A FRAGRANT BOTANICAL TOUR TO ISRAEL Dates March 10-20, 2019 Price -$2,495(land price only/ does not include airfare) www.blossomingrose.org TOUR HOSTESS: CYNTHIA HILLSON Cynthia has made 39 journeys to Israel and she wants you to meet some of her friends who love plants and are making a difference in what they do with them. Cynthia will be joined by her co-host, Nitza Moshe of Remnant Remedy, who made her first pilgrimage to Israel in 2017. On the Fragrant Botanical Tour to Israel we will walk in gardens, learn from Israelis who are making the desert bloom, growing herbs and plants for health and medicine and are distilling essential oils and much more. And, yes, we will be visiting many traditional historic and religious sites throughout Jerusalem and Israel from the Galilee to Jerusalem. We ll float in the Dead Sea, stay in the desert, plant fragrant trees and go home knowing that the desert is blooming in Israel. The Scriptures will take on new meaning as we explore the land that God calls His own (Leviticus 25:23) a land that His eyes are on always (Deuteronomy 11:12). As we walk the time-worn streets and surrounding hills and valleys, the Bible will come to life before our very eyes. This tour will transform the way we read and understand the Bible, with a special emphasis on the flora of Israel. Throughout the tour, Cynthia and Nitza will share insights relating to biblical plants. As we embrace our journey it will take us to places where precious plants are grown, and where gardens were planted to show us how the desert blooms and rejoices as prophesied in Isaiah. Cynthia Hillson s ministry, Precious Oils Up On The Hill, brings us fragrances described in the Bible. She has been married to her husband, David, for 38 years. They are the parents of six children and grandparents of seven. She is a modern-day Apothecary who teaches about biblical fragrances for
personal delight, physical health, and spiritual growth. Cynthia is the author of Esther's Days of Purification, Precious Oils ~ A Study of the Fragrances of the Bible and ten more titles that focus on biblical plants and feeding your family a nutritional diet on a budget. Her 40+ years of experience and education in natural remedies is shared in her tea, spice, and aromatherapy shop in Mooresville, NC. Cynthia lovingly calls her books, workshops, and aroma tours to Israel a Show and Smell ministry. CO-HOSTESS: NITZA MOSHE Nitza Moshe is the owner of Remnant Remedy, and a Torah Artisan Aromatherapist. Nitza offers 40+ years of experience as a biblical health coach who teaches about Living and Learning a Restoration Lifestyle. She incorporates scriptural and practical applications to help others take responsibility for their health using natural food, herbs, and especially, essential oils. As the producer of Remnant Radio, aired on Messianic Lamb radio, she has a passion to stir the spirit of the Bride. Tour Facilitator: Blossoming Rose DeWayne A. Coxon is the founder and president of Blossoming Rose. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and served as a public-school teacher, minister, college instructor and administrator from 1960 1984. Shortly thereafter he founded Blossoming Rose, an organization whose mission is to bless Israel through various programs, including the maintenance and restoration of the 55-acre Biblical Tamar Park. He has visited Israel over 150 times and his knowledge of Jewish, Christian and Muslim history gives him a unique perspective on contemporary events taking place in the Middle East. Blossoming Rose is the curator of the archaeology site at the Park. Rob Coxon serves as the Executive Director and is the contact person for tour leaders.
