THE RUTH ISRAEL INITIATIVE
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Board
    • Ruth as an allegory
  • Trips
    • May 2021 unhurried Pilgrimage
    • Oct 2021 Pilgrimage Journey
    • Nov 21 Terry's team
    • March 2022 IVC Leaders
    • June 2022 VineyardWomen
    • Oct 2022 Rosewell Team
    • Past Trip Reviews
  • B-4 you GO
    • Israel Entry
    • packing suggestions
    • Reading Prep
    • Walking prep
    • Food In Israel
    • Prayer team Building
    • Team Meetings
  • Resources
    • Brandi's book reviews
    • Kims Youtube interviews
    • books to prepare for your journey
  • Contact
  • Bookstore
  • FAQ
    • FAQ-Church
    • Grafted In
    • Jewish Roots of Christianity
    • What is Zionism
    • Third Temple
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Board
    • Ruth as an allegory
  • Trips
    • May 2021 unhurried Pilgrimage
    • Oct 2021 Pilgrimage Journey
    • Nov 21 Terry's team
    • March 2022 IVC Leaders
    • June 2022 VineyardWomen
    • Oct 2022 Rosewell Team
    • Past Trip Reviews
  • B-4 you GO
    • Israel Entry
    • packing suggestions
    • Reading Prep
    • Walking prep
    • Food In Israel
    • Prayer team Building
    • Team Meetings
  • Resources
    • Brandi's book reviews
    • Kims Youtube interviews
    • books to prepare for your journey
  • Contact
  • Bookstore
  • FAQ
    • FAQ-Church
    • Grafted In
    • Jewish Roots of Christianity
    • What is Zionism
    • Third Temple

Israel Pilgrimage Journey
October 27-Nov 7, 2021

 The Israel Pilgrimage Journey

LATEST updates. 2-18-21
Wednesday
Oct 27th

Oct 28th,
​Thursday
overnight in Tel Aviv



​
Friday
Oct 29th
overnight
​Dead Sea Resort



​
​
​Saturday, Oct 30th
overnight at Dead Sea Resort

​
​


Oct 31st
Sunday
overnight in Jerusalem










​Nov 1st Monday 
overnight in Jerusalem










​

Nov 2nd, Tuesday
overnight in
​Jerusalem



Nov 3rd, Wednesday
overnight in
​Jerusalem




​
​Thursday
Nov 4th,
overnight in Galilee Hostel

​




​
Friday
​Nov 5th
overnight in the Galilee hostel

​
​




Saturday/
Shabbat
Nov 6th
overnight in the Galilee hostel
​


​

​








​


Sunday
Nov 7th,
​Overnight flight home 

​
​
​
​Monday
​Nov 8th
arrival back in US


Depart your port city and fly overnight with a likely layover somewhere in Europe where you'll have a few hours in the airport before continuing on to Tel Aviv. Arrive TLV (Ben Gurion International airport in the early evening (4:00-5:30pm) and gather your luggage, load up our rental van and we'll head to Tel Aviv/Old Joppa and check into our space for the night. We can buy some sandwiches and drinks to take with us for a quick dinner at the Elis Boutique hotel right near the Mediterranean Sea. If you have some energy we can venture out to walk off some of those long-haul-flight kinks.

​We will wake up refreshed and enjoy a traditional Israeli breakfast at our hotel, then venture out on a walking tour to Old Joppa and find Simon the Tanner's house and have a view of Mediterranean Sea in a sleek new old city. Then we will check out, pack the van and head south. We'll have our stop by David & Goliath's field, the Valley of Elah, then continue toward the Dead Sea. Communion stop overlooking the salt sea region from an Arad mountaintop. We will check into our hotel, The Daniel Dead Sea Resort and Spa (tentative location) and enjoy dinner together and maybe a Dead Sea float tonight and/or in the morning. 

Enjoy a bountiful breakfast by 8:45. Today we will explore historical Masada after taking the tram to the top of the mountain fortress build by King Herod, and then hike Ein Gedi (where David hid from Saul). On this hike you can get into water pools and falls, so swim suits, water shoes & towel a plus. We will head back to the resort area early in the day to enjoy the property's amenities and take another Dead Sea float. Optional evening star-gazing jaunt into the desert after dinner.

After breakfast, we will check out of our resort hotel and head north toward Jerusalem, stopping by Qumron, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and an active archaeological dig, and stop at the site of "the Valley of the Shadow of Death" also see Jericho (from a distance) before we drive into Jerusalem. Our first view of the city will be from the top of the Mount of Olives, the place Yeshua lamented "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I have longed..." walk carefully down the mountain (paved road, but steep) to Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations. Possibly stop to see the Tomb of the Prophets if the owner is available to let us in. We will drive to our Air BnB and check in, then walk to dinner at a restaurant and stop for a local grocery shopping excursion for breakfast foods and coffee on our way home.

