Tabor Israel Tour: October 21-30th, 2011 Still Open

I wanted you all to know that we still have a few slots on our October Israel trip open. If you have thought of going with us but hesitated, now is the time to make your decision. We actually need to have things firmed up by next week at the latest in order to hold prices, reservations, and other arrangements. The price is right--it will never be cheaper. Despite the impression you might get from the media Israel is safe and tourism this year is at a record level. October is the absolutely IDEAL time to go, weather wise and other wise.

Full information, links, and downloads are here: http://jamestabor.com/2011/02/21/prof-tabor-to-lead-israel-tour-oct...

Here is a description I just wrote to those who are already signed up. I thought it might convey some of the excitement and flavor of things as our dates approach:

I am happily anticipating our tour to Israel together this coming October 21 through 30th.

 I am sure all of you are equally excited. I was just looking over the itinerary and I found myself thinking--Wow! What a great tour--I think I might go along! Seriously though, I know it is truly going to be an experience of a lifetime for all of you. I don't know everyone who has signed up though I do know about half of you and I can tell you we are assembling a diverse and amazingly interesting group. Several of you have been to Israel a few times, but many for many of you, most I think, this is a first trip.  Here is my initial description of the trip as I shaped it:

Our goal will be to capture the historic and spiritual roots of both Judaism and the early Jesus movement as we literally walk the ancient pathways and experience the settings that gave birth to our Judaeo-Christian heritage. One unique feature of this tour is a day spent “getting our hands dirty” and learning a bit of archaeology at the ancient biblical site of Tamar, one of the most fascinating digs in Israel today. This trip will transform the way you read and understand the Bible as you put the times and places with the ancient texts. We take only one bus of 45 participants to allow for the time and opportunity to interact with the tour hosts and one another on a daily personal basis. We have no expectations regarding belief systems, politics, or faith orientations. All that is required to go on this tour is a strong orientation toward learning more about the Bible and its history, and particularly where Jews and Christians cross paths in the Holy Land, both past and present.

This description still captures the essence of what I have in mind. What I am really pleased to offer to you is that personal touch, not only from my own firsthand experience, but the chance to see sites and have experiences that are not normally include on the standard "Holy Land Tour." This is a degree to which all Israel tours resemble one another--after all, whether Jew, Christian, or secularist, who would miss the main scenes in the Old City, or the Sea of Galilee, or Qumran or Masada? We of course include all those, but so much more. Some of you have read my book, The Jesus Dynasty, so you have some idea of the ways in which I have integrated text, place, and archaeological site in attempting to understand Jesus in his own time and culture. In short, I will share with you all I have learned over the past 40 years of study, some things published but other things best experienced on the ground, including the amazing desert experience at Tamar, including a bit of the digging under a trained Israel Antiquities archaeologist--something no other tour offers. We have just added another feature to the tour--instead of staying in one of those tourist hotels in for our two nights in Tiberius we will be on a kibbutz at the Sea of Galilee--so that will be another experience unique to this tour.

Hope to see some of you join us. If you have questions write me personally: jamesdtabor@gmail.com

All best,

James Tabor