THE ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE 2025

THE ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE

A Manual for Holyland Travel

Experience the Holy Land

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“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (Jn. 1:14).” For many experiencing pilgrimage in the Holy Land, the voyage is life-changing. The authenticity of the spiritual journey that follows in the footsteps of Jesus is a unique opportunity to discover the roots of Christian faith and immerse oneself in the wealth of religious history and significance throughout the Holy Land. The pilgrim experience in itself is an opportunity for believers to unite as one as they explore the diversity of Christian heritage throughout the land of Israel. What is a Pilgrimage? According to James Harpur in his book Sacred Tracks: 2000 Years of Christian Pilgrimage: “The first pilgrims associated with the Christian faith were arguably the

THE ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE A Manual for Holyland Travel

Magi, the ‘three wise men’ who, according to the Gospel of Matthew, journeyed from the east to Bethlehem, guided by a star, to pay homage to ‘the one who has been born of the Jews’. Their story contains some of the classic elements of pilgrimage. First and foremost, there was a journey. In their case, this would have been a long one from Iran, since according to the fifth century Greek historian Herodotus the Magi were in fact a Median tribe who lived within the Persian Empire and who were renowned as soothsayers and astrologers. Like pilgrimage before and after them, the men were anxious to experience a source - for Christians the source - of sacred awe. “What distinguishes the Magi’s journey from most other later pilgrimages was that they came to see a living being, not the relics of someone who had died. But their instinct was still the same; the desire for contact with a source of holiness.” Following the Magi, Christian pilgrims from all over the world have been journeying to the Land of Israel, the source of their spiritual heritage, for nearly 2000 years. Bible in hand, they’ve walked in the places where Jesus walked and prayed where He preached and prayed, and many experience a feeling of divine grace, or salvation, along with inner peace and a strengthened belief in their faith. There is no better place on earth than the Holy Land for Christians to feel the events of Jesus’ life coming alive before their eyes and in their hearts. Nowhere is His life better documented than in the Holy Bible and now, more than ever, the call to follow in Jesus’ Holyland footsteps is reverberating around the Christian world. The Pilgrimage Experience The recorded history of the Holy Land, going back more than 5000 years, attests to the fact that this was rarely a quiet, peaceful region. Straddling the divide between Africa and Asia, the area was almost always a battleground. Wave after wave of conquerors poured into the region, anxious to control the strategic trade routes linking the centers of the ancient world. With almost monotonous regularity, control swung from one victorious group to the next. Through it all, the peoples of the region remained, or returned, and rebuilt, again and again. From within this litany of turmoil and strife, an event took place under Roman rule more than 2000 years ago that was to shape human history from that time on. This momentous milestone was the birth of Jesus. Jesus, the son of the carpenter Joseph and Mary his wife, was born in Bethlehem, in a manger, the Gospels teach us, because “there was no room in the inn.” He grew to manhood in Nazareth, moved among the people

of Galilee and Jerusalem and gained recognition as a preacher and performer of miracles. He died on the cross in Golgotha and bequeathed Christianity to the world. His life and teachings have affected hundreds of millions of people all over the world. Nowhere is Jesus’ life better documented than in the Holy Bible. Nowhere else on earth do the events of the Bible come alive as they do here, in Israel, the Holy Land. Pilgrim & Pilgrimage The term “pilgrim” denotes a traveler - one who journeys to holy places and sojourns among the local inhabitants, in a focused activity of faith that attributes significance to the journey and to the place, usually a site lifted to prominence by what happened there. Pilgrimage is a rite of passage for some; for others, it may be a way of freeing one’s soul for spiritual explorations, or even a process to encounter Deity. Pilgrimage is also about remembrance. In both the Old and New Testament, the Bible focuses on the centrality of acts of remembrance on the part of both mankind and the Almighty, starting with events after the Flood, (Genesis 9, 8-17), when God points to the rainbow as a perpetual reminder of His everlasting covenant. This is but the first in a host of biblical correlatives between a physical act and the divine command not to forget. So important is this dictate, that when the prophets judge the People of Israel, one of the most serious charges against them is that they have forgotten the Lord their Maker (Isaiah 51, 13; Jeremiah 23, 27). Pilgrimage & its Significance Christian interest in the Land of Israel is closely associated with the birth, demise and subsequent resurgence of the pilgrimage movement. In both Islamic and Hebrew tradition, pilgrimage is regarded as a religious obligation imposed on the entire community of the faithful and taught in its sacred scriptures, hence the importance of the Land of Israel, and in particular the shrines associated with Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael, to both Jews and Muslims. For Christians, however, there is no such emphasis or requirement. Jesus taught that the sacred is located not in a place, but in the body of the believer, and worship is something to be offered to God anywhere and everywhere (John 4:21-23). Therefore, in the earliest days of the Christian Church, there does not appear to have been any perceived benefit from undertaking

a journey of pilgrimage, and, most Christian visitors to Jerusalem for the first 300 years after Jesus was crucified were more interested in coming to the land of the Bible to learn about it firsthand and meet with its small Christian community, than in visiting sites. It was a historical destination for them, more than a spiritually significant city. Despite this attitude and approach, the natural desire to visit the scenes associated with the birth, life and death of Jesus was part of early Christian culture as well, and it became a popular custom among Christians, from early on, to remember Jesus and feel His presence by visiting places consecrated by His having been there - Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, Jerusalem, and elsewhere.

