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The Healing Spirit
of Peace
A Sacred Journey to the Holy Land
March 30 – April 11, 2008
Past Tour
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Tour Leaders: Eliana Gilad is a spiritual peace activist, author,
internationally recognized composer of healing music, and founder of the Voices
of Eden Healing Music and Peace Center in the Galilee, Israel. She has been
teaching, giving lectures, workshops and healing music concerts for over 15
years. Eliana is the author of Quiet in the Eye of the Storm: Living Peace in a
War Zone, her latest book about how to remain calm and peaceful inside, even
when life around you goes awry. Learn more about Eliana, and your Local Tour Guides - Yosi & Seffi
on our About Your Tour Leaders page.
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Detailed Itinerary |
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Day 1 Sun, March
30: Arrive Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem |
After arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, shuttle to your hotel, our
meeting point in Jerusalem. Settle in and enjoy the realization that you have
actually arrived! You are in the ancient city of Jerusalem, home of King David
and a host of ancient prophets and prophetesses. Enjoy a stroll on the city
streets enjoying the distinct local aromas and delicious tastes of the Holy
City. After dinner on your own, the group will convene for a personal welcome
and briefing session with Eliana Gilad, your spiritual leader who lives by the
spirit of the ancient Israelites.
Overnight: Jerusalem (3 nights) |
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Day
2 Mon, March 31: Jerusalem (B, L, D) |
Eternal Hope for Peace
 After
enjoying an exotic and fulfilling Middle Eastern breakfast, we will journey to
the Mount of Olives, for our sacred Opening Ceremony
with Eliana, where spiritual guidance will be sought and our group
intention for peace and healing set.
We will continue our pilgrimage by foot, visiting the ancient spots sacred to
the three monotheistic religions, beginning with the gardens of Gethsemane,
the Lions Gate, Via Dela Rosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher,
the Western Wall, and Dome of the Rock. We will enjoy a delicious
lunch in the colorful and aromatic Old City Marketplace.
 After
enjoying dinner at the hotel, feel free to return to the Old City or enjoy a
stroll downtown guided by the Jerusalem stars twinkling overhead.
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Day 3
Tue, April 1: Jerusalem (B, D) |
Resonances of Ancient Past, Present and Future
After breakfast we will visit Yad V'Shem Holocaust Memorial. This unique,
world famous museum will provide us with a background to consider how our
personal behavior in life contributes to either destruction or resurrection.
Where have you been fearful and destructive in your life? Here we will discover
how to take the worst from life and turn it alchemically from dross into gold.
You will discover the many righteous individuals, who even during one of
humanities darkest periods, found the strength and courage to give their all in
love.
 From here, we will continue to visit the House of the Book where the Dead Sea
Scrolls are kept. The Dead Sea scrolls include texts from the Hebrew Bible,
discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around the Wadi Qumran
(near the ruins of the ancient settlement of Khirbet Qumran, on the northwest
shore of the Dead Sea) in the West Bank. The texts are of great religious and
historical significance, as they are practically the only known surviving
Biblical documents written before AD 100.
 The biblical City of David, situated on the southern slope of Mount
Moriah, is the next stop on our journey. Under King Solomon the city was
extended northward and included Mount Moriah. The bringing of the Ark of the
Covenant to the city made it the Israelites' national, religious, and
administrative center. King Solomon had the lateral valley separating the city
from Mount Moriah filled in. This "miloh" (infill) area, as it was known, became
the site of many new palaces, while the Temple was built on the summit of Mount
Moriah.
We will take a journey through the mysterious underground water system carved
through ancient rock dating to more than 3000 years ago.
We will return to the Old City where we will spend the afternoon and evening
meeting with spiritual peacemakers of Jewish, Christian and Muslim
origin. We will learn how they are forging a hopeful new future together and
will enjoy a homemade repast with local delicacies. |
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Day 4
Wed, April 2: Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee (B, L, D) |
Path of the Ancient Prophets and Prophetesses via the Jordan Valley and
Jezreel Valley through to the Sea of Galilee.
 After breakfast we check out of the hotel and resume our journey. Our next stop
is the Judean Desert Monastery where we will take time for our
inner exploration through a guided meditation accompanied by the soothing
sounds of David’s harp.
We will continue to the Roman ruins of Beit Shean. Here we will
visit the ancient amphitheatre and the site of the ancient oracles, where a
group of powerful prophets and prophetesses received visions that ruled in the
hearts, minds, and souls of mankind.
We will have lunch at a nearby kibbutz, Kibbutz Sha’ar HaGolan, and learn
about this unique way of life.
