Jerusalem Seminar Journal

On Saturday morning, after having a communion service on the Sea of Galilee beach, we headed south. We saw one of the traditional sites of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River (and stuck our feet in). We paid 2 shekels for the privilege of using the restrooms. We saw the ancient city of Beth Shean, an intriguing synagogue (Beth Alpha), and had lunch at the Temptation Restaurant in Jericho. We toured the site of the ancient city, then visited Hisham’s Palace with its beautiful mosaic of the “tree of life.” We arrived in Jerusalem by late afternoon.

Sunday was a free day, and we scattered to different places of worship. Most of us also shopped in the old city of Jerusalem, getting lost occasionally!

Monday we explored sites of significance for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. We stopped first at the Western Wall, where we saw devout Jews praying. We then walked up to the Haram-es-Sharif (temple mount) where a group photo was taken. After stopping at the church of St. Ann’s (and the pool of Bethesda), we walked the Via Dolorosa on our way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a massive building which takes in both the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and his burial. For lunch we journeyed out of Jerusalem to Jeremiah’s hometown–Anathoth (present Anata). There we had lunch and heard Salim tell the story of his house being demolished four times. We ate in the fifth construction, now a Peace Center. In the evening, some of us watched the AFC championship football game on TV (Ravens and Steelers). MCC workers ate supper with us and told us about their work here.

Tuesday we went to the Dead Sea region. First we visited Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Next we took cable cars up Masada, the ancient fortress built by Herod the Great where the last stand of Jewish rebels was defeated just shortly after A.D. 70. We saw the beautiful waterfalls of En-Gedi, and floated in the Dead Sea to end our day–our feet got a bit cut up. We saw the inauguration of Barack Obama in the evening.

Today (Wednesday) we journeyed to Hebron, the place where Abraham bought a cave in which the patriarchs and their wives are buried. We got inside the mosque/synagogue there, then traveled to At-Tuwani, south of there, where Palestinians made us a meal. We heard about their struggles to hang onto their land.

On Monday, we visited the Israeli Holocaust Museum (Yad VeShem), including the Valley of the Communities that lists names of nearly 5000 villages throughout Europe in which Jews were expelled (including Kiev and Odessa). We also saw remains of Palestinian villages in the state of Israel that were destroyed in 1948 or 1967. We passed the Aijalon Valley where the sun and moon stood still while Joshua completed a battle. We spent the evening at a community called Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom where Palestinian and Jewish Israelis live together.

Tuesday we headed for the Mediterranean Sea and saw the ancient city of Joppa (Jaffa) next to Tel Aviv. Just north of there we visited Caesarea and saw a theater and an aquaduct constructed by Herod the Great. The ocean was very beautiful! (and chilly) We then traveled east to ancient Megiddo where we walked through the water channel constructed during biblical times. Yet that afternoon we traveled to Mount Tabor, up close and personal. Kayla: “It was awesome! The experience of a lifetime!” We then traveled to Nazareth for the night.

This morning (Wednesday) we visited Nazareth churches and Nazareth Village, a reconstructed first-century village that recreates the situation during Jesus’ day. We had a delicious lunch there, then traveled to nearby Sephoris and saw Roman and Jewish ruins. The mosaics were amazing.

Tonight we are at a kibbutz alongside the Sea of Galilee where we will stay for the next three nights. Tomorrow we will begin our Galilee exploration.

The Tabor Group, in front of the Treasury at Petra

On Thursday we walked into ancient Petra with its outstanding Nabatean and Roman ruins. We all had camel rides on the way out. Great animals!

Friday we crossed the Jordan River into Palestine. We crossed the checkpoint with no delay. We then got some great views of Jerusalem before settling into Bethlehem for the night. Yesterday (Saturday) we toured the shepherd’s field where we read the Christmas story and sang Christmas songs in a beautiful chapel. Zouby Zouby told us about his mediation work and hosted us for lunch. After a break, we heard from Alex Awad, of Bethlehem Bible College, give an overview of the history of Israel and Palestine. We also toured the Church of the Nativity, thought to be over the birthplace of Jesus.

Today was Sunday and the group headed to different churches for worship and had a free afternoon. Our favorite treat so far is “pop rock” chocolate. While browsing the shops, we’ve had opportunity to speak to local people about the conflict between Palestine and Israel in Gaza. Some are discouraged but others more hopeful that it can be resolved.

We have seen two different peaceful demonstrations concerning Gaza. This is on everyone’s mind and concern. We are watching to see if this will change our itinerary or not as we proceed. Tomorrow the plan is to head for the Mediterranean Sea–the city of Joppa, Caesarea–and then on to Nazareth for the night.

By the way, if anyone is reading this blog, your comments are very welcome!!

Patty instructs the group in front of the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

                       Overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Middle East

Our plane landed in Amman, Jordan, at approximately 4pm on Tuesday, January 6. All people and luggage arrived safely. We still are struggling a bit with jet lag. We met our tour guide, Sammy, and had a delicious Jordanian buffet for supper. Amman is a big city, and noises could be heard through the night–particularly by those who did not sleep all through the night.

This morning we had an orientation immediately after breakfast led by Patty and Doug. Then we were off for Madaba where we saw the oldest map of Jerusalem (and other biblical locations) in existence: a mosaic in the floor of a Christian church. Next we traveled to Mt. Nebo where Moses gazed into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34). We also saw a composite cross and pole with a snake, symbolic of Jesus Christ lifted up for our sins (John 3:14-16). The weather was beautiful; we could see the north part of the Dead Sea, the city of Jericho, and part of the Jordan River.

We visited a shop where modern mosaics are made, a very tedious process. Our next stop was Karak and a tour of a 12th-century crusader castle–huge! (and the one used in the movie, Kingdom of Heaven). We arrived at our hotel in Petra this evening. We will walk into the ancient Nabatean realm of Petra tomorrow.

HILLSBORO, Kan. – A 27-member group of Tabor College students, Bethel College students and others will be visiting the land of Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, the disciples, and early Christians, on an educational tour of the Holy Land, Jan. 5 to 25, 2009.

“I am extremely excited about visiting these wonderful places again,” said Tabor Bible professor Douglas Miller, who helped lead a similar trip in January 2007.

Miller will co-lead the tour with Bethel College professor Patricia Shelly, a licensed guide with over 25 years of experience leading tours and living in the Holy Land.

Based in Jerusalem for most of the trip, the group will travel to Mt. Nebo, where Moses gazed into the Promised Land, and other sites in Jordan, including ancient and dramatic Petra. Also on the travel itinerary are Bethlehem, Hebron, Joppa, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, and Dan.

According to Miller, the purpose of the three-week trip is to give participants an opportunity to understand the Bible in its context; learn about the three major religions of the area (Judaism, Islam, Eastern Christianity); gain a better understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and spend special time in worship, reflection, and prayer.

“We will have personal contact and conversation with a variety of local people,” added Miller who particularly noted Palestinian Christians as a neglected minority.

In addition to 15 persons going from Bethel, the following 12 from Tabor are scheduled to make the trip:

Ben Faul (sophomore, Martin, N.D.); Ben Heyen (freshman, Hillsboro, Kan.); Janae Rempel (junior, Meade, Kan.); Kayla Vix (junior, Maize, Kan.); Judy Harder, Associate Professor of Communications and Drama, and her husband, Keith; Myron and LaVon Vetter (Onida, S.D.); Richard and LuWanda Schroeder (Moundridge, Kan.); and Professor Miller and his wife, Holly Swartzendruber, Assistant Professor of Vocal Music.

Tour members will be journaling their thoughts on the journey on this blog. Click on links at right to subscribe via email or through RSS.