Spiritual Pilgrimage
​(flexible & tentative) Itinerary

Spiritual directors and spouses are invited to a special 15-day Holy Land experience. This itinerary includes holy and fun sites, four afternoon opportunities to plant the practice of spiritual direction in Jerusalem and the Galilee. We will provide and explanation and individual appointments for Local leaders and Believers to try it out. We will also have downtime to re-engage with the Ignatian Exercises around the Sea of Galilee! The group size is limited to 30. To keep the price as accessible as possible, we will experience multiple levels of accommodation in the Land. (No tents tho! ;) 15 days, 14 nights is $3950 + flight from your hub city. See below for inclusions/exclusions.

THURS. May 1--Board your Friday overnight flight to Tel Aviv. and fly fly fly.

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FRIDAY, May 2-- Arrival Day
Arrive in Tel Aviv between 2:35 pm-7:05 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 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 region in the Judean Wilderness. We will pass by the Valley of Elah where David slew Goliath enroute.  We will check into our 2-night stay at the Masada Hostel. You can then have dinner and crash for the evening to recuperate from that long flight. 

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SAT. Shabbat May 3--Desert Wilderness Day
Awake feeling refreshed from the bromides and increased oxygen levels in the air at the deepest place on earth, the Dead Sea. There is an opportunity for a sunrise steep mountain hike if you're feeling it.  Enjoy a breakfast buffet and yummy Israeli coffee before we begin our Desert Day together. We'll ride the cable car to the top of Herod's desert fortress of  Masada (video), with its massive history for the Jewish people. We'll explore the area and God's question to Isaiah "Can these dry bones live?" for the morning. Then we will drive deeper into the Negev Desert for a true Bedouin lunch prepared as Abraham would have eaten, then experience a 1-hour camel caravan in pairs. Then we will enjoy a remarkable Dead Sea Float (rinse showers & change rooms available, bring towel) at Ein Bokek public beach. Early evening for reflection and dinner back at the hostel in shadow of Masada.

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Check here for latest trip updates:
May 15th: 24/30 spaces open 
REGISTER HERE

Please check out the preparations under Trips Tab and "B-4 YOU GO "above. 

COST $ 3950. per person
based on double occ. & minimum of 25 people traveling. Includes tips! 
Single room supplement charge $1080.
Trained Spiritual Directors participating in the ministry offerings will receive $1000 scholarship off the cost above.
Does not include your flight or insurance.  Downpayment must accompany your registration from above. (card or check)​

Down payment

$515.00

$500 + 3% credit card fee= $515.00.

Down payment for trip.

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$1000 payment on trip

$1,030.00

$1000 + $30 admin fee= $1030. Use this purchase feature to make your down payment after filling out the application and use it for your mid-payment too.

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 Checks should be mailed to
Ruth Israel Initiative
9 B Chatham Court
Pelham, AL 3524 
(It's 9 b as in boy, not 98)

 SUNDAY May 4--Desert and Transition to Jerusalem Day
After breakfast, we will load the bus for a longer day. We head to our first stop for a hike up Ein Gedi ​, an oasis preserve in the desert wilderness where David hid from King Saul and passed the test of waiting for God's timing on his calling to be king of Israel. We can stop at the pools and little waterfalls along the way. From there, we'll drive the road of beautiful views along the Dead Sea to Qumron, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Then we will continue on toward Jerusalem, past Jericho and stop at St. George's Monastery (video) (a.k.a. Valley of the Shadow of Death, see pic.) for an overview of a monastery carved into the cliff maybe meet some Bedouins selling their wares. Enter into Jerusalem and stop at the iconic Mount of Olives overview, then on to Mount Scopus to help in the Temple Mount archeological sifting project. Who knows what you may find! Then we will check into our home for the next 4 nights, Agron Hostel (map), and have dinner.

