Alternative Travel Opportunities

Alternative Travel Opportunities, provided by Friends of Sabeel - North America, updated April 15, 2007

Friends of Sabeel - North America: www.fosna.com

Alternative travel in the Holy Land provides an added benefit to pilgrimage by connecting you with the Living Stones of Palestine who live under military occupation. Visit the holy Christian sites, worship in ancient Palestinian Christian churches, walk where Jesus walked and bear witness to the realities of occupation — military checkpoints, refugee camps, Israel’s Apartheid Wall, bypass roads, illegal settlements and more.

This Alternative Travel listing is a service of Friends of Sabeel—North America. If you know of similar upcoming trips, please send details to: friends@fosna.org


The Society for Biblical Studies offers an extensive list of tours. For details go to the web site: www.sbsedu.org

Holy Land Pilgrimage (departs 9 June 2007)
The Exodus Experience, departs 7 November 2007

To get updates by paper newsletter or email, call 781-641-4453 or send an email to: sbsadmin@sbsedu.org


Group Travel Directors:
Holy Land visits by US church groups in the first half of 2007 listed here are arranged by Group Travel Directors, Minneapolis. Meetings with indigenous Christians plus Israeli and Palestinian peace groups, as well as biblical-site visits, are included. Prices are from cities cited (other US departure points available).

For details on Group Travel tours, go to www.gtd.org/tripsearch.asp - click “Find a Tour,” enter “2007,” then “Middle East.”

May 4-26, "Places, People, and Prayers," led by Dorothy Weaver and Kevin Clark of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, $4112 from Washington Dulles.

May 24-June 6, "Biblical Adventures to Egypt, Jordan, Israel," led by Anna Coyle, medical missionary/minister, and Charles Coyle, $3255 from St. Louis.

June 5-16, "A Journey of Faith: Exploring the Land of Jesus," led by Pr. Tim Hansen of Zion Lutheran, Litchfield, Minn., and Ruth Hansen, Northfield, Minn., $2899 from Twin Cities.


Interfaith Peace- Builders
Your participation as an eyewitness to the situation will enrich your understanding of the conflict and empower your work in the United States.

Upcoming delegations: May 26 - June 9, 2007 -- Assessing the Prospects for Peace: 40 Years of Occupation, 40 Years of Nonviolent Resistance

Join Interfaith Peace-Builders (IPFB) and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) to travel to Israel/Palestine. June, 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1967 war and the beginning of the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, which remains as one of the greatest obstacles to peace in the Middle East.

This delegation provides a unique opportunity to focus on the current situation in Israel/Palestine and understand the effects of the ongoing Israeli occupation. Your on-the-ground experience will enrich your understanding of the conflict as you meet courageous Israelis and Palestinians working for peace and justice, and witness the current realities of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. In addition, you will confront and analyze the US role in the conflict, and wrestle with ways to translate your experience to others when you return home.

July 28 - August 11, 2007 -- Israeli and Palestinian Women Working for Peace: Realities, Struggles, and Vision for the Future

November 3 - November 17, 2007 -- Olive Harvest Delegation

These delegations put you in contact with ‘ordinary’ Israelis and Palestinians, and people and organizations working for peace and justice. You will confront and analyze the US role in the conflict and wrestle with ways to translate your experience to others when you return home. You will be an eyewitness to the situation — and your understanding of the conflict will be enriched and transformed.

Interfaith Peace-Builder leaders bring a wide range of knowledge, perspectives, and expertise to our delegations. Since 2001, Interfaith Peace-Builders has led 19 delegations and almost 250 people to Israel and Palestine. Our delegates have returned to undertake speaking, writing, and organizing to educate others about their experiences. Formerly a program of Fellowship of Reconciliation, IFPB continues to work in close partnership with FOR.

The cost of $1850 includes: 15 days, hotel and home stay accommodations, breakfasts and dinners, local transportation, guides, speaker/event fees, basic tips and gratuities. The cost does not include domestic and international airfares.

