Multi-Faith Israel Encounter – In Cooperation with the Australian Council for Christians and Jews
October 24 – November 3, 2017
Tentative program – subject to change. Bookings have not been made
Join us for this unique experience where Christians, Jews and Muslims will explore Israel together while learning about the common roots of their respective faiths.
- Our goal is to promote understanding and tolerance amongst Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
- The program will enable participants to gain respect for and knowledge of both their own and others’ religions and beliefs while exploring Israel.
- Get an up close and unfiltered view of Israel in all its diversity and vibrance.
You can register for the seminar here: https://urjyouth.wufoo.com/forms/rmnkqrj0sqgnhh/
Tentative program – subject to change. Bookings have not been made
Tuesday 24 October, 2017
15:00 Meet at Beit Shmuel
15:30 Welcome program with “Father Abraham” meeting group overlooking Jerusalem – a multi-faith welcome
17:00 Orientation Program – Aims & Goals of program
18:30 Dinner
Overnight: Jerusalem Mercaz Shimshon
Wednesday 25 October, 2017
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Jerusalem – Holy City to Many Faiths
13:00 Lunch on own in Old City of Jerusalem
16:00 Return to Beit Shmuel
17:30 Religious Diversity & Pluralism in Israel
19:00 Group dinner
Optional Tower of David Light Show
Overnight: Jerusalem Mercaz Shimshon
Thursday 26 October, 2017
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Depart for Bethlehem
10:00 Tour of Bethlehem
13:00 Lunch (on own or hosted)
14:30 Tour of Efrat or other Settlement
18:00 Return to Beit Shmuel
19:00 Dinner at Beit Shmuel with small group processing
20:00 Group processing of day
Overnight: Jerusalem Mercaz Shimshon
Friday 27 October, 2017
8:00 Breakfast
9:30 Depart for Abu Ghosh
10:30 Muslim Encounter, study & Sabbath Prayer – to be determined
13:00 Lunch in Abu Ghosh
14:00 Benedictine Monastery tour
15:00 Return to Beit Shmuel
Break
19:00 Jewish Encounter, study and Sabbath Prayer – to be determined
20:00 Dinner at Beit Shmuel
Overnight: Jerusalem Mercaz Shimshon
Saturday 28 October 2017
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Text Study – Sabbath in our three Faiths
10:30 Walking Jerusalem with the Psalms and poetry of Yehuda Amichai
13:00 Lunch at Beit Shmuel
14:00 Israel Museum – optional visit
15:30 Break
17:30 Paul Liptz – Islam in the Middle East- theological and political components
19:00 Distinctions – Havdalah ceremony to end the Jewish Sabbath
19:30 Free evening & dinner on own
Overnight: Jerusalem Mercaz Shimshon
Sunday 29 October 2017
7:30 Breakfast
8:00 Check out & load bus
9:00 Christian Encounter, study & Sabbath Prayer – to be determined
12:30 Lunch on own
13:30 Travel north
16:30 Arab Jewish Youth Circus
18:00 Drive to Sea of Galilee hotel
19:30 Hotel check in
20:00 Group Dinner, walk along the Tiberius Boardwalk, enjoy the Sea of Galilee light show
Overnight: Sea of Galilee Hotel
Monday 30 October 2017
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Load bus and depart
9:30 Visit Yardenite or Capernaum or Taghba
12:00 Depart for Kibbutz Ein Shemer
13:30 Lunch at Kibbutz Ein Shemer
14:30 Ein Shemer Environmental Greenhouse Program
17:00 Depart for Tel Aviv
19:00 Check in Tel Aviv hotel
19:30 Free evening and dinner on own
Overnight: Tel Aviv Gilgal Hotel
Tuesday 31 October 2017
8:00 Breakfast
8:30 Depart for Beer Sheva
11:30 Meet with Arab-Jewish SCHOOL Volunteers
14:00 Lunch on own en route
Be’er-Sheva Australian Light Horse Memorial
18:00 Depart for Dead Sea
Dinner on way to Dead Sea
20:00 Check in to hotel
21:00 Shared Stories of the Desert