After lunch we will visit the Yarmukian Museum. Because so little is
known yet about the cultures of the Stone Age, of which the Yarmukians are one
example, their carved figurines are even more mysterious. One of the figurines
is of a seated woman with exaggerated hips, holding her breasts. It is thought
that she is a fertility goddess. Maybe the Yarmukian goddesses do not so much
symbolize fertility as much as a longing for abundance in general. Eliana
will lead us in an exploration of our forgotten ancient roots, how it may
affect us in our modern day life and how reconnecting with them can help bring
us back to balance.
Check in at our guest house nestled upon the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Enjoy
a fresh fish banquet for dinner.
Overnight: Kibbutz Ein Gev Guest House (5 nights) |
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Day 5 Thu, April 3: Sea of Galilee (B, L, D) |
Mysticism, Nature and Healing – Hazor – Hula Lake – Safed & Kabbalah
 We begin today with a visit to the ancient Canaanite temple of Hazor,
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hazor was the prototype for King
Solomon’s Temple. In the Bronze Age, Hazor, which lies on the Fertile Crescent,
was a more important a city than Jerusalem. Both the male and female aspects of
Divinity were honored. Eliana will perform a sacred musical rite
and will lead us in a special ceremony to reconnect with the balancing healing
power of the ancients at the Temple Mount.
 We will also travel to the lookout above the Biblical Lake Meron (Lake
Hula) whose surrounding swamps were drained in the 1950s as an attempt to alter
the environment to suit agricultural needs. Though initially perceived as a
great national achievement for Israel, with time it became evident that the
benefits from transforming the "wasteland" of Lake Hula and its swamps were
limited. After nearly 50 years of an unsuccessful struggle to utilize the
drained valley's resources, the Israeli government finally recognized that they
made a mistake and that a successful development can endure only if a balanced
compromise between nature and development is reached. Thus, a small section of
the former lake and swamp region was recently re-flooded in an attempt to
prevent further soil deterioration and to revive the nearly extinct ecosystem.
We continue to the center of ancient Jewish Mysticism – Safed where we
will meander the ancient alley ways, mystic synagogues and thriving artist
quarter. We will learn about the Kabbalah - ancient Jewish mysticism -
and afterwards enjoy a gourmet dinner set in an ancient stone building. |
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Day 6 Fri, April 4: Sea of Galilee (B, L, D) |
The Galilean Masters of Living Peace
After breakfast, we will enjoy a morning meditation with Eliana
at the shores of Galilee. Then we are off to the Druze village of
Maghrar where we will meet with Ramzi Aweda in a mountainside cave to
hear his amazing story of spiritual adventure. The Druze are a creed of people
who broke off from Mohammadism, and whose roots go back to ancient Egypt.
 We continue to Sakhnin, the largest Arab town in the Galilee, where pain
and conflict have sprouted a new movement of reconciliation efforts and the
mystic Sufi sect have contributed a new example of creative peacemaking.
From there we travel one of the country's most beautiful roads to Pek'in
ancient community of peace, where Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze
have lived peacefully, side by side, for many millennia. We will meet with
Jamila, peace leader and maker of medicinal soaps and herbal oils according
to the Druze tradition.
Lunch in Beit Jan in a Druze Village and afterwards enjoy a nature walk
through the beautiful and easy trails of Meron Mountain.
We will enjoy an authentic northern meal following in the ancient tradition of
our Galilee hosts. In the evening we will journey back to our roots to
rediscover the health and healing of this sacred path of ancient biblical olive
trees, with a special touchstone to incorporate into our closing ceremony. |
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Day 7 Sat, April 5: Sea of Galilee (B, L, D) |
Mary Magdalena and the Footprints of Miracles
 We begin our day at Mary Magdalena's well, where Magdalena met
Jesus. Just as modern religions have underplayed the importance of Magdalene's
powerful role in humanity, so we will witness how this well is also underplayed.
While nature surrounding it is scattered with trash, the waters of the spring
remain crystal clear. Eliana will lead us in a special meditation at the well,
with the energy of the pure water providing inspiration for the earths healing.
From the Magdalena's spring, we continue on to Tabgha, the site of the
miracle where Jesus fed 5000 people with fish and loaves of bread. We will
explore how to take that which seems impossible in our lives and turn it around
to produce miracles.
From here we continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave his
sermon on the mount, and then to Capernaum, location of the ancient
synagogue from where he led his congregation.
