LAND OF THE BIBLE EXPERIENCE TOUR
MARCH 3-16, 2008

Click here for a PDF Brochure of the tour

Day 1 -- March 3 – Monday
Arrive in Israel – Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 2 – March 4 – Tuesday
This morning we will visit Baad 10 army base, where Israel’s military medical corps are trained. Teams are sent around the world from this base to assist in crisis times, like the major earthquakes in Turkey. We will meet soldiers in training, see simulated medical triage, get a behind-the-scenes view of training in Israel’s medical corps. (9 – 12)

Today we will also visit Ariel one of the towns on the Adopt an Israeli Town program. We will meet with Mayor Ron Nachman, enjoy an immigrant choir, plant vines on the hills of Ephraim (Jeremiah 31), and visit the college of Judea and Samaria, where we help students through the Adoption Program.

We will stay overnight in the lovely coastal town of Netanya on the Mediterranean Sea. Mayor Miryam Fierburg will greet us.

Day 3 – March 5 – Wednesday
We will start our day by visiting Caesarea, the New Testament Roman capital and seaport built by Herod the Great, and the home of Cornelius. We will see the magnificent Roman Amphitheater, remains of the 12th century Crusader city, the harbor, and aqueduct. Traveling north along the Via Maris, we will visit Dor Beach, where we will see the remains of a shipping vessel from the time of Jesus. We will continue to Mukraka the site where Elijah met the false prophets of Ba’al (I Kgs. 18). We come to the beautiful port city of Haifa where we will stop for a breathtaking panorama of this magnificent city built on the slopes of Mt. Carmel.

In Haifa we will meet Mudi Sandberg a former Knesset member who will speak to us about “Israel – Bringing Blessing to the World”

Overnight – Nes Amim

Day 4 – March 6 – Thursday
This morning we will drive across the mountains of Galilee.

We will start our day with a visit to Karmiel, and the BFP Center in the North. Karmiel is a city of 50,000 inhabitants of which 50% are immigrants.

We will visit Zippori, one of the most important cities in Galilee and site of some of the most magnificent mosaic floors found in Israel.

Then, on to Nazareth, the home town of Jesus. In Nazareth we will visit the “brow of the hill,” where you can clearly see the Mt. of Transfiguration.

We will then explore the ancient ruins of Megiddo, a very important Biblical city with over 20 layers of civilization, located in the Valley of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).

Overnight Ginnosar

Day 5 – March 7 – Friday
We will be escorted through the Golan Heights by an Israeli Army Colonel, Shauli, noting both Israeli agricultural communities and the ruins of Syrian bunkers used in 1967 and 1973 to attack Israel.

We will visit Banias (Caesarea Phillipi), one of the sources of the Jordan River, where Yeshua made His great prophecy concerning the Church.

We will visit the reconstructed, ancient Katzrin village to see how life was lived in this region 2,000 years ago.

After dinner lecture – Why Stand with Israel – Rebecca Brimmer
Overnight Ginnosar

Day 6 – March 8 – Saturday
We will take a Morning boat trip on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Capernaum where we will see the ancient synagogue and ruins of Peter's house. Then, we will visit the ruins of Chorazin (Matt. 11:21) which was cursed by Jesus and remains uninhabited to this day. We will then have a time of worship on the Mt. of Beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12) before going to the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Mark 6:30-46) at Tabgha. Driving along the eastern shore of the Sea, we will visit Kursi, (Gedara) where Jesus cast out the demons which entered the herd of swine (Mk. 5:11-16). Traveling around the southern tip of the Sea, we will end the day with our Baptismal Service at Yardenit on the Jordan River.

After dinner lecture

Overnight Ginnosar

Day 7 – March 9 – Sunday
This morning we will see the spectacular ruins of Beit Shean, where the bodies of King Saul and Jonathan were placed on the city wall (I Sam 31:10). We then drive south through the Jordan Valley on our way to the Qumran community and caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Free Afternoon (or partial afternoon)

Overnight Novotel – Dead Sea

Day 8 – March 10 – Monday
Dead Sea Works Speaker

Today we will visit Masada, the fortress in which 960 Jews dared to stand against the powers of Rome in 67-60 AD. We will swim in the Dead Sea, near the Spring of Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 24). We will visit the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.

A special dinner experience at Genesis Land will bring the story of Abraham and his nomadic lifestyle to life.

Overnight – Ramat Rachel – Jerusalem

Day 9 – March 11, Tuesday
We will start the day with a beautiful panorama view of Jerusalem the Haas Promenade to get an orientation of the city.

Today we will visit the Bridges for Peace Outreach Center from which thousands of Israelis are touched with Christian love. We will then visit the Temple Treasures, which is a display of the carefully crafted implements for a future Third Temple to God to be built in Jerusalem. We will then walk through the Western Wall Tunnel and walk on a stone street actually walked on by Jesus.

Dan Bahat, archaeologist will speak to us at the Southern Steps Excavations where we will see the archaeological finds around the Temple Mount, including the step on which Jesus stood and preached 2,000 years ago.

We will walk through downtown Jerusalem on Ben Yehudah Street in a show of solidarity with Israel.

Evening Speaker – (Benny Elon – Current Events)

Overnight – Ramat Rachel

Day 10 – March 12 – Wednesday
Morning – visit to Shilo
Afternoon – visit to Knesset – Josh Reinstein

Cultural Evening
Art Show
Sing along musical
Dance Group

Overnight – Ramat Rachel

Day 11 – March 13 – Thursday -- Seminar Day at Ramat Rachel
Speakers include:
Moshe Kempinski - Jewish/Christian Communication
Michael Freund “Operation Prayer”
Itamar Marcus – Palestinian Media Watch
Rebecca Brimmer – Understanding Israeli Politics
Khalid Abu Toameh - Inside the Palestinian Authority
Moshe Sharon Is Israel the Problem?
Justus Weiner
Plus…

Overnight – Ramat Rachel

Day 12 – March 14 – Friday
Today we will go to Mt. Zion, the Upper Room, King David's Tomb

After lunch we will visit the Bridges for Peace International Headquarters and the Land of the Bible Experience

We will visit the Western Wall as the sun sets and the Shabbat begins. After our prayer time, we will enjoy an evening meal with the taste of the Middle East in the Old City.

Evening – Lecture

Day 13 – March 15 - Saturday
This morning, we will start our day at the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Church of All Nations, where Jesus prayed just before His arrest (Lk. 22:39-53). Then, and St. Peter of Gallicantu Church (ruins of Caiphas' house). We will visit the Crusader Church of St. Anne where the Pool of Bethesda is located. We will walk the traditional Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross), discussing each station including the Antonia Fortress, Ecce Homo -- the Lithostrotos, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will then go to the Garden Tomb and skull hill, where we will have a special service of Communion.

Day 14 – March 16 – Sunday
We will visit Yad V'Shem, the memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Rina Quint, a Holocaust survivor will share her story.

Our lunch will be on Ben Yehudah Street, a pedestrian shopping area in downtown Jerusalem. There will be time to shop as well.

After lunch we will visit the Shrine of the Book, the resting place of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and then Mount Zion where King David’s tomb is located, and the upper room.

Evening Departure for home – Boy Voyage!

Bridges for Peace Land of the Bible Experience Tour
COST: US$ To be announced soon
US$
TIPS:

INCLUDES: Breakfast and dinner each day
Licensed Guides
Buses
Porterage at the hotel
Assistance on arrival and departure of main groups at Ben Gurion Airport

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Transfers from and to airport for individuals
Lunches, taxes (see pg1)