Land; it had become the inheritance of the Church in Byzantine times and, according to Byzantine law, was perceived as the land made holy by Jesus. Most pilgrims came to stand in the presence of those sites associated with the life, death and resurrection of their Savior and to protect the land and its Christian population and sites. Others, however, came - or were obliged to come - to do penance and to obtain redemption from serious crimes. From the ninth through the 11th century, parricides were obliged to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and even later, towards the end of the 12th century, the murderers of Thomas Becket made a pilgrimage of penance to Jerusalem, where tradition holds that some of them died and were buried on the Temple Mount. Monastic Pilgrimage

The development of the cult of saints was crucial to the growth of pilgrimage as a place-orientated activity, as opposed to a focus on “heavenly Jerusalem.” The perceived presence of saints, through their relics, attracted pilgrims and helped establish a new sacred geography, not only in the Holy Land, but later throughout Christendom. However, as relics were transferred from one place to another and new local saints emerged, debates arose, often motivated by political and economic agendas, as to whether pilgrimages should be undertaken to the Holy Land, or to local shrines. In addition, monastic ascetic migration to the Holy Land began to

develop in the fourth and fifth centuries. It drew devout Christians to the Holy Land desert in acts of spiritual migration, to reflect on the experience of Abraham, of a stranger and a guest, the figure of Moses, who guided the people out of Egypt and led them to the Promised Land, as well as that of Elijah, who met God on Mt. Carmel. The believers founded monasteries, lauras, hermitages and coenobia in the desert of Judea, among other places, and many fervent followers came in their wake from all over the Christian world, either to stay with them for a short while before returning home, or establish their own monasteries and communities - which in turn drew other pilgrims. Hundreds of monasteries dotted the Judean Desert terrain about 1400 years ago, and many desert retreats were established as well, not unlike the settlement of the Essenes at Qumran, where John the Baptist grew

Christians traveled to Jerusalem as early as the second century, and Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem stated around 350 AD, that: “Others only hear but we both see and touch.” St. Jerome went on a Holy Land pilgrimage not long afterwards, and he spent the last 34 years of his life in a monastery in Bethlehem. Although he called the Holy Land “the fifth Gospel,” and wrote that: “Nothing is lacking to your faith although you have not seen Jerusalem,” Jerome also agreed with Cyril, writing that a pilgrimage to the Holy Land assists believers in understanding the revealed word of God and arguing that it is part of the Christian faith “to adore where His feet have stood and to see the vestiges of the nativity, of the Cross, and of the Passion.” Despite the costs, hazards and arduous nature of such a journey, pilgrims increasingly sought out the Holy

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be argued, by the significant increase in the construction of Christian buildings in the Holy Land from abound 950 A.D., when millennium panic began to set in, and continuing as acts of gratitude afterwards, when the world did not come to an end. Christians from all over the world sought out the Holy Land, until about the mid-15th century, when the surge in pilgrim travel began to subside. Historians say the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453, and the backlash against church indulgences that led the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, may be some of the reasons for the dampened enthusiasm and for pilgrims becoming the object of satire and ridicule, as can be seen in works of popular literature of the time.

The Experience In centuries past, a Holy Land pilgrimage was a difficult and strenuous trek, and even nowadays, with ease of travel, air-conditioned tour buses and hotels with buffet breakfasts and amenities, there are a few believers for whom such physical endurance is a reflection of the spirit of their faith. The traveling Christian preacher Arthur Blessitt, for example, undertook a 22,500 km pilgrimage trek on foot, carrying a wooden cross through five continents and 30 countries before arriving in Jerusalem in 1977, where he walked from the Mount of Olives to the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and from there to the Garden Tomb, where he preached. While this certainly is not a standard, many pilgrimage leaders believe in the traditional value of a grueling journey and in letting pilgrims be pilgrims instead of tourists. Pilgrims, they maintain, should travel the topography of the Holy Land from North to South, top to bottom. They should feel it with all of their senses, recalling the places they have read about. These thoughts echo the words of St. Paulinus nearly 1400 years ago: “No other sentiment draws people to Jerusalem than the desire to see and touch the places where Christ was physically present, and to be able to say from their own experience, ‘We have gone into his tabernacle and worshipped in the places where His feet stood.’” They were reechoed in May 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI during his holy land visit, in a statement that could

