Places, People & Prayers A cross-cultural encounter with the Holy Land April 30-May 23, 2015 Hosted by Dr. Dorothy Jean Weaver Professor of (EMS) and Rev. Kevin A. Clark Campus Pastor (EMS)

JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS Photo by Dorothy Jean Weaver

••Tour Bethlehem, , Hebron, Masada, Nazareth, Capernaum and more

••Converse with Christians, Jews, and Muslims of the Holy Land

••Participate daily in Evening Prayers

••Walk the Via Dolorosa

••Worship with Palestinian Christians

••Visit Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust Museum

••Trek down the Wadi Qilt

••Visit a Palestinian refugee camp

••Attend a synagogue service and eat a Shabbat meal

••Eat lunch in a Bedouin tent

••Float in the

••Do a work project in the

••Sail the Sea of Galilee Group Travel Directors ••View the Mediterranean from Caesarea Maritima Enriching Lives Through Travel Since 1982 SUN 10 MAY Bethlehem Greetings! PRAYERS Through Begin the day with worship at Evangelical Lu- it all we will join our theran Christmas Church and People to People nd a warm welcome to you to join us on voices in prayer. Conversations with members of the congrega- Athis cross-cultural encounter with the Holy Regular times of tion. The afternoon is free for individual pursuits. Land! Our study tour, “Places, People, and reflection, a daily A walking tour to Majdi Ata Amro’s shop will be Prayers,” offers you a rich and multi-faceted in- service of Evening available for those interested. Prayers followed by troduction to the land, which has been home-- Prayers, a Shabbat dinner and a free evening. (B, D) and holy--to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike service in a syna- for thousands of years. gogue, and Sunday MON 11 MAY Bethlehem worship with Meet Zoughbi Zoughbi, Director of the Wi’am PLACES Day by day we will visit important Palestinian Christians will nourish our spirits Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center. Then hear biblical sites: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Hebron, along the way. Our tour will end with a retreat about Christian Zionism at Bethlehem Col- Beersheba, Masada, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, in Tiberias, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. lege and eat lunch on campus. Meet with local Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, and more. And representatives of the Mennonite Central Com- we will relive the story of as we walk “Places, People, and Prayers” offers you a wide- mittee to discuss their work in Israel/Palestine and the land that Jesus walked. But there is much angle lens through which to view the Holy learn about the impact of the Separation Wall. more to the Holy Land than ancient stones. Land, sense the heartbeat of its peoples, and Return to the guesthouse for dinner and a free “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Do consider evening. (B, D) PEOPLE We will engage in regular People to joining us! People Conversations, putting us in touch with TUE 12 MAY Hebron/Bethlehem the many and varied voices of the Holy Land: Begin the day with a tour of the Efrat Settlement and a conversation with residents for their per- Christians, Jews, and Muslims; Israelis and —Dorothy Jean Weaver Palestinians. spective on Israeli settlements. Visit the Palestin- and Kevin A. Clark ian village of At Tuwani and enjoy a lunch pre- pared by the women of the community. Travel to Hebron and visit Il Ibrahimi Mosque. Then DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY in for a People to People Conversation meet with members of the Christian Peacemak- with its principal and lunch at the school. Back ing Team for a walking tour of Hebron. Return to THU 30 APR Departure at Manger Square, visit the Mosque of Omar for Bethlehem for prayers and dinner. (B, L, D) Meet at Washington Dulles Airport for departure People to People Conversation with the Mufti on on your overnight flight to Istanbul via Turkish Air- Muslim spirituality and prayer. (B, L, D) WED 13 MAY Masada, Beersheba/Bethlehem lines. (Meals in-flight) Travel to Masada and tour the mountaintop site WED 06 MAY Jerusalem/Bethlehem where the Zealots made their last stand against FRI 01 MAY Arrive Jerusalem Walking tour explorations of Jerusalem’s the Romans. Continue into the Negev desert for Connect in Istanbul this afternoon with the con- continue today: the Haram al Sharif with Dome a camel ride and a noon meal in a Bedouin tent. tinuing flight to Tel Aviv. Upon late evening arrival of the Rock, and Al Aqsa Mosque (no inside vis- Visit Tel Beersheba and stop for reflection at Abra- meet your guide and coach for the transfer to Je- its allowed), Western Wall, Southern Steps and ham’s Well. Tonight after prayers and dinner, have rusalem for hotel check-in. (Meals in-flight) Herodian excavations. Enjoy lunch