Polding Centre, 11th Flr, 133 Liverpool St., Sydney NSW 2000, Australia • Free Call: 1800 819 156 • Email: harvest@pilgrimage.net.au • www.harvestpilgrims.com

Me n n oJe r u s a l e M Bi B l e la n d s To u r i n is r a e l & Pa l e s T i n e

an 18 days Journey FroM aPril 11Th To 28Th 2010

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$6090from

AUD

Including taxes / levies

day 1 Sunday, april 11th Travel from Sydney to Tel Aviv, Israel. On arrival we transfer to Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem for check-in. Overnight Jerusalem (D)

day 2 monday, april 12th Morning rest/sleeping in…After lunch we commence our introductory tour of city panoramas, Abraham’s lookout, [Genesis 22] to the hinnom Valley, view of the old City and dome of the rock. Knesset and Shrine of the Book drive-by, to ein Kerem, John the Baptist’s birthplace (Luke 1:39).

The opening panoramas that we see as we circle the Old City already suggest the sweeping panoramas of the biblical story—from Abraham’s encounter with the faith-testing God, to the views of the Holy City from the Mount of Olives as Jesus would have approached it so many times. He would have recalled the many prophecies about future events anticipated for that location, and would himself figure large in the dramatic events of the salvation story, some of whose key scenes were played out on its slopes.

Return to Tantur for General Orientation session of the facilities, and the touring plan.Following Dinner, the rest of the evening is free.Overnight Jerusalem (BLD)

day 3 tueSday, april 13th After breakfast we travel to the davidson Center/ophel excavations of the south Temple area—first-century Roman street of Jesus’ time, ritual baths/miqva’ot (Lev. 11:36). Then we will climb to the temple mount, to the golden dome of the rock and al-aqsa mosque.

The Temple was central to Jewish life and faith. It remained so also for Jesus who often came into conflict with its inner circle of religious Jewish leaders because of what they had let it become. We visit one of the two possible sites for Jesus’ encounter with the Roman authorities after having been found ‘guilty of blasphemy’ by the religious leaders. We will walk the sites of the Temple compound and

discuss its role and importance through that period of history, including its destruction that Jesus had spoken about—in tears—40 years earlier.

Proceed through muslim Quarter, to Sisters of Sion “ecce homo Convent”.Visit the Lithostratos/pavements of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. We have Lunch at the Sisters of Sion (with the story of Fr. Alphonse Ratisbonne, Jewish convert to RC, and founder of the order), and then Walk to St. anne’s Church (singing in sanctuary) and Bethesda pools (John 5). Overnight Jerusalem (BLD)

day 4 WedneSday, april 14th Today we travel the Passion Route, Judean desert lookout from Bethphage by Bethany (Luke 19:28 ff.) down the mount of olives to Dominus Flevit Tear-Drop church, Gethsemane grotto and Church of all nations/live garden. Cross the Kidron Valley to St. Peter in Gallicantu.Following a picnic lunch in the garden we visit high priest Caiaphas’ house/dungeon, where we hear stories of Jesus’ trial, Peter’s denial (Mark 14:53 ff.)We also visit the upper room, mount Zion (Mark 14:12 ff.)and herod’s palace ruins, (praetorium, Mark 15:16).

The Jewish people longed for a messiah, the person who would finally free them from the oppressive Roman occupiers, set up an independent political rule and kingdom, and begin the time of peace and prosperity that was promised with the messiah’s arrival. But Jesus began on the wrong beast, it seemed—a donkey instead of a stallion! Other things too would ‘go wrong’ for the followers who started to realize that the messiah they were accompanying would not reach his goal. We will deal with the poignant moments of Peter, realizing the ‘failure’ of his leader, when he begins to separate himself from Jesus—“following at a distance,” and then denying any knowledge of him during the crisis of being a religious and political prisoner.Overnight Jerusalem (BLD)

day 5 thurSday, april 15th Today we travel to the Old City of Jerusalem: Enter via mount Zion to Jewish Quarter, Western/Wailing Wall for bar mitzvah celebrations in progress. We tour the holy Sepulchre / Church of the resurrection.In the afternoon we visit Kol haneshama Synagogue to meet with Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman—preparing for Shabbat, including his famous challah recipe.Following that, Debbie Weismann will speak to us on Jewish family life and practice; role of Jewish women today.Following dinner we will meet for debriefing and discussion.Overnight Jerusalem (BLD)

day 6 friday, april 16th This morning we will visit yad Vashem, Holocaust Memorial…Hall of Remembrance and Children’s Memorial.

