD)
DAY 7: SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH
FREE DAY, LUNCH ON OWN
(Optional activities: Israel Museum; Ein Kerem
& Hadassah Hospital/Chagall Windows, etc.)
DINNER at Tantur.
Jerusalem overnight (BD)
DAY 8: MONDAY, 20 APRIL
7:30 Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif: the
golden Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
To the Western/Wailing Wall plaza for bar
mitzvah celebrations. Theme: “The Mountains
of the Jews”
LUNCH on own in Old City
2:00 Yad Vashem, Holocaust Museum/
Children’s Memorial, with Jackie Metzger
from the International School for Holocaust
Studies, Yad Vashem. Debriefing on the lawn
6:00 DINNER at Tantur
7:00 Evening with the Friedguts, Jewish Israeli
family in East Talpiyot.
Jerusalem overnight (BD)
DAY 9: TUESDAY, 21 APRIL
7:30 Depart for the Passion Walk, Judean
Desert lookout, from Bethphage by Bethany
(Luke 19:28 ff.), Pater Noster Church down
the Mount of Olives to Dominus Flevit TearDrop church, Gethsemane grotto and Church
of all Nations/olive garden. Cross the Kidron
Valley to St. Peter in Gallicantu (site of High
Priest Caiaphas’ house).
Picnic LUNCH provided. Optional visit to a
craft shop with unique artisan pieces from desert
monasteries.
Visit High Priest Caiaphas’ house, dungeon:
texts of Jesus’ trial, Peter’s denial (Mark 14:53
I T I NE R A R Y O VER VIEW
ff.)
Upper Room, Mount Zion (Mark 14:12 ff.;
Pentecost: the birth of the ‘ekklesia/Church);
DINNER at Tantur.
Jerusalem overnight (BLD)
DAY 10: WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL
ISRAEL MEMORIAL DAY
Morning: Dr. Debbie Weissman: Presentation,:
“Issues and Challenges in Jewish-Christian
Dialogue Today” from her perspective as
president of the ICCJ: International Council of
Christians and Jews (headquartered in Martin
Buber’s house, Heppenheim, Germany),
Afternoon: Follow the Way of the Patriarchs
highway south into the West Bank, past
Hebron/Kiryat Arba (Abraham buys land
for Sarah’s tomb there, Gen. 23), to visit the
Palestinian Muslim village of At-Tuwani,
beside an Israeli settlement, where workers
from the Catholic peace initiative, Operation
Dove, experience and confront peace/ justice/
reconciliation issues. Meet local families to
hear about Arab village life, struggles, and
activity with the founder and director of the
Muslim Women’s Cooperative, Keiffah, and
Nasser Adara, village leader. Village women’s
handicrafts display, shopping option.
DINNER at Tantur.
Jerusalem overnight (BD)
DAY 11: THURSDAY, 23 APRIL
ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY
8:00 Drive through Philistine Territory, stop
at the Valley of Elah (David & Goliath, I Sam.
17).
LUNCH on own
With Shraga Kelson, tour the archaeological site
of Tel Be’ersheva, (Abraham, Sarah & Hagar,
Gen. 21-22).
Continue across the Negev Desert (stories of
the ancient Nabateans) to Arad for overnight.
DINNER at hotel in Arad.
Arad overnight (BD)
DAY 12: FRIDAY, 24 APRIL
7:00 Early start for Masada climb via the Roman
military ramp to the top, tour the site where
Herod built his palaces and Jewish holdouts
stood against the Romans during the final battle
post-destruction of the Temple. Cable car down
to the Dead Sea side.
12:00 LUNCH on own at Ein Gedi restaurant
1:00 Walk to the Ein Gedi waterfalls of David’s
spring, read the story of David and King Saul
here (I Sam. 24).
3:00 Check in at Kibbutz Ein Gedi Resort
Hotel. Stroll through their Botanical Gardens
with over 1000 plant species.
Option for a unique “float” in the Dead Sea,
and enjoy the spa.
7:00 DINNER in the kibbutz restaurant.
Ein Gedi overnight (BD)
DAY 13: SATURDAY, 25 APRIL
SHABBAT
Sunrise experience over the Moab Mountains
across the Jordan Valley; Psalm 23 meditation.
9:00 To Qumran/Dead Sea Scrolls site tour excavated site of the first-century Essene
community.