on own: Mid- a People to People Conversation with Salim Mu- dle Eastern fast food at the Jaffa Gate. At the Israel nayer on Musalaha (Reconciliation) and Camel SAT 02 MAY Jerusalem Museum see the scale model of Jerusalem from Treks. (B, L, D) Embark on a walking tour of the Christian Quarter, the and the original Dead Sea the Armenian Quarter and Mt. Zion in the Old City Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book. Return to Mt. THU 14 MAY Bethlehem/Beit Sahour/Beit Jala including a conversation with the Archimandrite Zion to visit St. Peter in Gallicantu with time for The morning is devoted to a work project at the of the Melchite Church. See the Church of the reflection. (B, D) Nassar family farm in the West Bank. Meet with Holy Sepulchre and the Coptic Monastery on the Daher, the farmer of the farm, who will address roof. Visit the Dormitian Church and the Cenacle THU 07 MAY Jaffa, Jerusalem/Bethlehem issues of Palestinian landowners. After lunch at (Upper Room) before visiting a 1st-century tomb. This morning begin outside of the Old City walls the farm return to Bethlehem for a free afternoon Continue to Tantur Ecumenical Institute for time at the : Church of the Ascension, to pack for departure. In the late afternoon meet to stroll in the gardens before prayers in the cha- Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, Jewish Cemetery, your homestay hosts for dinner and overnight in pel and dinner in the Tantur dining room. Hear Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethse- the communities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and/or from Tantur’s Rector, Fr. Russ McDougall, regard- mane. Continue across the Kidron Valley past the Beit Sahour. Homestays (B, L, D) ing Middle East Churches. (B,D) Muslim Cemetery and through the Lion’s Gate for a picnic lunch at St. Anne’s and . FRI 15 MAY Beit Sahour/Jerusalem SUN 03 MAY Jerusalem/Bethlehem From here begin a walk along the Via Dolorosa. Reconvene and drive to Yad Vashem Holocaust This morning worship at the Melchite (Greek End the afternoon with reflection and commu- Museum, then eat a picnic lunch at Ein Kerem. Catholic) Church in Jerusalem and join in People nion in the peaceful surroundings of the Garden Meet with Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann from Rabbis to People conversation with members of the con- Tomb. Return to Bethlehem for evening prayers, for Human Rights to learn about Jewish spiritu- gregation. After lunch on own in the Old City, en- dinner and an open evening. (B, L, D) ality. Later this afternoon gather for a People to joy a free afternoon in the Old City before depart- People Conversation with Jared Goldfarb to pre- ing for Bethlehem. En route, drive around the city FRI 08 MAY Jerusalem/Bethlehem pare for Shabbat and Jewish worship. The group walls then stop for a panoramic view of the Old This morning visit Immanuel House in Jaffa for will attend Kol HaNeshama Synagogue for a Shab- City from Mt. Scopus. Check in at the guesthouse a People to People exchange with Pastor bat service followed by a Shabbat meal. (B, L, D) followed by evening prayers, dinner and a free Lazarus about Messianic Jewish believers. Tour evening. (B, D) some of the historic sites of Jaffa. Continue to SAT 16 MAY Jerusalem/Nazareth Jerusalem and Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation The- Journey to Ramallah for a People to People Con- MON 04 MAY Bethlehem ology Center for People to People Conversation versation at the Friends International Center. This morning meet at the International Center of with The Rev. Naim Ateek regarding Palestinian Drive to Taybeh to visit the Parable House at the Bethlehem (ICB) for a welcome, introduction and Liberation Theology. This evening The Rev. Dr. Latin Catholic Church and visit with Abuna Aziz, tour of ICB. This afternoon tour Bethlehem: Man- Mitri Raheb will discuss Contextual Theology with the parish priest. Tour the “peace lamp” factory ger Square, Church of the Nativity, St. Catherine’s, the group. (B, L, D) and see ruins of an ancient church. In Nablus visit Herodion, Solomon’s Pools and Shepherds’ Fields Jacob’s Well before continuing to Nazareth for (time for reflection). This evening is free after SAT 09 MAY Wadi Qilt, Dead Sea/Bethlehem check-in, prayers, dinner and a free evening. (B, prayers and dinner. (B, L, D) Today join a memorable trek down the Wadi Qilt L, D) to St. George’s Monastery. After completing the TUE 05 MAY Bethlehem trek, visit the “Zacchaeus” sycamore tree in Jericho SUN 17 MAY Nazareth This morning visit Dheisheh Refugee Camp where and Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were This morning gather for worship at Christ Church Palestinians have been living since 1948. People to found. At Ein Bokek float in the briny waters of the Episcopal followed by a People to People