Overnight: Ein Gedi or Massada
Wednesday 1 November 2017
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Check out of hotel, load bus
9:00 Dead sea, Masada, Ein Gedi options
12:30 Lunch near Dead Sea
13:30 Depart for Tel Aviv
15:00 Check-in at hotel
18:00 Free evening & dinner on own
Overnight: Jerusalem Mercaz Shimshon
Thursday 2 November 2017
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Depart for Jaffa
9:30 Two Peoples Sharing One City – duel narrative tour
12:30 Lunch on own in Jaffa
14:30 Visit to Independence Hall or Palmach or Rabin Museum or Rabin Square
17:30 Return to hotel
18:30 Depart for Na Laga’at Center for the Deaf and Blind – Show and dinner
21:30 Return to hotel
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Friday 3 November 2017
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Depart for Yad Vashem
12:30 Return to Beit Shmuel
Closing Ceremony
The rates are in Australian Dollars per fully paying person sharing a twin room:
Double room with 20-29 paying participants $4150 AUD
Double room with 30-39 paying participants $3480 AUD
Single Supplement TBD
The above rates include the following tour services:
1. Accommodation: for a total of 10 nights:
- 5 nights at Beit Shmuel/Mercaz Shimshon Jerusalem
- 1 night at Kibbutz Ein Gev Guest House or similar
- 1 night Prima Dead Sea Spa Club or similar
- 3 nights Tel Aviv Gilgal or similar.
2. Meals: daily breakfast at hotel and following meals are included:
- Tuesday 24 October Dinner Jerusalem Restaurant or Hotel
- Wednesday 25 October Dinner Jerusalem Restaurant or Hotel
- Thursday 26 October Dinner Jerusalem Restaurant or Hotel
- Friday 27 October Lunch Abu Ghosh Restaurant
- Friday 27 October Dinner Beit Shmuel
- Saturday 28 October Lunch Beit Shmuel
- Sunday 29 October Dinner Restaurant
- Monday 30 October Lunch Kibbutz Ein Shemer
- Tuesday 31 October Dinner Hotel or Restaurant
- Wednesday 1 November Lunch Restaurant
- Thursday 2 November Dinner Dinner Na Lagaat – Café Kapish
3. Transportation: As per itinerary. Does not include airport transfers.
4. Saltz Educator to be with group along with site guides as needed.
5. Entrance/Site fees included per your itinerary
Not included:
- Meals not specified above
- Drinks with meals
- Extras at hotels
- Tips to hotel & restaurants’ staff
- Travel and baggage insurance
- Medical insurance
- Early check in and late check out of hotels
- No free tour leaders
- Airport transfers
Notes:
- The rates are based on a minimum of 20 or 30 fully paying participants as listed above. In case there will be fewer participants, the rate will have to be adjusted accordingly.
- Please note that this proposal is based on current rates of exchange. Should there be a major change in the exchange rate, then hotels or suppliers may increase rates. Should this happen, our rates would need to be amended accordingly although we will do all possible to avoid this.
- Itinerary is subject to change based on availability of speakers and sites.
Payments & Deposit:
- $200 AUD refundable good faith deposit required with application.
- 20% non-refundable deposit is 6 months in advance (April 15th 2017).
- Payment in full is required no later than 1 month in advance (September 15th 2017).
Payments and deposits can be made via cheque to the Council Christians and Jews 326 Church Street Richmond Victoria 3121. To pay by Visa or Mastercard contact Dr. Philip Bliss (see below).
For More Information contact:
Dr Philip Bliss OAM (chair CCJ Victoria and treasurer ACCJ) philipbliss@philipbliss.com
Rabbi Steve Burnstein steveburnstein@wupj.org.il
You can register for the seminar here: https://urjyouth.wufoo.com/forms/rmnkqrj0sqgnhh/