itinerary
Tuesday,
May 18
Group departure day from New
York.
Wednesday,
May 19
Arrival day in Israel.
After airport customs, we will transfer to our hotel located on the Mediterranean
Sea. After the evening meal, we will have a meeting to
get acquainted and to take care of administrative needs.
Thursday,
May 20
The day will be spent with introductory Lectures related to the Land and to Jesus. While we do have 5 hours
of dedicated classroom time, we have allowed ample free time to relax,
catch up on sleep, and adjust to the time change.
Topic
1: “The Land as the 5th
Gospel” (Deuteronomy 8-11) [WT]
Topic
2: “Ancient Israel in the Fertile Crescent” [WT]
Topic
3: “In the Fullness of
Time: Historical Developments between the Testaments” [SN]
Topic
4: “Faith and Piety in
First Century Judaism” [SN]
Friday,
May 21
Additional introductory Lectures mixed
with some free time to enjoy the beach.
Topic
5: “The Land Between – God’s
Testing Ground of Faith” [WT]
Topic
6: “Rainfall, Agriculture,
Archaeology, and Regions of the Land” [WT]
Topic
7: “The Physical Geography
of Galilee and Neighboring Regions” [WT]
Topic 8: “The Myth of the Gentile Galilee” [SN]
Topic 9: “The Days of John: Hope for Redemption in
the Days of Jesus” [SN]
Saturday,
May 22
FIELD TRIP: “Kingdoms and Cultures
in Conflict”
Today
we address the social, religious and political tensions which lie behind
the relationship between the Jewish people and the foreigners in the
land. On Mount Carmel we consider Elijah’s confrontation
with the Phoenician prophets of Baal. At Sepphoris we visit the impressive
excavations of this capital of the Galilee at
the birth of Jesus where Jews and Gentiles lived together. Finally,
we travel to Nazareth,
the childhood home of Jesus.
Sunday,
May 23
FIELD TRIP: “Who do people say that I am?”
Today
we examine the various messianic expectations in the first century
and how they penetrate into the language of Jesus and the Early Church.
We begin the day traveling to the northern regions of Israel on
the ancient Road to Damascus.
On the lower slopes of Mount Hermon we consider
the event of the Transfiguration from which Jesus set face for Jerusalem.
We take time to enjoy the spectacular beauty in the region at Banyas
(Caesarea Philippi) and Dan. In view of the Lebanese and Syrian borders,
the dynamics of the modern political situation are briefly addressed.
Monday,
May 24
FIELD TRIP: “By the Sea
of Galilee”
A
full morning study includes sites and themes central to the ministry
of Jesus. At Chorazin, the Mount of Beatitudes and Bethsaida we
consider the second stage of Jesus’ ministry with attention given to
his teachings within their contemporary context. In the afternoon we
take time at Capernaum,
the center of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, to consider his teaching and
miracles in this lakeside town. We continue to Kibbutz Ginnosar where
an ancient Sea of Galilee boat (dating to the
1st century AD) is preserved. We conclude our day with a relaxing boat
cruise of the Sea of Galilee.
Tuesday,
May 25
FIELD
TRIP: “Setting Our Faces Toward Jerusalem”
We
travel to Jerusalem via
the Jezreel Valley and
Costal Plain. On our way we visit the Biblical city of Beth
Shean, a Philistine stronghold during the days
of Saul and David. There we examine the recent excavations of its Roman-Byzantine
remains when it was known as Scythopolis, one of the Hellenistic cities
of the Decapolis. At Caesarea on
the Mediterranean Sea, we give thought to the
conversion of Cornelius, the Roman centurion, and the challenges this
posed for the Early Church.
[Today is Erev Shavuot. This
evening begins the festival of Shavuot. It is also known as the Feast
of Weeks (“shavuot”) or Pentecost. See your notebook
for an expanded explanation.]
Wednesday,
May 26
JERUSALEM: “Shavuot – Feast
of Weeks – Pentecost”
Today begins with a classroom overview of Jerusalem’s Old City.
This will provide you with some geographical, cultural, and religious
orientation for the remainder of the day. We will then have a morning
walking tour of the Old City.
After lunch, the remainder of the day is free to explore Jerusalem.
Topic
10: “Introduction to Jerusalem’s Old City” [WT]
Thursday,
May 27
JERUSALEM: “Setting
the Stage for Redemption”
The morning is spent introducing you to Jerusalem’s
physical and historical settings. This will serve as background material
for our remaining time in Jerusalem.
Topic
11: “The Physical Geography
of Jerusalem” [WT]
Topic
12: “Jerusalem Through the Ages” [WT]
Topic
13: “Herodian Jerusalem” [SN]
Topic
14: “Jesus in Jerusalem” [SN]
After lunch we journey by bus to a 1st Century AD
model of Jerusalem and
then to Yad VaShem – Israel’s
memorial to the Holocaust.
Friday,
May 28
JERUSALEM: “City
of the Great King”
Our
focus today is the physical setting of Jerusalem from
the time of King David to Jesus. We begin our study with a visit to
a model of first century Jerusalem.
Then we visit the upper city at Hezekiah's Broad Wall, the Herodian
Villas, and the Burnt House. In the afternoon we explore the Temple Mount and
the excavations along the western and southern walls, finishing in
the City of David excavations.
Saturday,
May 29
JERUSALEM: “Behold
the Man”
Particular
attention is given to the historical background regarding the opposition
to Jesus and the events which led to his crucifixion. In connection
with these themes we begin our touring on the crest of the Mount
of Olives with an overlook to the Golden Gate.
We descend the mount to the church of Dominus
Flavit and to the Garden of Gethsemane.
On the Via Dolorosa we stop at St. Anne's church, the site of the ancient
pools of Bethesda. We conclude
at the Church of the Resurrection, possible site of Jesus' death and
resurrection.
Sunday,
May 30
JERUSALEM: FREE DAY
Monday,
May 31
FIELD TRIP: “Children of the Wilderness”
Today
we follow in the steps of individuals and communities who lived in
the Judean wilderness. At Masada we
consider the fate of the Zealot movement which ended on this rocky
promontory. At the oasis of
Ein Gedi we walk in to observe a “river in the desert” in the region
where David hid from Saul. Khirbet Qumran provides
the setting for our consideration of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their
relationship to John the Baptist and early Christianity.
Tuesday,
June 1
JERUSALEM: “The
Road to Emmaus”
In
the morning we travel for a brief excursion to walk along a portion
of the ancient Road to Emmaus where Jesus encountered the two as they
traveled this road (Luke 24). We return to Jerusalem for
lunch and the remainder of the day is free. After
the evening meal we will have a brief group meeting.
Wednesday,
June 2
DEPARTURE
DAY: “Shalom”
We have an early morning flight out of Tel Aviv. We
return to New York (JFK)
and from there you connect to your final destination.