Shellenberger Trip to Israel – September 2024

Activities:

• Shalom & welcome to Israel - Arrive at Ben Gurion airport. Your VIP agent will be waiting to greet you at the sleeve of the plane. After assisting with arrival procedures and collecting your baggage, you will be taken to meet your guide.

• Ascend to Jerusalem

• Mount of Olives overlook - The Mount of Olives offers a panoramic lookout over the city. There are countless Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions about Mt. Olives, including that from here the Messiah will come, and from here the dead will be resurrected in the vision of the End of Days. Enjoy a beautiful lookout of the Holy Basin, the old and new city of Jerusalem.

• Machane Yehuda Market tasting tour - In the heart of Jerusalem sits this bustling, multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor. Immerse yourself in the world of Middle Eastern cuisine as you indulge in a tasting tour through Machane Yehuda Market. Learn about the market's rich history, and meet the vendors who bring this place to life, as you experience the vibrant energy unique to this iconic culinary destination. (Tastings are included in the tour).

• Check in to your hotel rest and rejuvenate

• Dinner on your own - We will be happy to provide you with recommendations of restaurants in Jerusalem and assist with making reservations upon request. (Meal and transportation are not included.)

• Mamilla Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Every morning you'll enjoy a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast at your hotel.

• Full day touring the Old City of Jerusalem - Tour Jerusalem’s Old City and meet the people and places that make this place so unique. In the Jewish Quarter, uncover the layers of Jewish history from the time of the First Temple until the present day. In the Christian Quarter, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and, if conditions permit, visit one of the holiest Muslim sites, the Temple Mount. Throughout the tour explore the complexity of a city that is holy to the three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - The church is situated on the hill called Golgotha or Calvary and contains the last five Stations of the Cross, including the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Several Christian denominations claim ownership to various parts of this site so holy to Christendom.

• Authentic meal at the local market

• Walk parts of the Via Dolorosa - Enter the Christian Quarter and walk the Via Dolorosa, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. This is one of the most celebrated places on a Christian pilgrimage. Continue to the Holy Sepulchre situated on the hill called Golgotha or Calvary. The Church contains the last five Stations of the cross including the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial.

• Take time to reflect at the Western Wall - Proceed to the Kotel, sacred because it is one of the last remnants of the Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans. Feel the stones that have witnessed so much in the history of the Jews. Place your special and personal prayer in the cracks of the stones.

• Continue to Mount Zion - Visit the traditional site of the tomb of King David, holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. On the ground level are several Jewish synagogues. The second level the contains the Cenacle room where two major events in the early Christian Church are commemorated: the Last Supper and the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles.

• Walk back to your hotel, free afternoon and dinner on your own - (meal and transfers aren't included)

• Mamilla Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Drive to the Judean Desert - to the lowest place on earth

• Tour Masada National Park - Ascend the mountain by cable car to explore Masada, a natural fortress combining natural beauty and deep meaning. Explore the impressive excavations that reveal secrets of daily life in the fortress, hear about the scene of the epic stand by Jewish rebels at the end of the Great Revolt against Rome nearly 2,000 years ago, and how the site became one of Israel’s most important symbols.

• Enjoy the Dead Sea in a spa hotel and eat lunch - At 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. Known in Hebrew as "The Sea of Salt", it is also one of the saltiest lakes in the world - with about 34.2% salinity.
  This is a stunning, other-worldly landscape of shimmering blue water ringed by bare, orange and yellow hills. The waters of the Dead Sea hold a potent solution of minerals and salts that have strong healing properties. Together with its ethereal beauty, these health-giving minerals make the Dead Sea’s beaches and spas popular vacation spots for Israelis and tourists alike. At one of the local hotels, have lunch and float in the Dead Sea.