Conver- People Conversations with residents. Visit Dar Al Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth, before head- sation with members of the congregation. After Kalima College for People to People Conversation ing home. (B, D) lunch on own in downtown Nazareth, coach to with university students. Then visit Hope School Mt. Tabor, the Mt. of Transfiguration, for reflection and a magnificent panoramic view. This evening COST SUMMARY meet with Fr. Nael Abu Rahmoun, who ministers WHAT’S INCLUDED? to Arab Christians at the church we attended this morning. (B, D) 55AIRFARE: Round-trip economy class airfare $ from Washington Dulles via an ARC/IATA 5375 approved scheduled carrier. Group Flights From Washington/Dulles MON 18 MAY Nazareth Tour Gratuities ($264)...... Included 5 Start with a walking tour of Nazareth: Mary’s Well, 5ACCOMMODATION: Twenty-one nights Airport Taxes ($627)...... Included the Greek Catholic Synagogue Church (with time accommodation in Christian guesthouses, *Costs per person based on double occupancy in USD for reflection), Church of the Annunciation, and St. double occupancy, with private facilities, Joseph’s Church. Middle Eastern lunch on own in and one night homestay. Optional Individual Supplement downtown Nazareth before setting out for Naza- 55MEALS: Breakfast and dinner daily plus thir- Single Room*...... $699 reth Village which is an authentic 1st-century vil- teen lunches as outlined in the itinerary. *In addition to base tour cost. Limited availability on request lage and farm. Enjoy time for exploring before an 55GROUND TRANSPORT: Transfers and trans- basis. GTD can assist in finding roommates; early dinner of first century foods followed by eve- portation by deluxe motorcoach. however, this cannot be guaranteed ning prayers at the village synagogue. (B, D) 55SIGHTSEEING & PROGRAMMING: Exten- Costs: The tour cost is per person based on current airfare TUE 19 MAY Nazareth/Tiberias sive sightseeing and programming through- from Washington Dulles (other cities available), double occu- Begin the day with a visit to ancient Sepphoris out; entrance fees and speakers’ honoraria pancy, tariffs and currency valuations as of April 2014, a mini- included. mum of 26 travelers, and subject to confirmation. While we then drive to Kibbutz Lavi for a People to People will do everything possible to maintain the listed price and/or Conversation with Mordechai about Jewish Faith 55PORTERAGE: Luggage handling of one itinerary, they are subject to change due to circumstances be- in 21st Century Israel. After lunch at the kibbutz, piece per person (except Lutheran Guest- yond our control. Single room supplements may have limited travel to the Cliffs of Arbel for a breathtaking first house JRL). availability and are on a request basis only. glimpse of the Sea of Galilee. End the day with 55EXPERT GUIDES: An experienced English- Items Not Included a peaceful sail upon the waters of the Galilee. speaking tour guide from arrival in Tel Aviv Proceed to your lodging for check-in followed by •• EMS recording fee of $270. through departure from Tel Aviv. •• Cost of roundtrip transfers between Harrisonburg and prayers, then dinner and a free evening. (B, L, D) 55GRATUITIES: Gratuities to drivers, guides Washington Dulles. and hotel staff (for your convenience, $264 •• Fuel surcharges and/or tax increases levied since the WED 20 MAY Western Galilee per person has been included). pricing of this tour. Tour the environs of the Sea of Galilee: explore Mt. 55TAXES: Airport/foreign departure taxes/fuel •• Beverages other than coffee/tea at breakfast. of Beatitudes, the Primacy of Peter, Tabgha/Hep- •• Any meal or sightseeing item not listed in the itinerary. tapegon (Church of the Multiplication), Chorazin, surcharges (currently $627 per person). •• Items of a personal nature. and Capernaum with time for reflection through- 55ALL THE INFO YOU NEED: Comprehensive •• Optional insurance for health, baggage, and trip cancel- out. Meet for evening prayers before dinner and a documentation including travel accessory, lation/interruption is not included and highly recom- free evening. (B, L, D) bag tags, name tags, mended. Please refer to the Travel Insurance section. flight and land itin- •• Passport fees. A passport valid six months beyond date PRE-EXISTING of reentry to the U.S. is required. Itinerary continued on back page... eraries, destina- •• No entry visa is required for U.S. citizens; non-U.S. citizens tion literature, medical conditions and other may require an entry visa. customs circumstances are covered information, when insurance is purchased at the Following completion of the trip, travel tips time of reservation / deposit. students may request 3 SH of academic Contact Travel Insured for more and more. info. 800-243-3174 credit with Eastern Mennonite Seminary for a recording fee of $270.