Twenty-five percent of the victims were children. The new holocaust memorial is a vivid display of the horrors of humanity that seemed to draw us to the rock-bed lowest of our history—as people, as Christians. ‘Holocaust’ means ‘totally consumed’ and is the word in the Hebrew Scriptures to refer to the sacrifice for sin. For that reason, Jews refer to that

pilGrimaGe itinerary

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Jerusalem - Night panorama

horrible period of 20th-century history as the Shoah [catastrophe]. By being exposed to the story, we have a better base to understand the Palestinian situation, and hear modern stories from a new perspective.

Free time in the afternoon for lunch, shopping, and sight-seeing.Early this evening we will attend a synagogue service followed by a Shabbat meal with Jewish families.Overnight Jerusalem (BD)

day 7 Saturday, april 17th An early departure today for the Garden tomb for meditation time. We then return to Old City via the damascus Gate for free time in the Muslim Quarter for shopping and wandering – enjoy the wonderful oriental suq and smells of spices …Early in the afternoon we will return to Tantur for Shabbat Torah study of the parashat hashavuah; learning Jewish songs followed by a debriefing session Catholic mass in HebrewOvernight Jerusalem (BD)

day 8 Sunday, april 18th

This morning we have individual/small group worship opportunities in other churches which are unknown to visitor: Orthodox (Armenian), Anglican, Lutheran/Palestinian, etc.Following lunch we have a number of options - Israel Museum, Rockefeller Museum, Great Jerusalem Synagogue, etc.Later this afternoon we join the the Tantur community at prayer followed by the Tantur’s Sunday Community dinner and social time in the Bethlehem Room Overnight Jerusalem (BLD)

day 9 monday, april 19th Early this morning we depart for the Judean desert overlooking Wadi Qelt for sunrise experience over the Moab Mountains, meditation, music, and worship opportunity. We hear the story of the beginning of monasticism movement in these deserts.Then on to Jericho, the oldest city on earth (book of Joshua). Take a cable car up mount of temptation (Luke 4:1-13) to visit the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Shrine of temptation/Quruntul and then on to the sycamore tree in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10).Return to Jerusalem via Bethany (anointing of Jesus, Mark14:1-3; Lazarus, John 11:1 ff.)After lunch we attend the Rabbis for Human Rights presentation by Arik Aschermann, Executive Director. Following this there will be time for debriefing and meditationsOvernight Jerusalem (BLD)

day 10 tueSday, april 20th Leaving Jerusalem this morning we travel to efrat,

a Jewish settlement in the west Bank next to Bethlehem. Here we will have discussion time with a settler before continuing our drive southwards past hebron , stop for Genesis story the Patriarchs - Abraham’s burial of Sarah here - then continue on toward the Negev to the arab Village of at-tuwani with Christian Peacemakers Team.Lunch will be prepared by the Arab community there.On the way to Bethlehem we pass through The Wall to neighboring Beit Sahour to meet our Palestinian hosts. Divide up for our stay with several families, dinner with hosts. Enjoy a free evening with host families.Overnight Beit Sahour (BLD)

day 11 WedneSday, april 21St Today we travel to herodion and view the fortress, palace ruins, burial site of King Herod the Great outside Beit Sahour. Return across the fields of Boaz [Ruth chapter 4] to Shepherds fields—carol singing in the caves.“Let us go straight to Bethlehem to see this thing that has come to pass” –Luke 2:15.

Bethlehem first figures in the biblical story with the death of Rachel, who tradition holds is buried at the entrance to the town—today a disputed political area surrounded by the Wall. Muslims and Christians have their own stories through the ages, but we will focus on the time of Herod, friend of the Roman Emperor, whose ‘occupation’ of the Land was to be challenged by angels singing to shepherds nearby, and visits by Oriental wise people. Herod would try to kill off any competitors; he himself is buried in an artificial hill near the town.

