Israel 2019

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Day 1

Monday, November 11th

Depart New York City NY from JFK, Continue to Tel Aviv, Israel.

Day 2

Tuesday, November 12th

Tel Aviv

Independence Hall is the site of Israel’s Declaration of Independence. It is located on the historic Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. It is currently a museum dedicated to the signing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. We will visit Joppa and Simon the Tanner’s house.

“Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!'”

Isaiah 40:9

Day 3

Wednesday, November 13th

Jerusalem

Mount of Olives; Palm Sunday path; Garden of Gethsemane; Kidron Valley; Bethlehem; Shepherds’ Fields

Drive to the Mount of Olives for a wonderful view of Jerusalem and walk the Palm Sunday road. See the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the hill, with its ancient olive trees and the Church of All Nations. Walk down through the Kidron Valley and see the tomb of Absalom – the wicked son of David, the tomb of Zachariah the prophet, the tomb of Jehoshaphat. Head to Bethléhem and have lunch, visit the Shepherds’ Fields.

Mount of Olives

Drive to the Mount of Olives for a wonderful view of Jerusalem and walk the Palm Sunday road.

Gethsemane means olive press and mirrors Jesus’ pressing in the garden before his crucifixion.

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. and when he came to the place, the garden of Gethsemane, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation. And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.'”

Luke 22:39-46

Kidron Valley

Walk down through the Kidron Valley and see the tomb of Absalom – the wicked son of David, the tomb of Zachariah the prophet, and the tomb of Jehoshaphat.

Shepherds’ Fields

Head to Bethléhem and have lunch, visit the Shepherds’ Fields.

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

Micah 5:2

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw the star when it rose and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he inquired of the chief priests and scribes where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”

Matthew 2:5

Overlook view of Shepherds' Fields in Jerusalem

Garden of Gethsemane

See the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the hill with its ancient olive trees and the Church of All Nations.

Day 4

Thursday, November 14th

Visit the Temple Mount, St. Anne’s Church/Pool of Bethesda, Western Wall, Rabbinical Tunnel, Davidson Center, Southern Steps, Etzion Sound and Light Show.

Experience the Temple Mount -the place where God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac on an altar, where the Dome of the Rock now stands. We will venture into the Rabbinical Tunnel where we view Jerusalem as it was 2,000 years ago. There are huge stones placed here by Herod the Great prior to the time of Jesus. Visit the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount and the Davidson Center to learn the history of the nation of Israel. Then we will travel to Gush Etzion in the West Bank area to see the sound and light show.

Temple Mount

Experience the Temple Mount -the place where God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac on an altar, where the Dome of the Rock now stands.

Lion’s Gate

Garden by St. Anne’s Church

Western Wall

Have time for prayer at the Western Wall — the only remnant of the Temple left after its destruction in 70 A.D.

Southern Steps

Jerusalem during Second Temple Period

Irvin Baxter’s Office Jerusalem

Day 5

Friday, November 15th

Visit the Garden Tomb where many believe Jesus was buried. See Golgotha, or Place of the Skull, near where Jesus was crucified.

Jewish Agency Absorption Center, Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum)

Visit the Jewish Agency Absorption Center that is partnering with the Israeli Government to help Jews navigate into the culture once they make Aliyah. Head to Yad Vashem we’ll learn about the worst tragedy that has ever happened in history to the Jewish people.

Garden Tomb

Golgotha

Walk down through the Kidron Valley and see the tomb of Absalom – the wicked son of David, the tomb of Zachariah the prophet, the tomb of Jehoshaphat.

Jewish Absorption Agency

Visit the Jewish Agency Absorption Center that is partnering with the Israeli government to help Jews navigate into the culture once they make Aliyah.

“Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”

Isaiah 66:8

Garden in memory of children who perished in the Holocaust

Day 6

Saturday, November 16th

Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea

Travel to Masada and ascend the ancient fortress by cable car to explore the ruins where, from 70-73 AD Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean revolt against Rome. View Ein Gedi where King David hid from King Saul. Visit Qumran, have lunch and then continue south to the lowest point on earth to experience the Dead Sea.