At lunch we will meet with Sara Hatan, a Kurdish Jew who fled her native
village in Iraqi Kurdistan some 60 years ago. Recently, she returned, walking
through Turkey and Iraq, back to her village to reclaim the ancient prayer books
which she had left in safe keeping with her Muslim neighbors. We will enjoy an
authentic Kurdish meal including making special honey bread here while she
describes her recent trip by foot through Iraq to her Kurdish village of birth.
 Dinner is in the ancient port city of Acre, nestled on the Mediterranean
coast. After dinner we will visit the Jewish Arab Acco Theater to learn
how Jews and Arabs are settling their pain and conflicts in creative ways. Over
the last twenty years, this innovative award winning theatre has inspired models
all over the world for creative conflict resolution. The theatre itself is
located in an ancient crusader hall, and the entire city of Acco has been
designated a UNESCO world heritage site. |
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Day 8 Sun, April 6: Nazareth; Healing & Medicinal Farm;
Roman Hot Springs (B, L, D) |
Nazareth, the City of Peace, Ecological Renewal and Roman Hot Springs
 We continue our spiritual journey with a visit to Nazareth, which today
has a Christian, Jewish, and Muslim population. We will visit the Church of
Annunciation, the old city and the White Mosque. Only four miles away
lies the ancient city of Zippori. This was the administrative and
intellectual capital of Galilee, known as the "city of peace'". Zippori features
beautiful mosaics and an elaborate ancient reservoir. It was described as "the
ornament of all of Galilee". While known primarily as a Jewish city, it became
the seat of a Christian bishopric in the 5th century CE. And here, on a hilltop
there is a church and a watchtower in memory of Anne and Joachim, the parents of
Mary, Mother of Jesus.
From Zippori, we continue to Bustan HaGalil to the beautiful Healing and
Medicinal Herb Farm famous for it's cultivation of ecological renewal.
In the late afternoon we will journey to the ancient Roman Hot Springs
nestled in the triangular region bordering Israel, Jordan and Syria. The natural
hot mineral baths soothe the body, mind and soul. While you enjoy a soak in the
ancient pools, contemplate the powerful energy of healing with optional body
treatments. We will enjoy a delicious dinner at the Hot Springs. |
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Day
9 Mon, April 7: Sea of Galilee to the Judean Desert (B, L, D) |
From Slavery to Freedom - Judean Desert – Birth of the Monastic Refuge –
Spiritual, Political and Personal
After breakfast we check out of our hotel and drive south to Beth Guvrin,
a truly amazing place, with it's sacred caves and excavations. We will visit the
spectacular Columbarium Cave with its mysterious double cross formation.
In the Bell Cave, Eliana will lead the group in a mystic meditation to
help us connect to and heal those dark cavernous places inside of each one of
us. They will loosen their grip upon our psyche so that we may heal deeply and
enjoy inner peace.
 From there we will continue to Tel Arad, the ancient shrine from time of
the Biblical Kings which marked the borderline between the Promised Land and
that of the Desert. We continue to Lakiyya to learn about the Bedouin
women's weaving cooperative and the Bedouin’s ancient tribal way of life.
After this, we will continue on into the heart of the Judean desert, just as
Abraham, Moses and Jesus did when they sought spiritual guidance. In the place
where the silence is complete and the vistas are never-ending….where prayer to
God is natural and spontaneous…journey to your true essence in a barren and
unspoilt land. Sense the force of the desert as it awakens your inner self, and
the power of creation that demands to be revived.
 We will meet with Sefi HaNegbi and stay at his unique ecological and
spiritual center, our Desert Dwelling Experience. Making use of solar and
wind power, and honoring every aspect of the desert ecology, this center is
built out of all natural materials, has eighteen sides and a round opening to
the sky. Every side has a window with a desert view. The nature of the structure
and its relative isolation enable deep work to be done.
Seffi is a modern day desert visionary steeped in tradition of the ancient ways
of the Judean desert, with its unique archeology, cultural heritage, and
esoteric nature, and its calming influence on those who live in it, and those
who visit it. All of these elements have played a part in shaping the people who
have lived in the desert, and the cultures that have developed there. "Desert
Time", or in Hebrew, "Zman Midbar", is the realization of Seffi's lifelong dream
of establishing a dwelling of peace in the Judean desert to preserve the ancient
desert cultures and the natural habitat. They offer programs filled with
intellectual and emotional content, built upon sacred principles: respect for
the desert, the protection of its environment, and the learning from it. Seffi
is committed to drawing on the desert's history of trade and cultural
relationships, as a way to contribute to the peace process that is now evolving
in the Middle East.