RESERVATION APPLICATION • CLIP AND MAIL Places, People and Prayers • Holy Land • April 30-May 23, 2015 • (G#150401) (Name as it appears on passport)

1. ______Male Female Date of Birth ______First Name MIddle Name Last Name Month/Day/Year

2. ______Male Female Date of Birth______First Name MIddle Name Last Name Month/Day/Year

Address (no P.O. boxes) ______Tel. (Day) ______(Eve.)______City______State______Zip Code______Email______Roommate______I will pay the supplement for a single room. Advise if we can assign you a roommate or single supplement. We will assist wherever possible in finding roommates; however, this cannot be guaranteed and the supplement may apply.

FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS (please check one) DEPOSIT/TRAVEL INSURANCE (please choose one) Please reserve______space(s) for me/us; we choose the I/We will take the group flights from Washington/Dulles. following deposit option: I/We will need assistance with flight arrangements from______airport to join the group. $______$715 per person inclusive of travel insurance.

I/We will make all of my own flight arrangements. $______$395 per person without travel insurance. I/We decline now, but Please contact GTD for land- only rates. understand it can be purchased later without the pre- existing waiver.

Enclosed is my deposit check of $395 ($715 with insurance) per person. I/We have read and understand the conditions of this brochure. (Please make checks payable to GTD G#150401 and send to Dorothy Jean Weaver, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, VA 22802-2462) Parent or guardian signature is required for travelers under age 18. 150401/300 CJ/CJ Signature______Date______

