Israel and Jordan
Faculty: Bob Harder
Class meeting time: Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Trip Dates: May, 2025
Cost: $2,400
Highlights
This particular course section and trip are organized around exploring the history, geopolitics, beauty and complexity of the Holy Land. As we study the history and travel the lands, through Israel, Palestine and Jordan, we will keep a keen focus on answering the question “how then shall we live as Christ-followers in the 21st century?”
We will start both our course and travels in Israel (Palestine) walking where Jesus walked – and also walking where he would walk if he were here today. We will study the history and culture of the Holy Land from the time of Jesus to the present day. We will try to unpack and understand the complexities of geopolitics, religions, wars, humanitarian crises, occupation and oppression within the context of what Jesus meant when he said “blessed are the peacemakers”. We will travel for eleven days to Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Haifa, the Sea of Galilee and Samaria, to Nazareth, Nablus, Capernaum, then on to Jerusalem, Jericho, Hebron, Bethlehem, the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, and to Gaza.
From there we will travel south to the Red Sea and cross over into Jordan at Eilat. We will spend 11 days exploring and experiencing Jordan’s rich history and culture including swimming in Red Sea at Tala Bay, a jeep tour in the Wadi Rum desert, a visit to a Bedouin camp within the Petra archeological reserve, Ghor al Mazra’a village, Bethany beyond the Jordan, the baptism site of Jesus, Mt. Nebo - where Moses looked out across the Holy Land, Ajloun Castle, Miriam’s house, swimming in the Dead Sea, visits to Sodom and Gomorrah to see the salt pillars and Lot’s Cave Monastery, and a visit with Palestinian refugees and Christian relief and development agencies in Amman. We will also visit the Za’atari refugee camp and learn about the entrepreneurial activities of the tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, and also engage in service opportunities with several different ministries.
Tentative Itinerary
Day 1 |
Arrive Ben Gurion Intl, Tel Aviv Haifa Telos Historical Briefing Mosque Visit with Muslim cleric |
Day 2 |
Depart for Nazareth Nazareth Market Tour Capernaum Mt of Beatitudes Boat ride on Sea of Galilee |
Day 3 |
Depart for Jerusalem Meeting with Israeli Journalist, briefing on Israeli politics Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum |
Day 4 |
Tour Old City of Jerusalem Bethlehem Bible College with Palestinian Pastor Banksy Museum |
Day 5 |
Church of Nativity Visit Dheisheh refugee camp Visit Israeli Settlement Visit Tent of Nations |
Day 6 |
Tour of Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood East Jerusalem\ Visit Jacob’s Well, Nablus |
Day 7 |
Visit Hebron with former Israeli Soldiers Meeting with Palestinian Activists Visit glass and ceramics factory |
Day 8 |
Jericho Mt of Temptations visit Western Wall at sunset Shabbat dinner |
Day 9 |
Text Study with Jewish Orthodox Rabbi Visit Israeli Community on the Gaza Border (Netiv Ha’Asara) with Roni Keidar |
Day 10 |
Tel Aviv-Jaffa Walking tour Parents Circle |
Day 11 |
Travel south to Eilat in order to enter Jordan Arrival at Jordan Border. Visit Masada Travel south to Eilat in order to enter Jordan Tala Bay for swimming in the Red Sea |
Day 12 |
Aqaba to Wadi Rum desert for a jeep tour |
Day 13 |
Rum Village Bus to bedouin camp within the Petra archeological reserve. Afternoon: hike, little Petra |
Day 14 |
Hike the back way to Petra, Monastery for a break Lunch by the museum and explore surrounding sites |
Day 15 |
Ghor al Mazra’a village: crafts and lunch Bethany beyond the Jordan, the baptism site of Jesus. Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked out across the Holy Land. |
Day 16 |
Visit Ajloun Castle Lunch at Miriam’s house |
Day 17 |
Swimming at Dead Sea Free time, water activities |
Day 18 |
Visit site of Sodom and Gomorrah salt pillars Lot’s cave Monastery |
Day 19 |
Visit mosque Visit citadel and roman theatre |
Day 20 |
Visit to UNHCR Za’atari Refugee Camp in Mafraq Meet with Syrian refugees and discuss entrepreneurial activities |
Day 21 |
Day in Amman, shopping and free time |
Day 22 |
Return to PDX |