Tour Itinerary Day One (Sunday March 10) Airports - Flights to Israel USA participants will begin their journey leaving their home city and flying to Israel. Please be at the airport three hours before departure. International participants will need to coordinate their flights to join the group on Day Two. Day Two (Monday March 11) Arrive in Israel, We will leave Ben Gurion airport at 6 pm and drive from the Mediterranean coastal plain to the mountains of Jerusalem 2600 feet above Sea Level. We will check into our hotel and settle into our rooms. After a delicious dinner there will be an opportunity, if desired, to take a nice leisurely stroll in Jerusalem. Day Three (Tuesday March 12) Mt of Olives, Davidson Center, Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Temple Institute and the Old City. We will begin our first day in Israel standing on the Mt. of Olives with a panoramic view of Jerusalem, after which we ll make a short stop at the Hebrew University s Botanical Garden. Next, we ll continue along the Kidron Valley where we will see newly planted trees and flowers growing on the mountain and in the valley. This tract of land is known as Gan Ha Melek, The King s Garden. We will continue up to the Eastern wall of the Temple area past The City of David and continue to the Dung Gate and the Western Wall. We ll make our first Old City stop at The Davidson Center where much historical and archaeological displays can be seen. The archaeological finds are from the First and Second Temple eras that include the Temple staircase, a preserved ancient street, and mikvahs (the ritual immersion baths). We will continue to the Western Wall where we can spend a few reflective moments to place prayers in the wall, if desired. We will continue our journey into the Jewish Quarter. (Lunch is on your own with many tasty choices from falafels to shawarmas, or even a burger.) After lunch we will tour The Temple Institute. We will stroll through the Jewish Quarter, where there will be an opportunity to shop. If time permits, we will visit King David s tomb and The Upper Room before returning to our hotel. Day Four (Wednesday March 13) Knesset Rose Garden, Garden Tomb, Guy Erlich s Balm of Gilead Farm, and Sea of Galilee. We will begin our day in the Wohl Rose Park, the rose garden located opposite the Knesset and the Supreme Court of Israel. After a time of refreshments at the rose garden, we will visit another garden, The Garden Tomb. Both Gardens are rich in plants and will give us an opportunity to experience part of our mission on this journey to Israel, to green the desert. We ll say goodbye to
Jerusalem and continue our day by going down to Almog, near Jericho, to Guy Erlich s Balm of Gilead Farm. Guy has been a friend for many years and is a pioneer in raising trees and shrubs that yield the precious plants and oils that were used in the temple. The frankincense, myrrh and balm of Gilead trees on Guy s farm are the same ancient plants that provided healing and pleasure in the days of old. Many are finding that these plants will do the same today. We ll take a short lunch break after visiting Guy and then continue up the Jordan River Valley to Tiberias. Here we will board our boat for a late afternoon cruise on the Sea of Galilee. We ll then head to our hotel where we will enjoy a bountiful dinner. Day Five (Thursday March 14) Mount of Beatitudes, Golan Heights, and Bellofri. We ll begin our tour of the Galilee a little earlier than on other days, as our day will be very full, starting with our ride to the traditional site of the Mount of the Beatitudes. Here we will discuss some of Jesus s most cherished and best-known teachings that many find rooted in the Tanakh (Old Testament). We ll walk through the tranquil and beautiful gardens with amazing views of the Sea of Galilee as the backdrop. We will then venture south to Bellofri, home of Ein Nashot Winery, built by Babi and Tami Kabalos. Here we will take an educational tour of the farm and learn how wheat was threshed, olive oil pressed, and wine produced in the ancient days. One of the most interesting details of Bellofrio is the dedication to recycling, as every structure on the farm was built from recycled materials and scraps. Their wine cellar is actually a recycled Syrian bunker. The farm has two main values; ecology and a connection to Jewish tradition without religion. In addition to being farmers, the Kabalos are also artists, specializing in several things besides their oil and wine; jewelry, pottery, stained glass and artisan cheeses. We will finish the day on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and stay our final night in Tiberias. Day Six (Friday March 15) Galilee, Oren Farm, and Tamar Park We ll enjoy a scenic route around the Sea of Galilee and begin heading to the south. We will make a stop at the agricultural, Oren Farm in the Jordan Valley where they specialize in the production of Argan Oil (also known as Moroccan Oil). The argan tree is often referred to as The Tree of Life because of its overwhelming health benefits. We will continue to the southern biblical border of Israel, Tamar (Ez. 47-48) and move into our rooms at Biblical Tamar Park. The Park Supervisor and volunteer workers will welcome us with an American style meal in the dining room. After our Shabbat dinner we will relax and visit together before an open fire in the Sukkah next to the dining room. This is a special place that will allow us to experience the wilderness regions of Israel.