to manhood, and which Jesus frequented. Today, no more than five are active: St. George, in Wadi Kelt; Qarantal, on the Mount of Temptation; St. Gerasimos, in the Jordan-Jericho Wadi; Mar Saba, on the banks of the Kidron Valley; St. Theodorus, on the Bethlehem- Dead Sea road. All offer the visitor fortunate enough to see them, an intriguing blend of starkly exotic terrain, ascetic piety and biblical holiness. From All Christendom Pagan Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the fourth century AD and entrusted Empress Helena, his mother, with a mission to visit the Holy Land and locate the holy sites. In 326 AD, guided by her dreams, Helena discovered what she believed was the tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of the holiest shrines for the majority of Christian believers today. If, as some scholars believe, there is a grain of truth to claims that the Empress found the true cross in Jerusalem, together with the nails used in the crucifixion, then Helena can even be said to be the first archeologist in the Holy Land, along with being one of its most prominent early pilgrim visitors). Decade after decade, in the centuries following Empress Helena, the trend for pilgrimage travel kept growing, and reports exist of pilgrimage visits from all over the Christian world at the time. By the 10th and 11th centuries, the great age of pilgrimage had arrived, stimulated, it may

A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Holy Land with Monarch Israel

Preparing for a Journey of Faith and Reflection

3.Tailored Itineraries for Personal Pilgrimages and Group Journeys: Every Christian pilgrim’s journey is unique. We craft each itinerary to reflect the desires of our travellers, whether you're coming alone for personal reflection, leading a group from your church, or traveling with loved ones. From visiting the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to experiencing prayer time on the shores of the Galilee, every detail is designed to elevate the spiritual experience. A Road Map for the Christian Pilgrim Monarch Israel’s guides offer a blend of cultural insight, scriptural context, and local expertise, helping you engage more deeply with each site. Here are just a few highlights of the journey: •Galilee: The lush, serene shores of the Sea of Galilee offer a space for prayer and reflection, the same waters where Jesus walked and taught. We guide you to sites like Capernaum, the home of Peter, and the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount echoes in spirit to this day.

After a pause in travel due to regional challenges, Monarch Israel is now joyfully preparing for the return of faith-based travellers. We understand that a pilgrimage to Israel is not simply travel it is a journey of spiritual connection and personal transformation. Our extensive experience ensures that each pilgrim’s experience is seamless, meaningful, and profoundly impactful.

Rediscovering the Sacred Journey As Christian pilgrims prepare to return to Israel, Monarch Israel stands ready to lead the way. For over a decade, we have dedicated ourselves to serving believers with expertly crafted journeys that follow in the footsteps of Jesus, guiding pilgrims to experience the places central to their faith. With our commitment to safety, spiritual depth, and personalized service, Monarch Israel is your trusted travel partner in the Holy Land. Why Pilgrims Choose Monarch Israel 1.Safety First: As you prepare for a pilgrimage, peace of mind is essential. With recent peace efforts bringing stability to the region, Monarch Israel prioritizes your safety at every step. Our team constantly monitors conditions and maintains strong partnerships on the ground, so you can focus on your spiritual experience without worry. 2.Faith-Based Expertise: Monarch Israel’s deep-rooted knowledge of Christian pilgrimages means we understand the unique spiritual aspirations of believers. Our experienced guides provide insights and context that deepen each visit, whether it’s the Mount of Beatitudes, the Jordan River, or the quiet slopes of Mount Tabor.

•Jerusalem : The Holy City invites pilgrims to walk through its ancient streets, a place of both historic and spiritual significance. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, follow the Via Dolorosa, and stand at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, sites that connect with the final moments of Jesus’ earthly ministry. •Nazareth and Bethlehem : Nazareth, where Jesus spent much of his early life, and Bethlehem, the city of his birth, offer pilgrims a journey back to the roots of the faith. These towns, rich in history and devotion, resonate deeply with the story of Christ.

Start Planning Your Pilgrimage Today Monarch Israel is here to support your pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Whether you’re planning a group tour or a personal retreat, our experienced team is ready to guide you through each detail, ensuring that your journey is safe, smooth, and spiritually uplifting. Call me at Monarch Israel at + 972 505 333483 or send me a mail to joel@monarch-israel.com Joel Sagi www.monarch-israel.com and I’ll be glad to help you plan your next Pilgrimage of Faith and Devotion.

