Join the RBCS Student tour for a trip of a lifetime in Israel!  This tour will take you to beginning at Jaffa (biblical Joppa) from the house of Simon the Tanner, all the way to the Upper Galilee to walk where Jesus walked.  You will also make your way up to the Golan Heights in the northern part of the Galilee.  You'll be in the Galilee enjoying all of the special sites including the Mt of Beatitudes, Capernaum, and more.  You will have opportunity to be baptised in the Jordan River at the Yardenit Baptism Site.  You will have an opportunity to float in the Dead Sea, go up in a cable car to Masada, visit the Western Wall, City of David, Garden of Gethsemane, Bethlehem, and the Garden Tomb.  There will also be a sobering visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum for a time of reflection on the history of the Holocaust.  While in Jerusalem, you'll enjoy a Tower of David light show which is unforgettable.  Also, one of the highlights of anyone traveling to Israel will be that you'll enjoy some of the best Israeli cuisine with some of the finest food in the world!  There will be a farewell dinner before heading back to the US with hearts full of a lifetime of memories.

-Due to the overwhelming response, deposits do not guarantee a spot on this tour and the final determination of those on the tour and those wait listed will be determined by the group leader of this tour, Harold Lewis.

-For those who have paid for airfare already, we will be discounting your total to reflect a land only package, excluding the airfare cost.  

-Tour payments are nonrefundable.  Travel insurance is advised.  See the below info about how to obtain travel insurance quotes by emailing Tabitha@AdoptionAirfare.com.

-For any questions about this tour, please reach out to your group leaders Mr. Harold Lewis lewish@rbcs.org and Mrs Kine kniea@rbcs.org

Arrival and assistance at Ben Gurion airport.

Today there will be a serving option - still TBD.

After you land, you'll be able to visit the Port city of Jaffa, Biblical Joppa where you'll walk the stone streets and visit the house of Simon the Tanner.  

Transfer to your coastal hotel which is just a short walk to the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner reception, orientation and rest.

Dinner and Rest along the Mediterranean Sea in the beautiful coastal city of Netanya.

Waking up on the beautiful Mediteranean sea, it will be time to pack up and check out for an amazing day of touring Israel and heading up through Cana to the Galilee.

Our first stop today will be Cesarea Martiima, Cesarea is a town with some amazing history, located on the Mediterranean coast of Israel mentioned in the biblical book of Acts Chapter 10. Nowadays It sits in between the big cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Next we will visit Mt Carmel (Muchraka).
Mt. Carmel is mentioned as a “holy mountain” in Egyptian records of the 16th century bc. As a “high place,” it was long a centre of idol worship, and its outstanding reference in the Bible is as the scene of Elijah's confrontation with the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18).

Next we will head to Megiddo: Megiddo is an ancient city with future significance. It is located in the middle of the southern Jezreel Valley, in northern Israel. Its prime location gives its inhabitants control over travel from the Mediterranean to the east and a wide scope of the valley below.

After this amazing day of touring, we will drive through Cana to the Galilee for Dinner and Overnight at your Galilee Hotel.

Today you are waking up near the Sea of Galilee. Around this Lake the dead were raised, the sick were healed, the poor were comforted, and those oppressed found freedom. The majority of Jesus’ miracles and teachings took place on or around this beautiful lake we call the Sea of Galilee.

Today we will head to the Upper Galilee, where we will visit Tel Dan. Dan (Hebrew: דן) is an ancient city mentioned in the Bible, described as the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel, and belonging to the tribe of Dan.

The city is identified with a tell located in Upper Galilee, northern Israel, known as Tel Dan (תל דן‎; "Mound of Dan") in Hebrew. According to 2 Kings 10:29 and 2 Chronicles 13:8, Jeroboam erected two golden calves as gods in Bethel and Dan.  

Next we will visit the beautiful Banais Springs, The Banias spring, located by the Israeli/Lebanese border at the foothills of Mt. Hermon was the location Jesus chose to ask His disciples, and all who would read His words, “who do you say that I am?”

Next we will head up to Mt Bental. Mount Bental is one of Israel’s favorite mountain peaks to visit, partly due to the great panoramic views of the Golan and even Syria but also because Mount Bental was the site of a courageous battle fought during Israel’s war for the Golan. A short drive up, the mountain-top provides both scenic beauty and a glimpse back at the past – with bunkers open to visitors.  

After this beautiful view, we will be heading down into the lower part of the Galilee to the Yardenit Baptism Site where we will be doing baptisms in the Jordan River. Yardenit, also known as the Yardenit Baptismal Site, is a baptism site located along the Jordan River in the Galilee region of northern Israel, which is frequented by Christians from all over the world.

After a full day of touring and baptisms, we will head back to our Galilee hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we will head out to Jesus' hometown of Capernaum. Situated on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum is strategically located on the Via Maris Road, connecting Egypt to the Middle East and the Northern Empires. No wonder the Lord Jesus chose this First Century Jewish town as the headquarters of his ministry.

Next we will head over the Tabga which is where the miracle of the multiplication of fish took place in the Bible.  

Next we will head over to the Mt of Beatitudes. Situated on a beautiful hilltop overlooking the Sea of Galilee, you are standing at the traditional site of the Lord Jesus’ longest single teaching recorded in the NT starting with., “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… “

Next we will have an authentic Israeli meal that we like to call St Peters Fish Lunch.  You will enjoy this and learn about how Jesus and his disciples would have eaten.

After lunch, we will head over to Magdala. Magdala was a major port city on the Sea of Galilee during the time of Yeshua. Located just north of Tiberius, on the northwestern shore of the sea, Magdala was an important trade city with prosperous fishing. In Christian circles, Magdala is best known as the hometown of Mary Magdalene.