Day Seven (Saturday March 16) Biblical Tamar Park We awaken to the quietness of the Arava desert. The early morning sounds of small birds chirping and the sun rising over the mountains of Edom, in Jordan to our East and the vast Israeli Nature Reserve to our west, reminds us of the unique area where Moses camped with the Israelites and where Isaac drank from the cold waters of the oasis. After lunch Cynthia will have a fragrant remedies workshop and teachings on plants that were carried on the ancient incense trail where Biblical Tamar is located. Some may climb Prayer Mountain while others rest or take a Shabbat stroll in the desert. Day Eight (Sunday March 17) Biblical Tamar Park, Vidor Arava Agricultural Center, and The House of Aloe Vera After breakfast we will begin to plant trees including the marula tree in beautiful Biblical Tamar Park. We will use our talents to provide this valuable service of planting trees. There will be time for a walking tour through the seven periods of history and the fascinating archaeological ruins located at the Park. After lunch we ll board the bus for two agricultural sites located nearby. First, we ll stop at the Vidor/Arava Agricultural Center where we learn how the Arava became the jewel in the crown of Israeli agriculture. After our time here, we ll continue a little further down the road to take a tour of the House of Aloe Vera, home to Just Aloe, a pioneer in Israel in the growth, research and development of products from the aloe vera plant. This is the only commercial aloe vera plantation in the entire Middle East. Those who want to stay at the Park can sit under one of the oldest trees in Israel and there is always time to take a hike up to the top of Prayer Mountain to view the sunset. Day Nine (Monday March 18) Botanical Garden at Kibbutz Ein Gedi and Dead Sea Our first stop today will be the Botanical Garden located in Kibbutz Ein Gedi. The garden is planted with an amazing range of flowers, shrubs, trees and cactus. On our way back to Biblical Tamar Park, we ll stop at the Dead Sea for lunch (which is on your own), and to float in the Dead Sea. There will be time for some shopping, after which we ll return to Tamar for dinner and another peaceful night in the desert. Day Ten (Tuesday March 19) Kibbutz Ketura, The Arava Institute, Ramon Crater and Avdat National Park We will leave a little earlier, around 7:30 am, and head south. Our first stop will be The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura founded by Dr. Elaine Solowey, the foremost desert horticulturist in Israel and the Director and Founder of The Arava Institute. Dr. Elaine s current research
covers a wide range of subjects, from the study of endangered medicinal herbs to the search for plants that can be grown in marginal and arid areas where there are underutilized water resources. Her work includes the study of biblical plants native to southern Israel and Jordan. We will visit Methuselah, the palm tree that Dr. Solowey brought back to life from a seed that was found at Masada in the mid-1960s. We will continue our day by going to Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater) located at The Ramon Nature s Reserve, Israel s largest park. Our next stop will be Avdat National Park located on the ancient incense route. We ll return to Tamar for dinner and spend time relaxing in the Sukkah where we can talk about our experiences together in the land of Israel. Day Eleven (Wednesday March 20) Mahane Market, Jerusalem, and Airport We will depart Biblical Tamar Park by way of Be er Sheva as we journey back to Jerusalem to stop at the Shuk (Mahane openair market) before heading to the Old City for shopping, and to take in, once again. the ambiance of the Holy City. At 6:30 pm, we will catch our bus back to the airport for our flights back home.
Tour Package Included in Tour Hotels Breakfast Dinner (except March 20) National Park pass All tips (except housekeeping) All meals at Biblical Tamar Park All listed sites that we visit Bus transfer to and from Ben Gurion Airport Not Included Flight/trip Insurance Lunches Airline Ticket Cost: $ 2,495 for land only You will be notified by email when there are sufficient registrations to buy your airline ticket. If you would like to use the Blossoming Rose travel agent, the information is below. Blossoming Rose will provide group transportation to and from Ben Gurion Airport at the designated times. If you arrive or depart outside of these times you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from Jerusalem and Biblical Tamar Park. This itinerary is subject to change. The cancellation fee is based on the total tour price, and is: 181 days or more = $100; 180-121 days = $250; 120 61 days = 50% of total tour price; 60 31 days = 75% of total tour price; 30 days or less = 100% of total tour price. Refund may take up to 4 weeks. Trip insurance is recommended. Reserve your place immediately by paying the $500 deposit on-line at www.blossomingrose.org. Balance is due 120 days prior to departure. For additional information contact: Cynthia Hillson Precious Oils Up On The Hill preciousoils@gmail.com Nitza Moshe Remnant Remedy nitza@remnantremedy.net Jodi Coxon Blossoming Rose 616-696-3435 jcoxon@blossomingrose.org For Airline Tickets Only Carol s Travel Centre, Inc. Carol Lenger Carolstravelcentre@comcast.net 616-532-6677