We also visit nativity Square and Basilica in Bethlehem, Jesus’ birth grotto, caves of St. Jerome; St. Catherine’s Church [world-wide Christmas Eve TV service originates here].LUNCH at Lutheran Center with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb [author of “I am a Palestinian Christian”];Visit security barrier at har homa, meet inhabitants of daheisha refugee camp from 1948 conflict.Tonight we enjoy a Palestinian-style dinner in Bedouin tent restaurant. Our residence hosts join us for coffee, dessert, and Arab-style social time.Overnight Beit Sahour (BLD)

day 12 thurSday, april 22nd Check out of Palestinian homes.Travel today to the Judean desert, Qumran/dead Sea Scrolls (teachings of Matthew 23); visit site of the excavations at the site of the essenes; brief time for specialty shopping—Dead Sea black mud, artifacts, books, etc. Then on to ein Gedi falls for meditation on the stories of David (I Samuel 24:1 ff.) Following lunch we will have time for a relaxing “swim” in the Dead Sea—

plastic flip-flops are good for the stones to let you easily enter the dead Sea for the float!We then head north through the Jordan Valley, to lower Galilee and arrive at the ma’agan holiday resort on the Sea of Galilee (advertised as “a Garden of Eden”) A day around these sites at the lowest point on earth will also let us pick up the stories of Moses, who died just across the Jordan River from the place we will stop; We look at the stories of Joshua, whose name means ‘the LORD saves’ and which can also be rendered Yehoshua/Yeshua [‘Jesus’ from the Greek form we use]. Joshua passed through the waters of the Jordan in a triumphal ‘completion’ of the salvation journey of his people since they left Egypt to reach the Promised Land. Jesus would also enter the Jordan River to open another chapter of the salvation story for his people—the people of the world, having already been identified in the Temple as being a light to the nations/Gentiles.Overnight Sea of Galilee (BLD)

day 13 friday, april 23rd This morning we climb the Golan heights for broad panoramas over the Sea and region of Galilee, views of “the Evangelical/Teaching Triangle” of Jesus; to mitzpe ofir overlooking the site of the Kursi/Gerasenes story of the demoniac and swine (Mark 5). On to Bethsaida, home to several disciples and place of Jesus’ miracles, then north to lebanese border via Golan Heights/Bashan route (Psa. 22:12; Amos 4:1) through upper Galilee, 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.Lunch will be at a Lebanese Restaurant on the Jordan River.Visit Banyas waterfall. Return south to Sea of Galilee.

We begin the day with an overview of the region—Golan/Bashan to Mount Hermon and Banyas, where Jesus takes his students [i.e., ‘disciples’ in the Greek form] to confront the dual powers of his day: the Roman political machine, and the religious shrine of the gods at ‘the gates of Hades’ in that cliff. This is a major teaching site for Jesus, and Peter experiences a bitter lesson.

Sea of Galilee

We will spend the evening by the seashore for debriefing and meditation time.Overnight Sea of Galilee (BLD)

day 14 Saturday, april 24th This morning we will depart from Kibbutz ein Gev dock for a 2-hour boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (meditations). We land at Kibbutz Ginnosar for exhibit of the ancient ‘Jesus’ boat, with video of its discovery, and then on to mount of Beatitudes (Matt. 5) for meditation moments overlooking the sea. Lunch today will be held in a convent before travelling on to Capernaum - site visit of Jesus’ synagogue and Peter’s house, tabgha/Seven Springs/Church of the multiplication, and the primacy of peter (St. John 21)—the site of Peter’s reconciliation with Jesus. We also visit the base of mount arbel for view of the zealot caves.

We now become more familiar with the Galilee locations where Jesus settled for his teaching ministry after being expelled from his home town of Nazareth. We hear the text in context!

