Biblical In-Sites
A Florence Melton Returnee Seminar
Subject to change *
NOTE: Seminars run typically from Monday through to the following Thursday (eleven days). The last day includes dinner, but ends around 9 p.m., in time for late-night flights out of Israel.
DAY 1, Monday
IN THE BEGINNING…
Study Session at Hebrew University, Mount Scopus, overlooking Jerusalem. Opening Dinner at Beit Maiersdorf. Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 2, Tuesday
ENTERING THE TEXT… AND THE LAND
How Do We Approach Our Texts as Readers? Study session. (i) Abraham at S'dom: The Ethical Imperative; travel to Eretz Bereishit and then to the Southern Dead Sea region . (ii) Nomads or Farmers? Joshua Brings Them Over the River; visit the Jericho region. Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 3, Wednesday
THE WORLD OF OUR (FORE)FATHERS...
(i) In the Vale of The Song of Songs; excursion to Ne'ot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Heritage Gardens. (ii) Of Caves and Layered Memory: Drive to and through southern Judea, including Hebron (security situation permitting). Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 4, Thursday
AND THE LAND WAS QUIET FOR FORTY YEARS...
The Period of the Judges. The Samson Cycle (travel from Jerusalem to Ashkelon). Lunch on the Mediterranean ... And on the Way Back: David: The Shepherd Become Leader. Clash of Giants in the Valley of Elah. Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 5, Friday
DAVID: THE LEADER BECOME KING...
i) Following David from Kiryat Ye'arim to Jerusalem. ii) Following David in Jerusalem. Afternoon Free. Kabbalat Shabbat and Dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem.
SHABBAT
In Jerusalem, with many synagogue options, much rest, good food and good company. Midday study session at hotel with Dr. Yonatan Mirvis. Afternoon walk to Ketef Hinnom, overlooking the Hinnom Valley. Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 7, Sunday
CHALLENGES OF LEADERSHIP...
Via the Via Maris. Afek: Philistine Stronghold. Deborah and the Tent Pegs: A Woman for all Seasons? Giv'at HaMoreh. Testing for Leadership: Gideon's Brook. Jezreel Valley. Biblical Themes and Israeli Art: Meeting with the curator of The Ein Harod Museum of Art. Dinner in Tiberias. Overnight: Lavi Hotel, Kibbutz Lavi.
DAY 8, Monday
ALTERNATIVE CENTERS...
(i) Hatzor: Royal City. Tel Hatzor and the route to the north. Lunch at Dag Al HaDan or in Metulla. (ii) Dan as Capital. Tel Dan Nature Reserve.
Return to Kibbutz Lavi and dinner at Lavi. Evening Program: The Bible and its Place in Our Identity. A discussion with kibbutz members and other guests. Overnight: Lavi Hotel, Kibbutz Lavi.
DAY 9, Tuesday
THE TROUBLE WITH KINGS…
(i) Bubble Bubble, Toil and Trouble… Saul at Ein Dor. (ii) Apocalypse Now: The War to End All Wars ... Study session at Megiddo. Dinner in Binyamina en route to Jerusalem. Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 10, Wednesday
IN THOSE DAYS AS IN OURS?
Each Under His Own Vine: Visit Sataf, on the outskirts of the city. Lunch at Leisure. Afternoon. (ii) Oh Jerusalem! The Prophets and the Encounter with the Moral Imperative. Visit The Rockefeller Museum, explore Zedekiah's Cave and consider the prophetic message – then and now. Overnight: Jerusalem.
DAY 11, Thursday
A WHEEL IN A WHEEL...
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Visions for the Future. Chronicles from Mount Scopus. (i) Of Destruction and Rebirth: Israel, the Ever-Dying People. Study Session on Prophecies of Hope in the Land and From Without. (ii) The Fall of Lachish - Visit the Frieze at Mount Scopus. (iii) Moses Looks West; Ezekiel looks East. (iv) If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem… Free Afternoon. 5:00 Closing Session. 6:30 Festive Dinner.
NOTE: Please try to arrange flights from 11:30 p.m. on, so as to enjoy the dinner with the group.
View more photos from the Biblical InSites Seminar, taken by participant Peter Philippsohn (October 2009). |