everyday life into something out of the ordinary and often entertaining, whereas, pilgrimage is a journey that is rich in symbolism, toward a definite goal. A pilgrim travels toward a shrine as to “the house of the Lord,” that is, toward the symbolic house of the Lord, which is in Heaven. Thus, symbolism is the specific element that distinguishes pilgrimage from tourism. A symbol is something containing two truths: one on the level of reality and the other on the level of the conveyed meaning. A pilgrimage is a symbolic act: a symbolic journey toward God. “O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul is thirsting for you like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory” (Psalms 63, 2-3). For those that believe, life is a journey, a pilgrimage. While their life may be firmly anchored in reality, which is in history, it is a journey at the same time, a pilgrimage toward salvation. As opposed to tourism, where the specific destination is less important than the experience and the fun most

well serve as the basis for pilgrimage for any Christian believer. Describing himself as a “pilgrim among pilgrims,” the Pontiff remarked: “I appreciate the opportunity that has been offered to me to come on a pilgrimage to a land that is hallowed by the footsteps of patriarchs and prophets; a land that Christians hold in particular veneration as the setting for the events of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I take my place in a long line of Christian pilgrims to these shores, a line that stretches back to the earliest centuries of the Church’s history and which, I am sure, will continue long into the future.” Pope Francis also described his 2014 holyland visit as a “pilgrimage with a strictly religious purpose.” The Spiritual Journey As an outward journey to holy sites and inwards to spiritual elevation, a pilgrimage may be undertaken in a spirit of fasting and penance, or joyously, in thanksgiving for blessings received or in hope, prayer and entreaty to be blessed, to feel a sense of the holy by being in

the presence of relics or by walking on ground hallowed by the presence of Jesus and His disciples. A pilgrim might pursue spiritual ecstasy in the religious sites of a particular faith, or seek a miracle through the medium of God or a saint, depending on his or her set of beliefs. Whatever the purpose, leaving behind what is comfortable and traveling off to a strange distant land is a way of stepping outside one’s normal routine. When undertaken with the right attitude, a pilgrimage is a way to “lose” one’s lives for His sake, an echo of Jesus’ teaching: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, will save it” (Mark 8, 35). Pilgrim & Tourist

Although both are journeys, and a very fine line may exist that differentiates pilgrim from tourist, to undertake a pilgrimage is not merely to take a trip, to travel to Israel the Holy Land, and some religious leaders have even drawn a line between pilgrimage and religious tourism and study tours. Both tourist and pilgrim may visit the same ancient church; it may be of spiritual import for one while for the other it may be of historical, cultural or social interest. Tourism is an escape from one’s own

of the time, pilgrimage is a spiritual practice, a journey toward a specific spiritual goal, reminding believers that growing closer to God is the sacred purpose of life. For all that undertake it, pilgrimage is a spiritual search for inspiration as well, a strengthening of faith, a renewal of bonds and vows and an opportunity to grow closer as a Church or a congregation.

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Preparations Since the actual time spent in the Holy Land is usually relatively short, preparations are an important element to the success of a pilgrimage tour. Preparation for a pilgrimage can be done on an individual basis, but also as part of a group, either by discussing religious and spiritual matters and/or actually getting together to

to be whole, a glorious oneness with God. Who can fully understand the power of the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13; 31), until they have seen a field of mustard in full bloom by the Galilee roadside? How can you explain the beauty of the parable of the sower if you have never seen the earth of the Galilee with its beautiful, deep reddish brown hues and the multitude of rocks interspersed in it? Can you understand the irony and message of the story of the pigs of Gadara if you have never stood on the shores of the Sea of Galilee?

What can be more dramatic than reciting the passage from Matthew (8, 23-27) as a Sea of Galilee storm rocks a small boat designed after those that plied the very same waters in Jesus’ time, or standing on the site of Jesus’ synagogue at Capernaum and reading His teachings aloud from Luke (4, 31-49)? Imagine too, standing at Megiddo, site of Armageddon, and reciting the relevant passage from the Book of Revelations (16, 12-16), or at Jerusalem’s Church of Gallicantu - built over the site identified by tradition as the house of Caiaphas, the high priest of that time - and hearing the passage from Mark (14, 66-72) read aloud, describing Peter’s denial of Jesus? Spiritual songs can be part of a pilgrimage too. “Down by the Riverside” after a baptism in the River Jordan, or a hymn at St. Anne Church. St. Anne’s, the best-preserved Crusader-era

plan the trip. This is a period of study and reflection, discussion and prayer, but practical issues also need to be addressed. As in the case of all travel to foreign lands, becoming somewhat familiar with the country, its common features, even its monetary system and similar matters, is recommended. Many group leaders use multimedia materials to prepare their followers. Slides and illustrations bring the places to life, and many people feel more confident seeing pictures of the sites they are going to visit. Materials are available from the Israel Ministry of Tourism and the branches of the Israel Government Tourist Office in a number of major cities around the world, and the Ministry’s website (new.goisrael.com), available in a large and growing number of languages, is also an excellent resource. Being Present A pilgrimage can change one’s life forever. For many, it is the fulfillment of a once-in-a-lifetime dream. But even for those fortunate enough to return, maybe several times, every visit rekindles the miracle of the place. Man does not live by bread alone. The food of the soul and the spirit awaits replenishment, and it is here, in the holy places of Israel, that body and soul come together