This evening we will travel to St. Peter’s Church, Tiberias, for Catholic mass, in English followed by a Sunset dinner on the promenade by the Sea of Galilee. We recommend the famous and scrumptious St. Peter’s Fish plate with baked potatoes and array of Palestinian salads.Overnight Sea of Galilee (BLD)

day 15 Sunday, april 25th Free day for individual choices. (rest and relaxation, discussion opportunities, several sites open for individual or small-group activity if wanted by some of the group: hot springs in Tiberias, several archaeological sites, seashore options!)Final reflections on our Galilee experience …of the geography, and of the Spirit.Overnight Sea of Galilee (BLD)

day 16 monday, april 26th Departing the Sea of Galilee we travel to nazareth and the rC Basilica of the annunciation where we visit the cave ruins of Mary’s village underneath.Continuing on to first-century nazareth Village – a reconstructed village and synagogue of Jesus’ time, with working farm and animals, villagers in first-century dress. Special presentation on typical foods, costumes, and life in a Jewish village of the time of Jesus. Lunch at Nazareth Village is a first-century-style meal of foods typical of what Jesus would have had.

Understanding the Jewishness of Jesus, his upbringing in an orthodox Jewish family, his being raised in a Hasmonean Jewish ‘settlement,’ and being immersed as a youth in the history and stories of the Israelite people through the ages—all helps us understand both the contextual settings of

his teaching and the way those around him heard him teach—and the present-day significance of Jewish spirituality and worship for Christians.

We will walk to mary’s Well at the Greek orthodox Church of the annunciation followed by free time around the old town of Nazareth for sightseeing and shopping.Overnight Nazareth (BLD)

day 17 tueSday, april 27th After breakfast this morning we journey up to nazareth mount of the precipice where we can view over the Jezreel valley toward megiddo (Rev.16:16), nain (Luke 7:11-17), and mount tabor (Transfiguration, Matt. 17:1-13). We cross the Jezreel Valley to the Muk’raqa on Mount Carmel – place of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Ba’al (I Kings 18:16-46) After lunch we continue our journey down to the Mediterranean coast to the seashore setting of Herod’s roman aqueduct—time for a dip in the sea or a stroll in the sand.We visit the archeological site of Caesarea maritima and Herod’s famous seaport. “See Paul off to Rome”—Acts 27:1-2., before heading to tel aviv and Jaffa [ancient Joppa]—stories of Peter (Acts 9:36 ff.), Philip (Acts 8:40), and others who were there – for our farewell meal by the sea, in the Old City of Jaffa/Joppa. We then travel on to the Airport for our flight home.

day 18 WedneSday, april 28th In transitday 19 thurSday, april 29th

Arrive in Sydney

Based on an itinerary prepared by Glenn Edward Witmer, MennoJerusalem guide & story-teller.

departure dates Costs (pp) tour Code

Sun 11th Apr 2010 $6090INCL. TAxES

0PV18

Single Room Supplement TBA• Costs have been based on prices as at 30 October

2009 and must remain subject to possible change in the unlikely event of significant exchange rate variations, airfare increases and minimum group size contingencies.

all Bookings toHARVEST PILGRIMAGESPolding Centre, 11th Floor, 133, Liverpool St., Sydney NSW 2000, AustraliaTel: (02) 9390 5460 • Free Call: 1800 819 156 Email: harvest@pilgrimage.net.auw w w . h a r v e s t p i l g r i m s . c o m_________________________________© Copyright 2009-2010 harvest australia pty ltd.All rights reserved. Reproduction of these tours/itineraries in whole or in part without permissionis prohibited.ACN 056849426 / TRAVEL AGENT LIC 2TA003632 / HARVEST AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

S i m p l e B o o K i n G p r o C e d u r e S• Contact Harvest to place your booking and to advise any other extension plans.

• Send a $600 deposit per person (plus our optional insurance payment) 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 Cabin bag and pilgrims journal and ticket wallet approximately two weeks prior to departure date.

i n C l u S i o n S airfares: Economy class airfare flying El Al & Cathay Pacific (Includes fuel levies and taxes of approximately $670 per person on standard itinerary and subject to fluctuations).

accommodation & meals: Based on religious house and 3 star hotels throughout with breakfast, most lunches and dinner daily.

miscellaneous inclusions: • Deluxe Air-Conditioned Motor coach with driver • Local tour escort • Sightseeing and entrance fees throughout itinerary • Porterage of 1 piece of luggage per person at hotels • Pilgrim’s Cabin bag, journal and ticket wallet

not included:• 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).

Mount of Beatitudes