MONDAY  May 5--Retracing Jesus' Pathway to the Cross (heavy walking day)
​​Our first full day in Jerusalem will be dedicated to experiencing Jesus' "last day" with Him. Our bus will drive us from the new city's hotel over to the Old City's Zion Gate. We begin our walking day at the "Upper Room" a place to commemorate Jesus' Last Supper of Passover. Then we walk over to the Garden of Gethsemane and the beautiful Church of all Nations, to circle the ancient olive trees as we remember the olive press of prayer Jesus experienced that night. Then like Jesus, we will pull aside for some personal contemplative time in a private garden away from any crowds. From there we will retrace our steps back (uphill) to see Caiaphas's house and experience the tight cool space where Jesus was held prisoner overnight in the cistern. Then (after an emotion and food break for lunch) we will join the Via Delarosa and walk to the Place of the Skull and finally end at the Garden Tomb ​to experience more personal reflection on the day. Then there will be a place set for us to sit together and accept communion while we worship the King and celebrate His resurrection! This evening will be free for private contemplation. Verbal processers are welcome to gather organically to process the magnitude of this emotional day.

TUESDAY May 6-- Introduction to SD Day in Jerusalem.
Today starts with a general intro to spiritual direction and private appointments for sharing SD 1:1 with local Believing congregants and volunteers from the nations. After lunch we will have the option to go into Jerusalem to visit the  City of David (Israel's most active archaeological dig video)  to explore the refreshing Gihon Spring still flowing through Hezekiah’s Tunnel (We're walking through it in complete darkness, so water shoes, shorts, and a flashlight are needed, tall people consider wearing a ball cap to let the bill run into the ceiling before your head does in some short spaces.) (This is a 1-4pm included excursion, but if you need rest, you can opt out easily.). At 4:30-6:30 there will be more individual try-it-out appointments available for local congregations & volunteers.
Each evening in Jerusalem you have an option to go out to enjoy a worship set at Succat Hallel (the Jerusalem arm of IHOP's 24/7 worship & prayer) which has been praying continuously since 1999.

WEDNESDAY May 7-- Archeology Day in Jerusalem
After breakfast we will be dropped off at the Western Wall for individual prayer. We will enter the Davidson Geological Center and have a change to see/touch the pinnacle stone of the temple (Herod's rebuild) and sit on/explore the Southern Steps where Jesus taught and the disciples after him. Then we go underground through the Rabbinical Tunnels next to the retaining wall of the temple platform, and we come out at Saint Anne's Church and the Pool of Bethesda in the Arab Quarter. Then head out the Lions Gate for a bus ride over to the world's premiere Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem, for a two-hour visit and walk through history of World War II's effect on the Jewish people on your own time (no headsets or guide explanation).  Dinner will be back at our hotel. Evening free or personal processing. 

THURSDAY May 8- Biblical Gardens outside Jerusalem Day
After a later morning (9ish), Today though we remain in Jerusalem, we venture just outside to Neot Kedomim and visit the Biblical Gardens for our final day in this part of the country. We will see an ancient watchtower, a functioning olive press, a wine press, and all the species of plants mentioned in the scripture will fill our senses. We will take time to plant a tree in the earth. (If we missed stopping at Valley of Elah on the first day in country, we can try to do it today). Then we come back into town by 1 PM to go find a late lunch at the Shuk open air market (& join the fray of an erev shabbat shopping craze with Jesus' cousins). We will then go to Netivya Congregation to introduce and plant another time of spiritual direction in a group setting and then offer individual sessions of SD appointments from 2:30-6:30 (with staggered breaks for directors) for local Jewish Believers.
Those who want to stay for Netivya's Shabbat Service will need to use translation gear since it is in Hebrew. You can return to the hotel for a later dinner around 8.  Use tonight's free time for processing and to get organized for our move to the Galilee first thing in the morning.

