INTENSIVE EXPLORATIONS IN THE HOLY LAND

   Individuals of all ages are offered a 3-week educational and intensive travel study adventure that is not a typical tour to the Holy Land but an educational in-depth exploration of the land, its people and its cultures. International and local expert faculty conduct extensive field studies and lecture discussions. Three university-level certified units in Near Eastern Studies and Comparative Religious Studies are available to qualifying participants. Each program is designed with special topics per faculty expertise. Includes activities for families, biblical lifestyles, Old and New Testament studies, and much more! 

 This intensive 23-day experience is packed with unique and exciting activities, visits to sacred sites, ancient cities and archaeological ruins, “locals-only" cultural experiences, on-site guest lecturers and expert faculty. In addition to more frequently visited sites, your experience includes the following destinations as circumstances allow:

• Hebron, location of the Tomb of the Patriarchs

• Shiloh, where the boy prophet Samuel & the Tabernacle of Moses resided until the days of Eli.

• Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene & a beautiful shrine dedicated to the women in Christ's ministry.

• Mt. Gerazim, place of the Samaritan Temple and annual sacrifices during Passover.

• Nablus and Jacob's Well, where the Samaritan woman spoke with Jesus.

• Sebastia, capital of the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel, archaeological ruins of the palace of Herod Antipas where some believe John the Baptist was beheaded.

• Beer Sheba, Well of Abraham, home of Isaac and Jacob, Bedouin cultures at the kibbutz Lahav.

• Numerous locations in Jerusalem, the Negev, and the Western Coastal Plain not seen on normal tourist excursions & much more!

One participant wrote: 

“Great inspiration for someone such as I who knew very little about the Holy Land ... So much more than I ever expected.”   – Paul, 2017 Program

Unique Program activities include:

• Simulated first century A.D. meal in the recreated Nazareth Village.

• Guest lecturers from the various religious groups, including the Jewish. Islamic, Samaritan, Druze. Baha'i, Eastern and Western Christian communities.

• Site lectures and discussions from scholars on archaeology, history, contemporary affairs, cultural life styles, biblical plants and animals, the Palestinians, Bedouins and Israelis, etc.

• Swimming in the Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mediterranean Sea, and other locations.

• Time to quietly meditate at sacred sites, Shop In the open-air markets (suk), and mix with the locals, etc.

• Academic certified units are available for those who desire, as the materials presented before and during the program are Online and equivalent to university studies.

• Camel rides, working on a potter’s wheel in Hebron, visit museums seldom seen on usual tours with powerful lecture-discussions from experts, and much more!