STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY PATRICIA LEICHER, ’70, ISRAEL: PAST AND PRESENT, 2018 PAST AND PRESENT March 29 to April 12, 2019 a program of the stanford alumni association In 2013 I visited Israel for the first time. Although I knew this tiny country boasted an extraordinary number of historic sites, holy places, archaeological excavations and diverse landscapes given its diminutive size, and although I knew that the nature of its existence elicits passionate and varied opinions, I was unprepared for the wealth of opportunities we were able to summon in order to gain insight into this complex land—our Israel programs are a true Travel/Study experience. On this trip, we’ll explore modern and ancient Israel as we visit historical and contemporary cities, both Israeli and Palestinian; experience the most sacred sites of the world’s three great monotheistic faiths; and meet with a vastly diverse array of people that comprises this multifaceted and ever-evolving society. Join us and former U.S. Department of Defense and National Security senior official Dr. Matthew Spence, a veteran of more than 40 trips to Israel, on the latest iteration of this popular Travel/Study program. BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights EXPLORE Jerusalem’s MEET with local scholars, VISIT the West Bank Old City, home to the settlers, soldiers and city of Ramallah and the Western Wall, Church of journalists to gain insight Palestinian town of Rawabi, the Holy Sepulchre and into the region’s geopolitics a facts-on-the-ground Dome of the Rock—three and to better understand example of positive self- of the holiest sites in Juda- and appreciate Israel’s determination seldom ism, Christianity and Islam. complex society. visited by tourists. COVER: JERUSALEM MASADA AND THE DEAD SEA Faculty Leader MATTHEW SPENCE, BA AND MA, ’00, a William J. Perry Fellow at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation, teaches graduate courses on national security and the Center’s fellows policy seminar. He reflects, “Stanford funded my first trip to the Middle East when I competed in the World Debate Championships with the Stanford debate team. Following that trip I changed my major to international relations—I was hooked.” Since then Matthew has made scores of trips to Israel, most while serving in the Department of Defense and with the National Security Council. “What began as a side trip in my sophomore year at Stanford has become a decades-long professional love affair,” he says. “The Middle East, and Israel in particular, lies at the intersection of history, religious significance, geopolitical intrigue, fascinating cultures and physical beauty. It’s frustrating and intriguing—both at the same time.” During our program, he’ll draw upon his firsthand experiences to shed light on such topics as contemporary Middle “One of the most East politics, security and the peace process. — William J. Perry Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, invigorating and Stanford University, 2016 — Deputy assistant secretary of defense and principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense, 2012–2015 eye-opening — Special assistant to President Obama and senior director for international economic affairs, 2011–2012; senior advisor to the national security advisor, 2009–2011—The White House, National Security Council educational — Member, National Security Council Team, Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, 2008 — Senior fellow, Jackson Institute for International Affairs, experiences Yale University, 2015–2016 — Managing director, Guggenheim Partners, 2015–2016 and since 2017 we’ve had.” — Contributor, the Yale Law Journal, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times — BA, political science, and MA, international policy studies, YOGEN DALAL, ’77, 2000, Stanford University ISRAEL: PAST AND — PhD, international relations, 2004, Oxford University PRESENT, 2018 — JD, 2006, Yale Law School STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY TEL AVIV SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?israel2019 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 GOLAN Akko Tzfat HEIGHTS Rosh Pinna Beit She’an Caesarea I SRAEL Tel Aviv WEST BANK Ramallah Jerusalem Bethlehem GAZA Masada TUESDAY, APRIL 2 estate in the world. Site of the JERUSALEM—THE OLD First and Second Temples, this Itinerary CITY / BETHLEHEM platform is home to Al-Aqsa FRIDAY & SATURDAY, After a guest lecture by a local Mosque and the Dome of the MARCH 29 & 30 political science professor, Rock, Islam’s third-holiest site. U.S. / TEL AVIV, return to the Old City to explore With Palestinian reporter Rami ISRAEL / JERUSALEM its Christian Quarter. Walk along Nazzal, drive to the West Bank Depart the U.S. on overnight the Via Dolorosa to the Church city of Ramallah to meet with flights, arriving in Israel on Satur- of the Holy Sepulchre—widely key Palestinian figures, then day and transferring to our hotel