Encounter has brought over 750 Jewish leaders from diverse religious and political backgrounds on one and two-day journeys to Bethlehem, Hebron, and East Jerusalem.

The next Encounter program on
March 10-11 will be a closed delegation.

For more information about upcoming
trips, please email Becca Linden.

See below for a schedule of upcoming
trips or to read a sample itinerary.

Registration is now open for the
Encounter Alumni Retreat
to be held March 18-21 in NYC.
Click here to learn more or sign up.

Encounter 2009-2010 Tour Schedule

WDN Bethlehem Tour, October 14-15 (Weds-Thurs)

For the Women's Donors Network delegation.
This is a private delegation.

Bethlehem Tour, November 19-20 (Thurs-Fri)

For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.
Mandatory Orientation: Sunday evening, November 15
Mandatory Debriefing: Sunday evening, November 22

Bethlehem Tour, December 29-30 (POSTPONED)

For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.
Mandatory Orientation: Sunday evening, December 27
Mandatory Debriefing: Sunday evening, January 3

Bethlehem Tour, February 4-5 (Thurs-Fri)

For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.
Mandatory Orientation: Sunday evening, January 31
Mandatory Debriefing: Sunday evening, February 7

Bethlehem Tour, March 10-11 (Weds-Thurs)

This will be a private delegation.

We're still planning the spring and summer trip schedules. Please check back here for updates.

Thursday
8:00 - Depart from parking lot of Liberty Bell Park/Gan Hapa'amon

9:00 - 9:45 - Arrive at The Hope Flowers School, in El-Khader, Opening Circles with small groups

9:45 - 10:45 - Presentation by Ibrahim Issa, Director of Hope Flowers School

11:15 - 12:15 - Meet Zoughby Zoughby, Director of Wiam Center

12:15 - 1:00 - Tour of Separation Barrier in Bethlehem area with Zoughby Zoughby

1:00 - 1:30 - Lunch at Bethlehem Hotel

1:30 - 2:30 - Meet Holy Land Trust Staff (Sami Awad and Husam Jubran)

2:30 - 3:00 - Minhah

3:00 - 4:45 - Panel: The Personal Stories of Palestinian Grassroots Activists

5:00 - 6:00 - Circle II

6:00 - 7:30 - Games and Interactive Activities with Palestinians from Holy Land Trust and Wiam Center.

7:30 -7:45 - Ma'ariv

8:00- 9:00 - Dinner at The Tent restaurant in Beit Sahour

9:00 - 10:00 - Palestinian traditional music and dancing

10:00 - People escorted to host family homes or the Bethlehem Hotel

Friday
7:00 - 7:30 - Breakfast in Palestinian homes or in hotel

7:30 - 8:15 - Shaharit at Bethlehem hotel

8:15 - 10:15 - Presentation: An Overview of current issues in the Israeli - Palestinian Conflict, Khalid el-Ghindi, Palestinian Authority Special Negotiation Unit

10:30 - 11:30 - Travel to Anata

11:30 - 1:00 - Lunch and Presentation at Beit Arabiya Peace Center in Anata by Salim Shawamreh, activist & Anata resident