Israel Solidarity Mission

ISRAEL SOLIDARITY MISSION REPORT
February 26 – March 5, 2024
 
It was heartbreaking to see the destruction, to know that over 1200 lives were lost, and that many hostages are still held in captivity. Yet it was gratifying to be able to give material aid and comfort to wounded soldiers, the displaced, Holocaust survivors, and those who had lost homes, family and friends. Our team had packed extra suitcases full of clothes, shoes, toys, and blankets to be donated at sites we visited. Our mission was “hands-on” in every way…we worked in orange groves, cleaned a Christian school, packaged food for soldiers, and visiting displaced families with food vouchers.

Ed Hill Tours partnered with Dr. Mike Evans and Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem, where we donated a large portion of the supplies we brought. Several churches and individuals also sent funds to help Friends of Zion continue to provide housing, clothing, food, and even ceramic vests and tourniquets for soldiers.

Pastor…Take your own Solidarity Mission!

Several pastors have expressed an interest in taking their own small-group Solidarity Mission, and we can make that happen! We will make all land reservations and itinerary arrangements in Israel. To our knowledge, we are the only tour company that has taken a solidarity mission, and we’re making plans to take another mission within 2 or 3 months. If you are unable to take your own mission, contact us about coming with us and of course, members of your congregation or friends may accompany you.

Everywhere we went in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, life seemed quite normal…people were out, shopping, in cafes, with life going on much as usual. Yet there was a overall sense of sadness that could be seen in the eyes of many that we met.

About safety: Our first priority is always the safety of our groups. At the end of the mission, we asked if anyone had felt unsafe at any time. Most seemed surprised we asked the question, but every member said they had felt absolutely safe at all times.

We can provide the names and contact information of the pastors and team members who just returned. They will be happy to answer questions regarding the mission, their involvement, safety, and what being in Israel at this time meant to them.

Mission highlights…

  • Visit Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to view long Shabbat table set for hostages.
  • Visit Sheba Hospital to distribute aid and visit wounded soldiers.
  • Donate clothing and do clean-up work at Christian Friends of Israel school in Jerusalem.
  • Visit Garden of Gethsemane to pray for God’s blessing on the mission.
  • Visit to Friends of Zion Heritage Center to drop off clothing and meet with Holocaust survivors. Gave funds donated by churches and individuals.
  • Picked thousands of oranges which would have gone to waste.
  • Visited First Baptist Church in Bethlehem to support Christian Palestinians
  • Visited towns and kibbutzim near Gaza: Netiv Ha’Asara, Sderot, Netivot, Be’eri, and the site of the Nova music festival where 364 young people were murdered.
  • Donated goods to City of Life Ministries in Sderot and gave grocery vouchers to displaced and needy families.
  • Worked at a packing plant in Netivot preparing packages of vegetables for soldiers.
  • At the music festival site we were briefed by bodyguard of the commanding Israeli general and IDF captain responsible for coordinating the transfer of all wounded soldiers to hospitals.
  • Wayne Hilsden, founder of King of Kings Congregation and FIRM, spoke to our group and received clothing, shoes, and toys for the King of Kings outreach ministry.
  • On our final day we visited the Garden Tomb for communion and reflection.
  • Farewell dinner…sharing and reflecting on all we did and the resilient people we met and were able to bless…soldiers, Holocaust survivors, Messianic congregations, Palestinian Christians, and young people who survived the music festival massacre.
 

Ed Hill Tours has been making travel dreams come true for Christian travelers since 1962…to Israel, Jordan, Greece, Italy, and various locations in Europe. EHT remains dedicated to the care and safety of those who trust us to operate their travel events, and we will continue to do so with honesty, professionalism, and fairness. 

