Israel Bible Study Tour with Rome 2026 – Pastor Bob Franquiz & Eli Shukron

You will depart Miami today. Please review the section in the brochure entitled Air Tickets. There is a group block on Swiss Air for those participants NOT continuing on to Rome. There is also a group block held on American Airlines for those participants who will be continuing on to Rome. Both flight schedules arrive in Tel Aviv at the same time on October 7.  Feel free to book your own airfare. Business-class pricing can be provided by emailing Living Passages. It is usually $3,200 more than economy class (as a general rule).

Both flights arrive at the Tel Aviv airport at 5:00PM. Upon arrival, you will be met by your own Israeli archaeologist and guide, Eli Shukron. You will then be driven to your boutique hotel, the Ambassador Hotel, which is located just 3 blocks from the Old City walls of Jerusalem. You will enjoy your first dinner together as a group.

You will meet Eli in the lobby this morning (8:00AM) and be driven to the diamond of Jerusalem—the City of David.  Here, you will walk through a recently completed archaeological dig, and you will also be able to see the activity of a current archaeological dig. While here, you have a very rare opportunity to see one of the most compelling sites in all the Middle East. Eli Shukron calls it Temple Zero, though it’s also known as the ancient Melchizedek Temple. Next, you will be guided into the active archaeological site – the Pool of Siloam. You will also have a choice of either transiting the Dry or the stunning Wet tunnel that was created by King Hezekiah. Eli will also escort you into the very recently opened Pilgrims’ Path, which once connected the Pool of Siloam to the later built Jewish Temple of Solomon and Herod.  After an exhilarating morning, you will be given free time for lunch. Next stop: Jesus! Your next visit is to the fallen walls of ancient Jerusalem, where Jesus foretold that every stone would be turned. You will have the opportunity to study the remains at the Archaeological Park, including the mysterious Trumpeting Stone. You will then make your way to the Southern Steps. It has been attested that Jesus himself walked up these steps into the walled city of Jerusalem to meet with those in the Temple built by King Herod. You will walk through the fresh and lively Jewish Quarter to see further remains from the time of the Temple. You will have dinner at the hotel this evening.

A teaching is in store for you on the Mount of Olives this morning, facing the Golden Gate and the Southern Steps, where you walked the day prior.  Next, for those who can carefully navigate walking on uneven pavement stones, you may choose to walk down the road called Palm Sunday Road, where the stones could have cried out and where the people themselves acclaimed, “Hosanna Hosanna”! You will then walk to a private and secluded area (rarely visited) in the Garden of Gethsemane, where you can enjoy some private time in the area where Jesus wept. Next, you will walk through the prophetic Kidron Valley, where you will have free time for lunch. Afterwards, you will re-enter the Old City and enjoy a teaching at the place of the miracle of Jesus—the Pool of Bethesda, and then enjoy some worship at St. Anne’s church, followed by exploring the Christian Quarter together. There will be ample time to see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and more. You will spend the last minutes of daylight with communion at the Garden Tomb. There will be a special dinner overlooking the Old City at the 5* Notre Dame rooftop restaurant this evening.

This morning, you will join Eli for an archaeological and futuristic discussion on top of Temple Mount, even adjacent to the Golden Gate and the Al Aqsa Mosque. You will have free time in the Old City for shopping and a quick lunch. You will then rejoin your bus and be driven 40 minutes into Judah and the hills of Benjamin to visit Shiloh, which is quite impressive. It is here that the Ark of the Covenant rested for 369 years. This archaeological site is very exciting. It is also here where the story of Hannah took place and where the Tribes of Israel were granted their tribal inheritances. Another important stop for early Israel and a treat that few are able to see is a visit to Jericho with Eli Shukron. Due to the depth of Eli’s knowledge, he will be able to explain to you the story of Rahab, the spies, the walls, and “why Jericho?” and “why Rahab?”. You will even see the only standing wall from the time of the Exodus and hear Eli’s explanation, which will bless you. After this amazing day, you will be returned to the hotel and then be driven around Jerusalem to see many of the viewpoints at night. You will say goodbye to Eli this evening.

