The Bible in Its Land:

Transcription

1 Biblical Archaeology of Israel Tour Led by Gary A. Rendsburg Laurie Professor of Jewish History Rutgers University Introduction The Bible: Its Land, History, Archaeology and Exploration Jewish history begins in the land of Israel, where the Bible was written and where modern archaeology reveals the ancient past. Our tour will bring these two aspects of early Judaism to life, as we explore the land with the text in one hand and the trowel in the other. We will focus on both the biblical period and the immediate post-biblical or Greco-Roman period, with visits to archaeological sites in Jerusalem, Qumran, Masada, Megiddo, Hazor, Dan, Caesarea, and more. We also will enjoy several exquisitely beautiful natural sites (Dan and Ein Gedi), untouched since biblical times. An outing to the Israel Museum is included in our itinerary, where we will see such items as the House of David inscription found at Dan and the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in the caves at Qumran. Plus, there will be some free time to explore Jerusalem on your own. All this and more during our study tour of the land of Israel. 1

2 Itinerary Tuesday, June 14 th Day One Depart for Israel Fly from Newark Liberty International Airport to Ben-Gurion International Airport. Departure scheduled for 1:30 pm. Wednesday, June 15 th Day Two Arrive to Israel / Jerusalem Overnight: Arrive to Ben-Gurion International Airport outside of Tel Aviv and make our way up to Jerusalem. Arrival scheduled for 7:00 am. We will take a City Tour by bus before checking into our hotel. Yerushalayim harim saviv lah Jerusalem, the mountains surround her, states Psalm 125:2 so there is no better way to meet Jerusalem than to stand on the surrounding mountain tops and to enjoy the vistas of the city, both ancient and modern. We will stand on Mount Scopus, Mount of Olives, and Talpiyyot, in order to view the city from three different directions (north, east, and south, respectively). Plus, we will drive the outer perimeter of the current Old City walls, built during the early Ottoman period, as a further way of orienting ourselves to this very special and historic city. Our first Learning Session with Dr. Rendsburg is THE HISTORY OF JERUSALEM. After time to relax and get settled-in, the group will meet for an Orientation and Welcome Dinner. Dinner Dan Panorama, Jerusalem 2

3 City of David Excavations Thursday, June 16 th Day Three Dead Sea Area We will spend the day visiting Qumran, Ein Gedi, and Masada, the three most important sites in the area. After an early breakfast, we will have our second Learning Session on THE ANCIENT JEWISH SECTS: SADDUCEES, PHARISEES, ESSENES, AND ZEALOTS as we travel to the Dead Sea region. We will go through the Judean Desert west and south of Jerusalem, to reach the shore of the Dead Sea, and to visit Qumran, the site of an Essene community whose precious possessions were the 900-plus documents known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, found in the caves above Qumran. We will then travel along the shores of the Dead Sea to Ein Gedi, known for both its natural beauty, an oasis in the desert, and for the Byzantineperiod synagogue found there, replete with exquisite mosaic floor. We ll take a break for lunch on your own. The final stop of the day will be Masada, home to Herod s winter palace and the last stronghold of the Zealots during the Great Revolt against Rome. 3

4 Masada Overnight: After dinner at one of Jerusalem s fine restaurants, we will enjoy a cultural event together. Breakfast and Dinner Dan Panorama, Jerusalem Friday, June 17 th Day Four Jerusalem We will spend the day visiting Jerusalem s major archaeological excavations. After breakfast, we will have our third Learning Session on A CENTURY OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL. Our day s itinerary will focus on two areas: the City of David excavations (with the recently discovered palace of King David, the great waterworks which lie deep below the surface of ancient Jerusalem, including Hezekiah s Tunnel, and much more). We will explore the Second Temple period excavations at the southern and western walls of Temple Mount (the Western Wall itself, Robinson s Arch, mikveh installations, staircases, etc.). Late afternoon to relax before Shabbat. Shabbat Dinner at the hotel 4

5 Overnight: Breakfast and Shabbat Dinner at the hotel Dan Panorama, Jerusalem Saturday, June 18 th Day Five Shabbat in Jerusalem Overnight: After breakfast, there will be free time to attend Shabbat morning services in neighborhood synagogues: The Great Synagogue (Orthodox), The Center for Conservative Judaism, and Hebrew Union College (Reform). We will then leave from the hotel for the walk to the Israel Museum where Dr. Rendsburg will lead you on a tour focusing on the archaeology of Israel. Motzei Shabbat is free for exploring on your own. Breakfast Dan Panorama, Jerusalem Megiddo 5

