6th – 22nd November 2013 Journey to Israel 2013 Hosted by Rev Fraser Harding, Director Good News for Israel www.goodnewsforisrael.com & Martin Weatherston, Director CMJ Australia www.shoresh.org.au

Featuring visits to: Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Caesarea, Mt Carmel, Haifa, Nazareth, the Galilee, Golan Heights, Beit Shean, Qumran, Dead Sea, Masada, Beer Sheva, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho.

Fraser and Martin invite you to come and see the sites and the ‘living stones’ which speak of the ‘Restoration’ of Israel. The primary meaning of restoration in this context is the restoration of Jewish people to their Messiah. A secondary aspect is the return of the Jewish people to a safe homeland after 2000 years of persecution. Both of these perspectives beg the question as to whether the hope of Israel (for Jews) denies the hope of Ishmael (for Arabs). Participants will gain a clear understanding of how these apparently conflicting aspirations can not only be reconciled but even complement one another in the plan & purposes of God for the ‘one new man’ ie. both Jew (Israeli) & Gentile (Arab) alike.

DAY 1: Wedneday, 6th November Depart from your capital city with Thai Airways to Bangkok where we connect with our El Al flight to ISRAEL. Overnight: in flight

DAY 2: Thursday, 7th November ARRIVAL IN THE LAND OF PROMISE We arrive to Israel in the morning and transfer to our hotel in Tel Aviv for rest. In the afternoon, we visit the ancient port of Joppa (now Jaffa), the point from which Jonah tried to escape his calling to warn the people of Nineveh and location of Simon the Tanner’s house. Overnight: Tel Aviv

DAY 3: Friday, 8th November THE HOPE OF RESTORATION We begin our day at Beit Immanuel, where we will hear about CMJ’s ministry to the Jewish people over the past 160 years. Our next stop will be in Tel Aviv at the Diaspora Museum, where we learn about the Jewish people’s historic life in exile and their return to Israel. Travelling north along the Mediterranean coast, we visit the fabulous remains of the Herodian city of Caesarea Maritima, the location from which Paul left the shores of Israel and set sail with the Good News to the Gentile world. We conclude our day at Mount Carmel where we will take in a spectacular view over the North of Israel. Here we will study Elijah’s defeat over the prophets of Baal. Overnight: Haifa

DAY 4: Saturday, 9th November LIGHT TO THE NATIONS – JEWS, GENTILES, AND THE MESSIAH This morning we join in worship at Kehilat HaCarmel one of the largest congregations in Israel. In the afternoon we continue along the route of the ancient Via Maris to Megiddo, one of King Solomon’s chariot cities, and according the Book of Revelation possibly the assembly point for the armies marching to the battle of Armageddon. Overnight: Tiberias

DAY 5: Sunday, 10th November AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE – DAILY LIFE AND RELIGION IN THE TIME OF JESUS

Our day will be spent visiting various sites around the Sea of Galilee as we picture daily life and religion in the first century, and seek to better understand the miracles and teachings of Jesus in His original Jewish context. The day commences at Chorazin, the well-preserved ruins of a Galilean village, where we study village life, Jewish religion, and the Pharisees. Next stop will be the Mount of Beatitudes, traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount, where we will consider the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ teachings. Following that we will arrive at Capernaum, where Jesus lived during the majority of His ministry. From here we will go to lovely Tabgha, which commemorates the multiplication of loaves and fish, and where Jesus met the disciples after the resurrection. Later in the afternoon we will visit Kibbutz Ginosar to see the “Jesus Boat”, a Galilean fishing boat from the First Century. From here we will set sail for a boat ride on the Lake to enjoy the views and some worship, prayer and reflective time. Before heading back to our hotel we shall visit tranquil Beit Bracha, a CMJ centre on the shores of Galilee. Overnight: Tiberias

DAY 6: Monday, 11th November NAZARETH – JESUS’ EARLY LIFE The morning will be spent at ancient Nazareth and the Nazareth

Village where we contemplate closely Jesus’ home life, town and early ministry. After a free afternoon, we conclude our day with a visit to the Galilee Experience, where we will take in a multimedia overview of the history of the Galilee region. Overnight: Tiberias