For more information, contact the Interfaith Peace-Builders office directly by phone (202-244-0821) or e-mail - middleeast@forusa.org


Christian Peacemaker Teams 2007 delegations: May 29 - June 10, 2007 July 30 - August 11, 2007 October 16 – 28, 2007 November 19 - December 1, 2007

Contact Claire Evans, the CPT Coordinator for Delegations, at clairee@cpt.org or telephone 773.277.0253


Middle East Fellowship Incarnational Pilgrimage
May 19 - June 2, 2007
For more details, contact Christy Reiners: Christy@mef-sf.org - Tel. 925-934-1754 - website www.middleeastfellowship.org


PC(USA) and Presbyterian Peace Program Trip to Palestine and Israel
April 15 - 30, 2007

Presbyterian Church (USA) and Presbyterian Peace Program: contact co-leaders Victor Makari - Vmakari@ctr.pcusa.org or Sara Lisherness - Slishern@ctr.pcusa.org


Meeting the Stones & Living Stones Pilgrimage
April 15 -25, 2007
Contact Rev. Keith Hill, Douglasville, Ga. - Keith@fpcdouglasville.org - Tel. 770-942-0710 - or Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel,Fabu-akel@peachtreepres.org - Tel. 404-441-2702


Global Exchange, Prospects for Peace with Justice
April 21 – 30, 2007 August 12 - 22, 2007
Dec. 2 - 12, 2007
For details, see www.globalexchange.org


Friends of Sabeel - Colorado
Seeking Understanding in Israel/Palestine: A Two-Week Fact-Finding Trip
May 12-26, 2007

Organized by Friends of Sabeel - Colorado, for detailed information contact Joy Lapp 303-494-2338 or Email: appj@earthlink.net

Tour Leaders: Joy Lapp, Instructor of Religion and Ethics, Metro State College of Denver and the Rev. Arnie Voigt, retired Lutheran minister. Joy spent three years in the Middle East working with the Mennonite Central Committee. She chair of Friends of Sabeel - Colorado. Arnie has visited Israel and Palestine many times and has led several tour groups.Cost: $2800. Includes round-trip airfare from Denver to Tel Aviv, hotel, 2 meals per day, tour guide and entrance fees, transportation, tips. Travelers must have a passport that is valid six months beyond date of re-entry to U.S. Confirmation needed by March 1, 2007. Contact Joy Lapp 303-494-2338 or Email: lappj@earthlink.net


Middle East Fellowship - Palestine Summer Encounter 2007
Middle East fellowship, in partnership with Holy Land Trust announces the fourth annual Palestine Summer Encounter, a two month Arabic-training and volunteer program, starting on May 24, 2007.

• Live with a Palestinian host family
• Serve the community by volunteering with a local organization
• Study Arabic in an Arabic-speaking country
• Meet with Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers and activists

Palestine Summer Encounter is a one-to-three-month cultural immersion program in Bethlehem. Participants undertake volunteer service at Palestinian agencies, schools, churches, hospitals and humanitarian organizations. The program emphasizes dialogue between Palestinians and members of the international community. Participants will also meet with Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers and human rights activists. For details please visit http://www.middleeastfellowship.org/pse2007

A free packet of information, including a 15-minute DVD with interviews from former participants, is available upon request. The deadline for applications is April 20th 2007.

Contact: Middle East Fellowship
P.O. Box 40040, Pasadena, CA 91114.
E-mail travel@middleeastfellowship.org
Phone 626 797 7904.
or Holy Land Trust Travel & Encounter
Manger Street, P.O. Box 737Bethlehem, Palestine
Encounter@holylandtrust.org


Pilgrims of Hope and Solidarity - Tour in the Land Where Jesus Walked
June 11-24, 2007 - Approximately $2575
The Middle East Peace Education Project (L. Michael Spath, D.Min., Ph.D., and the Rev. Robert Smith, M.Div)"We do not look for reasons to hope as much as we seek to create opportunities for hope." - Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb - Christmas Lutheran Church; International Center of Bethlehem

Arab and Palestinian Christians are an oppressed minority facing a mortal crisis in their own land. Because of violence, corrupt governments and occupation, they are emigrating in massive numbers. This is a critical time for Christians in the Holy Land. In our lifetime there may no longer remain any indigenous worshiping, and praying Christian community left in the Holy Land. We visit the important biblical sites, but most important we meet the living stones - Christians, clergy and lay, men and women, struggling for survival, and working for a just Gospel-centered peace through nonviolent conflict resolution and social transformation. We explore ways to express our solidarity with our Christian sisters and brothers in the Holy Land.

Call 260/456-8920 or e-mail lmspath@msn.com for more info.


Palestine Summer Celebration 2007
June 20 - August 18th, 2007
Come and celebrate Palestine Learn Arabic
Study history
Get to know the people and their culture
Share some time with local families
Volunteer with a local community organization

The Palestinian summer celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world the chance to encounter the life and culture in Palestine while donating time to a local community organization through voluntary work and internships. Participants will also have the opportunity to listen and question high level speakers of various positions and expertise. The 2007 celebration will be in the Bethlehem area, organized by Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies - www.sirajcenter.org - in partnership with Bethlehem University - www.bethlehem.edu - and the US-based Society for Biblical Studies - www.sbsedu.org

For more information: http://www.sirajcenter.org/courses.htm
Siraj, Center for Holy Land Studies
Beit Sahour, Palestine
Telefax: +972 2 274 8590
Website: http://www.sirajcenter.org
Email: info@sirajcenter.org


Middle East Fellowship
Damascus Summer Encounter
June 10 - Aug. 11, 2007
Join us for a 9-week summer service program in Damascus, Syria. Participants will live with a host family, study the Arabic language by working with native speakers, serve the local community through volunteer projects and explore the culture and history of Syria through meetings, discussions and excursions to sites of historical, political or religious significance.