Signature______Date______THU 21 MAY Northern Galilee GTD. In offering these travel arrangements, Group GTD TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel Directors, Inc. (GTD) acts solely as an agent for Explore the northern Galilee today: Caesarea the sale of air transportation and other travel related Philippi (Banyas), and Tell Dan. Take time for re- Travel insurance is included as an option with the services. GTD maintains no control over the personnel, flection and a picnic lunch at Caesarea Philippi. initial tour deposit and is highly recommended. equipment or operations of any entity furnishing ser- Travel to the Golan Heights, then along the east GTD offers a competitive policy from an inde- vices, products or accommodations. GTD assumes no side of the Sea of Galilee to the baptismal site pendent company. By purchasing insurance at responsibility or liability for, and shall not be expected, where the Jordan River flows from the sea. Return the time the tour deposit is made, you can be asked or required to pay for any injury, damage, to Tiberias; after prayers and dinner, enjoy an eve- expense, personal injury, property damage, inconve- covered for events that may cause you to cancel nience or any other loss experienced by reason of: (1) ning at leisure. (B, L, D) or interrupt your trip, i.e., pre-existing medical any intentional, wrongful, negligent or unauthorized conditions (certain restrictions apply). If you de- act or omission on the part of any supplier, its agents FRI 22 MAY Tiberias/Abu Gosh cline travel insurance at the time of reservation, or employees; (2) any defect, breakdown or other Our last day! Gather for the Closing Retreat and you may purchase it within 14 days with the pre- failure of any vehicle, equipment, service, product or Communion Service this morning, then a St. Pe- existing conditions waiver or you may purchase it other instrumentality which is owned, operated or oth- ter’s Fish Lunch. Depart for the Mediterranean erwise used by a supplier; (3) any intentional, wrongful, later without the pre-existing conditions waiver. negligent, or unauthorized act or omission on the part coast and the site of Caesarea Maritima, once the You may contact Travel Insured International for of any other party not under the direct control of GTD; Roman capital of Palestine. See the Roman aque- further information before making your decision: (4) financial problems causing nonperformance by duct and walk along the beach. Continue to Abu 800-243-3174. any supplier; or (5) any other cause, condition or event Gosh for hotel check-in and a final dinner. (B, L, whatsoever beyond the direct control of GTD. GTD D) ____GTD TRAVEL INSURANCE INCLUSIONS cannot guarantee any rates, bookings or reservations of any supplier. Your retention of tickets, reservations or bookings after issuance shall constitute a consent to SAT 23 MAY Return to U.S.A. Trip Cancellation...... up to Tour Cost* the foregoing provisions. All prices quoted are subject Transfer early this morning to Ben Gurion Airport Trip Interruption...... up to 150% of Tour Cost** to change if airlines or ground operators increase their for flight check-in and departure. Arrive home Travel Delay...... $750 prices, the U.S. dollar is devalued significantly against this same day enriched with your many discover- foreign currencies, the group falls below minimum ies of Places, People and Prayers in the Holy Land. Missed Connection...... $300 numbers, or a fuel surcharge, government tax or user’s (B, meals in-flight) Baggage...... $1,000 fee is imposed. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. GTD Baggage Delay...... $200 reserves the right to withdraw from any tour any tour Code: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Medical Expense...... $50,000 member whose conduct is incompatible with the in- Itinerary subject to change. Evacuation/Repatriation...... $500,000 terests of the group as a whole. The above Conditions Speakers subject to availability. Accidental Death...... $10,000 and Responsibility also covers the group leader(s) and their respective organizations. NOTE TO OUR TRAVELERS: Political Emergency Evacuation...... $100,000 ID Theft Resolution Services...... included Please be assured that GTD continually monitors Assistance Service...... included FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: industry events, such as airline strikes and bankrupt- * a maximum of $6000 per person cies, etc. If any such events affect your tour, you will be ** a maximum of $9000 per person notified. At the time this tour was developed there was Dorothy Jean Weaver a U.S. State Department Travel Warning in effect for Cost of this optional GTD Travel Insurance is tel: 540-432-4276 this destination; please refer to the following website $320 per person. Additional coverage provided [email protected] for current information or call Group Travel Directors. as needed; the full cost of your tour must be http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764. covered. Once purchased, travel insurance is or html non-refundable. NOTE: Residents of Georgia, Kan- sas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, Kevin A. Clark TOUR CONDITIONS Texas, Utah and Washington will receive a state- tel: 540-432-4217 specific Description of Coverage, which can also be [email protected] PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Your reservation and de- requested by calling 866-684-0218. posit of $395 per person are requested immedi- at ately to fulfill the group deadline requirements. Conditions and Responsibility Note that space is limited and reservations are Eastern Mennonite Seminary taken on a first come, first served basis. A second Group Travel Directors (GTD) provides customized trav- el planning throughout the world for group travelers Harrisonburg, VA 22802-2462 payment of $1000 is due December 26, 2014. Fi- who have a variety of reasons and goals for travel. The fax: 540-432-4598 nal payment is due February 24, 2015. The tour goals and/or opinions of these groups do not reflect or price is based upon cash payment. imply the position of GTD in any matter. Brochure con- tents may not be duplicated without permission from or REFUND POLICY: All cancellations must be in writing. There is no refund for partial or unused Tower of David land arrangements. Note: Airline tickets will be Photo by Dorothy Jean Weaver Group Travel Directors issued well in advance of departure and may be 2000 West 98th Street nonrefundable. The following penalties will ap- Minneapolis, MN 55431-2593 ply: Up to December 25, 2014 - $100 per person tel: 952-881-7811 or 800-747-2255 administrative fee plus any unrecoverable depos- fax: 952-881-6276 its; December 26, 2014 – April 15, 2015 – Deposit email: [email protected] plus any unrecoverable payments to hotels, tour www.gtd.org operators or airlines; April 16, 2015 or after – No refund.

CHANGES TO GROUP FLIGHTS: The group air- fare contract for this tour may not allow travelers to make any date or itinerary changes. If you are considering other dates or cities, please submit your request in writing well in advance to secure the best rates and schedule, but no later than December 26, 2014. A minimum fee of $175 per person will apply for changes to group flights in addition to a possible airfare increase.

LATE BOOKINGS: Passengers registering within thirty days of tour departure will be charged a $50 per person fee. Tour payment in full is required before we can request and confirm space. This fee does not cover any additional airline or ground service charges.