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Latest trip updates:
6-6-25: 34 of 35 spaces open. Price secured at $3650/pp. REGISTER FOR THIS TRIP HERE Contemplative Spiritual Pilgrimage (flexible & tentative!)Spiritual directors (& spouses) are invited to a contemplative 13-day Holy Land experience. This unique itinerary combines opportunities to engage spiritual practices in the Land, listen to people's stories cross culturally, visiting sacred and fun sites, and eating amazing fresh organic produce from the land. You'll have time to re-engage with your favorite passages from the Ignatian Exercises around the Sea of Galilee and in Jerusalem. Everyone is invited to lead a group practice (sign up sheet, later). The group size is limited to 35 and we will enjoy some very nice accommodations over 13 days, 11 nights in Israel. See below for more inclusions/exclusions. (Plan for a travel day on both ends).
SUNDAY, Aug 30--Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Tel Aviv and fly, fly, fly. (For planning, look for flights arriving Aug 31 between noon and 5 pm). 
MONDAY, Aug 31-- Arrival Day
Arrive in Tel Aviv between noon & 5 pm, go through passport control (stop at the kiosks on the mezzanine ahead of the lines), grab your luggage, and meet Kim and your Israeli guide, Sonia Waters (see bio below), on the ground floor Aroma Coffee Shop (to your right when exiting into the main lobby). We will get you settled with exchanging dollars for shekels or using the ATM. Then we'll load up our gear onto the bus and head toward the Dead Sea. We will have dinner and crash for the evening to recuperate from that flight. The bromides in the air and the high oxygen saturation levels in the air will rejuvenate you overnight! We'll have a late dinner at the hotel on arrival. (you're welcome to walk down to have a late-night float in the Dead Sea if you have any energy left). Hotel for 2 nights: David Dead Sea Resort & Spa. TUESDAY. September 1. Desert Day
Today we will ease you into touring after an amazing breakfast buffet and drive to the springs of Ein Gedi, an oasis preserve in the desert wilderness where David hid from King Saul. There will be a hike and the chance to dip in the little pools and waterfalls along the route if you want to. The afternoon will be free time to enjoy the resort property, take a picture in the iconic Dead Sea float position, or make yourself a spa appointment (treatments not included in price, but the spa pools and exercise rooms are). In the later afternoon we will reboard the bus and drive into the desert to Kfar Hanokdim for an Abrahamic/Bedouin dinner and camel caravan ride. WEDNESDAY, September 2. Transition to the Galilee Day.
Check out of our resort. We drive the road of beautiful views along the Dead Sea north to Qumron, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We continue driving north and stop at Bet She'an. Then have a fun walk or refreshing swim at the gorgeous, Eden-like Gan Ha Slosha (the 3 pools/3 gardens that looks like Eden with freshwater spring-feed swimming holes of turquoise lined by green lawns with landscaped palms and flowers.). We'll drive through Tiberias and around the lake before checking into our home Nof Ginnosar Kibbutz Hotel right on the water at the Sea of Galilee! for the next 4 nights. THURSDAY, Sept 3--Galilee with Jesus Day
After a quiet personal morning by the sea, we will continue with a contemplative theme at Magdela , a newly uncovered (2009) fishing village where Mary Magdalene lived and visit the Boat Chapel for silence and solitude. Maybe meet Father Kelly. We will stop at a local grocery store to pick up personal picnic items. Then drive up the east of the Sea of Galilee mountains of the Golan Heights to Gamla (a beautiful, spacious National Park where Jesus may have gone to retreat from the crowds). We will have time for a picnic and refilling water bottles before a longer hike (mostly flat), but also some good climbs, in quietude. And see if we can find a waterfall or two. Then on our way back to the hotel for the evening, we will have a visit to the Jesus Boat museum and with an included boat ride on the Sea of Galilee with some worship music! (depending on forecasted temp highs, we may hike first today). FRIDAY Sept 4-- Mount Hermon and Golan Heights Day
On our drive to the far north of the Golan Heights, we will stop over at the Mount of Beatitudes. Then we will drive past some ancient volcanos(!) to Banias waterfall Nature Preserve and see a waterfall and countryside on a 90-minute moderate hike to Caesarea Philippi ("Who do you say that I am?" site) and have an option for a Lebanese lunch on site. In the afternoon we will go rafting with Kfar Blum down the Jordan River, with a meet up when we pull off to the riverbank for an optional time of natural baptism. [If anyone wants a more formal baptism experience, Sunday there is time to visit Yardenit. (White robes, towel, and shower/change rooms are $15/person.)] but today, then back to the kibbutz hotel in time to eat dinner. SATURDAY, Sept 5. Mount Carmel Day
After breakfast we begin our drive west over the mountains and stop atop Mount Arbel for a mini hike to a gorgeous view of the Sea of Galilee and region. We pass by Nazareth, then continue to Megiddo National Park for a little exploring (Valley of Armageddon) and then head up to Mount Carmel to a Carmelite Monastery to interact with the Elijah & prophets of Ba'al story. We will go to a local winery to enjoy an included winetasting with snacks and might take the place of lunch depending on which one we can get into. SUNDAY, Sept 6th. Galilee part 2 & Transition to Jerusalem Day.
