HOLY LAND TOUR

TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS
  ON MIDDLE EAST ISSUES

OCTOBER 21 – NOVEMBER 6, 2012

SPONSORED BY

CrossCurrents International Institute
email: cci@bright.net
Phone: 937-492-0407
website: www.crosscurrentsinstitute.org
7122 Hardin-Wapak Rd Sidney, OH 45365

CrossCurrents International Institute is a non-profit organization, founded in the mid-1980's, for the purpose of helping people, especially people in USA, to be better informed and more aware of critical world issues. The focus of CrossCurrents has been on people-to-people dialogue---learning, listening, sharing, building friendships, creating a more peaceful world. CrossCurents is based in Ohio but serves a national and international constituency.

Details of Holy Land Tour, October 21 – November 6, 2012

We invite people to consider joining CrossCurrents International Institute on this special program in Israel and Palestine. This is not a “traditional” tour to the Holy Land, although there will be opportunities to visit historical religious sites. The focus will be on meeting people, learning about life in Palestine and Israel, sharing music along the way, planning for what we do after returning home. This program is focused on education and preparation. The Program in Palestine and Israel has been arranged by Holy Land Trust, a non-profit organization based in Bethlehem.

The Mission of this program will include:

 1. Meeting local people in both Israel and Palestine, listening to them, learning from them, sharing with them. We will observe and experience daily life in both Palestine and Israel. We will have special meetings with many key leaders. This is our top priority.

2. We expect to share music with people along the way. We have learned from experience that music is the universal language for bringing people together. We are honored that Richie Barshay, a well-known and respected musician in NYC, will be part of the group. (Note: you do not need to be a musician to participate but we hope many people will be inspired to share music)

3. We will visit some historical religious sites in the Holy Land, including special sites for Christians, Jews, Muslims.

4. We want everyone to have fun! We expect to have a very positive experience. You will be inspired by the friendship of people. We want people to return home, energized to tell their stories.

Who will participate:

 Everyone is welcome to apply. We will limit the group to 15 – 20 people. We seek to have a mixed group---different ages, different viewpoints on Middle East, different religious backgrounds (or no religion), different cultures. We also invite people from different countries to join the group. If you are interested, please apply as soon as possible by contacting CrossCurrents and sharing why you want to participate, something about your own background, how you expect to tell your stories after you return home. Always keep in mind that everything we do during out time in Palestine and Israel is “preparation” for what you expect to do when you return home.
 
Program Description

Sunday, October 21st: Depart from USA to Tel Aviv, Israel.

(Airfare is not included in tour price. CrossCurrents will help with reservations, if requested)

Monday, October 22nd: Arrival in Tel Aviv.

Upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport, you will transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem. Try to arrange for arrivals in afternoon, local time.

Tuesday, October 23rd: Jerusalem

We will begin the tour on a slow pace, giving people a little time in the morning to meet each other, have some orientation to the program, time to walk around.  After lunch, we will visit the National Israeli Museum and the Knesset in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Wednesday, October 24th: Jerusalem

Visit to the Dome of the Rock and a tour in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Old City is a maze of walk ways and steps and cobblestone streets and vendors, as it has been for centuries. Afterwards, we will meet with two members from Bereaved Families Forum (Parents Circle) and possible visit to the school that was highlighted in the book “Lemon Tree”. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Possible informal music in evening at a local family’s house.

Thursday, October 25th: Bethlehem

Start the day with short trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, passing checkpoints along the way. Introduction to Palestine from Sami Awad, Executive director of Holy Land Trust. Visit Bethlehem University, discussion with students and faculty, tour University facilities and play music with the University choir. In the afternoon, visit the Church of Nativity and Manger Square. Enjoy a cooking class at one of the oldest restaurants in Bethlehem, learn how to make the famous hummus & falafel and enjoy what you’ve prepared! Overnight in Bethlehem.

Friday, October 26th: Bethlehem

A tour in Bethlehem that includes a visit to a refugee camp and walk by the Separation Wall. We’ll also visit a family that has their home encircled by the wall from three sides. Continue to visit some of Bethlehem’s surrounding villages and visit a family that had their home demolished and rebuilt by Holy Land Trust. Meeting with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency.
Saturday, October 27th: Olive Picking
Right to the farms! We will volunteer to help a family in a surrounding village to pick their olives and enjoy lunch with them under the olive trees. Informal music opportunity during lunch. Afterwards, we’ll visit a local olive press to see how olives become olive oil. Free time in the evening to wander in the old market of Bethlehem. Enjoy a BBQ dinner with Holy Land Trust staff. Sharing music and fellowship. Overnight in Bethlehem at a hotel.

