July Newsletter
Pilgrimages

In this Edition....
(Click on the Menu item to go straight there!)   

1. General information 

2. Where does the barber cut his hair?

3. New - Gift for Pilgrims

4. City of David

5. A New Mt. Sinai?

6. Oberammergau 2010

7. Tour Leaders Corner

8. Our Products

9. Educational tours for prospective pilgrimage group leaders for 2010/11 

10. Dates and venues for the Christians Resources Exhibitions 
    
    
    
     General information

Tired, but exhilarated - we have returned from our latest educational tour. This time a few pointers for leaders old and new - as well as advice for those thinking of joining us on future educational trips.

Last month the Holy Land enjoyed another record month in tourism statistics. This is putting a lot of pressure on the infrastructure; it causes queues at some sites and some traders are 'making hay whilst the sun shines!'

Lets break it down - lets start with the final item normally on your itinerary - gratuities. So many of you are against it and go as far as not even to participate. This leaves a nasty taste with both the guide and driver whose salaries are calculated with gratuities in mind. The aftermath of no or poor gratuities can be embarrassing - so much so I have heard of drivers not willing to open the coach's luggage compartment until the gratuity is improved. The fact is that - if you can - see the Holy Land with 'Holy Land' eyes and  do not let the UK culture govern you. 

After all - if you were on a passenger on a  cruise, then the gratuities are charged to your cruise bill! Like it or not!

The culture of gratuities as we all know comes from North America, where you cannot even leave a restaurant without leaving a tip of at least 17% (officially!).

Without a doubt - we Brits must become more generous and then we shall get better guides who are now refusing to work with pilgrimage groups from the UK because it seems we are very mean indeed!

Another additional expense is lunches en route. The variety is shrinking and we are left with Hobsons Choice - take it or leave it - soft drink , main course and salad for $21.00 (£14.50). It really gives impetus to those who make up their own sandwiches from the breakfast buffet! 

Security at Ben Gurion is rather tedious but sadly needed. So in order to make yours and the groups life a bit easier I suggest the following:- (a) Always ask the group to carry their own suitcases to the coach from their rooms on the departure day - especially if you are staying in Jerusalem. (b) make a list of any items that you have been given to you as gift during your stay.'

Educational tours are heavily subsidized, by the airline, hotels, guides and travel organisations. Why you may ask? In order for you to be able to see the Holy Land (or any other destination) with a view for you to take out your own pilgrimage group with the tour operator who has organised the one you are on. It is not to be considered a 'perk' or a holiday and if you do think this, then  you are deceiving the organisers. Yes my friends the guides take a low fee as do the drivers and all those who serve you - so maybe next time you apply to join one, please seriously consider your motives as well as the gratuities for a guide who has taken already a pay cut to serve you.

WHERE DOES THE BARBER CUT HIS HAIR? 

Other such thoughts cross my mind, such as; who does my accountant’s accounts? Who is my doctor’s doctor? In other words, maybe we should all be using the services of professionals professionals in order to enjoy the very best of service. 

Using this logic in my profession – my clients should be following in my holiday footsteps. 

So, let me share with you a dream short break; where they speak a foreign language, the view from the French windows from the very comfortable armchair in the lounge, is of yachts bobbing up and down in the bay and the three acres of secluded, lush and exotic gardens make you feel as if you are a million miles away from the cut and thrust of daily hectic life. Where a tennis court, croquet lawn, badminton and table tennis are the order of the day. A blue flag beach is just a few yards away, through a secluded private path. 

France? Spain? Italy? or maybe a Mediterranean island? No my friends it is Abersoch in North Wales 

I stayed in Haulfryn House just 200 yards from the centre of Abersoch; but so secluded that you feel that you are in paradise. 

The tranquillity, the views, the facilities, the gardens, is a combination of the perfect hideaway to enjoy the ideal holiday break. 

Having been in the travel industry since the steam age! I rarely ‘gush’ or find anything new in the way of holidays to get excited about. But this my friends is really a rare find; and because of the open fires and tremendous overall comfort – the weather seems secondary- making this a year round great place to stay. 

You know – they say there are three things vital about where you stay on holiday and they are 

– Location – Location – Location! 

For more details go to www.haulfrynhouse.co.uk

P.S. They have wifi too… 

GIFT FOR ALL PILGRIMS TO THE HOLY LAND

New - we are soon to announce a great new and exclusive benefit to all our pilgrims - very soon indeed every pilgrim will be able to receive a unique gift in the Holy Land- see August Newsletter for details.

THE CITY OF DAVID

Welcome to the place where it all began…

The story of the City of David began over 3,000 years ago, when King David left the city of Hebron for a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem, establishing it as the unified capital of the tribes of Israel. Years later, David's son, King Solomon, built the First Temple next to the City of David on top of Mount Moriah, the site of the binding of Isaac, and with it, this hilltop became one of the most important sites in the world.

Today, the story of the City of David continues. Deep underground, the City of David is revealing some of the most exciting archeological finds of the ancient world. While above ground, the city is a vibrant center of activity with a visitor's center that welcomes visitors for an exciting tour to the site where much of the Bible was written. 