We check out of our Galilee hotel this morning. Today is a light day of exploring with time on site for exercises and reflection in groups and individually. We have planned a visit to Capernaum. And we stop at St Peter's Primacy, a 900+ year old church built on the seashore where Jesus restored Peter. Anyone who wants that "formal" Jordan River atmosphere in a white robe baptism at Yardenit, we have time for that this early afternoon. Then we drive south, pass by Jericho, and we will try to visit the overlook of St. George's Monastery (video) for an overview of a monastery carved into the cliff maybe meet some Bedouins selling their wares. (a.k.a. the Mount of Temptation & Psalm 23's "Valley of the Shadow of Death"). Then we enter Jerusalem and check into our hotel (TBA) for the next 4 nights. Dinner at the hotel. MONDAY, Sept 7. Jerusalem Day.
After breakfast we drive to the top of the Mount of Olives for that iconic Jerusalem view. Then we enjoy an archeological experience with the Temple Mount Sifting Project. What will the Lord talk to you about as you sift the dirt for ancient treasures or ordinary daily objects? From there we will walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane and have some time with God among the olive trees, and pop into the beautiful Church of Prayer for all Nations. See the Gate Beautiful/Golden Gate nestled in the Old City walls from the Garden. The afternoon will have options. You can choose to have free time in Jerusalem, a block of time to listen to stories in a park or street, nap at the hotel, sit in a cafe, or go join the bus over to Yad Vashem, the world's premiere Holocaust Memorial from about 2-5 pm. Dinner back at the hotel. TUESDAY, Sept. 8. Mountains that Surround Jerusalem Day.
Today starts early as we try to beat the heat when we visit the Biblical Gardens near the Jerusalem Forest called Neot Kedumim. We will see and taste the biblical species and have a chance to plant a tree in the land. We will make out way back into Jerusalem for a meaningful experience at the Garden Tomb with communion together. In the evening after dinner, we can walk down to lively Ben Yahuda Street for some shopping or people watching. |
Please check out the preparations under Trips Tab and "B-4 YOU GO "above.
Google Sheet of Proposed Schedule shows you the trip at a glance. COST $ 3650 USD per person
based on double occ. & minimum of 20 people traveling. Includes tips! and half-board. Single room supplement charge $1422. Does not include your flight or travel insurance. If you are interested in a group flight out of Atlanta, please email Kim. That is charged and downpayment is separate. Downpayment must accompany your JOTFORM registration (card or check). Click to register and then you can pay using the below links. Let Kim know if you want to raise funds and need a fundraising page created in your name. Checks (with no fees) can be mailed to
Ruth Israel Initiative 9 B Chatham Court Pelham, AL 3524 (It's 9 b as in boy, not 98) 2 TEAM meetings: Calendar these [5-weeks pre/post travel dates]
1. Sunday July 27th, at 5 EDT, 4 CDT, 4 MDT, 2 PDT we will meet for 90 minutes on a video call to meet, and cover cultural ed., and Q&A to prepare for our trip. 2. Sunday October 12th at 5 EDT, 4 CDT, 4 MDT, 2 PDT we will meet for 90 minutes to debrief and reflect on the trip and how you are returning. 
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Our Guide
Sonia Waters Exceptionally experienced, Cambridge-educated, tri-lingual guide and personal friend since 2015. Sonia is a sabra, (born as an Israeli citizen) and mother of three sons, and a new grandma in 2022. Quick-witted and fun, she is an intercessor and natural leader that you want to follow (because you never know what you are going to see or hear next!). |
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