"JESUS AND HIS LAND"

This Holy Land Trip is intended for all those with a serious interest in the history and archaeology of the Holy Land, beyond a pilgrimage or vacation “trip to Israel”.

Unique to this trip are visits to sites closed to tourists and explanations by the best experts in biblical research and archaeology, as this program is intended for all those with a serious interest in the history and archaeology of the Holy Land.   The primary objective of this trip for all participants is learning what we don’t know and considering what might challenge what we do know, and to provide time for individual and group reflection or meditation.

Site visits are highlighted on the map above and include explorations of Caesarea Maritima, Nazareth, Migdal, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Caesarea Philippi (and Horvat Omrit), Jericho (time of Joshua and time of Jesus), Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were copied), and Jerusalem (Garden of Gethsemane, Pool of Siloam, Golgotha, Bethesda, the Temple area with gates and steps from the first century and latest discoveries, and first-century ruins).

• 2 nights, on the Sea of Galilee on HB
• 6 nights at Dan Jerusalem in Jerusalem on HB
• Plus: St. Peter's Fish Lunch on Sea of Galilee and Farewell Dinner on way to airport

HB - "Half Board" includes full Israeli Buffet Breakfasts and dinners at hotels.

The Foundation for Judaism and Christian Origins concentrates on historical and archaeological investigation using traditional and the most modern tools of science and inquiry to learn about new findings, evidence and facts that might confirm or might challenge some individual foundational elements of religious faith.  We are not judgmental in these inquiries or findings.  Our virtual and literal interest is to keep digging for evidence of ancient life practices in the Holy Land and explore what they expose and to encourage your faith as you feel it.

Please send your application to join us to IJCO by fax at 801-382-5595, (AOL USERS CLICK HERE) or postal mail James H. Charlesworth, 64 Mercer St - Box 821 PTS, Princeton, NJ 08542-0803.

In Tiberias
Historic Scots Hotel

A unique luxury boutique
hotel, situated in a
120 year old historical
compound on the shore
of the Sea of Galilee
facing the Golan Heights.

In Jerusalem
Newly Renovated
Dan Jerusalem Hotel

The Dan Jerusalem Hotel
offers a premium hospitality
experience that combines an idyllic environment with
breath-taking vistas.

The Dan Jerusalem Hotel
sits on the historic slopes of
Mount Scopus, overlooking the
romantic skyline of Jerusalem and surrounded by the rolling
hills of Judea, located
in a tranquil setting away
from the city's bustle.

The complimentary shuttle
service offered by the Hotel
makes it easy for guests to
get to all of Jerusalem's prime
attractions to make your
"Free Day" in Jerusalem free
of the worry of transportation.

Motti Aviam
Mordechai Aviam was for 11 years the District Archaeologist of the Western Galilee for the Israel Antiquities Authority. Dr. Aviam is the Director of the "Institute for Galilean Archaeology" at the Kinneret Academic College, Israel, in collaboration with the Miller Center for Contemporary Judaism, University of Miami. He also teaches at the Ort Braude College at Karmiel.

Dan Bahat
One of Israel's leading archaeologists and a senior lecturer at the Land of Israel Studies at Bar-Ilan University. He is an expert on the Temple Mount, Herod's Palace, and the 1,600- foot tunnel that runs under the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount. (From Rimal Publications)

James H. Charlesworth
The George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature and Director of the Dead Sea Scrolls Project at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is noted for his research in Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, the Historical Jesus, and the Gospel of John. He is a Founder and Veteran of the Enoch seminar and a member of the Advisory Board of the Journal Henoch. He is the President of the IJCO and the FJCO and has been honored by over 20 countries. Has visited Israel over 140 times and conducted scores of tours.

SHIMON GIBSON
Gibson is a British-born, world-renowned archaeologist who completed his Ph.D. on ancient landscapes in the Levant at the Institute of Archaeology, University College, London. Specializing in the Holy Land, Gibson is the author of more than 100 research articles and the co-author of two scientific monographs on the antiquities of Jerusalem. Gibson was co-director of the landmark Mount Zion dig in 1980 that discovered the Jesus ossuary. Gibson has also worked with fellow archaeologist James Tabor on an archaeological dig outside of Jerusalem, at Suba, which appeared to contain primitive Jewish-Christian art depictions of John the Baptist. Gibson is currently directing excavations on Mount Zion.

Dina Avshalom-Gorni
Is Co-Director of the IAA excavation at Migdal. She will allow us to hear her most recent excavations of a synagogue beside the Sea of Galilee at which Jesus might have preached in this artistic building.

Photo to left shows her cleaning the decorated stone slab found at the synagogue on the side of which is a relief depicting the iconic Menorah (7-branched candelabra).