S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y COMPREHENDING THE HOLY LAND August 31 to September 13, 2012 a program of the stanford alumni association
Perhaps nowhere else in the world does the confluence of history, religion and politics hold more significance than in Israel, a country whose geographic position has placed it at the intersection of Eastern and Western civilizations and at the crux of the debate on the future of the Middle East. It is home to some of the most sacred sites of three of the world s great religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Join Jewish studies professor Steven Weitzman on a special journey to this holy land, where we seek to understand Israel through the ages, exploring its magnificent landscape and stunning archaeological sites and getting to know its people from all walks of life. I hope you can join us. Brett S. Thompson, 83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study tower of david, jerusalem Highlights cover: western wall, jerusalem DISCOVER cosmopolitan Tel Aviv s excellent museums and the sacred sites of ancient Jerusalem, the most holy city in Israel. STAY in a converted kibbutz, now a charming hotel, while visiting locations throughout the Galilee and the Golan Heights. ENGAGE in discussions on current events and issues with local journalists, professors and students. dead sea
M e d i t e r r a a n n e EGYPT e a S GAZA STRIP Haifa Caesarea I SRAEL Tel Aviv Jerusalem Bethlehem Kfar Blum GOLAN HEIGHTS Zippori Capernaum Sea of Nazareth Galilee WEST BANK Masada Jordan River Dead Sea JORDAN SY Itinerary Friday & Saturday, August 31 & September 1 U.S. / TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Depart the U.S. on a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival on Saturday, transfer to our hotel and enjoy an early dinner and welcome briefing at our hotel. HILTON HOTEL (D) Sunday, September 2 TEL AVIV / JAFFA Our tour of Tel Aviv begins with a visit to the recently opened Israeli Museum at the Yitzhak Rabin Center, which presents the parallel stories of the history of the State of Israel and the biography of former Prime Minister Rabin who was assassinated in 1995. Continue to Jaffa, one of the world s oldest port cities, and visit the beautifully preserved Al Mahmoudiya Mosque. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception and dinner. HILTON HOTEL (B,L,D) Monday, September 3 TEL AVIV Attend a morning briefing at the Adva Center and learn about the organization s work as a non-partisan policy analysis institute whose mandate is to examine Israeli society in the context of equality and social justice. Visit Independence Hall where David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. Enjoy lunch along Rothschild Boulevard where the largest collection of Bauhaus architecture in the world has earned Tel Aviv the moniker, The White City. HILTON HOTEL (B,L) Tuesday, September 4 CAESAREA / HAIFA / KFAR BLUM Head north to Caesarea, an important city in ancient times with wonderfully restored Roman, Byzantine and Crusader-era sites. Explore the Roman theater, the cathedral and the nearby Ralli Museum. Continue to Haifa, Israel s largest port, and ascend to the summit of Mount Carmel. Visit the studio and home of the expressionist painter, Emmanuel Mane-Katz, which is now a museum. Then tour the gardens of the Shrine of the Bab, with its gilded dome that marks it as the world center for the Baha i faith. Continue to our kibbutz, now a charming hotel, where we enjoy dinner tonight. KFAR BLUM KIBBUTZ (B,L,D) Wednesday, September 5 UPPER GALILEE / GOLAN HEIGHTS / KFAR BLUM Travel to the important biblical region of Upper Galilee and to the Golan Heights. Begin the morning at Banias, a biblical city located at the foot of Mt. Hermon, followed by lunch atop Mount Ben Tal, with its views of Israel s northern borders. Drive to Katzrin, the administrative center of the Golan Heights, and tour the Golan Archaeological Museum. KFAR BLUM KIBBUTZ (B,L,D) Thursday, September 6 SAFED / CAPERNAUM / TABGHA / KFAR BLUM Begin the day at Safed, a center of Jewish mysticism and home
RIA Dome of the Rock, jerusalem to ancient synagogues and an artists colony. After lunch, visit the Mount of Beatitudes, known as the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Then travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus ministry, where a modern church has been built over the remains of what is believed to be the house of Saint Peter. Explore Tabgha where, according to the Bible, Jesus miraculously multiplied two fish and five loaves of bread to feed the crowds. Enjoy a leisurely boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. KFAR BLUM KIBBUTZ (B,L,D) Friday, September 7 ZIPPORI / NAZARETH / Drive south toward Jerusalem, passing olive groves, pomegranate shrubs, grape vines and fig trees. Stop in Cana, supposed site of the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine. Continue to Nazareth for a visit to the Basilica of the Annunciation, and the archaeological site of Zippori best known for its stunning Roman and Byzantineera mosaics. Upon reaching Jerusalem, check into our hotel and enjoy dinner independently. INBAL HOTEL (B,L) Saturday, September 8 Early this morning, explore Jerusalem s Old City, stopping first at the Temple Mount. Admire the brilliantly golden Dome of the Rock and see the Western Wall. After lunch at a local restaurant walk along the Via Dolorosa the Way of the Cross past the walls of tiny chapels that mark the 14 stations of the journey Jesus purportedly made from the place of his trial to the scene of his crucifixion and the site of his burial, on which was built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. INBAL HOTEL (B,L,D) Sunday, September 9 This morning, visit Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust Memorial and Museum, which possesses the largest Holocaust archive in the world. After a traditional falafel lunch, drive to the East Jerusalem campus of Al Quds University for a briefing and orientation. INBAL HOTEL (B,L) Monday, September 10 MASADA / Take a full-day excursion south to Masada and the Dead Sea. Ascend by cable car to the massive palace/fortress built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BCE. After lunch, take a dip in the Dead Sea, the saltiest and lowest body of water on earth. Return to Jerusalem. INBAL HOTEL (B,L) Tuesday, September 11 BETHLEHEM / At the nearby city of Bethlehem, visit Manger Square, Bethlehem s central plaza and the entrance to the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto thought to be the site of Jesus birth. After lunch return to Jerusalem and visit the Hassadah Medical Center with its colorful stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. INBAL HOTEL (B,L) Wednesday, September 12 This morning visit the newly renovated Israel Museum to admire its splendid display of archaeology and Judaica. See the Shrine of the Book, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls. The balance of the day is at leisure. This evening enjoy a farewell reception and dinner at the American Colony Hotel. INBAL HOTEL (B,D) Thursday, September 13 / U.S. After breakfast transfer to the airport for flights back to the U.S. (B)