6 Sunday, June 19 th Day Six Megiddo and Hazor Megiddo and Hazor were two of the largest cities in Israel during the biblical period, and they remain the best excavated of all such cities. After an early breakfast, we head north to two of Israel s best known archaeological sites, Megiddo and Hazor. We will have lunch as a group along the way. Megiddo contains 25 archaeological strata, whose remains include the underground water system, a massive Canaanite altar site, Solomon s stables, and the imposing gate complex. From atop the mound we will enjoy the view of the Jezreel Valley, thereby appreciating the city s strategic value. In fact, so many battles were fought at or near Megiddo during its history, it was only natural for apocalyptically minded people to create the term Armageddon to refer to the final cataclysmic battle. After lunch on our own en route, at Hazor we will see the identical gate complex, a different kind of underground water system, the governor s house, and possible evidence for the Israelites arrival in the land of Canaan c B.C.E. Once more we will appreciate the location of the site, for from atop this mound there are commanding views of much of the Galilee. We will arrive at Nof Ginosar in the late afternoon. There will be time to relax before the evening s program. Overnight: We will enjoy dinner together which is followed by our fourth Learning Session on MAXIMALISTS AND MINIMALISTS IN THE STUDY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL. Breakfast and Dinner Nof Ginosar Guest House 6

7 Monday, June 20 th Day Seven Tel Dan and Tiberias We will visit the excavations at the lush Tel Dan Nature Reserve and then visit the area around the Kinneret. Tel Dan After breakfast and our fifth Learning Session on THE RISE OF RABBINIC JUDAISM, we are off to one of the country s most lush areas. Tel Dan affords us an opportunity to combine history and archaeology with natural beauty and easy hiking. The Dan stream, which forms part of the headwaters of the Jordan River, flows by the ancient archaeological site, the northernmost city in ancient Israel, hence the biblical expression from Dan to Beersheba. The lovely walk through the nature reserve is restorative, while the archaeological site includes the best preserved altar site from biblical times. With Tiberias we segue into the Roman-Byzantine period, during which times Jewish cultural and religious life shifted from Jerusalem and environs to the Galilee. It was here that the Talmud of the Land of Israel (the socalled Jerusalem Talmud) was created during the 4 th -5 th centuries C.E. Enjoy a fish dinner together at Ein Gev. Breakfast and Dinner Overnight: Nof Ginosar Guest House 7

8 Tuesday, June 21 st Day Eight Bet She an and Bet Alfa We will tour the marvelous excavations of the ancient Roman City at Beit She an and head south to Bet Alfa with its world-renown mosaic floors. Overnight: After breakfast and our sixth Learning Session with Professor Rendsburg on THE MISHNAH: FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT OF JUDAISM, we will begin our day s touring with Bet She an, the best preserved city from Roman times in the land of Israel. The entire city lies before the visitor, including its central streets, theatre, bathhouse, amphitheatre, and more, with architectural detail visible throughout. Bet Alfa was a small village during the Roman-Byzantine period, but it has yielded the best preserved mosaic floor from an ancient synagogue anywhere in Israel or beyond. Most significantly, the use of Helios and the zodiac as the focal point of synagogue art opens up all sorts of questions for the history of Judaism, the role of the rabbis, cultural influences, and more. At leisure Breakfast Elma Hotel, Zichron Wednesday, June 22 nd Day Nine Sephorris and Bet She arim Today we will visit the large archaeological site at Sephorris and explore the ancient burial site at Beit She arim. We will start the day with breakfast and our seventh Learning Session on EARLY CHRISTIANITY AS A JEWISH MOVEMENT. Then, we will depart for Sepphoris, where Rabbi Judah ha-nasi, compiler of the Mishnah, and major figure in early rabbinic Judaism lived and prospered. Sepphoris reveals both a very Jewish city, with a large synagogue, numerous mikveh installations, and more, and a very multicultural city, with a theatre, a marketplace, and villas and mansions 8

9 decorated with the most exquisite collection of mosaic floors found anywhere in the country. The waterworks which bring fresh water from the surrounding springs constitute a masterwork of ancient engineering. From the site we can see Nazareth a few miles away, which affords us an opportunity to talk about Christianity as an offshoot of early Judaism. Bet She arim is the site of thousands of Jewish burials spread throughout 20 catacombs. Sarcophagi reflect Roman influence, yet Jewish symbols such as the menorah occur as well. We then travel to Tel Aviv. Overnight: At leisure in Tel Aviv. Breakfast Dan Panorama, Tel Aviv Thursday, June 23 rd Day Ten Caesarea and Return to the U.S. We end our study tour with a visit to the ancient seaport excavations at Caesarea on the Mediterranean. We have free time in Tel Aviv before our Farewell Dinner and we head to the airport for our red-eye flight back to the U.S. Caesarea is the perfect place to end our tour, as we look out at the Mediterranean Sea. The city was built afresh by Herod, to serve as a Roman city within the land of Israel, and all of its architectural wonders are still easily visible: Herod s palace, theatre, amphitheatre, harbor, temple to Jupiter, and more. Professor Rendsburg participated in the excavations of Caesarea in 1999, so the site has a special place in his heart. We return to Tel Aviv so you can have time to relax or do some shopping. We will get together for a festive Farewell Dinner followed by a Wrap-Up Discussion led by Dr. Rendsburg. We then depart to the airport for the red-eye flight back to the United States. 9

