UPPC Peacemaking Pilgrimage Oct. 2022

The first night as a group to enjoy a meal and get to know each other. 

In order to get the most out of meetings with different speakers during the trip, we'll delve into 2 hours of history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

We'll walk down the Mt of Olives stopping along the way for teachings and bible readings, and will finish at the garden of Gethsemane.

We'll have a guided tour of the Christian quarter in the old city of Jerusalem. 

We'll be joined by Israelis from different sectors of civil society to converse over dinner in Jerusalem. 

We'll have a guided tour of Israel's Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem.

The group will meet with former personnel from the Israeli army and hear their perspective on Israel's security situation and conflict resolution.

We'll visit the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism at sunset where people from far and wide come to pray as the sabbath begins. 

The group will be welcomed into a local Jewish family's home to share a Shabbat meal. 

We will get a chance to relax and float in the Dead Sea. 

We'll have the opportunity to meet a Muslim Palestinian to discuss their faith and perspectives on the Holy Land.  

We'll meet with an Evangelical Palestinian Reverend at the Bethlehem Bible College and have a chance for some gift shopping.

We'll meet with a Palestinian refugee who will give us a walking tour of the refugee camp. 

We'll visit a Palestinian brewery to hear their story and taste some delicious beer. 

We'll walk along the wall and stop by "The Walled Off Hotel", created by the famous British street artist Banksy. 

We'll visit a Palestinian Farm called "Tent of Nations" and hear from the family about their approach to non-violence and peacemaking. 

We'll be welcomed into the home of a local Muslim family to share stories and experiences over a homemade Palestinian dinner. 

We'll have the chance to visit an Israeli settlement and engage with this controversial perspective at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

We'll visit the Church of Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem. 

We will visit a traditional Israeli Kibbutz and learn about the pioneers of the Zionist movement. 

A local guide will take us on a tour of the sights and smells of the market - with stops at a family spice shop, ancient Synagogue and the Church of Annunciation. 

We'll visit the serene Mt of Beatitudes and read the Sermon on the Mount.

We'll be welcomed at Sindiyanna, an Arab-Jewish joint women's co-op where we will share a homemade meal and hear the stories of the local women. 

With a local guide we'll visit the ancient synagogues of Capernaum.

With our local guide we'll continue to visit the archelogical site of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee. 

Later in the afternoon we'll take a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. 

We will visit an Israeli community close to the Gaza border and learn about the situation on both sides of the conflict. 

After our arrival in Tel Aviv, we'll share a dinner with Israeli guests from different areas of civil society. This is a great chance to get to know locals and ask questions about their perspectives. 

Our last meeting of the trip will be with the Parent's Circle, a joint organization of Israeli and Palestinian bereaved parents who have lost a direct family member to the violence of the conflict.  

We'll take some time as a group to reflect on our experiences and wrap up the trip. 

We'll share a final farewell dinner together on our last evening.