05/11/2023
Hi All,
The Airline has finally given us a group price and I can now accept deposits for the March 2024 Cairn University Israel Study Tour. The updated itinerary is attached complete with hotels and flight data.
As you are all aware, this is an annual venture on my part under Cairn’s umbrella. It is a labor of love. Unlike Tour companies that expect to make a profit, I only charge what it actually costs. The other tours I have seen that include all that we do are normally $800 to $1000 more expensive.
The airline, El Al, will only hold their price quote until the end of May. I need to sign a contract and give them a deposit to hold the seats before the end of the month. Banking arrangements and finances run through Cairn always take a few days so we need to be locked in by the 25th - two weeks from today.
The initial deposit is $6000 to hold the airline reservations - so I need as many of you who are committed to send your $500 deposit to me as soon as possible.
Send a check - made out to Cairn University, write in the memo section Israel Study tour 2024, and send them to:
Dr. Edgar B. Hardesty
1744 Prayer Mission Road
Windsor, PA 17366
The University is handling all the finances but I must assign proper account information to all the deposits before your check is submitted to Cairn - cumbersome, but necessary.
Of course, if it becomes necessary your deposit is refundable - minus a $150 non-refundable reservation fee charged by the airline.
If you have not seen the video from last year’s Tour feel free to access this link on YouTube. One of our participants, Ellen Marie, has put this together and has done an excellent job of it.
Look for: Ellen Marie
TWO WEEKS IN ISRAEL | A Journey Through The Holy Land | Cairn University Israel Tour 2022
youtube.com
Israel Study Tour – March 11 -24, 2024
Cost: $4,650.00 for each Tour Participant
Single Occupancy Supplement (Additional fee if you desire a room all to yourself): $1,807.00
Deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot on the Tour.
Final payment is due no later than December 1, 2023.
Absolute cancellation deadline with full refund of deposit: January 11, 2024
To make your reservation or for more information, contact Dr. Edgar B. Hardesty at [email protected]
Day One (Mon, March 11) NEWARK INTERNATIONAL/TEL AVIV
Depart late Monday evening from Newark International for flight to Israel.
Day Two (Tue, March 12) TEL-AVIV/PLAIN OF SHARON
We will arrive mid-afternoon on Tuesday at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel-Aviv, Israel and travel north to our hotel in Netanya on the Mediterranean Sea.
Day Three (Wed, March 13) PLAIN OF SHARON/JEZREEL/SEA OF GALILEE
Explore the Roman city of Caesarea, visit Mukraka where Elijah faced the false prophets on Mt. Carmel, enjoy a Middle Eastern lunch in a Druze restaurant, and view Megiddo and its prophetic landscape. After lunch we will visit Nazareth Village and the Hill of the Precipice for a spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley. We will be spending the next three nights in Tiberias on the Western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Day Four (Thu, March 14) SEA OF GALILEE/GOLAN HEIGHTS/HULA BASIN
We begin the day with a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee from the Golan Heights, then a hike at Gamla (the Masada of the North). We will see Syria and Lebanon on our way to Caesarea Philippi, and walk through the ruins and the National Park at Tel Dan.
Day Five (Fri, March 15) SEA OF GALILEE
Visit Mount Arbel descending its cliffs on foot. See sites around the Sea of Galilee (Kursi, Capernaum, Tabgha, the first century boat) along with a memorable boat ride on the Sea. The day ends with a walk on the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus taught.
Day Six (Sat, March 16) SEA OF GALILEE/JORDAN VALLEY/DEAD SEA
Begin the day with a drink from Gideon’s spring at En Harod; explore the vast Roman and Old Testament ruins at Beth Shean, then travel down the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea Scrolls caves of Qumran. End the day at our hotel to float in the Dead Sea and relax in the spa.
Day Seven (Sun, March 17) DEAD SEA
Begin the day with a sunrise service on the shore of the Dead Sea. Ascend Masada by cable car or foot to investigate the historic site. Hike in the refreshing En Gedi Nature Reserve where David fled from Saul.
Day Eight (Mon, March 18) DEAD SEA/SHEPHELAH/JERUSALEM
Depart the Dead Sea for the Shephelah. Experience our own dig in the chalk caves at Bet Guvrin National Park. Travel through the Valley of Elah (Goliath’s defeat) to Azekah. Travel up to Jerusalem, and conclude the day with a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial. After dinner take an inspiring walk to the Western Wall.
Day Nine (Tue, March 19) JERUSALEM
Enter the Old City through Zion Gate; visit the Jewish Quarter, the Broad Wall, tour the Davidson Museum and Southern Temple Mount, the City of David excavations, with an optional trek through Hezekiah’s tunnel ending at the Pool of Siloam. After dinner take a walk to the shopping area at Zion Square and Ben Yehuda Street.
Day Ten (Wed, March 20) JERUSALEM
Begin the day at the Wadi Qelt overlook and then have lunch with Abraham overlooking the wilderness of Judea. Visit Herod’s fortress, the Herodium, and return to Jerusalem. There will be free time after dinner for last minute shopping and touring.
Day Eleven (Thu, March 21) JERUSALEM
See a magnificent panorama of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives, the Dome of the Ascension. Descend to the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the Pool of Bethesda and St. Anne’s and walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The day concludes with the Lord’s Supper at the Garden Tomb.
Day Twelve (Fri, March22) JERUSALEM/TEL-AVIV
Tour through the Rabbinic Tunnel adjacent to the Temple Wall. Visit the Jerusalem Model, the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls) and the Israel Museum. We will be returning to the Mt. Zion hotel for a time of testimony and our last dinner together in the Land.
Day Thirteen (Sat, March 23) TEL-AVIV/NEWARK INTERNATIONAL
An late night departure from Tel Aviv for our return flight to Newark arriving at Newark International early Sunday morning.
Hotel Information Flight Information:
March 12-13
March 13-16
March 16-18
March 18-23
Netanya
Leonardo Plaza Netanya
1 4227201, Ussishkin St, Netanya, Israel
Phone: +972 9-793-1111
Sea of Galilee
Sofia Tiberias
HaPalmach St 12, Tiberias, Israel
Phone: +972 4-880-2000
Dead Sea
Hotel Enjoy Dead Sea (ex: Daniel Hotel)
Ein Bokek MP, Tamar,
Phone: +1-844-663-2269
Jerusalem
Cassia Hotel Jerusalem (ex: King Solomon)
King David St 32, Jerusalem, 9410158, Israel
Phone: +972 2-569-5555
Airline ?
Looking forward to your prompt response. Once this initial deposit is secured we will have some breathing room and will be assured of locked in finances.
Blessings,
Edgar
Dr. Edgar B. Hardesty, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Archaeology, Bible and Jewish Studies
Cairn University
200 Manor Avenue
Langhorne, PA 19047
[email protected]