• Time permitting: stop at Qumran National Park - A fascinating site of great meaning. Qumran gained international renown thanks to the ancient parchment scrolls found accidentally by shepherds in a nearby cave, the earliest writings in Hebrew ever found. Tour the ruins and learn about the community who lived here, see a large number of ritual purification pools (Mikveh), a central dining room in which ceremonial meals were held, and in a distance see the caves in the Judean Desert vertical cliff, and appreciate the excitement around the discovery of the significant scrolls.

• Drive back to Jerusalem.

• Dinner on your own - (Meal and transportation not included.)

• Mamilla Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel & check-out

• Tour of the picturesque Ein Karem - Step into another world while you visit the quaint Ein Karem neighborhood, which is tucked into the hills of Jerusalem. This is the biblical Ein Karem village, whose name means "the spring in the vineyard." Wander through this serene neighborhood, visit impressive churches like the Church of the Visitation, explore local art galleries, and discover the religious heritage.

• Lunch in a local restaurant - (meal not included)

• Visit the Israel Museum & the infamous Shrine of the Book - Which is the country’s largest cultural institute and ranked among the world's leading art and archeology museums. Linger over the renowned Israeli art, the Judaica collections in the Jewish Art and Life Wing, and in the Archaeology Wing visit the world's most extensive holdings of the Land of Israel. Among the highlights of the campus is the Shrine of the Book, home to the exceptional archaeological finds of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Biblical manuscripts in the world, as well as other rare ancient manuscripts. Tour with your guide followed by time on your own to explore the galleries that interest you the most.

• Drive to Tel Aviv & check-in to the hotel.

• Dinner at a local restaurant - We will be happy to give restaurant recommendations in Tel Aviv and assist with making reservations upon request. (Meal & transfers aren't included)

• The Norman Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Meet your guide at the lobby and depart north along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea

• Tour Caesarea National Park - On the Mediterranean coast, Caesarea National Park is one of Israel’s most impressive archeological sites. Here, amazing ancient harbor ruins, beautiful beaches, and magnificent modern residences sit side-by-side. The city was initially built by King Herod in the 1st century BC, who dreamt of a major seaport to connect the Province of Judea with Rome. For this purpose, the king's men designed an entirely artificial harbor that was in use for about a millennium. Caesarea became a central city in Roman and Byzantine times as can be seen from the massive archeological remains on site. View the spectacular Roman amphitheater, still used today as a performance venue, as well as the hippodrome that held 20,000 spectators for chariot races.

• Continue north to the Galilee and explore Nazareth - Set in the Lower Galilee, Israel’s biggest Arab city, Nazareth, is a fascinating place. It combines traditional, simple Arabic charm, Christian history, and grand old Arabic architecture. Nazareth is home to many important early Christian sites, including the Basilica of the Annunciation, Mary’s Well, and the Synagogue Church, as well as an authentic, living Arab souk (market).

• Have lunch in the Nazareth market - (Meal is not included)

• Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation - Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, is closely associated with Christianity and attracted many pilgrims throughout the last two thousand years. Although it is not the birthplace of Jesus, it is the town where he grew up from the age of 3 (upon the return of the Holy Family from Egypt). In the time of Jesus, 1st century AD, this was a small Jewish village in the hills of the Lower Galilee. One can imagine the quiet life in Nazareth, away from the Politics of the Priests and the Rabbis of Jerusalem, amongst the simple hard-working people of the Galilee, and understand how a true leader of the people can immerge from such a peripheral community.
  
  The standout site in Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest Christian church building in the Middle East. This church was dedicated in 1964 on the Papal visit of Pope Paul VI. We will also visit Mary's Well - the spring and its water are considered holy by both Muslims and Christians. Earlier generations attributed unusual healing properties to it.

• Drive back to Tel Aviv & dinner on your own. - Meal isn't included.

• The Norman Tel Aviv - Two Loft suites

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Meet your guide at the hotel's lobby and begin your walking day tour of Tel Aviv-Yaffo.

