The newsletter of IBTM
February 15, 2023

Greetings from Beersheba, Israel! Our time here is nearly over. Next tour: Turkey, June 2023.

Today's newsletter is an offering of photos from the Holy Land. These are not all my personal photos. Much credit goes to Garrett Schmitt, Emmanuel Emeh, and other participants in the February 2023 Biblical Study Tour.

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Dome of the Rock, late 600s. Also atop Temple Mount is Al-Aqsa Mosque (c.700 AD)

Atop Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharīf)

Soldier praying at Western Wall, Jerusalem

Military service is mandatory for nearly all citizens.

"Some trust in horses, some trust in chariots..."

68 brothers, sisters, & friends: Gethsemane Communion service

Tel Aviv, Israel

First day: wind, chill, rain, hail... Then 8 days of sunshine!

Aqueduct at Caesarea Maritima

Sea of Galilee

Sea of Galilee, devotional organized by fellow teacher James Becknell (Chicago)

Nazareth Village

1st century meal, Nazareth

Street vendor

Jerusalem: the Wall of Suleiman the Magnificent

1 of 12 warnings in Temple precinct: Death to Gentiles crossing the barrier

Although nearly everyone is Jewish or Muslim, there are still a number of Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants

British Isles, Africa, Scandinavia, North America, Asia—the 2023 Israel BST was a veritable "United Nations"

Wadi Qelt (Monastery founded in 5th century)

En Gedi (where David's men hid from Saul)

View from mountain-fortress of Masada, where 1000 Zealots held out for 3 years after fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 AD. (Outline of Roman camp clearly visible.)

Dead Sea (called the Salt Sea in the Bible)

Dead Sea Swimmers (very much alive)

The lions are all gone, the camels are still here.

American sister, ruins of Samaria

With our African guests of honor

Ruins of city of Samaria, capital of northern kingdom of Samaria (or Israel, or Ephraim) until 722 BC

The food in Samaria (West Bank) was amazing.

Mt. Gerizim, site of Samaritan temple (destroyed 129 BC)

Zimbabwean teacher

Entire group, Mount of Olives, overlooking Temple Mount and Old City

Repeated from last week: Amen: Collected Prayers and Hymns for the Journey—featured last week—offers a wide selection of formal and informal, ancient, historic, and modern, Christian prayers, as well scriptural and hymn-prayers. Order from IPI by clicking here. For a publisher discount, just use Promo code 10OFFNEW. Valid until 22 February.

Flying home to Scotland tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers, and shalôm!

Douglas
IBTM, T&R, AIM
douglasjacoby.com