Our Journey Home to Israel Tour pricing includes round trip airfare from official gateway departure cities, hotels, breakfast and dinner daily at the hotels in Israel, all tips, transfers, ground transportation, buses, English speaking tour guides, and entrance fees. When you travel with us, your only additional costs are lunches, snacks and souvenirs.
Below is a tentative itinerary for The Fellowship’s 2009 Journey Home Tour to Israel. Please be advised that all hotels are subject to availability and itinerary days and overnights are subject to change.
Day 1: Saturday, October 31
- Transatlantic flight to Tel Aviv
- Depart from USA Gateway cities: (JFK or Newark, NJ) to Tel Aviv, Israel. Meals served in flight.
Day 2: Sunday, November 1
Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. After securing your luggage, you will travel to Tiberius for your first night along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Day 3: Monday, November 2
- Caesarea/Mt. Carmel/Megiddo/Cana
 After an Israeli buffet breakfast you will depart Tiberius early and travel the Mediterranean coastline to Caesarea where Cornelius the Centurion and his household were converted and baptized (Acts 10) and where the Apostle Paul made his defense before Festus and King Agrippa (Acts 25-26). See Mt. Carmel, where Elijah prayed down the fire from Heaven and defeated the 450 prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). Visit Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon (Rev.16). Visit Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle (John 2) and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus (Luke 2). At Cana, couples will have the opportunity to renew their wedding vows. Dinner and overnight in Tiberius. Many shops near the hotel are open at night and you will have ample time to shop.
Day 4: Tuesday, November 3
- Capernaum/Mt. of Beatitudes/Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee/Jordan River baptism
 After enjoying an Israeli buffet breakfast and an optional sunrise worship service on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, drive to the 2,000 year old remains of Capernaum (Luke 4) and stand in what is left of the synagogue where Jesus taught. Visit the traditional site where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Enjoy lunch and a beautiful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and then stop at the Jordan River for a time of spiritual blessing for those wishing to participate in a symbolic baptismal service. Dinner and overnight in Tiberius. Many shops near the hotel are open at night and you will have ample time to shop.
- Visits to IFCJ projects in the area could be scheduled.
Day 5: Wednesday, November 4
- Harod (Gideon's Spring)/Beit She'an/Jordan Valley/Valley of the Shadow/Welcome to Jerusalem
 Say goodbye to the Sea of Galilee after enjoying an Israeli Buffet breakfast and start your journey up to Jerusalem. Visit Harod (Gideon's Spring) where Gideon chose his army of 300 by observing how they drank from the Spring (Judges 7). As you motorcoach through the Jordan Valley, visit the Tel of Beit She'an where the bodies of King Saul and his sons hung from the city gates (I Samuel 31). After stopping at the Valley of the Shadow in the Judea Hills, travel up to the holy city of Jerusalem. View the city from Mount Scopus a mountain in northeast Jerusalem, Neighborhoods near Mount Scopus include the French Hill to the north, and Sheikh Jarrah to the southwest.
Unlike East Jerusalem, Mount Scopus was held by Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and existed as an exclave of Israel inside Jordanian territory during Jordan's control of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) from 1948 till 1967. Israeli sovereignty over Mt. Scopus is internationally recognized. Today, Mount Scopus lies inside Israel's official borders of the City of Jerusalem.
Fabled for its views of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus is a vantage point that in the past has had strategic significance - hence its name (Latin scopus as in "scope"). It was from Mount Scopus that the Romans planned and launched their assault that destroyed the city in 70 C.E. The Crusaders also chose this location for their camp before the Siege of Jerusalem in 1099 C.E. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
After dinner you will have an opportunity to take local taxi cabs to various shopping locations that are open at night, including Ben Yehuda Mall.
Day 6: Thursday, November 5
- Mount of Olives/Site of the Ascension/Garden of Gethsemane/Mt. Zion/Upper Room/ King David's Tomb/Caiaphas' House/Dinner at hotel with Jewish Agency for Israel and recent émigrés brought to Israel through "On Wings of Eagles".