For more details, contact Christy Reiners: Christy@mef-sf.org - Tel. 925-934-1754Web page www.middleeastfellowship.org


Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
July 14-29
Fifth annual summer work camp to foster learning, discussion, and friendship between Palestinians, Israelis and internationals. ICHAD is looking for 25 internationals who will work to rebuild the home of a Palestinian family whose house has been demolished by the Israeli authorities. In addition to demonstrating non-violent resistance to the Occupation, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the facts on the ground through a full program of presentations from those working for a just peace in Palestine and Israel, films about aspects of the conflict, and tours to other parts of the Occupied Territories, Jerusalem and Israel.
Participants will be based at ICAHD's Beit Arabiya Peace Center in Anata, just outside of Jerusalem. Plan to arrive no later than July 14th.

Plan to raise US $1,000 towards expenses to participate:
$500 covers the cost of the work camp which includes basic sleeping and shower facilities, fabulous local Palestinian food prepared daily and the full program.

For an application form and all inquiries regarding the camp please contact ICAHD’s International Coordinator, Lucia Pizarro lucia@icahd.org


Birthright Unplugged
July 20-25
August 20-25
Six-day educational trip through the West Bank to visit Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps, designed to put you in conversation with people and equip you to return to your community and work for change. While Birthright Unplugged is designed primarily for Jewish people, we welcome people of all backgrounds and all ages on our trips.

For more information about itinerary, costs, trip leaders, and application materials, visit
www.birthrightunplugged.org

Micah Bazant, summer ’06 Unplugged participant, says:
"Through Birthright Unplugged, I met some of the most amazing, heroic and inspiring people I’ve ever met in my life. I felt my politics about Israel and Palestine were set before I went on the trip, but experiencing it first-hand made me understand the realities of occupation and resistance so much more deeply. The program gave me new perspective and renewed passion to work for justice in Palestine and at home in the U.S. It was truly a life-changing experience."


Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA)
August 1-12
Witness life under occupation and gain a greater understanding of the history and politics of Palestine and Israel. $1,800 - airfare not included.
Contact Deborah Agre: 510-548-0542 or deborah@mecaforpeace.org
MECA trips generally include visits such as Ibdaa Cultural Center in the Dheisheh refugee camp; Lid, a mixed Palestinian and Jewish town near Tel Aviv; the destroyed village of Liftah; Israeli-Jewish activists and scholars; a Bedouin village in Israel and organizers who are fighting forced removal; unrecognized villages; young Israeli refusniks, who will not serve in the Israeli army; the Palestinian Counseling Center whose projects help families and communities cope with the psychological impact of the occupation; the grassroots anti-apartheid wall campaign tour of affected rural areas; Old City of Jerusalem and surrounding areas that are threatened or confiscated.


Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA)
August 1-12
Witness life under occupation and gain a greater understanding of the history and politics of Palestine and Israel. $1,800 - airfare not included.
Contact Deborah Agre: 510-548-0542 or deborah@mecaforpeace.org

MECA trips generally include visits such as Ibdaa Cultural Center in the Dheishehrefugee camp; Lid, a mixed Palestinian and Jewish town near Tel Aviv; the destroyedvillage of Liftah; Israeli-Jewish activists and scholars; a Bedouin village in Israeland organizers who are fighting forced removal; unrecognized villages; young Israelirefusniks, who will not serve in the Israeli army; the Palestinian Counseling Center whose projects help families and communities cope with the psychological impact of the occupation; the grassroots anti-apartheid wall campaign tour of affected rural areas; Old City of Jerusalem and surrounding areas that are threatened or confiscated.

Middle East Children's Alliance email: meca@mecaforpeace.org
web: http://www.mecaforpeace.org


Middle East Task Force of Chicago Presbytery's Traveling Seminar
Oct. 15 - Nov. 4, 2007

This seminar will go to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Palestine. For details, contact Pauline Coffman at p.coffman@sbcglobal.net - tel. 708-524-5444.


Sabeel International Witness Trip
October 11-20, 2007
Check this website for program and registration information- www.fosna.org