Come See Listen 2: A Holy Witness Trip to Israel/Palestine in honor of the Rev. Dr. Cotton Fite and in support of the Siraj Library Project December 28, 2018-January 8, 2019 Sponsored by the Peace and Justice Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago* Led by: The Rev. Dr.KyungJa (KJ) Oh KJ is a native Chicagoan and was ordained in the Diocese of Chicago in 2002. She served as parish priest in the diocese and in So. Ohio before joining Bexley Seabury Seminary faculty in 2014 as assistant professor in practical theology. She also serves the seminary as the Director of Formation and Contextual Learning. The Rev. Dr. Anthony Vaccaro Anthony came to Chicago in 1989 to do his residency at Michael Reese Hospital and is currently and attending physician with Northwestern Medicine and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine. He was ordained in the Diocese of Chicago in 2013 and currently serves as an assisting priest at the Church of Our Saviour on Fullerton Parkway. Pricing 3250/person: 20+ participants 3400/person: 15-19 participants 3550/person: 10-14 participants Single supplement is $ 600.
The Diocesan Peace and Justice Committee has organized a second witness trip to the Holy Land in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Cotton Fite and in support of his work with the Siraj Library Project.* Participants will explore and experience the places and traditions of our biblical past, and will be given an opportunity to become a part of its present by meeting with and breaking bread with the people of Palestine and Israel and visiting one of the many Siraj Library projects. We will meet with leaders from all three Abrahamic religions, as well as, community organizers, members of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in order to gain a broader perspective of the life in Palestine and Israel. An added highlight will be spending Orthodox Christmas in Bethlehem. If you would like more information after reviewing the itinerary, please contact The Rev. Anthony Vaccaro at revdocajv@gmail.com. If you are unable to attend the trip, but wish to contribute to this cause, go tohttps://www.serajlibraries.org/donate.html where you will be able to donate to the Cotton Fite Memorial Fund.
* The Diocesan Peace and Justice Committee has entered into a contract with Grace Tours, Bethlehem-Shepherd s Field, Palestine. They will be making all of the arrangements. Package price includes the following: 1. Meet & Assist at Ben Gurion Airport upon arrivals and departures. 2. Three nights accommodation in Nazareth/Tiberias in double occupancy with breakfast & dinner. 3. Seven night s accommodation in Bethlehem in double occupancy with breakfast & dinner. 4. Eleven days sightseeing in modern air-conditioned private bus. 5. English speaking government licensed Christian guide on duty. 6. Entrance fees to places of interests whilst on tour in the Holy Land. 7. Special dinner at restaurant with entertainment 8. One dinner with families. 9. Tips for Guide, Driver and hotels. 10. Honorariums to speakers. 11. Lunches. 12. Flight from Chicago Package price should not include the following: 1. Single supplement 600.00 2. Drinks at hotels and restaurants 3. All Personal Expenses. 4. Insurance. Notes: All prices are in US Dollars based on per person in a double room, Rooming alone is subject to single supplement and availability, and maximum capacity of the bus is 50Pax. All prices are VAT inclusive
Reservations are accepted continuously until the tour is full, but to guarantee group rates, your completed reservations and deposit of 500 dollars must be received by August 15th, 2018. Check only please. Itinerary ComeSeeListen 2** 28 December Friday: Depart from O hare Airport at 9:20 PM 29 December Saturday: Arrival to Tel Aviv at 7:20 pm, Drive to Galilee for Dinner & overnight (Golan Hotel) 30 December Sunday : Worship in Nazareth, visit Nazareth & Cana of Galilee. Late afternoon, meet with Sabeel Nazareth ( Life for Arabs in Israel ). Dinner & overnight in Galilee. 31 of December Monday : Meet Bishop Chacour, Mount of Beatitudes, St Peter Primacy ( time for reflection ) Tabgha, Capernaum. Dinner & overnight in Galilee 1 January Tuesday : Visit Nablus Hospital ( Health care in Palestine & Anglican Mission ), Jacobs Well ( Clergy ), Soap Factory & Ramallah ( Arafat Tomb )overnight in Bethlehem (Manger Square Hotel) 2 January Wednesday : Mount of Olives, Palm Sunday Path, Garden of Gethsemane, St Anne Church and Pool of Bethesda. Afternoon Sabeel & Yad Vashem. Dinner & overnight in Bethlehem 3 January Thursday : Visit the Applied Research Institute (Water ), visit Aida ( Library ), Church of Nativity & Shepherds fields. At the End of the day, visit an Israeli