DAY 7: Tuesday, 12th November NORTHERN ISRAEL – “WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?” Today we explore the magnificent Golan Heights, one of the most beautiful regions of the country. We will seek to understand what the Jewish people of 2,000 years ago expected of the Messiah, and how that was fulfilled in Jesus. In the morning we will visit a reconstructed Talmudic village at Katzrin, where we will take another close look at life in New Testament times and the use of everyday imagery in Scripture. Next we will travel along the lower slopes of Mount Hermon – Israel’s highest mountain, the most likely site of the Transfiguration. Our next stop is Caesarea Philippi, in the region where Peter made his famous confession that Jesus is the Messiah. Along the way we will pass Druze Villages before coming to Mt. Bental, a lookout spot near the border with Syria and the area of the road to Damascus where the Apostle Paul met the Lord. Our final stop is the Dan Nature Reserve, where we see the incredible archaeological remains of the OT city of Dan, including the city gate from the time of Abraham, and consider ancient Israel’s apostasy. We will also enjoy a pleasant walk by a stream and discuss the meaning of “living water” in the Hebrew Scriptures and Jesus’ teaching. Overnight: Tiberias

DAY 8: Wednesday, 13th November THE JORDAN VALLEY – “IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT” Today we leave the Galilee and journey south down the spectacular Syrian African Rift Valley to the Dead Sea in the arid Judean wilderness. We will study the cultural tensions that existed at the time of Jesus, both between Greco-Roman culture and Jewish culture (and later the early church), and also between the Jewish religious establishment of the day and various spiritual reformers. At the Jordan River, we will discuss the ministry of John the Baptist and his relationship with Jesus. If the group wants to do baptisms, we may visit a baptismal site on the Jordan River. Our next stop is the Biblical city of Beit Shean to examine the visually impressive excavations of its Roman-Byzantine period when it was one the ten Hellenistic cities of the Decapolis. From here we continue down the Jordan Valley to the arid Judean Wilderness, stopping to visit Qumran, likely the home of the Essenes, a First Century Jewish sect which may have influenced early Christianity, and the site of the most exciting archaeological discovery ever made in Israel – the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will stop for an overlook of Ein Gedi, where David hid from Saul, before arriving at our resort hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea. We will finish our day by enjoying a float in its therapeutic mineral rich waters. Overnight: Dead Sea

DAY 9: Thursday, 14th November THE JUDEAN DESERT – SEEKING REFUGE IN THE WILDERNESS DAY  Our theme today is the wilderness and what it signified to the ancient Israelites. We begin our day at Masada, Herod the Great’s magnificent fortress palace in the desert, and the last stand of the Zealots, a Jewish revolutionary group at the time of Jesus. We continue our journey into the southern desert region called the Negev in the Bible (a name it still carries today) and on toBeerSheva, site of Abraham’s well and the famous and victorious charge of the Light Horse. We will meet with local Messianic leaders, Howard and Randi Bass, before making our final ascent to Jerusalem – the City of the Great King. Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 10: Friday, 15th November COMMUNION AT THE GARDEN TOMB This morning we will be given a tour of the site known as the Garden Tomb situated outside the Damascus Gate on the northern side of the old City of Jerusalem where Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection are wonderfully illustrated. We will cullminate this visit in a time of sharing as we celebrate communion together. Our afternoon is free for shopping and/or rest. Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 11: Saturday, 16th November IN THE STEPS OF JESUS – CRUCIFIXION, DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION Today we focus on sites related to the Biblical passages concerning Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem. Our goal is to understand why He was crucified, how He was buried, and what it meant to the Jewish people of the first century that He was raised from the dead. We begin our day with a panoramic overlook of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, the site of Jesus’ ascension to heaven and His future second coming. After viewing a tomb from the time of Jesus, we will walk down the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane. Next we cross the Kidron Valley and enter the old City through Stephen’s Gate, stopping to examine the remains of the Pool of Bethesda. We will conclude our afternoon with a visit to the Austrian Hospice where we can take in a wonderful rooftop overview of the Old City. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 12: Sunday, 17th November JERUSALEM IN THE TIME OF JESUS This morning we will join in worship at Christ Church. After a light lunch we will be treated to a tour of the Heritage Centre including Conrad Schick’s impressive model of the Temple Mount. The remainder of the afternoon is free. Early evening we have the option to participate in the worship service at King of Kings, a local Mess anic congregation. Overnight: Jerusalem

