Israel Friendship Retreat
February 2027

Depart Seattle (SEA) on your international flight to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Your flights are booked through Philip's House, and we confirm your exact times well before you travel.

• Depart Seattle (SEA)
• International flight to Ben Gurion (TLV)
• Overnight in flight

Arrive at Ben Gurion and be welcomed by your Philip's House representative, keep an eye out for the Philip's House shirt and sign. Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv, a short drive from the airport, and rest for your first night in the Land.

• Welcome greeting at Ben Gurion Airport
• Transfer to your Tel Aviv hotel
• Overnight: Grand Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

Step into first-century life at Nazareth Village, an open-air museum that reconstructs village life in the Galilee in the time of Jesus. Get oriented with Saleem on the story of Jews and Arabs, 'The One New Man,' then serve at a volunteer event with the Home of Jesus the King Church before settling on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

• Nazareth Village
• Orientation with Saleem: Jews and Arabs, 'The One New Man'
• Volunteer: Home of Jesus the King Church
• Overnight: Ohalo Manor Hotel, Sea of Galilee

Walk through Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus, and cruise the Sea of Galilee. Read the Sermon on the Mount aloud at the Mount of Beatitudes and step into the Primacy of Peter. Then take a personal talk with Jeff Morgan on connecting with Jewish friends.

• Capernaum
• Boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee
• Mount of Beatitudes
• Read the Sermon on the Mount
• Talk with Jeff Morgan
• Overnight: Ohalo Manor Hotel, Sea of Galilee

Journey to Caesarea Philippi and touch the bedrock where Peter confessed Christ and Jesus announced the church. Hike the rapids of Banias Falls, then visit a northern border kibbutz to meet residents for a hands on afternoon of kite flying and conversation with everyday Israelis.

• Caesarea Philippi
• Banias Falls (Nachal Snir)
• Northern border kibbutz: meet residents (kite flying and more)
• Overnight: Ohalo Manor Hotel, Sea of Galilee

Climb Mount Arbel for panoramic views of the Sea of Galilee, and visit first-century Magdala with Father Eamon Kelly, where a painting depicts the woman touching the fringe (tzitzit) of Jesus' prayer shawl. Serve with the Tiberias Beautiful Land Initiative and meet the pastor of Morning Star Fellowship, then experience baptism at Yardenit.

• Mount Arbel
• Magdala (with Father Eamon Kelly)
• Volunteer, Tiberias Beautiful Land Initiative
• Morning Star Fellowship
• Yardenit Baptismal Site
• Overnight: Ohalo Manor Hotel, Sea of Galilee

Drive south to Jerusalem, stopping at Tel Shiloh where the Tabernacle stood 369 years, and the Ariel National Leadership Training Center, where you'll plant a tree at JH Israel. Then share Shabbat with Pastor Israel Pochtar and the Beit Hallel congregation for a service and dinner, before checking into the Sephardic House.

• Tel Shiloh
• Ariel National Leadership Center
• Tree planting at JH Israel
• Shabbat with the Beit Hallel congregation
• Shabbat dinner
• Overnight: The Sephardic House, Jerusalem

Take communion at the Garden Tomb, follow the triumphal route down the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane, and pray in a private garden. Enter through the Lion's Gate to St. Anne's and the Pools of Bethesda, then the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

• Garden Tomb
• Mount of Olives
• Garden of Gethsemane
• Lion's Gate
• St. Anne's & Pools of Bethesda
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher
• Upper Room
• Overnight: The Sephardic House, Jerusalem

Ascend the Temple Mount where the Temples once stood and Jesus taught. Walk the Jewish Quarter, pray at the Western Wall, and sit on the Southern Steps at the Davidson Center where Jesus taught. Visit the Friends of Zion Museum, and serve with the Hatikvah Project to build up the Israeli body of Messiah.

• Temple Mount
• Western Wall
• Friends of Zion Museum
• Volunteer, Hatikvah Project
• Overnight: The Sephardic House, Jerusalem

Enter the Jerusalem of Abraham and David at the City of David and walk the 2,000-year-old Pilgrim's Way. Wade through Hezekiah's Tunnel (or take the dry route) to the Pool of Siloam, then serve with Be'ad Chaim, bringing hope, healing, and life to women and unborn babies in Israel.

• City of David
• Pilgrim's Way
• Hezekiah's Tunnel
• Pool of Siloam
• Volunteer, Be'ad Chaim
• Overnight: The Sephardic House, Jerusalem

See Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were prepared and discovered. Refresh at the desert oasis of En Gedi where David hid from Saul, then float in the Dead Sea. Serve with the Dead Sea Guardians or SOLU in Ma'ale Adumim.

• Qumran
• En Gedi
• Dead Sea swim
• Volunteer, Dead Sea Guardians / SOLU
• Overnight: The Sephardic House, Jerusalem

Reflect on God's plan for Israel at Yad Vashem, then serve one last time on an Olim Distribution Day with Beit Hallel, welcoming new immigrants home. Cap your journey with a debrief dinner in a local restaurant, reflecting together on your impact and influence, before transferring to Ben Gurion.

• Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial
• Volunteer, Olim Distribution with Beit Hallel
• Debrief dinner
• Transfer to Ben Gurion

Your overnight flight leaves Ben Gurion and, thanks to the time zones, you arrive home the same day. You now have friends in Israel, a part of you left in the Land, and a new prayer for the peace of Jerusalem.

• Overnight flight returns to Seattle
• Arrive home, Thursday, Feb 18
• Join the Philip's House alumni community