 See the olive trees on the Mount of Olives (Luke 19 and II Samuel 15) that date back to the time of Jesus. Drive by the Site of the Ascension (Acts 1). Take time to wander the garden and pray in Gethsemane (John 18) looking toward the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem. Visit Mount Zion on the south side of Jerusalem, King David's city. Sing praises in the Upper Room (Luke 22) and view the traditional tomb of King David and visit Caiaphas' House. Josephus writes that Caiaphas was made High Priest of the Jews by the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus, predecessor of Pontius Pilate, around 18 CE. The New Testament refers to Caiaphas a number of times, in particular as being responsible for the capture and execution of Jesus.
At our hotel in Jerusalem, participate in a gala dinner featuring recent émigrés brought back to Israel through "On Wings of Eagles". Officials from the Jewish Agency for Israel will speak about the important help that is given to them by caring Christians in America through the work of The Fellowship.
- Visits to IFCJ projects in the area could be scheduled.
Day 7: Friday, November 6
- Qumran/Masada/Spa of Ein Gedi/Dead Sea/Shabbat meal with Rabbi Yechiel and Joelle Eckstein
 Travel into the Judean wilderness and south along the Dead Sea shoreline to Qumran, located on the northern portion of the Dead Sea. Here is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. At Qumran you will have an opportunity to shop in one of the finest stores in the area handling the world famous Ahava Beauty Products.
Visit the spectacular mountaintop fortress of Masada built by Herod. Masada is famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. From the top of Masada, the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp can be seen. Visit the Spa of Ein Gedi for a relaxing swim in the Dead Sea and relax in the heated mineral baths.
Head back to Jerusalem for a memorable Shabbat dinner and teaching experience with Rabbi Yechiel and Joelle Eckstein along with Rabbi's Eckstein's daughter Yael Eckstein Farkas and her husband Ami.
Day 8: Saturday, November 7
- Old City of Jerusalem/Western Wall/View the Temple Mount/Via Dolorosa/Garden Tomb/Gordon's Calvary/Farewell Banquet with Rabbi Yechiel and Joelle Eckstein
 Touch a part of Herod's Temple as you pray at the Western Wall, the holiest site of Judaism. View the original Temple Mount platform where King Herod's Temple stood and see the Dome of the Rock from the Western Wall Plaza. Spend time in prayer at the Western Wall, the holiest place in Judaism and pray for the needs of Fellowship partners who have sent their prayer requests in as part of the annual Prayer at the Wall program. Walk through the Old City of Jerusalem, visiting the pool of Bethesda (John 5) and view the shops and unique way of life that these ancient customs and lifestyles have maintained. Shop in the Old City stores as you travel along the Via Dolorosa "The Way of Suffering" for Jesus.
Sense the agony of Jesus' crucifixion at Gordon's Calvary (Luke 23) and experience the exhilaration and reality of the resurrection at the Garden Tomb and then join fellow Journey Home Tour members for a memorable Christian communion service.
Back at the hotel gather for the traditional farewell banquet with special surprises and fond memories of our time in Israel with Rabbi Yechiel and Joelle Eckstein.
Day 9: Sunday, November 8
- Israel Museum - Model City/Yad Vashem/Transfer to Airport for late night flight to USA
Visit the outstanding model of Jerusalem as it was during the Roman occupation to understand what the city looked like during the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Visit Yad Vashem (Holocaust Memorial) for a somber reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust with the purpose of never allowing this portion of history to repeat.
Due to airline schedules some of the Journey Home Tour group will depart Israel tonight.
Day 10: Monday, November 9
- Arrive USA, Meals Served in Flight.
The remainder of the Journey Home Tour group will depart Israel this morning.
JOURNEY TO ZION TEACHING/FILMING EXTENSION
November 9 - 12, 2009
- Join Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein for three days of teaching on the Jewish Roots of Christianity as he films segments for his nationally televised program "Journey to Zion".
- Sites around Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee will be selected as the filming locations for this special three-day extension.
- Extension is subject to having a minimum of 40 people registered.
SPECIAL NOTE:
- Passengers registering for the tour accept the responsibility for being in good health and able to walk and travel on the tour. Because many of the sites in Israel are not accessible to the physically challenged, those needing wheelchairs, oxygen, or other ambulatory assistance will find the tour extremely limiting in their experiences.
- Those who have serious health issues and are determined and insist that they will participate on this tour must provide a doctor's clearance that they are fit to travel and participate. They must also secure a family member or friend who will accompany them on this trip to care for them.
- If you have questions, please contact Noseworthy Travel for more details.
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