 
Have a question? We’re here to help.
Call us at 800.780.7801

 

Israel’s archaeologists were busy during COVID and have made incredible progress on some of the country’s most exciting excavations. Our Vice President, Richard Page, has been to Israel over 100 times, and he says that he has seen more progress than ever before at several sites where biblical history is being uncovered. Examples: The entire Pool of Siloam is being excavated…this is where Jesus healed the blind man. A small Roman Theater which archaeologists had sought for more than a century, has been discovered near the Western Wall and is now part of the Rabbi’s/Kotel Tunnels tour. Herodium, one of King Herod’s palaces built to look like an artificial volcano, is now open. It was Herod’s burial site. Caesarea Philippi in the north of Israel has seen the uncovering of a Byzantine church built over a temple to the Greek god Pan. These are just a few examples of many new sites and areas to visit.    

Tourism worldwide and especially to Israel was stronger than ever until the horrific events of October 7, 2023. Thank you for taking the time to read our website and staying connected to Israel’s present needs and opportunities. We are thankful to see such a display of friendship and support coming from many friends and we trust that the Land of Israel will soon be fully open to business. Please contact our team with any questions, and thank you for your prayers for the “Peace of Jerusalem.”

Our top destinations such as Israel, Jordan, Greece, and Italy are now welcoming the world again with open arms and EHT has and is welcoming our tour hosts back. We are ready, willing, and able to serve our former and new tour hosts and their groups with the finest in custom tours.

Passports

A passport book (not a passport card) is required for most destinations that our tours visit. In addition, many foreign governments require that your passport does not expire for six months after your return date.

Already Have Your Passport?

When filling out your Tour Application Form, please enter all requested passport information. We need this information to book your flights and hotels.

Don’t Have a Passport?

To obtain a passport, visit the US Department of State.

Visas for US or Canadian Citizens:

US and Canadian citizens do not need a Visa to visit Israel. If you are traveling to Egypt or Jordan, our office will obtain the necessary Visas for you.

Visas for All Other Citizens:

If you are not a US or Canadian citizen, our office is not responsible to provide any necessary travel or entry documents, such as Visas. It is your responsibility to check with the consulate for each country they are visiting and obtain any necessary documents required to enter those countries.

Turkey

Turkey is now requiring everyone to purchase their entry visa on-line prior to their arrival in Turkey. Guests can no longer purchase their entry visa at the Airport.

Guests traveling to Turkey will need to visit https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ to apply for their visas and they will submit the $50 USD fee on-line. Currently the website only accepts Visa & MasterCard.

  1. Open the https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ webpage.
  2. Click on the Apply Now button.
  3. Select your Nationality (For most guests it will be U.S.A.) and Travel Document type (Passport). Then you will enter the Security Verification information listed on the webpage. Once the three fields have been completed, you will click on the Save and Continue button.
  4. You will have to select the day that you are arriving in Turkey (Note: You do not want to list the date that you are departing the US unless it is the same day.). Next click on the Save and Continue button again.
  5. On this page you will supply your personal information as it appears on your passport (Some information will not appear on your passport): Then you will click on the Save & Continue button. You will then see a screen saying that you have successfully completed the application, and that an e-mail has been sent to you.
  6. You need to open your e-mail and find the e-mail from the e-visa site. It will have a link that sends you to the payment page.
  7. Once you have successfully paid, you will download and print your Turkey Visa. It will be in PDF format.
 
 
Debunking Israel Travel Myths and misconceptions / “Knowledge is Power” The following are statements or questions we have heard many times through the years.

“Israel is a dangerous place to visit.” Since it’s inception as a nation in 1948, Israel has experienced times of unrest, terror attacks and wars. Yet Israel is actually one of the safest places on earth! Most crime as we know it in the US is not prevalent or non-existent in Israel. Israeli security, both in Israel and on ELAL Israel Airlines, is considered the best in the world. Through the years EHT has taken over 50,000 travelers to Israel without incident, and to our knowledge, no tourist visiting Israel has ever been killed. We regularly visit Bethlehem and on occasion, Jericho or Hebron. These towns have proven to be very safe, but our travel itineraries never go into an area of possible danger, including most West Bank towns or Gaza.

“It is expensive to visit Israel.” The costs of travel to almost any destination become more expensive every year, and some destinations such as London, Paris and Tokyo are indeed very expensive. However, compared to those and many other destinations, Israel is still considered a bargain. Prices charged by different tour companies can vary widely as we’ll explain in more detail later in this blog.

