Sailing Acts Study Voyage

Sailing Acts Study Voyage

Yella 2012: A Middle Eastern Learning Tour

May 6 – 29, 2012

THE GALILEE: JESUS' WORLD: HOPE AND FEAR

Accommodation: Fauzi Inn – Old City, Nazareth

Sunday May 6Depart from Toronto Pearson Airport

Mon. May 7Arrive Ben Gurion at 07:20 – transfer to Nazareth. Introduction to Nazareth – lunch – Nazareth Village tour and rest. Short orientation after dinner.

Tues. May 8Nazareth Village volunteering and teaching

Wed. May 9Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, swimming at GanHaShlosha (warm springs) or meet Fr. Chacour if possible.

Thurs. May 10 Galilee area – boat from EinGev to Ginosaur (Jesus Boat museum), Kursi, Tabga, Mount of Beatitudes, etc.

Fri. May 11Golan Heights, Dan, Caesarea Philippi, etc.

Sat. May 12Wrap up of first week, and afternoon free.

Sun. May 13Jesus Trail – Walk from Nazareth to Sephoris, the primary city of the Galilee, lunch, then on to Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle. Evening reflections.

Mon. May 14Jesus Trail – Cana to Yarok Az.Overnight on goat farm. Evening

reflections.

Tues. May 15Jesus Trail – YarokAz to Arbel. Catch view of the Sea of Galilee.

Overnight Arbel guest house. Evening reflections.

Wed. May 16Jesus Trail – Arbel to Capernaum. Visit Tabgah, traditional site of feeding of the

5,000, Mt. of Beatitudes, Capernaum. Transfer back to Nazareth. Overnight in Fauzi Azar.

ANCIENT AND MODERN ISRAEL

Accommodation: Kibbutz near Oranim

Thurs/Fri

May 17-18Shdemot program. Israeli society and religion

Possibilities include mifgashim(encounters) with students, soldiers, Shahaks and other Israelis. Visit Oranim College, have couple of lectures, Ghetto fighters museum.

Possibility of Synagogue service and/or Shabbat dinner in families.

BETHLEHEM: THE HOPE AND FEAR OF OUR WORLD

Accommodation: home stays in Bethlehem area

Program organized by MCC

Saturday, May 19

Morning:Tour of Canada Park – Eitan Bronstein, Zochrot

Zochrot, which means “remembering” in Hebrew, is an NGO working since 2002 to raise awareness in Israel of the Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe of 1948. We will tour Canada Park, which sits between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, built on top of three Palestinian villages that were destroyed in 1967.

Afternoon free

Sunday, May 20

Morning: Various Church Options

12:00 p.m. – Lajee Center, SalahAjarma

Lajee Center is a community center in Aida Refugee Camp. Aida Camp is one of three camps in Bethlehem. While at Lajee, we will hear about the life of Palestinian refugees and take a tour of the camp. Lunch will be served at the center.

3:00 p.m. – Coffee with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)

Mennonite Central Committee has been working in Palestine since 1949. They first came here to help with the refugee crisis after the War of 1948 and provided vocational training and aid to the refugees. Since then, MCC has developed and expanded its program. In partnership with local organizations, MCC works in the fields of humanitarian relief, sustainable development, and peacebuilding. We will discuss the history, philosophy, and programming of MCC.

Monday, May 21

9:00 a.m. – Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem (ARIJ), Dr. Jad Isaac

ARIJ represents 20 years of combined organizational experience in the occupied Palestinian territories in the fields of economic, social, management of natural resources, water management, sustainable agriculture and political dynamics of development in the area. We will see a presentation at ARIJ and then head out for a field visit to meet farmers and see some water projects.

11:00 a.m. – Wi’am Center,ZoughbiZougbhi

Wi’am is a Palestinian conflict resolution center that has programs that span Palestinian society. We will meet with ZoughbiZoughbi, the director of the organization, and hear about the various programs they provide. We will also learn how the occupation affects local society. Lunch will be served at Wi’am.

2:00 p.m. – Stop the Wall,Jamal Juma’

Stop the Wall is an umbrella organization for many of the activist communities in villages around Palestine. We will visit the communities of Al-Walajah and Al-Masara to see how the construction of the Separation Wall affects their daily life and to meet the nonviolent activists who are trying to stop the incursion of the wall.

Tuesday, May 22

8:30 a.m. – Ten Thousand Villages olive wood factory tour

We will see how olive wood products sold at Ten Thousand Villages are made and have the opportunity to purchase these traditional Palestinian crafts.

10:00 a.m. – Bethlehem Bible College,AlexAwad

Bethlehem Bible College (BBC) is an evangelical Christian college. We will tour the college, meet with Alex Awad, author of the book Palestinian Memories, and hear about Christian Zionism and alternative ways to interpret the Bible.

11:30 a.m. – YMCA Rehabilitation Program, Nader Abu-Amsha

The East Jerusalem YMCA Rehabilitation Program is a non-governmental organization that was launched in 1989. It renders comprehensive rehabilitative services to persons with disabilities, including those who have experienced trauma or torture. The program provides services all over the West Bank either in the beneficiary’s community or at the program’s referral center in BeitSahour. We will learn about the Rehabilitation Program from director Nader Abu-Amsha and visit a program participant in the Bethlehem area.

1:30 p.m. – Leave for Jerusalem

2:30 p.m. – Israeli Committee against House Demolitions(ICAHD)Tour

ICAHD is a non-violent, direct-action group originally established to oppose and resist Israeli demolition of Palestinian houses in the occupied territories. We will hear a short briefing from a staff member about house demolitions and then go on a driving tour around Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM: THE POWER OF HOPE IN THE FACE OF FEAR

Accommodation: Old City of Jerusalem

Wed. May 23 – Mon. May 28: Activities this week will likely include:

  • Jerusalem tour with Jared Goldfarb. Visit Wall excavations
  • Old City tour, and time to explore the markets
  • Mt. of Olives
  • Via Dolorosa
  • Garden of Gethsemane, Garden Tomb
  • Dome of the Rock
  • Western Wall
  • Stations of the Cross with Sabeel
  • Holocost Museum
  • Hike WadiQilt (hike) Jericho (Old and New Testament sites)
  • Masada, Dead Sea (swim), Qumran
  • Free day in Jerusalem – celebration dinner in evening

Depart for Tel Aviv 8:30 PM – Flight departs Tel Aviv after 12:00 AM May 29

Arrive Toronto 6:20 AM

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