Designed for Christian theology students who spent 1/3 of their time focused on Jews and Israel, 1/3 of their time in the Galilee focused on Christian pilgrimage sites, and 1/3 of their time focused on the Palestinian experience.  This program reflects the first third of their program.

Day 1 

• Group arrival – bus pickup from Ben Gurion Airport
• Drive to Jerusalem
• Dinner at hotel
• Overview: Holy Land and Modern State

Day 2

• Study Session: “Jerusalem - Political and Spiritual Center” – Marcie Lenk
• Excursion through the Old City: “Jerusalem: Three Faiths”
• Lunch in the Old City
• Israel Museum – tour of the Dead Sea scrolls exhibit led by director of the Shrine of the Book
• Dinner at hotel
• Study Session: “The State of Israel: Jewish and Democratic” – Marcie Lenk

Day 3

• Study Session: Orthodox Jewish Communities
• Meet at Kurdish synagogue with local Mizrahi teacher: “Liturgy of Arab Jews”
• Walking tour through Nahlaot neighborhood
• Lunch and free time in Mahane Yehuda market
• Preparation for Shabbat
• Study Session: “What is the Sabbath?”
• Shabbat dinner as a group at hotel

Day 4

• Walking tour: “Jerusalem: Old Traditions, New City”
• Free time for lunch and shopping in the Old City
• Study Session: “Secular Jews”
• Dinner
• Evening of Song and Prayer with local song leader 

Day 5 

• Sunday Worship at St. George’s Cathedral
• Study Session: “Christians in Israel”
• Summing up