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Holy Land PRELIMINARY ITINERARY: Day 1: Departure from Montreal. Day 2: Arrival in Tel Aviv, transfer to Kalia Kibbutz. Day 3: Walk in the desert of Judah, accommodations at the Kalia Kibbutz. “Place of refuge: Due to the absence of water and of good routes, the desert of Judah was more or less uninhabited throughout history. Consequently, it was an ideal location for people seeking refuge far from their enemies or a retreat far from the world. After escaping from Saul, David hid in various places in the desert of Judah (the deserts of Ziph, Maon and En-Guedi all form parts of the desert of Judah). John the Baptist preached here and it seems logical that this is also the desert where Jesus was tempted. Herod the Great built two fortresses (Herodium and Massada) in this desert for his protection just in case the people organized a revolt against him.” Day 4: Cruise on the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias), visit the Mount of Beatitudes. “The Sermon on the Mount is recounted in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6. At the top of the Mount of Beatitudes is a Catholic chapel, which was built by Franciscan sisters in 1939 with the support of Mussolini. The view from the Mount of Beatitudes opens onto Lake Tiberias as well as the Plain of Gennesaret, which stretches four kilometers and is known for its fertile land.” Accommodations close to Lake Tiberias (at the monastery of the Franciscans of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Mount of Beatitudes). Day 5: Morning workshop (prayer of the heart, meditation and/or teaching) on the mountain or on the shores of the lake; hike; bus trip to Mount Tabor. Accommodations close to Lake Tiberias. Day 6: Morning workshop; bus trip to Nazareth and Cana. Accommodations close to Lake Tiberias. Day 7: Morning workshop; transfer to Jerusalem; check-in at a hotel in the Old City (Gloria Hotel or the equivalent). Day 8: Walking tour of Jerusalem, Old City. Departure for Mount Zion, the Jewish quarter, archeological digs of the Southern Wall, the Western Wall (the Wailing Wall) and the Dome of the Rock. Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 9: Walking tour of Jerusalem. Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) up to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. “Built by Emperor Constantine and his mother, St. Helena, in c. 330, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher commemorates the hill upon which Christ was crucified and the tomb where he was buried. Based on tradition, this church remains the most likely site where these events took place.” Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 10: Bus trip to Bethlehem; walking tour of Bethlehem and visit of the Church of the Nativity, the grotto of St. Jerome, the shepherds’ field. Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 11: Free day in Jerusalem. Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 12: Transfer to the airport. *The itinerary is subject to change* |