Settlement ). Dinner with Christian Families. overnight in Bethlehem 4 January Friday : OCHA, old Jericho, Zacchaeus Tree,View Mount of Temptation, River Jordan & meet with Bedouins. overnight in Bethlehem 5 January Saturday : Hebron old city, Tombs of Patriarchs, CPT, Walled Off Hotel, Walk Battir track. Dinner & overnight in Bethlehem 6 January Sunday : Worship, meet the Bishop, Breaking the Silence & Rabbi Kornish ( Interfaith Dialogue ). overnight in Bethlehem 7 January Monday : Al Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, Walling Wall, Via Dolorosa, Holy Sepulcher pm Tour Greater Jerusalem with an Israeli Guide, overnight in Bethlehem 8 January Tuesday : Departure with TK 0785 at 10:20 AM and arrives at Istanbul at 1:35 pm. Leave Istanbul at 3:00 pm and arrive to Chicago at 5:55 PM. **Itinerary is subject to change depending upon weather and local conditions as well as speaker availability. The trip does require a bit of endurance and involves some steep hills and rough terrain, however mutually agreed upon accommodations can be made when necessary.
RESERVATION FORM Come See Listen 2 December 28, 2018-January 8, 2019 Co-leaders KJ Oh and Anthony Vaccaro To be assured of your place on the tour, please complete this Reservation Form, and submit it along with a copy of your passport and a deposit of $500. Make checks payable to Peace and Justice Committee, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and send them to Peace and Justice Committee c/o Rebecca Elfring-Roberts, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, 65 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611 and write ComeSeeListen2 in memo line. For more information email revdocajv@gmail.com Reservations are accepted continuously until the tour is full, but to guarantee group rates, your completed reservations and deposit must be received by August 15th, 2018 Name (as it appears on your passport): Name as you wish for it to appear on your tour name badge: Street address: City, State, ZIP: Phone: (evening) (day) E-mail: Room Type: Double occupancy, rooming with: Single occupancy ($600 supplemental fee) Food preferences: Kosher Halal Vegetarian
Passport Copies All registrants must provide a clear photocopy of the photo and signature pages of their passport. Passports must be valid for six months beyond the return date of the tour. Price of Tour Determination of the tour s price is dependent upon the number of persons participating and will be finalized by September 1, 2018 and correspondence will be sent with final pricing to each participant. For deposits received after August 15th, 2018, participants may incur additional charges due to vendor charges. Single room accommodation is limited. If you are traveling alone, we will place you with another single unless you specify otherwise. Final Payment is due by September 15, 2018. Travel Insurance, if desired, must be purchased within 14 days of tour reservations. If sufficient numbers would like to join in a group policy we may arrange that. Please stipulate that when you send in your deposit. Refund and Cancellation Policy Reservations that are cancelled before September 1, 2018 will receive full refunds; cancellations between September 1 and October 1, 2018 forfeit their deposits; cancellations after October 1-November 1 th incur a 75% fee, those after November 1 th incur a 100% cancellation fee. I have read the tour s features and conditions and agree to the terms. KJ Oh and Anthony Vaccaro act only as agents for the companies whose services or accommodations are used. Neither they nor any of the tour s co-sponsors assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the services of any train, vessel, carriage, automobile, airplane or other conveyance, which will be used either wholly or in part. Neither will they be responsible for any act, error, omission, or any injury, loss, accident nor any delays, which may be occasioned by reason of defect in any vehicle or through neglect or default of any company or persons engaged in the conveying of passengers. Prices and schedules are based on current rates and are subject to change without notice. The tour operator reserves the right to modify the itinerary where deemed necessary. It is understood that no compensation for work on this tour has been or will be received by any organization or person named above; that such voluntary efforts are made solely for the purpose of making the tour as safe and successful as possible for all
participants; that participants are responsible for their own safety and well-being and assume all risks relating to the tour; and that the organizations and persons named above bear no responsibility for the safety and well-being of the participants and the successful completion of the study tour. Signature: Date:
