Opening to the Holy Land

Day 1 • Tel Aviv to Nazareth

Arrive at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport. Transfer to Galilee. Visit to Haifa and to the Bahai Gardens and temple. Meeting with the Secretary General of Bahai, who will speak about the movement and its history. Interfaith dialogue. Arrive at Tiberius in evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 • Nazareth

Drive to Nazareth and visit the Shrine of the Annunciation, the New Church, and the Church of St. Joseph. We go on to Mount Precipice, with an introduction to the Gospel Trail and a panoramic walk down the mountain. Visit the Church of the Transfiguration at Mt. Tabor; stop at Cana. Overnight in Tiberius.

Day 3 • Nazareth

Visit Capernaum (the synagogue and Peter’s home) and Tabga (site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes). Ascend the Mount of Beatitudes. We reach Tiberius Lake and board a boat, gliding along the lake and reading of Jesus quieting the storm and walking on water. Drive to the Golan Hights from where we can see Syria. Overnight in Tiberius.

Day 4 • Bethlehem

Visit the Druse village of Daliat El Karmel to experience their community, culture and unique beliefs; meeting with the former Deputy Minister and MK. Interaction and lunch together. We journey to a peace-based community where Muslims, Jews, and Christians live together harmoniously. We meet with them for an interfaith dialogue and a cultural exchange. Time permitting, stop at the Judah Desert for quite moment. Overnight stay in Bethlehem.

Day 5 • Jerusalem

Jerusalem: Mount of Olives, the Garden of the Gethsemane, the Basilica of Agony, the Chapel of the Pater Noster and the Virgin’s Tomb. We walk the Arabic quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which contains the tomb where Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. We will also visit the Dome of Rock, the third most important mosque for Muslim pilgrimages. Meeting with the Imam of the Muslim community for an interfaith dialogue. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 6 • Jerusalem

Departure to Kaser El Yahud, the place of Jesus’ baptism. We move on to St. George Monastery for desert walk to an ancient orthodox monastery hidden deep in Wadi Qelt. We visit the place where Jesus was tempted, and the city of Jericho. After dinner, nighttime walk through the Old City of Jerusalem. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 7 • Jerusalem

Visit Mount Zion: the room and the Church of the Last Supper, the Church of the Dormition, the Church of St. Peter Gallicantu, the place where St. Peter denied Jesus. We move to the Armenian quarter to visit the Armenian Church. Meeting with the Armenian Patriarch or one of his representatives for an explanation of Armenian culture, history and religion. Interfaith exchange. We move to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, the Shepherd’s Field and the Grotto of St. Jerome. Dinner at a Bedouin tent. Overnight in Bethelehem.

Day 8 • Jerusalem-Bethlehem

Visit excavation of the Temple and the Davidson Center to learn about the Jewish Temple and the life of the pilgrims at the time of Jesus. Stop at the haunting Western Wall, magnificent ruins of the Temple of Herod. Visit Shalom Center Jerusalem: meet with the Gen. Director. The center focuses on educating international decision-makers about the signifigance of a united Jerusalem. Transfer to Dead Sea for a relaxing afternoon. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 9 • Bethlehem and departure

We visit the Israeli Parlament Knesset with a VIP tour accompanied by an MK. Move to the Old City and meeting His Beatitude Theophilus III, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Free time. Later in the afternoon we go to the desert for sunset, to eat dinner at Genesis Land, where we will enjoy the hospitality of Abraham and experience daily life as it was in Biblical times. Travel to airport and board night flight home.



The order of events and visits may be subject to change .