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Israel Study Tour with Todd Schenck
May 11-22, 2015
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A Day Packed Full of Teaching
After a 6am wake up call we headed around the Sea of Galilee to mount Arbel where we took a long strenuous hike up. We got to a portion on the hike where we had to go hand over hand, foot over foot rock climbing. But thankfully there were steel handles and footholds that were put into the rock to make it easier.once we got to the top we stopped to look at the view over the Sea of Galilee. We sat down for a teaching about Immanuel (which means God with us) and when after Jesus rose from the dead, he commissioned them to "go and make disciples of all nations" and ending with a promise to always be with them. On the way back down the mountain we stopped and walked into some caves. Then we headed to a museum where the "Jesus boat" that was recently discovered in the Sea of Galilee. After lunch which was falafel in pita bread, we changed into modest clothing and headed to Capernaum where we saw the synagogue and Peters house with a view of Galilee.
Mount Arbel
Mount Arbel (Hebrew: הר ארבל, Har Arbel) is a mountain in The Lower Galilee near Tiberias in Israel, with high cliffs, views of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, trails to a cave-fortress, and ruins of an ancient synagogue. Mt. Arbel sits across from Mount Nitai; their cliffs were created as a result of the Jordan Rift Valley and the geological faults that produced the valleys.
Capernaum
Jesus made Capernaum his home during the years of his ministry: “Leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum” (Matt 4:13).
Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen living in the village. Matthew the tax collector also dwelt here.
Capernaum is one of the three cities cursed by Jesus for its lack of faith.
Next, we headed to Chorazin where we heard from Ronnie about how the children would memorize the Torah from 1st grade until they were 13 years old. From there they would either go and work or they would continue to learn the Torah by unpacking each word in the Torah. Then we sat down in some shade and talked about Luke 15 and the idea of being lost and then found again.
Chorazin
The synagogue at Chorazin is a typical “Galilean” style synagogue. These synagogues are characterized by 1) a basilical shape with three hallways separated by two rows of pillars; 2) three doorways and the central one is the largest; 3) benches around the interior walls; 4) a stylobate to support the weight of the arches.
A short bus ride then took us to Tabgha where there was a church by the water and we sat and talked about Jesus commissioning Peter to follow him in the book of Matthew. Connecting the fact that Peter was a fisher but he would now be a fisher of men when Jesus asked him if he truly loved him and Peter said yes three times even though earlier he had denied Christ three times. We need to ask ourselves what is our call, just like what was Peters call. That call is to come and follow Christ. With that we hopped back on the bus back to our hotel. After a long hot day we got to swim in the Sea of Galilee to cool down for the evening before dinner.
Alyssa Hunefeld
Tabgha
Two miles west of Capernaum is what Josephus referred to as the “well of Capernaum.” Undoubtedly a popular fishing spot of the locals because of its famous “seven springs,” Heptapegon (today the name has been corrupted to Tabgha) is the traditional location for several episodes in Jesus’ ministry.
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