10:30 Visit Jericho: the geography and biblical
stories around the oldest city on earth, cable car
up the cliff… remember the stories of Elijah and
Elisha, miracles and teachings of Jesus; stop at
an ancient sycamore tree (Luke 18:35-19:10)
12:00 LUNCH on own in Jericho; walk-about
in central square.
1:30 Departure for Galilee following the Jordan
Valley route northward…
to the Holiday Resort Village of the Ma’agan
Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
4:00 Check-in, and check out the lake and the
pool.
6:00 Mass on the seashore.
7:00 DINNER in dining room overlooking the
sea.
Sea of Galilee overnight (BD)
DAY 14: SUNDAY, 26 APRIL
8:30 To Kibbutz Ginnosar/Yigal Allon Centre
discovery video and exhibit of the ancient ‘Jesus
boat’.
10:00 Board our wooden boat ride for two
hours, with quiet time, on the Sea of Galilee.
LUNCH on own
1:00 Bus returns to Ma’agan.
FREE afternoon, with option to remain in
Tiberias and return on own to Ma’agan.
7:00 DINNER at Ma’agan.
Sea of Galilee overnight (BD)
DAY 15: MONDAY, 27 APRIL
7:30 Bus climbs Golan Heights for broad
panoramas over the Sea and region of Galilee,
views of “the Teaching Triangle” of Jesus; to
Mitzpe Ofir over-looking the site of the Kursi/
Gerasenes story of the calming of the sea, and
the demoniac and swine (Mark 4-5).
North through Upper Galilee via Golan
Heights/Bashan route (Psa. 22:12; Amos 4:1),
to the cliffs of Banyas/ Caesarea Philippi
(Matt. 16:13) at the base of Mount Hermon
(Psa. 133:3)—the source of the Jordan River.
1:00 LUNCH at the Lebanese Restaurant on
the Jordan River
2:00 Visit the Banyas waterfall (option: hike
there along a trail through the fields…about 45
minutes)
4:00 Return south to Ma’agan Resort Village;
swim time.
7:00 DINNER at Ma’agan.
Sea of Galilee overnight (BLD)
DAY 16: TUESDAY, 28 APRIL
8:30 To Bethsaida archaeological site, home
to several disciples and place of Jesus’ miracles.
Discussion of the stories of the feeding of the
four and five thousand, seated by the Jordan
River.
Optional activity (not included in tour) for
rafting along the River Jordan for about an hour.
12:30 LUNCH at Mount of Beatitudes Convent
1:30 Mount of Beatitudes garden for prayer
and meditation on St. Matthew 5 and the Jesus’
Jerusalem City
I T I NE R A R Y O VER VIEW
Mount Precipice
All Bookings to
HARVEST PILGRIMAGES,
Polding Centre, 11th Floor,
133 Liverpool Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9390 5460 • Fax: 02 9390 5480
Email: [email protected]
Toll Free: 1800 819 156
www.harvestpilgrims.com
____________________________________
© Copyright 2015 Harvest Australia Pty Ltd.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of these tours/itineraries
in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
ACN 056849426 / TRAVEL AGENT LIC 2TA003632 /
HARVEST AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
SPECIAL NOTES
All details of sightseeing listed and order of daily
arrangements must remain subject to change due to any
unforeseen circumstances, which may arise, or at the
discretion of the pilgrimage leadership.
This overview is based on the standard pilgrimage
departure and return dates. Please refer to your personal
flight itinerary for more specific details or amendments
pertaining to your travel.
Aramaic use of “blessed…” (asherai) as a call to
action, not passivity.
2:30-4:30 on the shores of Galilee: Capernaum
site visit of Jesus’ synagogue and Peter’s house;
and the Primacy of Peter (St. John 21)—the
site of Peter’s reconciliation with Jesus.
Return to Ma’agan: swim time before dinner.
7:00 DINNER in Tiberias at the Galei Gil
Fish Restaurant on the promenade beside the
Sea of Galilee. We recommend the famous
and scrumptious plate of St. Peter’s fish (Matt.
17:24-27) with oven-roasted potatoes and an
array of middle-eastern salads.