With Pastor Bob and our Israeli guide, you will be driven to Bethlehem (the City of David) and the place where prophecy was fulfilled. You will be met by an expert in Bethlehem, and then be taken to the Shepherds’ Fields to study how and why Bethlehem was set apart by God for the birth of the King of Kings! You will then visit the globally-celebrated, tiny Church of the Nativity, where you can see and touch the place where it is believed that Jesus lay in the manger. You will have lunch with the locals at an amazing restaurant with views of the fields. You will have checked out of your Jerusalem hotel this morning, because now you will be driven south and enter the Negev Desert. Your first visit is to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Next, you will visit towering Masada – the site of an amazing story in Israel’s history. You will then be driven to the beautiful new Nevo Hotel, Dead Sea. Tonight—or even this morning—you can book a spa appointment, lounge in the thermal mineral waters, or just enjoy the spectacular pools and views.

You will have a free morning on the Dead Sea, departing at 10:30AM. You will be driven to Galilee for your visit to Jesus’ home, Capernaum. While here, you will visit the beach where it is most likely that Jesus made fresh fish for the Apostles. You will see the tiny streets where he would have walked, see the home of Peter’s mother-in-law, and see how the fishing boats came in and out. Next, you will visit a hillside where one of Jesus’ best teachings will be recanted for you: the study at the Mount of Beatitudes. You will then be driven down the hill to your private boat for worship on the Sea of Galilee. Your day will end with a presentation of the ancient Jesus boat that has been discovered. You will overnight at the Ramot Resort on the Sea of Galilee and enjoy dinner this evening at the resort.

Northern Galilee today! The Golan Heights, Caesarea Philippi—where Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” – and where you’ll see the site of Satan’s entrance. Next, you will walk through Tel Dan, where you will see the second place of worship with the Northern tribes separated. One of the favorite sites at Tel Dan is the Abram Gate, which is one of the oldest gates in the Middle East. You will have lunch with a unique segment of the Israeli population called the Druze. There will be discussion and explanations as to their unique background, possibly related to Jethro of Midian, who assisted Moses in bringing the Hebrews to the Promised Land. You will end your day with a picturesque drive through historic lands toward the Mediterranean Sea, arriving at Herod’s Tel Aviv after your lovely dinner at Joppa.

Guests taking the optional air and not going to Rome will leave the hotel at 1:30AM for your 4:40AM departure to Zurich. Those flying on to Rome will depart the hotel at 7:00AM.

You will arrive in Rome at 1:30PM. Your first visit will be to the place where Paul was beheaded: the Precious Tre Fontane. You will have some quiet time in the garden. A monastery was built over this site in order to protect it. Next, you will visit his final resting place, a church outside the Old City Walls of Rome called St. Paul Outside the Walls. The church is magnificent, and it is quite centrally located to Tre Fontane; it does have Paul’s body at this church. You will check into your hotel before 6:00PM, get settled in, and then join us for a pizza Welcome dinner.

Your morning begins with the Roman Forum, the Arch of Titus, which shows the sacking of Jerusalem, and Nero’s Tomb. Even today, Nero’s Tomb has a fire that is kept alive, as you will learn, it was Nero who burnt down Rome and blamed it on the early Jesus followers of the “Way.” The Forum area is impressive with its many temples and shrines of old. You will be guided and escorted to a tiny prison, almost lost in time, known as the Mamertine prison. It is the small prison where both the Apostle Peter and Paul were incarcerated. You will have a special entrance time to enter the cell area, as well as special reservations at the Coliseum. You will have a full tour of the site and then a break time for a piece of pizza or a sandwich along the famous Rome shopping street, the Via del Corso. Afterwards, there will be a time of fun “people watching” as you visit the Trevi Fountain. You will walk to the nearby Pantheon (special tickets) to learn its history from a pagan temple to a church, and then end your day at the world-famous Spanish Steps. You can join the guide and return to the hotel or enjoy the shopping and outdoor cafes of the Via Condotti and its other famous shopping streets. You will have free time for dinner to enjoy Roma!

This morning, you will take a bus across the Tiber River, passing the ancient Jewish quarter to St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Vatican, and the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel. After this full morning at the complex, you will have some fun, free time for lunch at the spectacular Piazza del Fiori (Plaza of Flowers), afterwards, take a walk into the ancient Jewish section of Rome to visit the place where Paul had his home church – Regola in Trastevere. You will be returned to the hotel and will have a lovely Roman farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Remaining guests taking the optional flight will depart the hotel at 7:00AM for a 10:00AM departure.