(flexible & tentative) Itinerary: Nov 11-25, 2024Check here for latest trip updates: 5-13-24.
3 spots available. flight times coming soon. 5-12-24 This trip is currently under re-construction and almost complete!
Highly trained Spiritual directors are invited to a special 15-day Holy Land experience. This itinerary includes holy and fun sites, four afternoon opportunities to describe, model, and offer the practice of spiritual direction in 20 min mini-sessions to ministry leaders & their staff in Jerusalem and the Galilee. We will also have downtime morning and evening to re-engage with the Ignatian Exercises on your own or as a group around the Sea of Galilee! The group size is limited to 6 total. See below for inclusions/exclusions. MONDAY. Nov 11--Board your Monday overnight flight to Tel Aviv. and fly fly fly.
TUESDAY, Nov 12-- Arrival Day
Arrive in Tel Aviv by 5:30 pm, go through passport control (stop at the kiosks on the mezzanine ahead of the lines), grab your luggage, and meet with Kim and the rest of the team at the INFO cubical (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 grab our rental car/van and load up our gear and drive to Tel Aviv for one night. WEDNESDAY. Nov 13--Tel Aviv to the Desert (Light day)
Awake in Tel Aviv, enjoy hotel buffet breakfast together. Depending on how rested everyone is feeling, [OPT: we can do a short early walk to Old City Jaffa to see Simon the Tanner's House before walking back], having breakfast and checking out by 10, packing and driving south to the desert. [Optional: Enroute we will attempt a drive out to Dimona for an Abrahamic camel tour. OR go ahead and do Masada to make tomorrow lighter on stops] Then we will enjoy a remarkable Dead Sea Float (rinse showers & change rooms) at our private beach. Early evening for reflection and amazing dinner back at the resort. THURSDAY Nov 14--Desert day Awake feeling refreshed from the bromides and increased oxygen levels in the air at the deepest place on earth, the Dead Sea. After a delightful breakfast buffet at our resort, we check out & drive toward Masada and 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 head to our next 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. We continue driving the road of beautiful views along the Dead Sea to Qumron, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Then we will continue on toward the Galilee, past Jericho and on to the Galilee. We have options on enjoying one or two of the following stops: 1. Bet She'an a Roman bath city's ruins, 2. Gideon's Stream or 3. Eden-like cultivated garden and swimming hole of Gan HaSalosha. We will stop for dinner in Tiberias or along the route for an early dinner before we check into our "hostel" for the next 5 nights. Karei Deshe. Right on the Sea of Galilee shore. |
COST $ 3000 per person. Invitation only.
based on double occ. & minimum of 4 people traveling. Single room supplement charge $1080. Not included: flight or insurance. Downpayment must accompany your registration from above. (card or check) Checks should be mailed to
Ruth Israel Initiative 9 B Chatham Court Pelham, AL 3524 (It's 9 b as in boy, not 98) |