General Health Report Form Come See Listen 2 The purpose of this form is for you and your co-delegates to experience a safe, comfortable and informative tour. Please complete it and send it with your payment to Peace and Justice Committee c/o Rebecca Elfring-Roberts, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, 65 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611.Your health will not only affect the quality of your experience, but also the experience of every member of the tour. The information you provide on this form is voluntary and will be held in confidence unless a health related issue arises that threatens your well-being, and then it will be shared only with the tour leaders and essential personnel. To Be Completed By Participant Height Weight Age Sex Name (Please print) Date of last full physical examination: Are you taking any prescription medications? If you are takeing any prescription medications, it is crucial that you continue to take them on the tour. Please list of your medications (by name, dosage and purpose) on the back of this form. If you respond Yes to any of the questions below, please explain in the white area and on the back of this form as necessary. Will your health or general physical condition limit your activities on this tour? Yes No Are you currently being treated for any physical condition? Do you have diabetes? Do you have epilepsy or have you ever had a seizure? Do you have asthma? Do you have any eating disorders? No Do you have a heart condition? Yes What major diseases or surgeries have you had in the last five years, if any? Have you ever been treated for a psychological disorder? Have you ever been treated for anxiety or panic attacks? Yes No Do you have allergies? Do you anticipate needing any health care or counseling while abroad? If you have any health related questions or concerns regarding the tour, please feel free to discuss these with your tour leaders. Our goal is for you to have a healthy and positive experience. 1. Emergency Contact Name Relationship Home Phone Secondary Phone 2. Emergency Contact Name Relationship Home Phone Secondary Phone Medical Insurance All participants should be covered by medical insurance while abroud. Please check with your insurance company to determine how to handle insurance claims (if necessary) when overseas. Insurance Company Phone number Policy Number Signature Date
BACKGROUND READINGS There are many books written on the conflict from all perspectives. There is certainly no need to read all of these, but reading 3 or 4 prior to the trip will help you with the basics and will help to make our discussions much more lively, meaningful and productive. Ateek, Naim Stifan, A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation Episcopal priest and peace activist, Naim Ateek speaks of the role of Palestinian Christians, their theology and traditions that empower them to be unite with their Muslim and Jewish neighbors in hope for a just peace. Chacour, Elias, We Belong to the Land This book details the story of Archbishop Chacour s personal story in the conflict and his struggle to provide education to young Palestinians under the occupation. Also by Chacour, Blood Brothers Lerner, Rabbi Michael, Healing Israel/Palestine Rabbi Lerner attempts to provide an unbiased point of view, to take blame away from one side or the other. At times he succeeds, at times not so much, but he does provide a good synopsis of the history of the conflict. Raheb, Mitri, I am a Palestinian Christian Fr. Raheb presents his personal theology of justice and reconciliation and provides scriptural support. Though much of the work in this book continues to be relevant, he will state that some of his approaches to a just peace have developed over the years since he wrote this book. Burge, Gary, Jesus and the Land Explores Zionist arguments and provides a scripturally based corrective to their ideas. Hamzeh, Muna. Refugees in Our Own Land: Chronicles from a Palestinian Refugee Camp in Bethlehem Essays on life in a Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem Hass, Amira Drinking the Sea at Gaza An Israeli journalist she writes provides us with a glimpse of her life in Gaza entrenched among her Arab friends. Tolan, Sandy, The Lemon Tree The tale of a simple act of faith between two young people - one Israeli, one Palestinian - that symbolizes the hope for peace in the Middle East. (Amazon.com)
