The Glories of Israel

the glories of

israel Groups tap the roots of their faith in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Church of All Nations, Jerusalem

Reprinted from Leisure Group Travel

W

hen your group takes a journey to the Holy Land, they will witness the places most sacred to their faith, learn more about the stories they hold closest to their hearts, and experience the culture of the communities where their belief was born.

In addition to tracing the Stations of the Cross by day, they can watch an Israeli folklore show with dinner. They’ll visit the sites of miracles, like Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine, as well as places of unique pleasures like floating on the incredibly buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. Israel is a place to venture into the secret underground passageways of Crusader City, to float across the Sea of Galilee, and to witness the breathtaking view of the Holy City upon entering

Jerusalem. It’s a place to get adventurous by exploring the diverse Mediterranean influences in the local cuisine, or by simply enjoying a falafel from a street vendor while strolling ancient stone streets.

A LucrAtive MArket Menlo studies have revealed that Israel is the most desirable religious vacation destination and that within the next five years, nearly 16 million Americans are planning to take a Religious/Faith-Based Vacation. This is an excellent opportunity for group travel. And since 4 out of 5 religious travelers intend to repeat the experience and Globus vacations have a 97% satisfaction rating, sending your groups on Globus Religious Vacation means repeat business for you!

For many, the footsteps of faith are a serious undertaking, and we make sure

to provide a staff with extensive knowledge, interest, and experience in religious travel. Itineraries have been carefully chosen and refined so that travelers can comfortably explore all of the places they hold dear.

And when your group undertakes such an important pilgrimage, we want to make sure they enjoy their experience. Travelers to the Holy Land have an unparalleled opportunity to develop fellowship with their traveling companions. By sharing these mutual interests, Faith-Based Travelers often build friendships—and vacation partnerships—that last a lifetime.

But you don’t have to take our word for it—this travelogue from a Globus traveler who just returned home from the “Journey Through the Holy Land” vacation speaks volumes.

Bring the world’s most

The Wailing Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem 18 August 2009

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Day 1 Yesterday we arrived in Tel Aviv. We got to meet our Tour Director and everyone in the group, which we loved because everybody is so excited. We began the day in Caesarea, where we saw Herod’s fortress. Our Tour Director said that the engraved rock is believed to be from Pontius Pilate. He also said that the term Armageddon was derived from the battlefield we saw in Meggido. It was nice to find a change of pace when we passed through Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s vineyards on the way to Muhraqa.

We spent the night in the port town Haifa.

A Haifa highlight: Baha’i Shrine, world center of Baha’i faith

Day 2 Wow! What a way to wake up—staring at the Baha’i Shrine. We got to look upon the glorious dome and the perfectly manicured gardens from above and below. After that we explored the Crusader Kingdom. The hallways and secret passageways of the underground Crusader City are just amazing. I felt privy to something special I never could have imagined. The huge columns are engraved with beautiful French fleur-de-lys and Turkish decorations. In the courtyard, the citadel walls are almost 100 feet high! But that was only the beginning. Nazareth felt like the place the Bible really comes to life. It was fascinating to see how small and simple the ancient homes were. Then we headed to Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. And to top it all off, we went for a swim in the lake at Kibbutz Ginosaur before dinner.

powerful stories to life.

Day 3 Today started at the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. I think everyone felt inspired after that. Our Tour Director led us on an in-depth exploration of the places Jesus preached—first the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes and then Capernaum, where Jesus recruited his first followers. The little details he included in the stories about these places were illuminating. Our cruise on the Sea of Galilee was such a fun shared experience, and gave us a much different view of the landscape and the culture where our faith began. It was a joy to find ourselves on the same sea where Jesus walked on water. After we examined some Roman and Byzantine relics in Bet She’an, we entered the Holy City—and what a view!

Day 4 The morning began in Ein Karem to visit the Church of St. John the Baptist and the Church of Visitation, which our Tour Director said is reputed to be built over the home of John the Baptist’s parents. But visiting Bethlehem was the biggest wow moment for me. Seeing that the place Jesus was born is now an underground cave, I just got goosebumps. We also visited Shepherd’s Field, the lovely site where the angels announced the birth of Jesus. On our return to Jerusalem, we examined amazing treasures from the Second Temple Period in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park. In the evening, we enjoyed an Israeli folklore show with dinner. So much fun!

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Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem August 2009 19

Day 5 We may be at the lowest point on Earth at the Dead Sea, but you’d never know it by our first venture of the day. We ascended in a cable car to the spectacular hilltop fortress of Masada. We could see across the sea all the way to Jordan. The schedule worked out perfectly today—we were ready for a more relaxing day, and our group headed to a really comfortable Dead Sea resort. I had heard about floating on the Dead Sea, but never guessed how cool it would be. I floated sitting up! It was such a unique experience, I recommend it to anyone. We were all smiles as we made our way back to Jerusalem.

Day 6 We could see the Old City and the modern parts of Jerusalem this morning from the Mount of Olives. Then we began a walking tour: the Rock of Agony, where Jesus prayed his last prayer before his arrest; the Cave of the Assumption of Mary and the Cave of Betrayal; and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, erected over the site of the crucifixion.

When I saw the slab of marble where Jesus’ body was cleansed after crucifixion, it was a very emotional moment. I left a photo of my husband and son there. We visited the Wailing Wall afterward, which was extremely powerful because you witness so many Jewish traditions and everyone is so devout. You’re there to have a religious experience.

The day concluded at the House of Caiaphas, where Jesus was kept the night after he was arrested. This was definitely one of the most emotional days of my life.

St. Catherine’s Church in Bethlehem, where the midnight Mass is held on Christmas for world leaders

"This was definitely one of the most emotional days of my life."

Day 7 Today was a day at leisure, so we took the time to explore. Our Tour Director recommended visiting the Israel Museum, where we saw the Shrine of the Book, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Bible in the world, and a model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period. We truly appreciated the day at leisure in Jerusalem. We wandered the stone streets of the Old City and checked out the Turkish markets. We ate some Hungarian goulash and delicious vegetable kabobs. And we got to see the sunlight shine through the Chagall windows, which was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed.

We decided to end the afternoon at the Holocaust Museum, which was incredibly moving.

Day 8 We were excited to rejoin the group this morning! We followed a winding road to the land of the Philistines, including the legendary Valley of Elah, where David defeated Goliath. Our Tour Director shared stories that gave the famous story a whole new context. We also visited the Monastery of the Trappist Monks in Latrun and stopped near the ruins of the basilica said to be the site of Emmaus, where Jesus manifested himself to two disciples. But this day was mainly memorable because our journey was coming to an end.

Exploring the places where all the stories behind our faith happened really made me appreciate our fellow travelers. There’s a truly special bond you form when traveling with others who share your faith. By the farewell dinner, we were all trading stories like old friends.

20 August 2009

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