church in Jerusalem, is located at the start of the Via Dolorosa, in the Old City, to mark the traditional site of the home of Jesus’ maternal grandparents, Anne and Joachim, and the birthplace of Mary and features an echo that just doesn’t stop. With the incredible energies unleashed by the pilgrimage experience, it is no wonder that such a spiritual journey can change lives forever. The Best Time to Come It goes without saying that pilgrimage planners should take heed of Covid-19 restrictions, many of which can change at a moment’s notice. Be sure to check in advance as well as right before departure. The climate in Israel is comfortable throughout the year. Autumn and spring are transient and often not even felt, leaving the country with a long hot summer and a short winter when rain can be plentiful, but usually is intermittent. Between April to September, when rain hardly ever falls, Israel boasts temperatures that range from pleasantly cool in the hilly regions in the evenings to hot and sunny during the day. In low-lying regions like the Dead Sea or Tiberias, they can reach 35-40°C (about

95°F) at midday. The season running from October to March is more varied. Depending on the region, winter can mean a temperate sun with some rain, or biting winds and even occasional snow showers in the higher elevations. On the other hand, it is usually possible to swim in the Dead Sea even in the heart of winter, and sometimes in the Mediterranean too. When it comes to climate, any time is a good time to visit Israel. Other factors too may affect the timing of a pilgrimage. Budget-conscious groups are far more likely to travel during the traditional low-season, from November to February (excepting Christmas and the New Years holiday), when rates for land arrangements and airfare may be lower -

by a host of detection techniques. It is no secret that Ben Gurion International Airport, the major gateway to Israel, is considered the world’s most secure airport. The broad range of technological and individual surveillance and screening methods - some upfront, but mostly out of sight - direct questioning, searches and unabashed profiling may cause some minor inconveniences from time to time, but most tourists realize what all Israelis take in stride: there is nothing personal about the procedure, which has been streamlined in recent years, and it is for their own good. In a world challenged by terror in its many guises, Israel, paradoxically as it may sound, may well be one of the

though with the increase of pilgrimage travel to Israel in recent years and with yield management playing an important role in regulating prices, this is not always true. March to October is still considered a regular season, with some high peaks. As a result of the large increase in pilgrimage visits to Israel, groups wishing to spend Christmas or Easter in the Holy Land should expect to pay top rates and are urged to plan well in advance, as demand may outweigh supply. It is a good idea to take local holidays and their customs into

consideration when planning a pilgrimage. Jewish festivals can add a distinctive flavor to a stay in Israel, even if it does mean that only unleavened bread (“matza”) is available at hotels during the seven days of Passover or that there is no transportation for more than 24 hours on the Day of Atonement and just about everything will be closed! Safe & Sound in Israel As a country beset by geo-political challenges, but with firm resolve to do what it must to ensure that daily life continues normally in a region beset by abnormality, Israel has implemented a wide variety of sophisticated, state-of-the-art security measures that have left most of the country - and certainly areas frequented by the average tourist - perfectly safe and secure. Security is tight at airports and other border crossings, supported by trained, courteous but single-minded staff and supported

safest destinations your client could wish for, to visit and travel about. Staying in Israel An adequate pilgrimage program can be followed in one week (six/seven nights), although pilgrimages do range from five to 15 nights, or even longer. The itinerary should be planned around touring priorities, budget limitations and, needless to say, the religious traditions and beliefs of the group. A visit to the model of the wilderness Tabernacle at Timna in the Negev Desert may be essential for certain Evangelical groups, while Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher is a must for Catholics. Other matters to take into consideration: make allowance for the length of your flight: trans-Atlantic flights or those from the Far East may justify a longer stay and a more relaxed pace. Check that everyone in the group has proper insurance for the trip. Some Israeli companies have become very proficient in designing special insurance policies for pilgrimage groups, and

even very elderly participants can be insured. Also, take into account one free day per week for rest or individual pursuits. Most pilgrims undergo an intense emotional experience and absorb a great deal of information. A common request is simply for “time to think, reflect and absorb.” The length of a pilgrimage tour may be determined by a group’s special interest, which could lead to the addition of a number of extra days. A farming group may plan to combine a pilgrimage with an agricultural study tour. Music lovers may include one of the many secular or ecclesiastical music festivals in their touring program, or if they are a performing group, may even consider giving concerts during their stay. (The Israel Ministry of Tourism can help organize such events). Some groups may decide to combine the pilgrimage experience with regular touring and vacation time or as part of an incentive program, or even explore medical tourism opportunities in Israel, based on a medical infrastructure that is among the best in the world, at rates lower than in most Western countries. In any case, it is a good idea to take in at least a few of

