“Living Stones” Solidarity Tour: Palestine & Israel
Our 16th tour is scheduled for June 11-24, 2023
Please check back for updates on the people, organizations, and places we will visit, as well as cost information.
Informational Meeting Scheduled for Oct. 27
If you are interested in learning more about solidarity tours, and about this solidarity tour in particular, please plan to attend this informational meeting. And it truly is just informational - there will be a brief presentation about the trip and a helpful period of Q&A following that. There is no expectation of commitment.
Thursday, October 27, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Amistad Cristiana Presbyterian Church, 1701 Capitol Ave., Fort Wayne, IN.
PLEASE RSVP Dr. Michael Spath - lmichaelspath@gmail.com - if you plan to attend this meeting.
Join Dr. Michael Spath on his 16th tour of Palestine and Israel, meeting with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious, political, and NGO leaders, as well as visiting the holy sites of the three Abrahamic religions.
Features
Dr. Michael Spath | Executive Director of Indiana Center for Middle East Peace; Fulbright Scholar (1998-99), Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, Amman, Jordan (under patronage of HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal); 30+ trips to Palestine/Israel; has led 15 previous solidarity tours. |
Pre-trip Prep Meetings | Discussing the people and places we'll visit and the political, cultural, moral, and theological issues in the region. |
In-trip Meetings | With internationally-known Jewish, Christian, Muslim religious and NGO leaders, peacemakers, and human rights advocates (see below). |
Major Holy Land religious and historical sites | Pending approval, we include a guided tour of Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. See below for other sites. |
Creche of Bethlehem, Holy Family Hospital | We will deliver hand-made quilts crafted by women in Fort Wayne for the babies currently in the hospital. |
Apartheid Wall | We will walk the wall surrounding Bethlehem, including a visit to Banksy's "Walled Off" Hotel and Museum, Bethlehem. |
Gloria Hotel |
In the Christian Quarter inside Jerusalem's Old City, within walking distance to Jerusalem holy sites. |
Manger Square Hotel | In Bethlehem - a 2-minute walk from Manger Square and Church of the Nativity. |
Ron Beach Hotel | On the Sea of Galilee, in the resort town of Tiberias, Israel. |
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride | After dark on the last night in the Galilee. |
Communion Service | Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee |
Devotions | Offered throughout the trip; shared by tour participants. |
Optional Pre-Tour | Arrive Saturday, June 10, for a day tour in Jerusalem with Dr. Spath. |
Free Time | Scheduled throughout the tour, for personal exploration, shopping, rest, etc. |
People and Organizations – tentative until confirmed
Abdelfattah Abusrour | Alrowwad Cultural & Theater Training Center, Aida Refugee Camp; "beautiful resistance" - Bethlehem |
Issa Amro | Youth Against Settlements - Hebron |
Sami Awad | Holy Land Trust - Bethlehem |
Sam Bahour | Palestinian-American businessman/entreprenuer - Ramallah |
Iyad Burnat | Bil'in Resistance leader; Five Broken Cameras film - Bil'in |
Archbishop Elias Chacour | Mar Elias Educational Institutions, 3-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee; author (Blood Brothers) - Ibillin, Galilee |
Jeff Halper | founder, Israel Committee Against House Demolitions, One Democratic State Campaign - Jerusalem |
Gerard Horton & Salwa Duaybis | Military Court Watch - Ramallah |
Jenin Freedom Theater | Jenin, Palestine |
Ali Jiddah | Afro-Palestinian elder - African Quarter, Jerusalem Old City |
Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin Camp | On the highway between Jerusalem and Jericho |
Daoud Nassar | Tent of Nations environmental peace and sustainability farm - Bethlehem |
Mazin Qumsiyeh | Palestine Natural History Museum - Bethlehem |
George & Najwa Sa'adeh (Christian), Rami Elhanan (Jewish) | Bereaved Parents Circle |
Sabeel Liberation Theology Center | Jerusalem |
Sahar Vardi | Jewish Israeli conscientious objector |
Zoughbi Zoughbi | 2011 World Vision "Peacemaker of the Year"; Wi'am Conflict Resolution & Transformation Center - Bethlehem |
Sites
Bethlehem | Nativity Church; Milk Grotto; Tent of Nations |
Jerusalem | Holy Sepulchre; 'Wailing' Wall; Mount of Olives; Garden of Gethsemane; Dominus Flevit; Via Dolorosa; inside Al Aqsa Mosque & Dome of the Rock (tentative); Melkite Catholic Cathedral; Optional: Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Israel Museum |
Hebron | Tomb of the Patriarchs; Old City souq; infamous Checkpoint 56; Shuhada Street 'ghost town' |
Ramallah | Yasser Arafat Shrine; Nelson Mandela Freedom Square |
Judean Desert | Ancient Jericho archaeological site; Hisham's Palace; Qumran; Ein Gedi Kibbutz at the Dead Sea; Jordan River; Optional: "David's Spring," at Ein Gedi |
Galilee | Sea of Galilee; Capernaum; Tabgha; Mount of Beatitudes; "Jesus Boat" at Ginosar; Nazareth's Basilica of the Annunciation |
Land Cost of Tour Package
The cost of our tour decreases as we add more participants, so travel with a friend!
10-14 travelers: $3,695
15-19 travelers: $3,095
20+ travelers: $2,695
The Tour Price INCLUDES:
- 26 meals (breakfast each day)
- Hotel - double occupancy - Gloria, Old City Jerusalem; Manger Square, Bethlehem; Ron Beach, Tiberias.
- Deluxe air-conditioned motor coach
- Entrance fees to listed sites
- Guide - Jericho & Qumran, Hebron, Al-Aqsa, Nativity Church
- All tips and gratuities
The Tour Price DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfare to/from Tel Aviv (TLV)
- Travel Insurance
- Travel to/from airport - Dr. Spath can arrange for transport (pay directly)
- Drinks with all meals and 11 meals
- Single occupancy hotel room
- Souvenirs and personal items
- Single room supplement, $1,150
- Optional early arrival, Saturday, June 10 ($130/person, double room; single room $210)
FOR DETAILS please contact Dr. Michael Spath
Lmichaelspath@gmail.com or 260-515-9300