Day 7

Sunday, November 17th

TempIe Institute Upper Room Tomb of David, Jewish Quarter, Cardo Broadwall, Old City of David, Garden Tomb

Tour the Temple Institute and view first-hand the preparations made by the Jewish people in anticipation of their third temple. Go to the Jewish Quarter including the Cardo and Broadwall. Experience the Upper Room where God’s Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. See the tomb of David. Visit the City of David including a 3D movie.

Old city square in Jerusalem

Cardo

City of David

Shuk Market

Day 8

Monday, November 18th

Caesarea

Joppa, Caesarea By The Sea, Carmel, Haifa

Our group will depart from Jerusalem and travel to visit Joppa and Simon the Tanner’s house. Stop at Caesarea by the Sea that consumed the water and the sacrifice. Travel to Haifa and experience the beauty of the Bahai Gardens.

City of Jaffa

Simon the Tanner’s house/place of Simon Peter’s rooftop vision

Cornelius’ Vision

¹At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,

²a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

³About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”

⁴And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

⁵And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.

⁶He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

⁷When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,

⁸and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.

¹⁰And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

¹¹and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

¹²In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

¹³And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

¹⁵And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

¹⁶This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

¹⁷Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate

¹⁸and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

¹⁹And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

²⁰Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

²¹And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”

²²And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

²³So he invited them in to be his guests.

Acts 10: 1-23

Theater Herod built

Caesarea by the Mediterranean Sea

Mt. Carmel/Elijah and the Baal prophets – the showdown

¹⁷ And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

¹⁸ And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

¹⁹ Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.

²⁰ So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

²¹ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

²² Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

²³Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

²⁴ And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

²⁵ And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

²⁶ And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

²⁷And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

²⁸ And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

²⁹ And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

1 Kings 18:17-29

³⁰And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

³¹And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

³²And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

³³And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

³⁴And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

³⁵And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

³⁶And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

³⁷Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

³⁸Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

³⁹And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

⁴⁰And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

1 Kings 18:30-40

Valley of Megiddo

Jesus Boat

Day 9

Tuesday, November 19th

Sea of Galilee

Capernaum

Ancient synagogue

St. Peter’s mother-in-law’s house underneath modern synagogue

Sea of Galilee

St. Peter

Yardenit

The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River

Day 10

Wednesday, November 20th

Upper Galilee

Upper Galilee, Tel Dan-Abraham’s Gate, Banias, Golan Heights, Mt. Bental, Syrian Overview, Farewell Dinner

Visit the area in Upper Galilee Tel Dan is one of the most important sites for archaeological and historical recovery of ancient Israel. The city of Dan represented the northern border of the Biblical Kingdom of Israel. It was here, 2,900 years ago, that King Hazel of Damascus punctuated his invasion of Israelite territory with the erection of the famous House of David inscription, the oldest document to mention the historical King David. Continue onto Banas, formerly Caesarea Philippi, where Peter said, “Thou art the Christ.” View the Golan Heights and see an overview of Syria. We will finally complete our trip by having dinner at The Decks (in Tiberias).

Tel Dan

Tel Dan is one of the most important sites for archaeological and historical recovery of ancient Israel. The city of Dan represented the northern border of the Biblical Kingdom of Israel. It was here, 2,900 years ago, that King Hazel of Damascus punctuated his invasion of Israelite territory with the erection of the famous House of David inscription, the oldest document to mention the historical King David.

stair steps up to wooded area at Tel Dan

Abraham’s Gate – Oldest gate

¹¹And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

¹²And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

¹³And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

¹⁴And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

¹⁵And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

¹⁶And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Genesis 14:11-16

Lebanese restaurant lunch stop

Olive Oil Factory

Farewell dinner at The Decks in Tiberias

We will finally complete our trip by having dinner at The Decks (in Tiberias).

Day 11

Thursday, November 21st

Bet She’an, Megiddo, Rest at Hotel, Transfer to airport in early evening

Stand in Bet She’an where Saul and Jonathan were nailed to a wall after they were killed in battle. Make our way to Megiddo to see the excavations of one of Solomon’s chariot cities and the Plain of Armageddon. Rest at hotel and transfer to the airport later in the evening.

Solomon’s amphitheater

“But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and of his sons from the wall…”

1 Samuel 31:11-13