Overnight: Ecological Desert Dwelling (1 night) |
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Day 10 Tue, April 8: Judean Desert (B, L, D) |
A Spiritual Journey in the Judean Desert
 In a place where the silence is complete and the vistas are never-ending, where
prayer is natural and spontaneous, journey to your true essence in a barren and
unspoilt land. Sense the force of the desert and allow it to awaken your inner
being.
The Journey includes walking in the desert, solitude, prayer, and yoga &
meditation with Sefi HaNegbi. Walk in Nahal Rahaf, Nahal Kidod, along the Kidod
Cliffs, the Heatekim Cliff near the Dead Sea, the Moab mountains and Bikaat
Kanaaim.
The object of this journey is to take "time out" from regular life – to reflect,
to revitalize, to touch the spirit, to soar to new heights within, and to return
home with renewed sense of purpose and direction.
Tonight we eat under the stars and sleep in authentic Bedouin tents. (mattress &
sleeping bag provided).
Overnight: Authentic Bedouin Tent (1 night) |
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Day 11
Wed, April 9: Judean Desert to the Dead Sea (B, L, D) |
Chalice of Monotheism - Judean Desert - Floating Faith - Dead Sea
 We deepen our sacred desert encounter, grounding and anchoring this sacred
journey and intent for continuing our life changing transformational experience
back home. After enjoying our desert lunch we take off again towards the
twenty-first century with the deluxe, pampering spa facilities of the Dead Sea
Spa Resort, on the shores of the Dead Sea.
 Enjoy a curative and rejuvenating experience at the Dead Sea as you relax
and integrate all that you have learned on the journey thus far.
Overnight: Dead Sea Spa Resort (1 night) |
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DAY 12 Thu,
April 10: Masada – Qumran – Jerusalem (B, D) |
Liberation from the Bonds of Slavery
 This morning we take off for Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
representing the human dilemma of becoming a slave or taking one's own life to
remain free. We will have a sacred workshop to help us liberate ourselves from
our personal inner bonds of slavery.
We continue to the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and
where the Essene Community lead an austere, natural and deeply
mystical life. Lunch at the caves.
 Continue on to Jerusalem. After checking into our hotel, enjoy a free afternoon
to wander and contemplate your encounters over the last week and a half. We will
have dinner together and then conclude our life changing journey with a
sacred closing ceremony to anchor our intentions for continuing to make
peace in our daily lives back home.
Overnight: Jerusalem (1 night) |
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DAY 13 Fri, April 11: Depart Jerusalem. Return to your home city (B) |
After breakfast you will be met by our group representative who will help to
arrange for your transfer back to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, according to
your flight schedule. |
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(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D =
Dinner)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control. |
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Tour Inclusions
& Price |
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Tour
Includes: |
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Roundtrip transfers from Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem and return |
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10 nights first class hotel accommodation |
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2 night Desert Dwelling Experience in the Judean Desert |
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All meals (except Day 1 and lunch Days 3 & 12) |
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Entrance fees to all places of visits |
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All sightseeing and activities mentioned in the itinerary |
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Transportation by deluxe coach/vehicle throughout |
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Local Tour Guide throughout |
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Eliana Gilad as your Tour Leader throughout |
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Desert Guide for Judean Desert experience |
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Luggage porterage at hotels |
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Tips & Gratuities for Tour Guide & Driver |
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Added Features:
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Travel with spiritual peace activist, author, & internationally recognized
composer of healing music, Eliana Gilad |
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Opening & Closing Ceremonies with Eliana |
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Healing ceremonies and meditations at the sacred sites led by Eliana |
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Meet with several Living Masters of Peace in the Holy Land |
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Visits to Healing and Medicinal Herb Farms and Roman Hot Springs |
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Judean Desert Spiritual Experience |
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Pampering at the Dead Sea Spa Resort |
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Visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Temple of Hazor, the city of Acco,
and Masada |
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Tour does not include: |
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Airfare to Tel Aviv |
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Cancellation & Medical Insurance (Canadians ask us for a quote) |
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Cost to obtain valid passport |
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Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls |
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Any item that is not specifically detailed on our website or in the final trip
itinerary |
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Tour Price |
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Tour Price Per Person (Land Only) |
Single Supplement |
Prepaid Gratuities |
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USD $3695.00 |
USD $790.00 |
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Please call us for a quote on
airfare from your home city |
Note: The single supplement is ONLY for those who would like to secure a
private room throughout the tour, at the indicated additional price. If you are
not traveling with anyone you know and would like to share a room, we will be
happy to work to find you a suitable roommate. Per our Terms and Conditions,
registration for the tour will be held open until two weeks before the departure
date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If by that date we have
not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to
pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this
process. |
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© 2003 - 2010 Sacred
Earth Journeys.
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