FRIDAY May 9-En Route to Galilee
We pack up and wave goodbye to Jerusalem this morning. After breakfast and check out we drive north and stop at a few key locations in God's Story of redemption: Bet El (Bethel) where Abraham, Isaac & Jacob had powerful invitations from God.  If we can get in, we will visit Tel Shiloh and enjoy an early lunch in the city that grew up hosting the Tabernacle of God before the Temple was built by Solomon in Jerusalem. We continue north and stop at Bet She'an, then a fun walk or relaxing 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.). Then driving to Tiberias, we will check into our home for the next 6 nights at my favorite Sea of Galilee-front hostel, Karei Deshe. We will enjoy Shabbat dinner together tonight in the Galilee.

SATURDAY (Shabbat) May 10-- Galilee with Jesus Day
After a quiet personal morning by the sea of Galilee, 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.  Then just before we are headed over to the ​Mount of Beatitudes, we will stop in to a local (modern) Magdela grocery store to buy some items for your lunch later today. After Beatitudes we will 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 we will head back to the hotel for the evening.  

SUNDAY May 11- Mount Carmel Day
Today starts with a later-morning drive to the Jesus Boat museum and boat ride on the Galilee then we drive west over the mountains and through Megiddo (Valley of Armageddon) and up Mount Carmel to a Carmelite Monastery to interact with the Elijah & prophets of Ba'al story. The later afternoon and evening will be spent with a Believing Congregation in this area with the general description for the group and offering personal appointments. We will drive back for a late dinner at the hotel. 

MONDAY May 12- Galilee Delights Day
Today begins pre-dawn with a hike at Mount Arbel to watch the sun rise over the Mountains of Moab (Jordan) and the Sea of Galilee. Back to the hotel for a good breakfast. We will visit St Peter's Primacy and Capernaum. We will return to the hotel for a long afternoon break of free time. We will drive to Nazareth to interact with a local congregation for Spiritual Direction with personal appointments. 
 
TUESDAY May 13-Fun Day in the North
​In the Golan Heights we will drive past some ancient volcanos(!) to Caesarea Philippi ("Who do you say that I am?" site). After a Lebanese lunch on your own we will hike 90 mins (light to moderate level) over to beautiful Banias waterfall. The afternoon we will go kayaking/rafting with Kfar Blum down the Jordan River, with a meet up when we pull off to the riverbank for an optional time of baptism. Then back to the Sea of Galilee in time to eat dinner, to reorganize, pack and have either personal or group reflection time al fresco.

WEDNESDAY May 14- Finale Day
We will have a late checkout today and for lunch as we drive west, we will go to a local winery to enjoy a winetasting. Then we will stop at the ancient Port of Caesarea to explore. Then an early finale dinner before we head to the airport. We will get some security instructions and be dropped off at TLV Ben Gurion Airport to catch your overnight flight home.

THURSDAY May 15- Travel Day
Hopefully you'll sleep like logs on the plane and arrive home sometime in the mid-morning or afternoon.

 The Fine Print
Inclusions: Breakfasts & dinners in the land, bus, driver, certified guides (Believers), accommodation. Sites and experiences entrance fees, standard tips of $7/day/person for the guide and $5/day/person for driver $3/day/person for hotel handlers & staff. (Any additional tips you'd like to give are welcomed, but not required.) One lunch and a wine tasting are included. A copy of Kim's book A Spiritual Journal Through Israel will be mailed to you about a month before departure. Bring it with you.
Exclusions: You will need travel insurance that covers health and accidents. Please purchase your own flight to arrive in Tel Aviv to coincide with our arrival & departure from the airport. Almost all lunches are on your own. Snacks and personal incidentals, such as water during the day, wine at dinner, and spa visits are on your own too.

Our Guides
We will switch guides about half-way through our time together, so we can get to know both of these extraordinary ladies.
Dead Sea & Jerusalem: 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!).
Galilee: Valari Kantor
Qualified Israeli tour guide with over 35 years' experience as a professional midwife (I KNOW you SD's love this!!) and registered nurse in Southern Africa, Israel, and the UK. Possessing good interpersonal and communication skills and a passion for sharing knowledge and experience gained in diverse cultures and contexts provide a well-rounded approach to the way she leads tour groups in Israel. She and her husband are believers and do ministry together, he also is the spiritual director for a Nazareth hospital.