the “secular” sights. Israel is a colorful Mediterranean country that offers the visitor a myriad of holiday opportunities - beautiful beaches, vibrant cities, fascinating archeological and natural wonders, a warm, friendly population of rich cultural diversity, and, above all, the all-embracing blend of ancient and modern that adds an extra dimension every step of the way. Consultation with an Israel travel professional can be very useful in helping you decide upon the ideal length for the pilgrimage you or your groups are planning. Getting Around Israel’s location at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea makes it a highly convenient gateway for regional tours. Regional packages are becoming more and more popular, combining visits to two or more destinations in the area - Israel, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan and Egypt. Especially for travelers flying long distances, it may make economic and logistic sense to experience more than one country. The ancient world spread out across several different lands, and of special interest to pilgrims are tours highlighting places of biblical significance in the entire region. The overwhelming majority of visitors to Israel arrive by air, however, any number of cruises include Israel as a port of call, enabling passengers to include one-day guided bus tours to Jerusalem/Bethlehem and the Galilee on their itinerary, or even one-night stays - a growing phenomenon. Overland travel from Egypt and Jordan is one other option, and pilgrimage groups visiting Mt. Sinai and the Monastery of Santa Katarina in Egypt can cross the border into Eilat, the resort city at the southernmost tip of Israel. Israel has an excellent public transportation system, reaching virtually every corner of the country, though keep in mind that except for Haifa and Nazareth, buses do not operate on the Jewish Sabbath (from late Friday afternoon until Saturday evening after sunset). Other touring/transportation options in Israel include: • Luxury air-conditioned buses, mini-buses and vans, which may be hired with or without a guide. • Four, seven, or 11-seater vehicles driven by a licensed guide. This is the most flexible way for FITs to travel, as sightseeing is tailor-made to personal requirements. • Helicopter tours of the country (for those with the budget for such a luxury) • Rental cars • Private taxis and “sherut” vans (jitneys, or shared service taxis)

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includes de sert vehicles, jeeps, mule and camel treks, boat rides on the Sea of Galilee and along the Red Sea and Mediterranean coastlines. • Not to be forgotten is the traveler’s stand-by, always at hand - a sturdy pair of legs!

Whenever possible, it is recommended to walk. There is no substitute for the intimacy and knowledge of a place acquired by the person that walks. For pilgrims in particular, following in the footsteps of Jesus is an unforgettable experience if one simply does that - follow in His footsteps. Accommodations Israel’s tradition of hospitality dates back to the time of the Patriarch Abraham, who welcomed three strangers into his tent (Genesis 18:1-8). Today, possibilities for accommodations are wide and varied, and still offered with the same warmth and welcome that Abraham demonstrated. The option to rest in a desert tent, or to pass the night in a sleeping bag under the stars, is still popular, especially with younger, more adventurous groups and individuals. But older travelers, too, can enjoy the

• In addition, there are domestic flights linking Tel Aviv, Haifa and Eilat. • Special touring transportation

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experience of an open-air “thousand star” hotel, especially when followed by a comfortable night indoors! Israel features hotels of every grade and price range, ranging from super deluxe to those offering simple, basic accommodations. Some are managed by local chains or independently; others are affiliated with well-known international brands. Many feature conference facilities, both indoors and out, suitable for pilgrim group prayers and assemblies.

Christian hospices, located mainly in Jerusalem and Nazareth, are run by various denominations and offer a very special Christian experience. Many have private chapels. The hospices are generally small and bookings are recommended well in advance. Other popular accommodation options include kibbutz hotels, recreational villages (self-catering bungalows, etc.) “zimmers,” (bed/breakfast facilities in private homes, or kibbutzim), youth hostels and field schools. Guiding Israeli guides are arguably among the best in the world, and are available to guide in a broad range of languages. Professional guides can provide a wealth of information concerning holy places, historic sites and ancient Israel, since they undergo a two-year training program to study the history of Israel, the Old and New Testament, and the differences among the perspectives of the various Christian denominations, and they must know every inch of the country. They have to know how to travel the land and its topography, and they have to know exactly where history lies. In addition to the two-year training program, guides must take an annual refresher course. This assures that they can supply the latest information as to recent discoveries of archeological and/or religious significance. It also means that guides are well equipped to lead a pilgrimage along the most comfortable, efficient, and interesting routes - and in order to pass their licensing examinations, they must be bi-lingual at least. Clergymen leading groups are often surprised that Israeli guides know more about the Bible and holy sites than they expected, and sometimes even more than the preachers themselves. Experience tells us that the insights they bring to a pilgrimage add to the group’s experience while supporting and reinforcing the efforts of the religious leader.