10 Breakfast and Dinner Friday, June 24 th Day Eleven Arrive in the U.S. We are scheduled to arrive to Newark Liberty International Airport early Friday morning. This Itinerary is Subject to Change Our Scholar Gary Rendsburg, Ph.D., is the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. His teaching and research focus on 'all things ancient Israel' primarily language and literature, though also history and archaeology. Gary holds degrees from the University of North Carolina and NYU's Institute of Hebrew Language and Culture. He is the author of six books and about 150 articles; his most popular book is The Bible and the Ancient Near East, co-authored with the late Cyrus Gordon. In addition, he has produced two courses for the 'Great Courses' program, one on 'The Book of Genesis' and one on 'The Dead Sea Scrolls'. Gary has visited all the major archaeological sites in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan; plus he has excavated at Tel Dor and Caesarea. 10

11 For Questions and to Register: For Travel Questions and Registration: Fallon Robinson of Gil Travel Group in Philadelphia X 373 fallonr@giltravel.com For Other Questions: Moshe Margolin, Director Jewish Explorations moshe@jewish-explorations.com The Registration Deadline is February 28, 2016 Special Features Professor Gary Rendsburg will be conducting seven Learning Sessions during the study tour. A licensed local guide will accompany the group during your stay in Israel and provide background information. Educational Materials Pre-Departure Bibliography prepared by Professor Rendsburg. Source Book prepared by Professor Rendsburg. Prices (Per Person) EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT* REGULAR PRICE SINGLE ROOM BY DECEMBER 31, 2015 BY FEBRUARY 28, 2016 SUPPLEMENT LAND ONLY FULL PACKAGE LAND ONLY FULL PACKAGE $3,245 $4,345 $3,395 $4,495 $975 *PAYMENT BY CHECK REQUIRED THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 28, 2016 Prices based on a minimum of 20 participants. $500 deposit due upon registration. 11

12 The above prices include: Flights (Complete Package Only) FLIGHT DATE FROM/TO DEPARTURE TIME ARRIVAL TIME EL AL 28 JUNE 14 NEWARK / TEL AVIV 1:30 PM 7:00 AM (JUNE 15) EL AL 28 JUNE 24 TEL AVIV / NEWARK 12:30 AM 5:40 AM The experts at the Gil Travel Group stand ready to help with your flights from departure locations other than EWR. Hotels DATE NIGHTS HOTEL CITY JUNE 15 TO 19 4 DAN PANORAMA JERUSALEM JUNE 19 TO 21 2 NOF GINOSAR GINOSAR JUNE 21 TO 22 1 ELMA ZICHRON JUNE 22 TO 23 1 DAN PANORAMA JERUSALEM 12

13 Meals DATE JUNE 15 JUNE 16 JUNE 17 JUNE 19 JUNE 20 JUNE 23 MEAL WELCOME DINNER DINNER SHABBAT DINNER DINNER AT EIN GEV DINNER AT HOTEL FAREWELL DINNER BREAKFAST DAILY AT THE HOTEL Cultural Events DATE JUNE 16 EVENT TBD 13

14 Also Includes Sightseeing and Transportation Guide 9 days of sightseeing including entrance fees to all sights on itinerary, via a deluxe air conditioned motor coach with English speaking guide. Group arrival and departure transfers are included. Porterage 1 piece of luggage per person at each hotel and airport. Other Special Features Gil Travel document kit Special Gil Travel gift bag for each family Bottled Water on the bus. Package Does Not Include Travel Insurance Provided exclusively by Travelex, purchased through Gil Travel. Insurance can be purchased at: Tips Tips to the guide and driver are discretionary and not. However, we suggest: $8 per person per day for guide $6 per person per day for driver $1 per person per night for the chambermaid 14

15 Cell Phone Rental For group cell phone rental, please visit our website at Meals and Alcoholic Beverages Meals not included in itinerary as well as alcoholic beverages and items not listed on group menus. Personal Expenses All those expenses individual to each passenger including souvenirs, laundry services, valet service, phone calls. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS $500 deposit per person due with application. Balance due 60 days prior to departure Friday, April 15, DEVIATIONS Any passenger deviating from the group flights will not be entitled to the group airport transfers. We will be glad to reserve a private car transfer for him/her from/to airport. CANCELLATION POLICY Cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received up to February 28, 2016 forfeit $ per person plus any cancellation charges (if any) from suppliers/airlines. March 1 - April 15, 2016 forfeit $ per person plus any cancellation charges (if any) from local suppliers/airlines. April 16 - April 30, 2016 forfeit $1, per person May 1 - May 14, 2016 forfeit $2, per person May 15, 2016 to departure no refund 2015 Gil Travel Group and Adult Jewish Learning Programs All Rights Reserved Reproduction without permission is prohibited by law. 15