From Toronto to Tel Aviv: The Rhema Foundation Canada Visits Israel

Last year, The Rhema Foundation Canada announced an ambitious goal to send a group to Israel in 2020. The trip was created as a fundraising initiative in partnership with Rhema Christian Ministries.

Now this once-in-a-lifetime trip has finally arrived.

To offer a glimpse at what this trip will entail, we’ve broken down the highlights. From Toronto to Tel Aviv, this journey is sure to change the lives of people in Israel and Canada.

Part I – Sky to Sea

After departing from Toronto, the travelers will enjoy a relaxing ride over the Atlantic to one of Israel’s biggest and most vibrant cities.

Without missing a beat, the first day will be spent driving along the Mediterranean coast to the seaport of Caesarea Maritima. It is here that travelers will find the Hippodrome, which sat more than 20,000 spectators for the famed chariot races. This day also includes a visit to Megiddo, where the remains of at least 20 cities have been uncovered.

The next day begins in Tiberias with a short boat ride on the tranquil waters of the Sea of Galilee, followed by a stop in Banias, the largest waterfall in Israel. It’s a day that is sure to be relaxing and filled with natural beauty.

Part II – Once in a Lifetime

After admiring the country’s beautiful scenery, the next portion of the trip involves a visit to Tiberias and Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown. The highlight of the day is sure to be a visit to the ornate Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation. Constructed over a cave grotto, the Basilica is the alleged home of the holy family and contains stunning art from around the world.

The following day, travelers will travel to the iconic Dead Sea, where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 by a Bedouin shepherd in the nearby caves. Here, travelers can wade into the Dead Sea and float on the surface thanks to the sea’s high salt content—a truly unique experience.

Part III – Living Footprints

For many, the most important part of the trip will come at the end, during the visit to Jerusalem—one of the oldest cities in the world and one that is considered holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Travelers will spend several days here visiting some of the most iconic sites, including the historic Mount of Olives and its panoramic views of the Holy City, the Tomb of King David, the sprawling Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, and the Model of Ancient Jerusalem.

On the final day in Jerusalem, travelers will head along the West Bank to Bethlehem, which is celebrated by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. This trip will include a visit to the Basilica of the Nativity, which is the oldest complete church in the Christian world today.

Travelers will then embark on a detour to Neot Kedumim, a 600-acre biblical landscape reserve located in the low foothills of the Judean Mountains. A unique Biblical park in Israel, Neot Kedumim is a full sensory experience. Here, travelers will also have the opportunity to purchase and plant a legacy tree in their name or the name of their loved one. This loving act is a beautiful way for travelers to leave a “living footprint” in Israel.

The trip will conclude in Tel Aviv with a visit to the awe-inspiring “White City.” Here, travelers can admire the 4,000 Bauhaus buildings built in the 1930s by German Jewish architects who immigrated after the rise of the Nazis – a powerful way to end the trip.

From historic sights to stunning natural beauty, The Rhema Foundation Canada’s 2020 trip to Israel is sure to leave travelers inspired and enchanted.