Detailed Trip Itinerary
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| This eight-day trip will consist of six nights in Jerusalem and two nights in Peniel-by-Galilee. In addition to tours of landmarks and other points of interests, a series of discussions and briefings with various leaders will take place throughout the week. |
| Thursday, March 19 |
| Evening Departure from Newark International Airport (New Jersey) |
| Day One: Friday, March 20 |
| Arrive Tel Aviv, Israel |
Transfer to Jerusalem, Israel |
| 7:30 p.m. |
Orientation |
| 8:00 p.m. |
Dinner and Welcome at the Jerusalem International YMCA (JIY) |
| Overnight at the JIY |
| Day Two: Saturday, March 21 |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Day 2 Excursions: Mount of Olives and the four quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem
- Visit Mount of Olives for view of Jerusalem.
- All-day walking tour of the four quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem.
- Lunch in the Old City.
|
| 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Return to the JIY |
| 6:00 p.m. |
Briefing: Meeting with the staff of the YMCA. - "Facing the Challenges of the Contemporary Reality" |
| 7:00 p.m. |
Dinner with guests and discussion. |
| Overnight at the JIY |
| Day Three: Sunday, March 22 |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 9:30 a.m. |
Christian Worship (Optional) |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Day 3 Excursions: Drive to Bethlehem and Tour the Church of the Nativity
- Lunch at Shepherd's Field where the Angel pronounced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.
- Tour of the Church of the Nativity, the oldest church in the Holy Land still in use, commemorating the birthplace of Jesus.
|
| 5:00 p.m. |
Day 3 Excursions - Continued: Travel to the Muslim village of Abu Ghosh
• Briefing: "Diversity in the Judean Hills"
• Tour of the Muslim village of Abu Ghosh
|
| 7:30 p.m. |
Dinner in Abu Ghosh followed by meeting and discussion with Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders - "The Spirituality of Leadership" |
| Overnight at the JIY |
| Day Four: Monday, March 23 |
| 7:30 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 8:15 a.m. |
Tour of the JIY and view of Jerusalem from the JIY tower.
Meeting with staff of the JIY on their work in the field of peaceful coexistence and reconciled community.
Visit the JIY Preschool. |
| 9:45 a.m. |
Day 4 Excursions: Visit East Jerusalem YMCA and learn about their programs
-
Tour organized by the East Jerusalem YMCA.
- Depart for Ramallah visiting the Youth Opportunities Program, Extension Services Unit Program, Women's Training Program and Youth Center.
- Lunch in Ramallah.
|
| 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. |
Return to JIY and use free time to shop or relax.
Free time for shopping. |
| 7:30 p.m. |
Dinner and at JIY
Meeting with young representatives of NGO's who are trying to make a difference. |
| Overnight at the JIY |
| Day Five: Tuesday, March 24 |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Day 5 Excursions: Tour the Christian Quarter and the Muslim Quarter and the Dome of the Rock
- Walking tour of the Christian Quarter and the Muslim Quarter.
- Visit the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock.
- Lunch in Old City.
|
| 2:00 p.m. |
Day 5 Excursion - Continued: Tour Yad Vashem's new Holocaust Museum |
| 6:00 p.m. |
Debriefing Session |
| 7:30 p.m. |
Dinner at JIY |
| 8:30 p.m. |
Meeting with academics who are working for change in the community |
| Overnight at the JIY |
| Day Six: Wednesday, March 25 |
| 7:30 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Day 6 Excursions: Depart for the Dead Sea
- 9:30 a.m. - Tour of Massada
Take a cable car up to Herod's fortified palace, sitting atop a cliff in the desert. This is the site of the last stand of the Jewish zealots against the Romans, in the year 68 AD.
Designed not merely as a fortress, but as a royal stronghold, the archaeological remains include: spacious palaces, an ancient synagogue and a bathhouse with all the modern conveniences!
|
| 12:00 Noon |
Day 6 Excursions - Dead Sea, Qumran Caves and Baptismal Site
- Float in the Dead Sea
Enjoy the therapeutic properties of the Dead Sea mud on your skin!
- Lunch en route
- View Qumran caves, site of discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Qumran was the home of a Jewish sect, commonly thought to be the Essenes, from approximately 134 BC until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
- Drive north along the Jordan Valley, stopping at the Baptismal Site along the way.
|
| 4:30 p.m. |
Day 6 Excursion - Continued: Arrive in Galilee
• Arrive at YMCA Galilee Guesthouse
• Swim in the Sea of Galilee (weather permitting)
|
| 7:00 p.m. |
Barbecue dinner at Peniel
Discussion: "Cultural Diversity in the Galilee" |
| Overnight at YMCA Peniel-by-Galilee |
| Day Seven: Thursday, March 26 |
| 7:00 a.m. |
Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee |
| 7:30 a.m. |
Morning reflection - at the outdoor amphitheater (weather permitting) or in the Harte Chapel |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Day 7 Excursion: Visit the Sea of Galilee
• Sightseeing around the Sea of Galilee visiting sites related to Christ's ministry
• Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee
|
| 2:00 p.m. |
Lunch at Kibbutz Ein Gev, and visit Kibbutz Degania, one of the first settlements of this socialist experiment. |
| 7:30 p.m. |
Dinner at Peniel. |
| Overnight at YMCA Peniel-by-Galilee |
| Day Eight: Friday, March 27 |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Depart for Nazareth |
| 9:45 a.m. |
Day 8 Excursion: Visit Nazareth Village
- Visit Church of the Annunciation
See the grotto built in the third century
- Visit Nazareth village
A reconstructed farm and Galilean village, as it was 2,000 years ago.
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Lunch at Nazareth village
|
| 2:00 p.m. |
Drive back to Jerusalem via the Coastal Road and visit the remains of Herod's ancient Roman city of Caesarea. View sunset over the Mediterranean Sea. |
| 8:00 p.m. |
Final Dinner and Debriefing |
| Overnight at JIY |
| Day Nine: Saturday, Match 28 |
| 7:00 a.m. |
Early breakfast |
| 7:15 a.m. |
Depart for airport for 11:15 a.m. flight back to the U.S. |