Sunday, October 28th: Hebron

Drive to Hebron. Visit the Ibrahimi Mosque (The Tomb of The Patriarchs), then walk in the old city of Hebron. Meet the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Atwani. The tour also includes a visit to a glass factory. On the way back to Bethlehem, we will visit Ephrata settlement and have meeting with a settler. Then, visit the Tent of Nations farm, a project that seeks to bring youth of various cultures together to build bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and peace. We will hear the story of the land owners. Opportunity for informal music. Dinner and overnight at a hotel.

Monday, October 29th: Jenin

Visit the Freedom Theatre in Jenin and play music with the members of the theater. The Freedom Theater has become a “lightning rod” for young people who have lived their lives in refugee camps to share personal experiences through drama and music.. Tour the nearby refugee camp. In the evening, we’ll have Mazin Qumsyeh as our guest speaker. He is a well-known Palestinian scholar and peace activist. By background, he holds a PhD in Genetics, has taught at Yale, is a US citizen, and returned to Palestine to become a local leader in non-violence. He is presently on the faculty of Bethlehem University. Dinner with a local family. Overnight at a hotel.

Tuesday, October 30th: Hiking (special arrangements will be made if walking is difficult)

A day of hiking/walking the Abraham Path and staying the night with Palestinian families. This will be a special opportunity to walk the land which is steeped in history. We will have the opportunity of visiting many small villages, playing informal music, meeting local people, etc.

Wednesday, October 31st: Abraham Path

Continue hiking the Abraham Path. Return to hotel in evening.

Thursday, November 1st: Ramallah

Visit the Quaker Center in Ramallah and meet with Jean Zaru, a local Quaker woman who has written books about the role of Quakers in the Middle East. She is well known and respected in Palestine and in Israel. We will also visit the Ramallah Friends School, once considered the best secondary school in the Middle East but now limited to Palestinian students. We will have time for sharing music with students. Another meeting with Gerard Horton from the Defense for Children, International (DCI- Palestine). Gerard is an attorney from Australia. This NGO monitors the arrests and detention of Palestinian children in Israel. We will make a short visit to Arafat’s grave and compound. Free time in the city. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Friday, November 2nd: Bethlehem

We’ll meet with Mr. Fuad Kokaly, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Free afternoon for personal activities. An evening of informal music including local musicians at the Bethlehem Peace Center. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Saturday, November 3rd: Jericho

We’ll drive through the Judean desert and visit the archaeological remains of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written over 2000 years ago. Then, we’ll stop at the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on the face of the earth and have an opportunity for a bathe in mineral rich waters. Visit Jericho, the oldest city in the world, drive through one of the sources of the Jordan River before we continue our way to Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

Sunday, November 4th: Nazareth

Start the day with a visit to the Church of Annunciation. Then, we’ll have a meeting with Ghassan Manasra, the director of Anwar il-Salaam (Lights of Peace), a Muslim peace center in Nazareth promoting tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Ghassan is an ordained sheikh and is the son of Sheikh Abdel Salaam Manasra, the head of the Qadiri Sufi order in the Holy Land. Afterwards, we’ll meet with Sobhi Sger at Ahali Center for Community Development. Visit Mount Carmel and the Bahai Gardens. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Music in evening.

Monday, November 5th: Jerusalem

Start the day with Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) tour in Jerusalem (meet Jeff Halper, Director and well known Israeli peace activist, originally from USA, lived in Israel for many years).  Enjoy lunch at Sabeel, Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, followed by a meeting with key people in Sabeel. Following meeting, we will visit the Tantur Ecumenical Center in Jerusalem.  Meet with Ruth Heller, Founder of New Profile, an Israeli organization that counsels young people against the compulsory law of military enlistment and supports people who refuse to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces.  Meet with Yakir Englander, Israeli Director of Kids4Peace Program. Yakir is Jewish, raised in ultra-conservative Jewish family, now works with Israeli and Palestinian children. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Tuesday, November 6th: Tel Aviv/ Departure

Last day of tour. Closing meeting and reflections from group. People will depart at different times. Free time at the beach in Tel Aviv for those who have time before heading to the airport. (Note: people are welcome to extend their time, as they wish, in the region. Holy Land Trust will help to make personal extensions to the program as requested)
(NOTE: THERE MAY BE CHANGES IN PROGRAM AS TIME COMES NEARER TO THE DATE OF THE TOUR)

Price of program

$2495 based on 15 – 20 participants.
Itinerary Price Includes
Itinerary Price Does Not Include
For further information and application, please contact:
William P. Shaw, Ph.D
President
CrossCurrents International Institute
Email: cci@bright.net
Phone: 937-492-0407