“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