“Large tour companies have better tours.” That’s similar to comparing the overall quality of a hotel based only on the size of the building. In comparing tour companies specializing in Christian group travel, EHT is a moderate-sized company. Our travel partner and land operator in Jerusalem is one of Israel’s largest incoming tour operators. Quality tours are based on many factors, and being a larger company is certainly no guarantee of the best travel experience, travel product, or personal service. For example, we know of larger travel companies that consistently use older buses, lower level guides and drivers, and lower quality hotels. Why? Because tour companies save a considerable amount of money operating that way. We use only hotels rated Superior 4-Star and 5-Star in excellent locations. We use only the latest motor coaches, and our guides are experts in the Christian tour, among the most requested in Israel, and have worked with us for many years.

“The hotel you stay in doesn’t really matter since you only sleep there.” Even if true, just sleeping in a 2 or 3-Star hotel is not a pleasant experience (think bedbugs)…however groups do much more than just sleep at a hotel. With a typical touring schedule, groups are back at their hotel from around 5 pm until 8 am the next morning. That includes having dinner and breakfast, and the better the hotel, the better the food and service. For groups desiring the experience, we can place them in a kibbutz or even a Bedouin tent, but typically we only use nothing less than Superior 4-Star and 5-Star Deluxe hotels.

“Some tour companies include free lunches.” The old saying “there is no free lunch” could not be truer than in this case. The cost of the “free lunch” some companies advertise is simply built into the overall tour price. When lunches are prepaid, every tour member pays the same amount no matter what they eat, if they bring their own lunch, or choose not to eat. Yet the tour company will advertise “free lunches” and tour members don’t realize they have already paid for these so-called free lunches in their tour cost. In addition, the tour company uses the same restaurants regularly and typically receives a “kickback” for doing so. The same applies to “free water” on the bus some companies advertise…an amount was already added into the tour cost. Tour hosts seldom ask us to include lunches, but we can do so if requested. We will simply add a fair amount to the cost of the tour as a separate item, but we will not advertise it as “free lunches.” 

“All airlines are basically the same.” Not exactly! Airline travel in general is certainly not “glamorous” or as simple as it once was. Most airlines put as many seats as possible on their planes to produce more revenue. Of course, overall comfort, food, and service is markedly better in Business Class for those willing to spend more. Many international flights also offer “Premium Class”, which is priced between Business Class and Main Cabin. To offer lower pricing, some tour companies will use charter flights which usually means older planes, less service, and long waits at connecting airports…not a good experience! Some tour companies use flights on an airline that connects in Europe. This may only amount to an inconvenience for an individual, but for a group it can be a nightmare! Groups can find themselves at the connecting airport, with no escort, and left to find their way around a vast, crowded foreign airport on their own. Then they must go through a long security line after having gone through one before leaving the U.S. Large European airports such as London Heathrow, Paris/CDG, Frankfurt, and Istanbul can be confusing and intimidating to even experienced travelers. That’s why we prefer nonstop flights to Israel on ELAL, American, or Delta from gateways such as New York/JFK, Newark, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Toronto.

“Some tour companies offer really good deals.” The old adage states, “If it sounds too good to be true…It Is!” Prospective tour hosts should be aware of deceptive advertising and “come on” pricing. Some tour companies offer tours on dozens of dates a year and advertise just the “Land Only” price without including the airfare. Admittedly, it is difficult to quote accurate airfares on that many tour dates. However, the deception lies in the fact that these companies do not plainly state that the quoted price is just the “Land Only” price, and if stated somewhere on their website, it is usually not easy to find. We also see advertising which excludes the “carrier-imposed fees” – formerly called the fuel surcharge. This fee has been $600 or $700 for round trip flights to Israel or Greece, but may increase substantially with the current higher fuel prices. So prices stated by some tour companies in their LARGE PRINT are NOT the total prices you will actually pay. Although this type of advertising is classic bait and switch, it is easy to be deceived if you do not read the fine print very carefully.