 Grab-your-own breakfast at our Air Bnb by 7:30, before we walk to Jaffa Gate and climb the Rampart's Walk (intercession and photos on top of the Old City walls of Jerusalem). Then coming down  at the Dung Gate, we'll spend a few minutes at the Western Wall, then walk to the City of David, enter Hezekiah's tunnel (bring water shoes & pants/shorts that dry well).  We make a big climb to see Caiaphas' House, the high priest's home where Jesus was held in the cistern as he awaited the cross, then continue up hill to the Upper Room and then grab a late lunch near the cardo.  We will take some individual prayer time at the Western wall, and traverse the shopping district route back to Jaffa Gate, and return to our Air BnB for a couple hours of down time. After dinner out, free time for shopping on Ben Yahudah Street or a walk to Succat Hallel (IHOP Jerusalem) for worship in evening with Kim.


We will start our early day walking into the Old City to visit the Upper Room and the Temple Institute to see Jewish plans already in place to erect the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Then we will venture underground through the Rabbinical Tunnels to see the past, a quick stop option at St Anne's Church OR the Temple Mount. Then walk the Via Delarosa back the the Christian Quarter. If it is still open we can visit David's Tower. 

We will start our day by taking the Light Rail over to Yad Vashem, the premier Holocaust Memorial and Museum, then light rail back Then walk across the Old City to Zion Gate for a stop at the Upper Room (if we had to postpone before).and walk over to the Garden Tomb (spoiler alert: it's empty!) for contemplation & journaling time from 4-5pm. Then have an early dinner out in Jerusalem.


We will wake up, pack up and tidy the Air BnB as we check out and head north to the Sea of Galilee. We can choose one place to stop on our way out of town:  1. the Israeli Tank Museum, climb the viewing tower and read scriptures of life to the Land; 2. Ammunition Hill, the Museum of the Six-Day War in Jerusalem; 3. Tree planting at Neot Kedumim. By 11, we will be on the road north, passing by Jericho en route, crossing the Jordan River. We will have time for the ancient ruins of Beit She'an before dinner and exploration at Ein Gev Kibbutz around sunset. Then we continue around the Sea of Galilee to arrive at our Galilee hostel home (Kerei Deshe) for check in. Tonight there is time for exploring the sea-side on your own.

After an early breakfast on site, we will load up in the van by 7:45 to walk in the footsteps of Jesus today as he ministered in this region. We will start with silent devotional walk around the Mount of Beatitudes, then on to St Peter's Primacy (where Peter was restored to Jesus), then the Jesus Boat museum, complete with worship and boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Then on to Jesus' hometown, Capernaum, and the synagogue that saw so many miracles there. We will end our day with a contemplative bookend stop at Magdela, and then a Jordan River Baptism option. All day with rich views as we travel the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We will stop in Tiberias for dinner and exploring the boardwalk. Then drive back to Karei Deshe hostel for the night.

Late morning, breakfast, and time at the Sea, catch up on your journaling. 10 AM we will pull out and head to the Golan Heights. we will drive north to the Golan Heights, see a couple of dormant volcanos(!) and visit Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked Peter, “But who do you say that I am?” and discover the significance to His phase “and the gates of hell will not prevail against (the coming of the Kingdom).” Then drive to a 30-minute stair-hike to a hidden Banias waterfall. We'll have time for a yummy Druze snack made while you watch.
Afternoon options:
Option A: we can head up Mount Bental to the Syrian border and see Mount Hermon and climb into a real Israeli bunker from 1973 Yom Kippur War and have some coffee/tea or lunch. Then if there is time in the late afternoon route home, we might stop to climb the ruins of Nimrod’s Castle. 
Option B:  On the shores of the Sea of Galilee we will meet with a rep from the Beautiful Land Initiative to have participate in a mission project. 
Dinner plans will be made on the go as to what we end up doing that day. This may be a good night to pick up pizza and wine and have an evening picnic at our hostel. We'll return for one more night to our hostel.

Enjoy a nice last breakfast by 7:30.  Check out of Kerei Deshe & load up the van by 8:30. Drive toward the western Galilee and stop at the Carmelite Monastery where Elijah and God bested the prophets of Ba'al and take in a rooftop a view of the Valley of Armageddon. Then we will traverse the ancient sea port of Caesarea built by Herod the Great. Perhaps stop by for sunset gazing on the Mediterranean Sea at the ancient Roman aqueduct, and grab an early dinner before heading to the airport for a drop off for your flight home. (3 hour security waits).

