Encounter has brought over 400 Jewish leaders from diverse religious and political backgrounds on one and two-day journeys to Bethlehem, Hebron, and East Jerusalem.

Registration is now open for the
April 30 - May 1 trip to Bethlehem.

To apply:
Download this application and
submit it by email to
benj@encounterprograms.org
by April 16, 2009.

Applications will be accepted on
a rolling basis, and the trip
may fill before the deadline.

Bethlehem Tour, October 30-31 (Thurs-Fri)
For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.
Mandatory Orientation: Sunday, October 26


GA Bethlehem Tour, November 20-21 (Thurs-Fri)
For participants in the General Assembly conference.
Mandatory Orientation & Debriefing to be coordinated with applicants


Bethlehem Tour, December 18-19 (Thurs-Fri)
For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.
Mandatory Orientation: Sunday, December 14
Mandatory Debriefing: Sunday, December 21


Advanced Alumni Bethlehem Tour, February 19-20 (Thurs-Fri)
For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.


Bethlehem Tour, March 26-27 (Thurs-Fri)
For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.
Mandatory Orientation: Sunday, March 22
Mandatory Debriefing: Sunday, March 29


Bethlehem Tour, April 30-May 1 (Thurs-Fri)
For Rabbinical Students, Jewish Educators, and other Jewish Leaders.
Mandatory Orientation: Sunday, April 26
Mandatory Debriefing: Sunday, May 3
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! To apply, Download this application and submit it by email no later than April 16, 2009.

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

Thursday, Nov. 17
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, Nov. 18th
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