The tour of the City of David begins with a breathtaking observation point overlooking Biblical Jerusalem which sends visitors 3,800 years back in time to the days of Abraham, when the first foundations of the city were laid. The journey quickly heads underground to some of the newest archaeological excavations at the site. Here, while exploring the recently excavated fortresses and passageways, visitors relive King David's conquest of the Jebusite city as described in the 2nd Book of Samuel. The underground tour finally ends at the Gihon Spring, the major water source of Jerusalem for over 1,000 years and where, according to the Book of Kings, Solomon was anointed king. Visitors seeking adventure can bring flashlights and wade through the spring in King Hezekiah's 2,700 year old water tunnel, one of the wonders of early engineering.

A tour through the City of David brings visitors face to face with the personalities and places of the Bible. As such, this is the only place on earth where the only guidebook needed is the Bible itself.

A NEW MT. SINAI?

In March 1989 – (my memory still functions!) El Al and various Israeli Tourism Authorities invited me to an educational trip to the Negev Desert; with a view that I would one day promote desert tourism. On this trip, we spent one night in a Bedouin tent and trekked through the desert with a guide called Sefi.  Sefi had lived with the Bedouin for a number of years and knew the Negev like the back of his hand. He took us to the top of Har Karkoum and took the Bible with him. There he compared the scriptures to the facts on the ground and there he claimed that there were 13 mountains in the region that were the real Mt Sinai, but that the one we were on, was indeed the true Mt Sinai. This is contrary to the late Ron Wyatt, who considers the Saudi Arabian peninsula as the location.   

This discussion will continue for generations – but for the Vatican to adopt Har Karkoum ( see article below) will almost certainly have a negative impact of the traditional site in Egypt and a headache for the Israelis. In as much as there is no tourism infrastructure at Har Karkoum to speak about.

 Watch this space!

 ‘Vatican to accept that Mt. Sinai is in Negev, not Egypt’

 It has taken him more than a decade, but Italian-Israeli archaeologist Prof. Emmanuel Anati now believes his controversial view that the biblical Mount Sinai is in Israel’s Negev desert rather than Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula will soon be adopted by the Vatican. 

On Friday, he presented his theory in the form of a new book at a seminar at the Theological Seminary in the northeastern Italian city of Vicenza. 

“Actually it’s not a theory, it’s a reality. I’m sure of it, Anati told The Jerusalem Post by telephone from his home in Capo di Ponte. “My archaeological discoveries at Har Karkom over many years and my close reading of the Bible leave me with no doubt that it is the real Mount Sinai. I’m now sure that Karkom is the real mountain of God.” 

In 2001, Anati published the English edition of a book that was first issued in Italian two years earlier and titled The Riddle of Mount Sinai – Archaeological Discoveries at Har Karkom. In the book, he postulated that Karkom, 25 km. from the Ramon Crater, was probably the peak at which Moses received the Ten Commandments – and not the summit in southern Sinai where Santa Catarina (Saint Catherine’s Monastery) stands. 

“I know this is revolutionary,” he conceded. “I’m not only changing the location, but I’m moving Mount Sinai to Israel, and I’m sure it will anger the Egyptians. But Israel should be proud of this. The Negev is empty and should be developed.” 

“I’m also changing the date of the Exodus from Egypt to some 1,000 years earlier than previously thought,” he added. “I know this will drive everyone crazy. But I am right. I’m sure of it.” 

Anati reasoned that if the account in the Book of Exodus was historically accurate, it must refer to the third millennium BCE – and more precisely to the period between 2200 and 2000 BCE. 

Jewish tradition puts the Exodus around the year 1313 BCE. According to Catholic tradition, Helena of Constantinople – the mother of Emperor Constantine credited with finding the relics of Jesus’ cross – determined the location of Mount Sinai and ordered the construction of a chapel at the site (sometimes referred to as the Chapel of Saint Helen) in about 330 CE. 

According to Anati, however, an abundance of archaeological evidence showed that Mount Karkom had been a holy place for all desert peoples, and not just the Jews, which substantiated his case. 

He said more than 1,200 finds at Karkom – including sanctuaries, altars, rock paintings and a large tablet resembling the Ten Commandments – indicated that it had been considered a sacred mountain in the Middle Bronze Age. In addition, he said, the topography of its plateau perfectly reflected that of the biblical Mount Sinai. 

Finally, he concluded, the biblical tale clearly backed up his geographic argument. 

“When the Children of Israel left Egypt, they reached the Arava. They couldn’t have been in Santa [Catarina], because it says in the Bible that they reached Nahal Tzin, and moved on to Hebron,” Anati said. “The whole story of receiving the Torah must have taken place in the Negev. The Children of Israel wandered in the north and not the south, in the Negev and not the Sinai.” 

He was just as certain that the Holy See would officially sanction his stance, and that millions of Catholic pilgrims could soon be visiting Mount Karkom instead of Mount Sinai. 