You'll arrive home mid-day to evening on Monday.


We will meet up for a team de-brief about 2-3 weeks after returning home. 

Download your PDF application to print from link above.
This fall Israel 2021 Team is a micro team and limited to 7 people. Down payment must accompany application. ​
Picture

​Pricing*

Land Tour $3215.00
Price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement $850.
​
Consider using frequent flier miles or credit card points and save on your airfare when you meet us in Tel Aviv (TLV). 

Payment Schedule

$500 down due with application
$1000 due April 1, 2021
Balance due August 15, 2020 (~60 days prior to travel).
​​If you want Ruth Israel to arrange your flight for you, it usually runs 1250-1550 and will be booked in late March. Payment for the flight is separate and must be made as soon as we book. Down payment is only refundable if an applicant is not accepted for this trip via the application process. However, it is fully transferable to another applicant. In case of pandemic problems, we will reschedule. Airfare is also non-refundable, and it's also non-transferable. Rescheduling is made as a credit for the cost directly with the airline.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Unplugged
It is not required, but we highly suggest going unplugged at least during the day while you are on tour so you can fully engage in where you are. Share with friends at home & on social media at night or when you return. If your phone is your only camera, decide to use it only for taking photos or ask around and see if you can borrow a camera for the trip.
​
Insurance
We recommend you to purchase trip insurance to cover your travel & trip interruption, and/or emergency medical evacuation insurance. You'll need to contact your personal insurance specialist.
Or try www.travelinsurance.com 
(we don't get a commission or anything and you can choose your level of coverage)

Preparation.
Check out our B-4 You GO section

Our Airbnb will have a washer and dryer.
​
Food/Snacks/Coffee
Lunch and snacks are on your own. We suggest bringing a box or two of protein bars in case lunch is delayed by our adventures. We don't want anyone to get hangry!

Stuff you should know before you go

We will be spending  11 glorious days in the Land of Israel, plus a travel day on either end. Our transfers are via air conditioned van to/from airport to various hotels, hostels and apartments in Air BnBs. Jerusalem days are walking days, so there is no transportation provided except our feet. You may hire a taxi on your own, back to the apartment if needed, but we suggest that you start training your body as you train your heart for this trip so you will be able to fully participate in it with your teammates.) Trips include accommodation,  breakfasts and dinners in Israel, entrance to sites, and an air conditioned van.
​Not Included: Lunches, tips, insurance, and souvenirs are on your own. Also optional: Jordan River Baptism runs $10-12 USD on site.
​
*This itinerary is priced, based on a minimum of 5 travelers and a maximum of 7.
Each trip is personalized an our small "boutique" size allows great access into/out of locations, bathroom and access to ask questions and make day-to-day decisions as a team as to our priorities for the day. There is an aspect of Prayer Activations, Spiritual Formation, and "Friendship with Jesus" development that accompany each of Ruth Israel Initiative's Unhurried Pilgrimages at nearly every location stop in the Land, and the Lord usually shakes some things up in our hearts in a beautiful way. 

The volume of information available to you while you are in Israel won't sink in unless you have a proper grid of understanding already formed with which to process all that we will experience, so the two books Israel Basics: What Every Christian Should Know and Israel II: Beyond the Basics by K.J. Frolander OR attending an Israel basics small group (13 weeks) is required as
a prerequisite for preparation. If you're ready for more, Unbroken Cord by D.H. Withers is an excellent resource, and Teplinsky's book Why Still Care About Israel? will really fill out your foundation so that you can get the most out of your time in Israel. See the Resources Page for even further study. If you are not accustomed to journaling or "listening prayer" Seth Barnes book Listening Prayer is another book you'll want to pick up to prepare your heart and skills for listening for God's voice as you interact together in the Holy Land. It is great to hone listening skills in a one-month daily devotional format.

We will offer several team meetings, 1 or 2 even before we leave home, and a debrief when we get home, to build friendships as we share what God is doing in our hearts. In the Land they will help you process all you are experiencing, but you will also have some evenings free to rest or explore the city on your own. One of our team meetings will take place on the shores of the Sea of Galilee as we listen to the lapping water at night. 

Ready to go? Download or request an application via email. We also invite your questions! You may include a phone number in the comment section if you prefer a call. We love to answer questions! 

    Contact Ruth Israel Initiative

Submit
Proudly powered by Weebly