• Old Jaffa - Jaffa is one of the most ancient port cities in Israel and the Mediterranean basin. Today, Jaffa is a mixed city, where Jews and Arabs live alongside each other. Tel Aviv, Jaffa's younger sister, was established centuries later, in the year 1909. Though the two were united into one municipality in 1949, each part has retained its unique feel and atmosphere. Jaffa has been regenerated in recent years with the old narrow streets and courtyards becoming a highly popular part of Tel Aviv’s urban tapestry.

• Visit St. Peters Church - A late 19th century Catholic beautiful church which commemorates specifically the visit and mircale of St. Peter in Jaffa. St. Peter came to Jaffa (Joppa) to raise Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:36-43 ). St. Peter's Church marks the traditional site of Peter’s vision of the Great Sheet (Acts 10:9-16). It was from here that he journeyed up the coast to Caesarea to tell about Jesus at the request of the Roman centurion, Cornelius, whose household became the first converts from paganism to be welcomed into the Church.

• Visit and rest at the Jaffa Flea Market, and have lunch - Wind your way through the Flea Market which features everything from antiques to hip new clothing and design stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars. (Meal is not included)

• Recommended: Take time to explore Nachalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Market - An open-air market in the heart of Tel-Aviv. It has become synonymous with quality Israeli crafts and folk art. The market comprised over 100 stands representing specialty local crafts in virtually every medium imaginable: wood, stone, glass, ceramics, and various metals, all original and handmade.

• Architecture Tour of the White City - Explore Lev Ha'ir, the Heart of the City, where the first roots of Tel Aviv were planted in 1909. Lev Hair contains some of Tel Aviv’s most beautiful buildings, being at the center of the UNESCO designated “White City” known for its Bauhaus, Eclectic, and International Style architecture. The area is densely populated, rooted in history, and with a glance towards the future with impressive skyscrapers, and a high concentration of start-up companies. Bordered by Habima Theater in the north and Florentin and Neve Tzedek in the south, Lev Ha’ir is a gateway to almost every district in the city. Lev Ha'ir is a cultural hub, filled with galleries, restaurants and parks.

• Free afternoon & Dinner on your own - Meal and transportation aren't included.

• The Norman Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Meet your guide at the lobby and travel north.

• Tour Capernaum - Or Kfar Nahum, ancient fishing village, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, on the imperial highway from Tiberias to Damascus, and Jesus's base during the most influential period of his Galilean ministry. Visit the renowned synagogue, whose facade faces south toward Jerusalem, and see the Jewish symbols and Hebrew inscriptions carved into the columns. Walk to the modern, glass-walled church, which is dramatically suspended over the ruins of an octagonal, 5th-century church that partly obscures St. Peter's House, where Jesus is believed to have stayed. Today, used for frequent Masses in dozens of languages, offering a spiritual experience.

• Visit Magdala - The ancient town was established in the Hellenistic Period and grew to a thriving fishing village by the time the Romans invaded the Galilee in 67 AD. Situated at the shores of the Sea of Galilee Magdala was an active city filled with fishermen, shopkeepers and townspeople. A decade ago archaeological discoveries indicate the presence of an observant Jewish community in Magdala, as is evidenced in its First Century Synagogue, one of seven in the world.

• Stop for lunch on route - (Meal is not included)

• Take the opportunity for a spiritual baptize in the waters of the Jordan River - The Baptismal site Yardenit is situated at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. This is where the Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee on its way down to the Dead Sea. These are the waters in which Jesus was said to have been baptized by John the Baptist. We can assist with booking a pastor for a private ceremony - not included. Please note: currently the site is open for groups only and we will be able to confirm closer to the trip.

• Go on a magical Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee - The best way to appreciate the beauty of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water, is by taking a boat ride across the blue water, especially at sunset as the sky changes color and the sun sinks behind the dreamlike hills that surround the lake.

• Farewell dinner at a local restaurant & conclude your trip - (meal not included)

• Drive back to Tel Aviv

• The Norman Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel & check-out.

• Private transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport

• VIP service - Your VIP agent will meet you at the departures terminal to assist with check-in and security procedures.

• Fly back home - We hope to host you again in our beautiful country!