Denominations Egidius of Assisi, the disciple of St. Francis of Assisi, was the first Franciscan to come to the Holy Land as a pilgrim in 1215, and afterwards, as part of a process lasting centuries, the Franciscan Order was given custody of many sacred holyland sites. The presence of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Holy Land is even older, and the Greek Orthodox patriarchate is in charge of dozens of monasteries and holy sites throughout Israel. While it is only in charge of the churches in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, the Armenian Church’s significant presence in Jerusalem began with the development of early Byzantine monasticism, and sixth-century ruins with inscriptions in Armenian have been unearthed near Damascus Gate and on the Mt. of Olives. Since older Churches built and control most of the early churches and sites that attract Holy Land pilgrims today, Protestant visitors, although they may well visit these ancient churches, monasteries and the like, have few sites they can “call their own,” save for the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. Other than that, while they share many of the same motivations with Catholic pilgrims, their experience, more often than not, is one of direct communication with their Savior, and does not rely on any historical continuity, or even on the Church to which they are affiliated. As one Protestant commentator has noted: “Christian pilgrims ‘see’ the heart of Jesus when they visit the Dominus Flevit Sanctuary on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus wept for the city of Jerusalem.

Pilgrims stand in awe in the Garden of Gethsemane or the Church of All Nations when they sense the agony Jesus went through before He surrendered Himself to walk the Way of Sorrows. And when they see the empty Garden Tomb and read on the inside of the door ‘He is not here, He is arisen’ they know that their faith in a Living Savior is real.” Approaches to Pilgrimage While the Catholic pilgrim typically seeks to perform the sacramental rites in the various sanctuaries and shrines of Israel, the Protestant and Evangelical Christian usually wants to visit the actual sites written about in the Bible. For practicing Protestants, the Bible is a very important part of daily life and Protestants and Evangelicals are extremely well versed in both the Old and New Testament, which have personal meaning for them above and beyond the liturgical significance of the texts. That’s why Protestants are particularly interested in personally seeing the sites where the events of Jesus’ life transpired, as well as places that are as similar today as possible, to how they appeared in Jesus’ time. Churches, those built of stone or other materials, even those with a traditional pedigree, are of lesser interest to them. They want to stand in the places where Jesus stood, contemplate at these spots and read what is written in the Bible at the very places where Jesus spoke those words. Some, especially believers belonging to the more Fundamentalist denominations, may even see in them eschatological signs. When members of a Protestant pilgrimage group ride on a boat across the Sea of Galilee or walk along the streets of Capernaum, their experience of the Bible is enhanced, and this impacts their lives in a very significant way. Now when he or she reads the Bible, the Protestant pilgrim can say: “It comes to life for me because I have seen real places, real people, real Galilean terraces and real Jerusalem stones from the Temple with my very own eyes.” Catholics, on the other hand, are experiential in their approach to their religion more often than not, searching for the tangible and the palpable. Much of what they seek is inspirational, reinforced by the significance of the site, not the stones and mortar, and this style of tourism - if it may be called that - may be a ramification of the sacramental aspects of Catholicism’s religious rites. Having said this, distinctions need to be drawn between the various cultures from which the individual Catholic

pilgrim originates. While generalizations are not always totally accurate, it would be fair to say that by and large, Catholic pilgrims from South America are almost always more pious and often less sophisticated than their guide, and he or she must be aware of this. On the other hand, Catholics from France may be more sophisticated, more Cartesian and have a different way of encountering the sites central to their faith.” Other than these differences in approach, Protestant pilgrimage itineraries are more likely to incorporate Old Testament sites. Spiritual - and Tangible Souvenirs Pilgrimage is a time of soul-searching, and inevitably pilgrims come away with clearer thoughts about their own life, family, future. It may be a time of new resolutions and strengthened commitments. The experiences of the pilgrim are usually shared with others - either spiritual

leaders or co-travelers, or people along the way. Very often, close interpersonal relationships are forged on such a journey. Pilgrims return home enriched by the love and concern of the people they have met. These new friendships may be the best memories of all, for did Jesus not say, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)? The memories that a pilgrim brings home are unique. The journey has been an intense spiritual experience. The words of the Bible have become a living reality and Sunday readings will never be the same again.

Rare is the traveler that does not acquire certain objects on route. Objects of religious significance are sought-after purchases, including jewelry, handmade candles, pictures and olive-wood carvings. Natural products are popular gifts, too (cosmetics and beauty care products from the Dead Sea, spices, locally grown herbs, olive oil). Other recommended Israeli products include handicrafts, pottery, glass and leatherwear. Not to be forgotten are videos and books, and of course, lots of personal snapshots guaranteed to keep the memories alive for years to come. One of the most treasured possessions a pilgrim will take home from Israel is a “Pilgrimage Certificate.” This may be issued by the tour operating company or

Early pilgrims were always searching for pieces of the true cross, the remnants of cloth worn by the Virgin Mary, and other holy relics. Though what may be termed “the age of the relic” flourished between 1000 and1200 AD, pilgrims in the fifth and sixth centuries mention the horn of oil used to anoint David and Solomon as King of Israel, as a recognized relic then. With the onset of the modern wave of Holy Land pilgrimage travel, and the recognition that part of the pleasure of traveling in foreign places, comes from acquiring and accumulating tangible objects that are pregnant with meaning in their own right, or take on significant because of the circumstances under which they were obtained, this custom was reinvented in the form of souvenirs. Mementoes are the stuff of which memories are enriched and maintained, and just as in the early Byzantine Christian world, when an important goal of a pilgrimage was to find, salvage and possess a relic of Jesus and His followers and the objects they touched, or a memento of the places visited by these holy forefathers, so do most modern pilgrims make an effort to bind memory to reality with the aid of tokens of their trip.