Sea of Galilee overnight (BLD)
DAY 17: WEDNESDAY, 29 APRIL
CHECK OUT OF MA’AGAN
8:30 To Tzfat/Safed, stroll through the old
city (one of the four holy cities of Judaism)…
beautiful panoramas, quaint old synagogues,
with stories of Jewish mysticism and teaching
developed here. Shopping options. LUNCH
on own in Safed 1:30 To Nazareth, climb the
Mount of the Precipice - overview of the Jezreel
Valley toward Megiddo (Rev. 16:16), Nain
(Luke 7:11-17), Mount Carmel (Elijah and
the prophets of Ba’al, I Kings 18), and Mount
Tabor (Transfiguration, Matt. 17:1-13).
4:30 Check in at St. Gabriel’s Hotel in Nazareth
7:00 DINNER at hotel.
Nazareth overnight (BD)
DAY 18: THURSDAY, 30 APRIL
9:30 To First-century Nazareth Village. Visit
reconstructed village and synagogue of Jesus’
time, with working farm and animals, villagers
in first-century dress… typical foods, costumes,
and life in a Jewish village under Roman
occupation at the time of Jesus.
12:00 First-century-style LUNCH at Nazareth
Village; gift shop option follows.
1:30 Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation
and cave ruins of Mary’s village underneath, St.
Joseph’s Church (over the traditional site of his
workshop). 2:00 Mass in the grotto.
3:00 Stroll to Mary’s Well, within the Greek
Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
5:00 Debriefing on patio of St. Gabriel’s: Light
of Torah program, reflections on our tour
experiences: the geography, the culture, and the
biblical text in context.
7:00 DINNER at hotel.
Nazareth overnight (BLD)
DAY 19: FRIDAY, 1 MAY
8:30 Depart for Mount Carmel, climb to
the Muq’rata for the story of Elijah and the
prophets of Ba’al and his troubles with Jezebel (I
Kings 19). Continue to Haifa, panorama of the
Baha’i Gardens.
LUNCH by Stella Maris and Elijah’s cave
overlooking the Bay of Haifa/Acco (Ptolemais,
Acts 21:1-7); drive along the Mediterranean
Coast to the Herodian Aqueduct at Caesarea,
time for a stroll on the beach/dip in the sea…
To Jaffa/Tel Aviv for our farewell dinner to
close the tour. Check into hotel; bus returns to
Jerusalem.
Tel Aviv overnight (BLD)
DAY 20: SATURDAY, 2 MAY
SHABBAT
FREE DAY in Tel Aviv/Jaffa
7:00 Ben Gurion airport by sheroot van, advance
check-in for EL AL flight at 10:00pm (B)
DAY 21: SUNDAY, 3 MAY
IN TRANSIT (VIA HONG KONG)
DAY 22: MONDAY, 4 MAY
ARRIVE SYDNEY
Cost pp
AUD
Tour
Code
13 April 2015
$7,490
5PV26
Single Room Supplement
$1,260.00
Prepaid Tipping
Paid Locally
Departure Date
inc. Tax
* Costs have been based on prices as at October 2014 and must remain
subject to possible change in the unlikely event of significant exchange
rate variations, airfare increases and minimum group size contingencies.
SIMPLE BOOKING PROCEDURES
•Contact Harvest to place your booking and to advise
any other extension plans.
•Send a $600AUD deposit per person with completed
pilgrims booking form to Harvest Pilgrimages in
Sydney. Cheques to be made payable to Harvest
Pilgrimages or nominate Credit Card details where
shown.
•
Await Harvest Pilgrimage’s letter of confirmation
containing receipt, visa(s) information (as applicable)
and travel insurance detail along with any other
specific travel detail.
•Make balance of payment 7 weeks prior to departure.
•
Collect or await the delivery of final tour
documentation including Pilgrims journal and ticket
wallet approximately two weeks prior to departure
date.
INCLUSIONS
Airfares: Airfares: Economy class airfare Ex Sydney
(N.B. Airlines taxes are included at approximately
$628 per person on standard itinerary and subject to
fluctuations).
Accommodation & Meals: Based on Religious
housing & 3 star accommodation throughout with
breakfast and dinner daily.
Miscellaneous inclusions: • Deluxe Air-Conditioned
Motor coach with driver • Local Tour Escort •
Sightseeing and entrance fees throughout as per
itinerary.
Not Included: Tipping • Passport and Visa Costs
(if applicable) • Other meals not stated • Items of
a personal nature including phone calls, laundry,
beverages, etc. • Travel insurance (Harvest will
recommend a special group policy rate).