considered to be the place of continue to Rawabi, a new Pal- in Jerusalem. KING DAVID HOTEL Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and estinian town, to meet with the SUNDAY, MARCH 31 resurrection. Take an optional development’s chief architect. JERUSALEM excursion to the West Bank city KING DAVID HOTEL (B,L,D) of Bethlehem to visit the Church Gather for an orientation briefing FRIDAY, APRIL 5 and welcome lunch at our hotel. of the Nativity, the basilica JERUSALEM / Proceed to Mount Scopus for constructed around the cave GUSH ETZION an overlook of the city, followed venerated as the birthplace This morning meet with an by a welcome reception. of Jesus, or further explore Arab-Israeli journalist, then KING DAVID HOTEL (B,L) Jerusalem independently. visit the Hand in Hand Bilingual KING DAVID HOTEL (B,L,D) MONDAY, APRIL 1 School, dedicated to bring- JERUSALEM— WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 ing together Jewish and Arab THE OLD CITY JERUSALEM— children. Next, drive to Gush Explore the Jewish Quarter of THE NEW CITY Etzion, the block of West Bank the Old City, viewing some of Attend a guest lecture by a settlements originally estab- the sites excavated over the Holocaust scholar, then explore lished in the 1920s, and engage past 30 years, including the Yad Vashem, Israel’s national in a dialogue with a settler. Jerusalem Archaeological Park, memorial to the Jewish victims Gain insight into current devel- home to the Southern Wall of the Holocaust. After a visit opments around Jerusalem, steps where Jewish pilgrims to Machaneh Yehudah market, including the Security Barrier/ once entered the Temple Mount tour the Israel Museum, home Separation Fence. Participate and where Jesus is said to have to the Dead Sea Scrolls. KING in a traditional Shabbat dinner, overturned the tables of the DAVID HOTEL (B,L,D) pending availability with chaye- money-changers. Observe the THURSDAY, APRIL 4 lim bodedim, lone soldiers serv- faithful praying at the Western JERUSALEM / ing in the Israel Defense Forces Wall and wind through the RAMALLAH / RAWABI who have no immediate family Western Wall Tunnel, which runs Visit the Temple Mount or Noble in Israel. KING DAVID HOTEL (B,L,D) along the length of the Temple Sanctuary, arguably the most Mount. KING DAVID HOTEL (B,L) hotly contested piece of real BEIT SHE’AN GOLAN Akko Tzfat HEIGHTS Rosh Pinna Beit She’an Caesarea I SRAEL Tel Aviv WEST BANK Ramallah Jerusalem Bethlehem GAZA Masada SATURDAY, APRIL 6 MONDAY, APRIL 8 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 JERUSALEM / ROSH PINNA / GOLAN TEL AVIV MASADA / DEAD SEA HEIGHTS / TZFAT Meet with Brigadier General Drive through the Judean Travel into the Golan Heights Dov Sedaka, a member of the Desert past Qumran, where to visit former Israeli and Syrian Economic Cooperation Foun- the Dead Sea Scrolls were fortifications and to the top dation and the Israeli Palestinian discovered, to Masada, Herod’s of Mount Bental for a view of Trade Office, then explore the mountain palace and site of Quneitra, the largely destroyed Yitzhak Rabin Center for Israel the Jewish Zealots’ last stand and abandoned Syrian garrison Studies, which was established against the Roman legionnaires. town that now lies in the U.N. to promote tolerance across all Continue to the Dead Sea to demilitarized zone. In Tzfat, visit sectors of Israeli society. Visit float in its mineral-rich waters. the Ziv Medical Center and the newly renovated neighbor- KING DAVID HOTEL (B,L) meet with its director to learn hood of Sarona, now a trendy SUNDAY, APRIL 7 about Syrian patients—victims culinary market. This afternoon, JERUSALEM / BEIT of the ongoing civil war—who explore Tel Aviv independently SHE’AN / SEA OF receive medical care there. or choose to discover the urban GALILEE / ROSH Continue to Tzfat’s Old City, a culture of the city during an PINNA centuries-old center of Kabala, optional tour of Tel Aviv’s graffiti Drive along the Jordan Rift to explore its 16th-century and street art. DAVID INTERCONTI- Valley to Beit She’an, one of synagogues and contemporary NENTAL (B,D) Israel’s largest archaeological artists’ colony. MITZPE HAYAMIM THURSDAY, APRIL 11 sites. Continue to the Sea of (B,L,D) TEL AVIV / JAFFA Galilee and visit Tabgha, where TUESDAY, APRIL 9 Visit Jaffa port where, accord- Jesus is said to have performed ROSH PINNA / AKKO / ing to tradition, Jonah emerged his miracle of multiplying a CAESAREA / TEL AVIV from the whale and St. Peter few loaves and fishes. Explore After visiting the subterranean was born. Stroll through a Capernaum, which ostensibly Crusader Halls in the Old Tel Aviv neighborhood famous served as a base for Jesus City of Akko (or Acre), drive for its Bauhaus buildings and during his Galilean Ministry, along the coast to Caesarea visit Independence Hall, where and enjoy a spectacular view Maritima. Built by Herod the Israel’s independence was from the Mount of Beatitudes, Great, Caesarea was home declared in 1948.