a religious organization or site, bearing witness forever to the pilgrim’s stay in the Holy Land. Christian groups visiting Jerusalem - as all of them probably do - can receive pilgrimage certificates in a variety of languages, signed by Israel’s Minister of Tourism and the Mayor of Jerusalem. Stores displaying the Ministry of Tourism emblem offer purchasers the possibility of VAT refund (currently 17 percent - to be arranged at the airport upon departure). Study & Prayer The average pilgrimage tour does not allow much time for study sessions. However, even one or two evening lectures during the course of a tour will add content and interest. Some of the study possibilities include: A) Inviting speakers on a variety of subjects to the hotel, at convenient times; B) Holding on-the-spot discussions at local sites; C) Including structured study sessions of one, two, or

more days during the tour; D) Making the total pilgrimage a study and prayer experience, with occasional trips and accommodations at the place of study. Promoting Pilgrimage Investing in tourism is a persistent ongoing endeavor on the part of both the Israel Ministry of Tourism and the private sector. Tourism is one of Israel’s top three foreign currency

that cannot be found anywhere else, and the Israel Ministry of Tourism is very conscious of this fact, making every effort via its Christian Pilgrimage Desk and overseas representatives to give practical assistance to tour organizers. It distributes a wide variety of flyers, shells, toolkits and other promotional materials, hosts educational groups of travel agents and prospective tour leaders from abroad and offers concrete assistance to tour groups and agents by subsidizing advertising

costs and reaching out to the public via road shows, travel exhibitions and large public events. Contact the representatives of the IGTO (Israel Government Tourist Office), located in major cities around the world, for advice and assistance.

earning industries, employing a large percentage of the workforce, both directly and indirectly. The buoyancy of Israel’s economy is therefore directly related to the number of tourists visiting the country. The Christian pilgrim market is the greatest single segment of tourism to Israel and is therefore of prime importance. The pilgrim comes here for a specific experience, one

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pilgrimage websites. These include a dedicated Catholic site (www.holyland- pilgrimage.org), one for the Evangelical market in even more languages (www. evangelicalisraelexperience. com), a multilingual “Spirit of the Holyland” Youtube channel with films for the Catholic, Protestant and Provoslavic markets, and “Holyland Pilgrimage,” a second Youtube site for the Catholic market. All of these are available in a wide variety of languages. It also produces an annual Holy Land Calendar of Christian Feasts and Events, listing all the special events and feasts according to the Anglican, Armenian, Catholic, Coptic, Ethiopian, Lutheran, Orthodox, Protestant and Syrian churches. Another effort is entitled “A Holy Land Pilgrimage: In the Footsteps of the Virgin Mary,” which details a Catholic pilgrimage itinerary featuring sites central to the life of the Virgin Mary. Updates Sites that have received upgrades since the country was closed to tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic, include: Megiddo National Park; the multimedia presentation at the Saxum Visitor Center; excavations at Magdala; new accessible paths at the Garden Tomb; the Northern Ramparts walk in the Old City of Jerusalem; the renovated Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem; the excavations in the Korazim National Park; the Emmaus and the Korazim-Capernaum trails; and spaces for prayer services at national parks such as Banias, the Good Samaritan, Avdat and Kursi. JERUSALEM “On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.” (Psalms 87:1-2) “Shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem! The King of Israel, the Lord is in your midst.” (Zephaniah 3:14-17). For over 3000 years, ever since the rule of King David, Jerusalem has been set apart from other cities. No other place on earth has been so central to man’s dreams and aspirations. No other city is described with so much love and devotion, and no other city has been subject to so much killing and bloodshed. For Christians, Jerusalem’s place in the life of Jesus gives it great importance. Jesus was brought there as a child, to be presented at the Temple (Luke 2, 22) and to attend festivals (Luke 2, 41). According to the Gospels, Jesus preached and healed in Jerusalem, especially in the Temple courts. An account in the Book of Mark (11, 15) relates Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple by chasing various traders out of the sacred precincts. At the end of each of the Gospels, there are accounts of Jesus’ Last Supper in an “upper room” in Jerusalem, His arrest at Gethsemane, His trial, His crucifixion at Golgotha, His burial and His resurrection and ascension. In Christianity, the Jewish connection with the city is considered as the account of God’s relationship with His chosen people - the original covenant - and the essential prelude to the events narrated in the New Testament, including both universal commandments (e.g. the Ten Commandments) and those specific to Judaism- the “old order.”

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