“Actually, they have already accepted my theory,” he said. “They are already organizing pilgrimages. There is already a plan, and I have meetings scheduled with theologians and others, including the Vatican pilgrimage office. They want to start pilgrimages to Karkom as soon as next year.” 

Anati said he was aware that he had his detractors, especially among archaeologists in Israel, several of whom were interviewed refuting his claims on a Channel 1 Mabat Sheni documentary aired on Wednesday night.

“I know there are all kinds of people – including professors – who resist my theory, and it’s natural that this occurs,” he said. “I urge them all to read my book and study the evidence before criticizing me.” 

Tel Aviv University’s Prof. Israel Finkelstein, a world-renowned expert on the subject, said he could not accept Anati’s hypothesis. 

“I do not see any connection between the third millennium BCE finds at Har Karkom and the Exodus story. The latter was put in writing not before the 7th or 6th centuries BCE, and as such depicts realities which are many centuries later than the finds of Har Karkom,” Finkelstein told the Post. “Roaming the desert with the Bible in one hand and the spade in the other is a 19th-century endeavour which has no place in modern scholarship.” 

Anati said it had taken the Catholic Church several years to be persuaded by his argument, and recognition had been a slow process. 

“About three-and-a-half years ago, I had a telephone call from the Vatican that a priest of high standing wanted to meet with me, and he arrived here with a driver. I live 500 km. from Rome, and he sat with me for a whole day and asked me a lot of questions,” Anati recalled. 

“Then he disappeared, and after about a year, a group of theologians from the Catholic Church appeared and wanted to investigate the matter more deeply. Seven theologians sat here for the whole day, and I later met with them four times. 

“Six months ago they spent four days with me at Karkom, and as a result of this, the Vatican publisher –  Edizioni Messaggero Padova – asked me to write up my findings. I revised and updated my book, and they have now published it in Italian, changing the title to The Rediscovery of Mount Sinai.” 

“Twenty years ago, I had a hunch that Har Karkom was the real Mount Sinai,” Anati said. “Three years ago I was convinced I was correct. Today I know I’m right.” 

There was no official Vatican response to Anati’s claims, nor was there an immediate reaction from the Egyptians. 

Anati was born in Florence in 1930 to Jewish parents, and soon after the establishment of Israel, he moved to Jerusalem and received a bachelor’s degree in archaeology from the Hebrew University. He later became a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard and was awarded a doctorate at the Sorbonne. 

Fluent in Hebrew, he taught prehistory at Tel Aviv University and conducted extensive research in the Negev. 

Upon his return to Italy, he founded the Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici in Capo di Ponte in 1964, and he remains its executive director today. It is believed to be the only institute in the world that specializes in prehistoric art. 

 OBERAMMERGAU 2010
There are a few agents that still have tickets available – both for groups and individuals. If you want more details – please ring me. (0800 0181 839) .  

TOUR LEADER'S CORNER

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For groups - not less than 15 persons 

We specialise in pilgrim groups to: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, South Africa, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Santiago de Compostala, Malta, France, Portugal, Eastern Europe & Cyprus. In addition we have operated biblical study groups to many other destinations to include Syria, South America, South Africa, India and the United States of America to name a few. 

SEE US ON FACEBOOK AT ITSPILGRIMAGES

We are only too pleased to visit any location in the UK to arrange a promotional evening to support our leaders, once your group is booked.  
We will also prepare, if you so wish, a brochure along with a booking form.  
Please note that we hold a large supply of Pilgrim Certificates that we are able to prepare for your group, prior to your departure.
We publish another Newsletter, which covers individual travel to Israel, quizzes competitions (with prizes!) and travel tips
 – to register click here and follow the registration link to our 'Israel Offers' Newsletter For travel to Israel and to book your flights, hotel accommodation, car hire, airport car parking and travel insurance click here.

 
  
For The Individual Traveller 

Our reservations department handles bookings for individuals to Israel, to include fly drive, flights, and hotel accommodation and regular day tours.
Not forgetting that we are bonded with ABTA as a tour operator (V1178) and as a travel agent (C6694), we are also licensed with the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL 2893) and an accredited IATA agent (91284771). So your payments are 100% protected, our professionalism is assured and you are getting the best value, for we are licensed to deal directly with the airlines and all the suppliers.  

 
Educational Tour Programme 2010/11

Call 0800 0181 839 for a booking form to be sent to you

 LIMITED SPACE IS AVAILABLE ON OUR FOLLOWING TOURS: -

 The tours listed below are designed for Clergy, Lay Leaders and pilgrimage group leaders; who have every intention to take out their own pilgrimage group. They are heavily subsidised and we refund the cost to the participant if they book their own tour within 12 months of their return. We do allow an accompanying spouse or friend to join the leader for a supplementary charge.

Note 
The price does not include airport taxes, fuel surcharges or departure taxes and travel insurance.
Single rooms are available at a supplement. You may take a companion/spouse on the above tours – a supplement will apply.  

Christian Resources Exhibition Calendar 

SEE US AT THE FOLLOWING
CHRISTIAN RESOURCES EXHIBITIONS

(CALL US A MONTH BEFORE FOR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS)

Regards

Adrian

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