Travel to Israel: Experience THE BOOK, Pt. 6

To read about the beginning of our Experience THE BOOK Tour to Israel CLICK HERE. Or simply start with today’s post and catch up later!

Have you ever faced your greatest fear—and overcome it? One of my daughters is a little more adventurous than the other, but when we traveled to Auckland, New Zealand, both girls took a dive off the highest building in the southern hemisphere.

Honestly, when I saw that first body hurtling over the side—and I had no idea which daughter it was—I experienced a brief moment of panic!

But when I remembered the safety training they’d had before the jump and the harness that held them securely, my fright turned to wonder…then tears of joy when I saw the triumph on my girls’ faces. Both had looked Fear in the eye and conquered him.

Afraid to Go to Israel?

Sometimes folks ask if I’m afraid to travel to Israel. My answer is the same as it was back in March 2000—absolutely not.

Is she naïve or stupid? some might wonder.

Perhaps both, but ask yourself—would I take my closest family and friends to God’s Promised Land if I wasn’t convinced it was as safe as any U.S. city? Here are 3 reasons I’m so confident:

Tourism is Israel’s bread & butter. They guard their guests like their lives depend on it…because much of the nation’s livelihood does.
Our Israeli guide, Hedva, knows her country inside and out. She’ll make sure we’re always in the right place at the right time—and waiting in the shortest lines possible!
Our tour director (Bev Henry, bhenry@luxetm.com) has arranged travel for and accompanied tours in Israel (and Petra) for thirty-five years.

Both of these dear ladies will be waiting for us when we step off the plane in Tel Aviv!

Walking the Old City

On our first full day in Jerusalem, we’ll walk…WAIT! Isn’t it dangerous to walk around Jerusalem?! Again, I’ll refer you to the amazing care of our tour director, Bev. Our accommodations have been made at the Gloria Hotel—the only “tour quality” hotel in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s “Old City.” We’ll wake to a fantastic breakfast and begin our walking tour of the other three quarters: Armenian Quarter, Jewish Quarter, and Arab Quarter.

We’ll see portions of the meaningful Via Dolorosa (which you’ll have a chance to walk it in its entirety on your free time), and you’ll soon realize you’re walking where real people live every day.
Children play here. Women sell goods in the market booths. And old men sit in doorways and wave to the tourists.

Israel’s Underground

Our first visit of the day will be a walk under the Temple Mount through the Western Wall Tunnel Tour. Remember what I said about facing Fear and conquering him? For those nervous about closed-in spaces, you’ll have a chance to face that fear (or skip this experience). These tunnels have a rich history in Israel’s past, ranging from Solomon’s original use for the quarried Temple stones to the escape route used by Judah’s last king (Zedekiah) during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege.

“Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah, but the Babylonian army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, and he was captured.” 2 Kings 25:4-6

Jewish tradition holds that there was a gate to these tunnels between the city walls, and Zedekiah fled with a contingent of his guards—almost all the way to Jericho before he was captured. I mentioned this briefly in By the Waters of Babylon, but there was another book that “explored” these tunnels in more depth…

Solomon’s Quarries Perhaps?

Legend has it that at one time these tunnels connected the palace to the temple mount and led all the way to Jericho; but only the high priest and king knew of their existence. Why? So that if an enemy attacked Jerusalem, the two most important things in Jerusalem might be saved:

The descendant on David’s throne
The Ark of the Covenant from the Holy of Holies

If you’d like to see more about the tunnels under the Temple Mount, CLICK HERE.

Israel’s Holy & Common

When we emerge from the tunnels, we’ll walk the streets of the Shuk, the ancient colorful bazaar to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and then through the Ancient Cardo a restored Roman shopping street. Once in the Jewish Quarter, we’ll approach their holiest site on earth—the Western Wall. We’ll spend some time alone there in prayer, remembering that Jesus tore the veil of the temple that once stood here, and in doing so made possible our confident approach to our Heavenly Father.

Shabbat in Jerusalem

As the sun sets, Jews of Jerusalem will begin their Sabbath preparations—and so will we. This evening we’ll enjoy a traditional Friday night Shabbat dinner with a religious Jewish family in their home—a night we’ll never forget—and then we’ll return to our cozy Gloria Hotel.

If you’re feeling drawn to these amazing experiences—maybe you’re even ready to face your lingering fears—please join us for “Experience THE BOOK Tour” on March 6-17, 2020 (or through the 19th with the Petra extension)! The relationships and spiritual experiences we share on this trip will change our hearts, deepen our faith, and enrich our lives in so many ways.

To see the full itinerary and more details, go to: http://bit.ly/theBOOKtour. Have specific questions? Please contact tour director, Bev Henry. Phone: 714-512-8167 Email: bhenry@luxetm.com.

To read Part 7 of our “Experience THE BOOK Tour” posts, CLICK HERE.