In the late afternoon, we will head back out to the Sea of Galilee for a worship boat ride, where you'll be able to ride in a boat on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on the water and so much more.  This is a very special time of reflection and worship as we think about everything the Lord has done here in this place and continues to do even now.

We will head back to our Galilee hotel for Dinner and Overnight in the Galilee.

We will have an Early Start visiting Gideon's Springs in the morning.  Gideon’s Spring, or also known as Harod Spring, is located in the fertile Jezreel Valley about 26 miles (42 km.) from the Mediterranean Sea and about 17 miles (28 km.) south of the Sea of Galilee. Just to the south of Gideon’s Spring are the Gilboa Mountains. This is the biblical area where Gideon chose 300 men for battle.

Then we will head out along the Jordan River Valley - The Jordan Valley extends from Syria to the Red Sea and continues through a large portion of Eastern Africa. At its southern extremity, the Jordan Valley connects with Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Jordan Valley has traditionally been a North-South transport corridor, and is crossed by important land routes in the East-West direction.

Mt Scopus

Bethlehem including Shepherd's Fields

Check into Jerusalem hotel for dinner and overnight

Our first stop today in Jerusalem will be the Mount of Olives where  our Lord ascended, and where He will return! We will follow the Palm  Sunday Path that our Master road when He made His triumphant entry into  Jerusalem as King riding on a donkey. 

Then we will enter the Garden of Gethsemane and remember our Savior's  great anguish as He was pressed and sweat blood in prayer to the  Father. 

Next we will visit Dominus Flevit, a building located halfway down  the western slope of the Mount of Olives and marks the traditional place  where Jesus wept over the future fate of Jerusalem.

After going through the Lion's Gate, we visit St Anne's Church / Pool  of Bethesda where a sick man was healed by Jesus.  Bethesda means  “House of Mercy” and was known as a place of healing.. According to the  Gospel of John, Bethesda was a bathing pool with five porticoes or  porches. Remains of part of these porticoes can still be seen today. 

Next we will follow the Way of the Cross - This is considered by many  to be the painful path that Jesus walked on his way to the cross.

Then we will visit St Peter De Galicantu -According to tradition, the  church is the believed site of the House of Caiaphas. On the roof of  the church is a rooster on a black cross, a symbol of Peter’s denial of  Christ before the cock crowed.

We will finish today's tour by visiting the Israel Museum including the 2nd Temple Model.

Dinner and overnight at our Jerusalem hotel.

This morning we will visit the amazing and historical Masada where we will journey up in a cable car to see everything - Masada reflects the stronghold of Roman leadership that was antagonistic towards and persecuted the Jewish people. Herod the Great (74/73-4 BCE), the Roman King over Judea, was responsible for the expansion of the Second Temple. This same Herod received the wise men from the East who came to inquire about the birth of the Messiah. Herod also called for the murder of all baby boys two-years old or younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas at the time of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1-21).

Next we will visit the beautiful Ein Gedi area of Israel where David hid in the caves from Saul.  This is also the home to the beautiful Ibex which are specific to this area of Israel and if we are fortunate enough, we may even see the Ibex during our time in Ein Gedi.  The beautiful waterfalls and nature in this area are unforgettable and you won't want to forget your camera!

Next we will visit Qumran -The Hellenistic period settlement was constructed during the reign of John Hyrcanus (134–104 BCE) or somewhat later, was occupied most of the time until 68 CE and was destroyed by the Romans possibly as late as 73. It is best known as the settlement nearest to the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden, caves in the sheer desert cliffs and beneath, in the marl terrace.

Dead Sea Swim - The Dead Sea was one of the world's first health resorts (for Herod the Great). It was a source of cosmetic and healing products from balms. Until today people also use the salt and the minerals from the Dead Sea to create cosmetics and herbal sachets. There are therapeutic sulfur springs of 42 degrees Celsius.

Tower of David Light Show - We will end our evening with a very spectacular light show at the Tower of David in Jerusalem.  

Check into Jerusalem hotel for dinner and overnight

Today we will visit the Temple Mount. The location of the temple was the same place where Abraham was to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to God. The Temple Mount would later become the meeting place of the Early Church where multitudes of men and women were added to the church on a daily basis and many were healed.

We will visit the historical City of David where all the history of Jerusalem began. We will watch a 3D Movie and visit Hezekiah's Tunnel. Recognized at a premier archeological site worldwide due to the great volume of findings and the advanced excavations’ technology, it all started roughly 130 years ago when a British archeological expedition led by Charles Warren arrived to Jerusalem. In his digging, was discovered the first evidence of the original City of David located just below the rise of the Temple Mount.

Next we will head to the Southern Steps of Temple Mount including Davidson Center.

The Southern Steps are also called the “Speaking Steps,” this place was also a popular spot for traveling teachers and rabbis, including Jesus, to address the crowds. Some Bible scholars believe this is the location of the first apostolic message recorded in the book of Acts chapter 2. Following a fiery short message, Peter said, “Let the whole house of Israel know for sure that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. And when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked, ‘what should we do?’”

After this we will head to the most sacred site in Jerusalem, the Western Wall. Standing at the epicenter of Jewish longing, worship and prayer, you can sense the rich deposit of thousands of years of faith and devotion to God focused at this very spot. 

Next we will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum for a sobering and life-changing time of learning and remembering the history and the atrocities done to the Jewish people during the Holocaust.

After our time at Yad Vashem, we will have a special opportunity to visit the Garden Tomb and partake of communion, remembering all of the things the Lord has done for us all.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

This morning we will wake up and enjoy breakfast at our Jerusalem hotel.  

***Activities this day will be determined by the group leader because flights are departing at night and GROUP 1 is departing in the AM***

Transfer to the airport in the evening for a lifetime of memories.

Shalom and Lehitraot!