ISRAEL TOUR REPORT

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is an awe-inspiring site the first time you encounter it.

Following our journey from PHX to LAX, onto  IST and finally TLV, where we embarked on a tour of the historic city of Jaffa, home to a vibrant Arab Christian population coexisting with Jewish residents. We explored the ancient seaport, famously known as the place from which the Prophet Jonah attempted to escape God's command (Jonah 1:2).

Jaffa is also the location where Peter stayed with Simon the Tanner and resuscitated Tabitha (Dorcas) (Acts 9:36-43). We then visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, a glimpse into the future of Israel, often referred to as the "start-up nation." Israel is celebrated for its significant contributions to innovation, research and development, and entrepreneurship—a highlight not commonly included in many Christian tours.

We continued our drive along the stunning Mediterranean coastline to Caesarea, a city constructed by Herod the Great and once the center of Roman governance. Here, we marveled at the excavated Roman Theater, renowned for its remarkable acoustics and theatrical history, hosting numerous performances over the centuries.

Next, we headed to Mt. Carmel and Haifa, where we enjoyed a breathtaking view of the Bahá'í Gardens. Our journey then took us to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Acre, an extraordinary walled port city with a history traceable back to the Phoenician era. Acre served as the capital for the Crusaders after they lost Jerusalem.

In the morning, we traveled to Magdala to explore the recently uncovered First Century Synagogue, a place where it is believed Jesus taught. Within the synagogue, archaeologists discovered The Magdala Stone, which many experts consider to be the most remarkable archaeological find in the past five decades.

Next, we visited the ancient synagogue in Capernaum, a site where Christian tradition holds that many of Jesus's miracles occurred in this historic fishing village. Our journey continued to the Mount of Beatitudes, situated north of the Sea of Galilee. At the summit, we admired a stunning church crowned with an octagonal dome symbolizing the eight "Beatitudes" from the Sermon on the Mount.



We then drove north to the foothills of Mt. Hermon, where we reached Caesarea Philippi (Banias), the source of the Jordan River and the location where Peter made his profound confession of faith. The Golan Heights and Mount Bental offered insights into the region's geopolitics, along with a welcome coffee break.

Passing through Cana of Galilee, we arrived in Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, where we visited the Basilica of the Annunciation. This modern Catholic Church is built over the remains of Byzantine and Crusader churches and features the cave where the Virgin Mary received Gabriel's message that she would give birth to Jesus.

We traveled into the Jordan Valley towards Beit Shean, a significant city in Biblical times and one of the ten Decapolis, strategically positioned at the intersection of key trade routes. Near its ruins, the Hellenistic city of Scythopolis emerged and thrived until its destruction in the 8th century. Continuing our journey south along the Jordan Valley towards Jerusalem, we planned to visit the traditional baptism site at Qasr El Yahud, the location where John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

We then visited Yad Vashem, the official memorial honoring the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 on Mt. Herzl. Afterward, we explored the Israel Museum, where we admired a scale model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period and the remarkable Dead Sea Scrolls housed within the Shrine of the Book.

Next, we ascended the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of Jerusalem. This mountain, dotted with olive trees, cemeteries, and churches, commemorates significant Christian events in the life of Jesus.

We then descended from the Mount of Olives to visit the Garden of Gethsemane, alongside the Church of All Nations. Entering the Old City of Jerusalem, we walked along the Via Dolorosa, the Stations of the Cross, the very path that Jesus traversed on his way to crucifixion, before reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Christianity's holiest site, where Jesus was buried and resurrected. Finally, we visited the Western Wall, the most sacred place for the Jewish people, which consists of the remnants of the wall surrounding Temple Mount.

We set off early to the Dead Sea region to explore Masada. Perched 500 meters above the sea, the fortress of Masada is situated on a colossal cliff, measuring 600 meters in length and 300 meters in width, dating back 2000 years as the most magnificent castle in history built by King Herod. A cable car transported us to the cliff's summit, where we experienced an unforgettable tour of the palaces, warehouses, residential areas, water complex, impressive fortifications, and breathtaking views of the Judean Desert.

We then proceeded to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and the childhood home of the biblical King David. Afterward, we drove to Allenby Bridge and crossed the border into Jordan, before continuing to Mount Nebo, believed to be the burial site of Moses. The following morning, we visited Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new seven wonders of the world. We trekked through the narrow canyon until we arrived at the first grand monument, where the Treasury revealed itself, along with the Roman Theater and Royal Tombs.