jaffa caesaria old city, jerusalem olive grove in Galilee Information Dates August 31 to September 13, 2012 (14 days) Size Limited to 39 participants Cost* $7,995 per person, double occupancy $9,995 per person, single occupancy *Association nonmembers add $200 per person Included 12 nights of hotel accommodations 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 7 dinners Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions Bottled water on all excursions Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers for all group activities All tours and excursions as described in the itinerary Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educational program with lecture series and predeparture materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program Not Included International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified as included Independent and private transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excessbaggage charges Personal items such as email, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services Air Arrangements International and U.S. domestic airfare is not included in the program cost. Round-trip, economy-class airfare on Air Canada from San Francisco to Tel Aviv and return from Jerusalem is approximately $1,800 as of January 2012 and is subject to change without notice. Information on recommended flight itineraries will be sent by our designated agent. What to Expect We consider this program to be moderately strenuous and at times physically demanding and busy. We will have a full schedule of excursions, lectures and special events, and some days will require early-morning starts. Daily excursions involve one to three miles of walking with tours lasting as long as two or three hours. Much of the walking takes place at ancient sites, where paths can be rocky and uneven, as well as on city streets, which can be uneven or cobblestone. In some instances, such as museums, guided tours require standing in one place for 20 to 30 minutes at a time and climbing up and down several flights of stairs, which may not have handrails; elevators are limited or unavailable. Some sites and museums do not allow buses to pull up in front, thus requiring a several minutes walk to reach the entrance. Our journey at times requires several hours of travel by motorcoach, the longest drives being up to 6 hours in length. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.
Jerusalem Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment A $1,000 deposit is required to hold space for this program. Complete and return the attached reservation form or place your deposit online. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability. Cancellations & Refunds Deposits and any payments are fully refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-perperson cancellation fee will apply. We recommend trip-cancellation insurance; applications will be sent to you. Insurance Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. A brochure offering such insurance will be mailed with your confirmation about one week after we receive your deposit. The product offered in this brochure includes a special Waiver of Pre- Existing Conditions and coverage for Financial Insolvency and Terrorist Acts if you postmark your insurance payment within 15 days of the date listed on the confirmation letter. Eligibility We encourage membership in the Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $200 more than the members price. Parents and their children under 21 may travel on one membership. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit alumni.stanford.edu/ goto/membership or call (650) 725-0692. Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not onboard their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect in February 2012 and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50 Tel (650) 725-1093 FAX (650) 725-8675 Email travelstudy@stanfordalumni.org COPYRIGHT 2012 STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed on recycled, FSC-certified paper in the U.S.
We covered a lot of history and a lot of territory in a relatively short time, but I feel I came away with a good perspective. The very complex history of Israel and the region as a whole were wonderfully presented. Babs Brownyard, 59 Israel Suitcase Seminar, 2010 Faculty Leader Steven Weitzman joined the department of religious studies in 2009 and is now director of Stanford s Taube Center for Jewish Studies and the Daniel E. Koshland Professor of Jewish Culture and Religion. Trained in ancient Near Eastern studies and Jewish studies, his research seeks to develop new approaches to the Bible and early Jewish texts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. He has recently published a biography of King Solomon and is planning a new history of the biblical miracle. One of the aspects of the Bible that I find most fascinating is the interconnection among religion, story and place, explains Professor Weitzman. Why is the God of the Bible associated with mountains? What role did the desert play in the imagination of ancient Israelites? How was religious life in Jerusalem different from that of the Galilee or from the coast? How does geography shape the story-telling to be found in scriptural texts and how, for that matter, have those stories reshaped the geography of the Holy Land? During our program, Professor Weitzman will explore the origins of Israel, Judaism and the relationship between space and time in the Bible. Please note that additional guest speakers and special events focusing on current events and the political situation in Israel are being planned and will be confirmed shortly before departure. S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y Reservation Form Israel In-Depth MR. / MRS. / MS. MISS / DR. / PROF. NAME SIGN UP ONLINE! MR. / MRS. / MS. MISS / DR. / PROF. NAME BED PREFERENCE: Twins Double ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP CELL / WORK / HOME PHONE Here is my deposit of $ ($1,000 per person) for space(s) Enclosed is my check (payable to Stanford Alumni Association) OR Charge my deposit to my: Visa MasterCard American Express EMAIL ADDRESS CARD # I/We have read the Terms and Conditions for the program and agree to them. EXPIRATION DATE SIGNATURE CARDHOLDER SIGNATURE DATE If this is a reservation for one person, please indicate: I wish to have single accommodations. OR I plan to share accommodations with: OR I d like to know about possible roommates. Mail completed form to address on mail panel or fax to (650) 725-8675 or place your deposit online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?israel2012. Please submit your reservation only once to avoid multiple charges to your account. 7538
Stanford Travel/Study Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center 326 Galvez Street Stanford, CA 94305-6105 (650) 725-1093 COMPREHENDING THE HOLY LAND August 31 to September 13, 2012 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Stanford Alumni Association The Stanford Travel/Study program is the very best way to go on a trip I rate it A+++. Gail Mathisen, Israel Suitcase Seminar, 2010 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y Masada fortress