April 9 - 22, 2007

Monday & Tuesday, April 9 & 10

Evening departure from Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Ontario, or from Newark, New Jersey, with arrival in Tel Aviv on Tuesday afternoon. We will transfer to Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem where we will stay for six nights.

Wednesday & Thursday, April 11 & 12

We begin today with panoramic views of Jerusalem from Abraham’s lookout, to the Wilderness overview atop Scopus ridge, Pater Noster and Jesus’ teachings, and then view the city from the Mount of Olives. Lunch and rest at Tantur, followed by bus tour to Hinnom Valley/Mount Zion, Herod’s Family Tomb; drive-by of Knesset, Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum. Evening conversation with MCC workers. On Thursday, we will follow the Passion Route from the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane. Visit Caiaphas’ house, the Upper Room, Herod’s Palace, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Resurrection, Holy Sepluchre. Meeting with Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman in preparation for Friday’s worship.

Friday & Saturday, April 13 & 14

In the morning we will visit the Garden Tomb, followed by some free time. In the afternoon, we will have preparation for Shabbat and synagogue worship at To Kol HaNeshama Synagogue. Saturday we will visit Hebron for talks and tour by Christian Peacemaker Team members. Visit Zleikha children’s project, Herod’s monument over the Tomb of the Patriarchs and ”Settlements” talk by CPT.

Sunday & Monday, April 15 & 16

Early departure for Ecce Homo Convent for worship and communion service and a tour of the Lithostratos. Visit St. Anne’s and Bethesda Pool. Afternoon visits to Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock, Davidson Center and Ophel’s Temple-area ruins and the Western/Wailing Wall. Monday morning we will visit Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial by Mount Herzl. Afternoon visit to the Palestinian Heritage Centre and Olivewood Cooperative. We will stay with Palestinian families in Beit Sahour for two nights.

Tuesday & Wednesday, April 17 & 18

Today we will visit Bethlehem including Shepherds Fields and the Church of the Nativity. Lunch at Lutheran Center, followed by a visit to the Mosque of Omar on Manger Square. Evening entertainment and conversation with hosts. We will leave our host families on Wednesday morning and depart for the Judean Desert, Wadi Qelt Monastery of St. George Khoziba, Wilderness Tabernacle and Qumran. After lunch, enjoy floating in the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi. We will stay at a kibbutz for five nights.

Thursday & Friday, April 19 & 20

Our bus will climb to the Golan Heights for a panoramic view of the Sea and areas of Galilee. Then we will visit the Bethsaida archaeological site of the home of Peter and several disciples and the cliffs of Caesarea Philippi at the Base of Mount Hermon. After lunch, visit a waterfall and return to the Tiberias area for a visit to Zealot caves. Friday we will enjoy a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, docking at Kibbutz Ginnosar to see an exhibit of an ancient boat from the first century. Then it’s on to the Mount of the Beatitudes, Capernaum and Tabgha to see Church of the Primacy of Peter and the Jordan River baptismal site.

Saturday & Sunday, April 21 & 22

This morning we will visit Ibillin, the Arab village of Father Elias Chacour. At Nazareth Village, we will enjoy a first-century lunch followed by a tour of this village depicting life at the time of Jesus. In Nazareth, we will see the Church of the Annuncation, Mary’s house caves and the Mt. of the Precipice. Evening conversation with Garry Denlinger and Farewell Dinner. We will need to depart early in the morning on Sunday for our flight back to North America. As pilgrims, we will have sung and prayed together and will have become friends as we traveled and experienced the Bible in Israel and Palestine.

Your Tour Leaders:

Glenn Edward Witmer, formerly of Ontario, lives and works in Jerusalem. He is the Israel liaison for North American Mennonite Churches; Editor of MennoLetter from Jerusalem; Producer of The Word on the Street, newsletter for Nazareth Village; Lecturer on Biblical Archaeology and the Geography of the Land, Bat Kol Institute, Jerusalem; and Tour Leader in Israel and Palestine. You will enjoy his insights into the Bible and the lands of Israel and Palestine.

Wilmer Martin of Waterloo, Ontario, is president and managing partner of TourMagination and has led many tours around the world including to Israel and Palestine He will make sure your needs are looked after on this tour.

For further information regarding the complete tour fare, please This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . We would be happy to be of assistance.