Come, See, Listen Israel-Palestine 2014-2015 On December 27 th, 2014 fourteen members of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago found themselves boarding a bus in Tel Aviv, embarking on a 13 day pilgrimage that has changed their lives and the lives of those they have touched. Known as Come, See, Listen 2014-2015, this was no ordinary pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was not a trip designed for participants to visit age-old relics and the ruins of the past. This trip was created so that its participants would come face to face with the living stones who inhabit the land that we call holy, the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants, among which, you and I are counted and for which, we are to be held accountable. We began our journey in the disputed city of Jerusalem, the sacred city of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. After visiting a wall of prayer, a sacred space meant to bring God s chosen closer to God, we traveled through another kind of wall; one that separates God s children from each other and from the love of God. While in Bethlehem we visited the birthplace of Jesus and by our encounters with Palestinians there and throughout the West Bank, Jesus became ever-present to us in the stories told and in the sharing of meals. Over time, we too, became Christ-like, in our witness of the oppression that keeps Palestinians from living dignified, productive and healthy lives, whilst also perpetuating an atmosphere in which the people of Israel find themselves living in fear. Our journey took us to the mountaintop where we rejoiced in the Transfiguration of Christ in ourselves. We were in awe of the beauty of the land and walked quietly along the ancient paths upon which Jesus and his disciples once traveled and that still call monks away from the cities into the wilderness. We found laughter in the joy that still fills the hearts of those who have not given up hope and we were nourished and strengthened by the hospitality that met us along our way. Evenings met us with the quiet of Compline and a sharing of experiences, followed by fellowship in the city square or encounters with locals before a well-deserved rest to meet the new day with strength and vigor. Here are a few comments from some of the participants of Come, See, Listen 2014-2015: When I boarded the 10 hour flight to Tel Aviv I thought I was traveling to Israel and Palestine to see the Holy sites and also get a bit of education about the situation in the Holy Land. I had done my reading and thought I was prepared. When I climbed on an airplane to return to Chicago 12 days later I brought with me stories and conversations the customs officials at Tel Aviv might have wished I left behind. It was a great trip. Troubling and illuminating. And one I want to talk with others about. All of us have stories. Please listen as we speak out about our experience. Toby Roberts, Church of Our Saviour, Chicago What a privilege it was to travel to the Holy land, to see the sites and meet the people. It was a roller coaster of awe, seeing the Biblical stories in new light, and of deep sorrow in witnessing the robbery of human rights, the destruction of a way of life, and the fear that grips so many hearts causing walls to be built and stones to be hurled. It was also humbling and encouraging to witness the hope that still lives despite the odds, and the creative and life giving ways that hope plays out with people on both sides. The trip has called me to prayerful and attentive response. I will tell their stories as they are now part of mine. - Esther Simonson Within a short period of time, we had opportunities to encounter Palestinians in Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank, religious leaders,
Jewish and Palestinian Israeli citizens including in an illegal settlement in the West Bank, and Bedouins in the desert. We met with knowledgeable social justice activists, Zionist activists and were embraced by the Christian Palestinian families who welcomed us into their homes. We witnessed and experienced refugee camps, the destruction of Palestinian homes and livelihoods, the oppression of restrictions upon the dignity and opportunities of Palestinians, the privileges reserved for Jewish Israelis, the destruction of Palestinian and Bedouin villages. We listened to explanations justifying the laws, policies and practices of the State of Israel. I returned hom with a commitment to share with others the voices of Christian and Muslim Palestinians. Barbara Phillips, St. Paul and the Redeemer, Chicago As Christians, we are called to speak out against and live our lives in active opposition to oppression and denial of basic humanity. I am so thankful for Rev. Anthony for leading us on this journey so that we may share our stories and the stories of those who so touched us in hopes that we, as Americans, can do what needs to be done to end our country s complacency in this conflict. - Emily Simonson