We begin our day with a visit to the Knesset, the legislative branch of Israel’s government. From there we visit the nearby Israel Museum to view a model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus as well as the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. In the afternoon we will visit Yad VaShem, the Israel Memorial Museum to the Holocaust. Here we examine the spiritual and theological roots of the most notorious genocide in history and the connection between the Church, Jesus and the Jewish people prior to and during this period of time. There we will also visit the children’s memorial and discuss the impact of the Holocaust on Jewish Christian relations today. Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 14: Tuesday, 19th November BETHLEHEM AND JERICHO Today we travel south from Jerusalem to Herodion, the excavated site of one of King Herod’s “escape” palaces as well as his burial site. We continue on to Bethlehem, where we will visit the Church of the Nativity, which marks the probable site of the birth of Jesus, the “Shepherd’s Fields” where the angels heralded the advent of Messiah, and Rachel’s Tomb. This afternoon we will make a visit to Jericho, the oldest and lowest city on earth, where will witness the work of ‘Seeds of Hope’ a ministry among the Arab youth under the guidance of Palestian Taysir Abu Saada – an ex Muslim and Fatah fighter who once served under Yasser Arafat, but is now a committed Christian whose ministry is reconciliation of Jews & Arabs. Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 15: Wednesday, 20th November TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH On this final day in Jerusalem, we will spend time in the Jewish Quarter of the old city to learn about Jerusalem in the Second Temple era. After a visit to the Western Wall place of prayer, Judaism’s most holy site, we will take a trip to the subterranean Western Wall Tunnels to walk at what was street level in the time of Jesus. We will also visit the Temple Institute for an in-depth presentation on the role of the Temple in Jesus’ time. We then say farewell to Jerusalem and descend through the mountains of Judea to the airport on the coastal plain to catch our return flight home. Overnight: In flight

DAY 17: Friday, 22nd November Arrival back in Australia

TOTAL PACKAGE PRICE TO ISRAEL: AUD AUD $5, 890.00* per person twin share Single supplement: AUD $1, 395.00 * Price is based on minimum of 20 full paying participants. Subject to change. Conditions apply PRICE INCLUDES: • Return economy class airfares with all taxes and fuel surcharges (subject to change) • Accommodation – Half-board (breakfast & dinner) in en-suite shared twin rooms, taxes & portage. • Transportation – Bus and driver for touring and group transfers to and from airport. • Guide – Licensed Christian/Messianic guide. • Tips – Driver, Guide, Hotels. • Entrance fees – Historical sites, museums, parks, etc. • Study Materials. PRICE EXCLUDES: Travel insurance (mandatory); guest speakers; lunches & snacks;

individual activities on free days; individual transfers to/from the airport apart from the main group; wheelchairs; personal discretionary spending.

Single Supplement: This is the additional cost for a single room.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: 1. Obtain a booking form from Olive Tree Travel or from Rev Fraser Harding or Martin Weatherston 2. To Secure your place, a deposit of $350 per person is required by 30 April 2013. EARLY PAYMENT GUARANTEE: To avoid an imminent price increase, it is imperative that we receive your deposit by 30 April in order to lock in the current price of $5890 (subject to minimum passenger number requirements) 3. Final balance will be due by 15th September 2013 Steven Green Olive Tree Travel Suite 1, level 1 230 Balaclava Road, North Caulfield VIC 3161 T: +61 3 8488 9696 or 1300 55 08 30 M: 0413 016 772 steven@olivetreetravel.com.au www.olivetreetravel.com.au WHO TO CONTACT: Rev Fraser Harding Director Good News for Israel 0418 762 402 fjharding@bigpond.com www.goodnewsforisrael.com Martin Weatherston Director CMJ Australia 0417 172 205 we_are@westnet.com.au www.shoresh.org.au Proud Member of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism