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israel situation update

The Results Are In!

q&A with Pastor David
​The dramatic and tragic events in Israel during recent weeks have prompted many to wonder about our plans for a trip there in 2025. 

I am regularly participating in Zoom events with Educational Opportunities, the organization with whom we would travel, and so I will continually share here some updates from them. 

First, it should be noted that EO has been offering tours to the Holy Land for fifty years. They have seen a lot of ebbs and flows of conflict and trouble in that region of the world, and they are well-equipped to care for the needs of their guests.   

At this time, all Educational Opportunities tours to Israel with departure dates prior to January 11th have been postponed.  They fully expect to be operational again in Israel sometime in 2024. 

Some specific factors that EO is monitoring: 
  • The situation at the Lebanese border. While events in and around Gaza garner more headlines and attention, Gaza is further removed from most sites visited on EO tours.  The Lebanese border, however, is very near some important sites in the Galilee region. 
  • Hotels availability. The Israeli government urged citizens in certain areas to leave their homes, and many are staying in hotels. When those citizens return to their homes, it will be an indication of a return to normalcy in the region.
  • American airlines.  Currently, El Al is the only airline flying into Tel Aviv, but travel to Israel is important to American carriers, as well. When American airlines resume their flights to Tel Aviv, that will be a kind of green light for tourist travel.  ​
Several months ago, Pastor David launched an online survey, inviting folks to indicate their interest in a possible trip to the Holy Land.  We enjoyed an excellent response, and based on the input received, we can begin to make some definite plans and decisions.
​
  1. The strong preference was for a land-based tour rather than a cruise.
  2. The majority of respondents were interested in a trip that focused exclusively on the land of Israel.
  3. Spring of 2025 worked better for most folks than Winter of 2024. 

Based on those results, we will move ahead with planning a 10-day tour of Israel, probably in May 2025.  Folks who are interested in visiting other lands (e.g., Egypt, Jordan, etc.) will have the option of signing up for trip extensions. 

During the coming weeks, we will provide more plans and details. For now, set aside the time and the money, and begin to invite friends and family members to join you on this excellent and exciting opportunity! 

how to prepare

While it is difficult to make firm plans until the military conflicts in Israel are resolved, my expectation is still that we will make a trip there in May 2025.  In the meantime, even though our plans can't be definite yet, there are still things we can do to prepare.  

We can prepare financially
The trip we hope to take will likely have a base price in the neighborhood of $4,100.  That will cover international airfare, plus breakfast and dinner each day, all ground transportation, and all lodging during our time in Israel. We are well fed while we are there, and the accommodations are always lovely and enjoyable!  

Some additional expenses for which we should be prepared include: 
  • transportation to the point of departure for our international flight (probably Chicago);
  • possible baggage fees; 
  • some lunches during the journey;
  • optional excursions; 
  • contributions toward a money gift for our tour guide and our bus driver;
  • and all the shopping you may want to do while you are there!

We can prepare educationally 
The more we know about the land and the stories that have played out there, the better we will enjoy the trip and the more we will get out of it.  One goal I strongly recommend, therefore, is that the folks who are considering going to Israel in 2025 read through the Bible in 2024.  We have several excellent opportunities to help folks read and study the Bible during this year: they will be a blessing to anyone, and they will be especially beneficial to those who make the trip to the Holy Land ​
What should I do right now?
Even though the trip and its details are still to be determined, there are things you can do right now if you're interested in making a trip to Israel.
  1. First, read the Bible. You will always be better equipped to understand and enjoy what you see and experience in Israel the better you know the Bible. We are making 2024 "The Year of the Bible" at First Church.  Take advantage of the opportunity to read through the Bible in 2024, which will set you up well to visit Israel in 2025! 
  2. Second, start setting aside money. It would be a shame if finances prevented you from making the trip, and so you should take advantage of the time between now and then by saving for the trip.
 
When will we know the exact date and price?
We will be making our trip with an organization called Educational Opportunities.  I have traveled with them several times, and it has always been an excellent experience.  They have been providing such trips to Israel (and many other places) for decades, and they are well-established and well-connected in the Holy Land.  They are currently rolling out their 2025 dates, and so we should be able to finalize a date and price within a few weeks. 

I'm afraid it will cost too much.
Overseas travel is expensive, to be sure.  But this is one of the reasons why it has been my custom to plan trips about a year-and-a-half in advance, for that gives folks a chance to make the financial arrangements necessary.  If you would like to go, don't rule it out just because of the price.  Instead, think about what you can do during the next 19 months to make ends meet. 

Is it safe?
I have been to Israel seven times, and each time there have been folks who wanted to go but decided against it because of safety concerns.  We know from both history and headlines that the Middle East is a volatile part of the world.  But the reality is that, except in those rare times of the present conflict, there are thousands of American tourists in Israel on any given day.  Security is a palpable priority there.  Furthermore, Educational Opportunities has numerous staff members and contacts living in Israel full-time; they know what the situation is on the ground, and they are careful to steer tourists clear of any places or sites where security might be a concern.