Christians in Israel - A Complex Question of Identity - Konrad
Identity Travel Israel Newsletter March 2011
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Transcript of Identity Travel Israel Newsletter March 2011
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# 003 2011 March
IDENTITY’S The Traveller T IPS N EW S AN D IN F OR M AT ION ABO UT
T RAVEL AND ED U C AT ION IN I SR AEL
The new website includes a variety of educational tours to accommo-
date the needs of 2.4 million Christian tourists that visit Israel annually. .
New Christian Travel Website This week Identity Travel announced
the launching of our new Christian
Travel website at www.Christian-
Tour.com. The new website includes a
variety of educational travel itineraries
for all Christian denominations.
The Israeli tourism ministry estimates
that close to 2.4 million Christian tour-
ists visited Israel in 2010. One-third of
them were pilgrims who visited holy
sites in Israel and the West Bank includ-
ing: Nazareth, Capernaum, the Sea of
Galilee, the Church of the Holy Sepul-
chre, the Via Dolorosa, and the Mount
of Olives and Bethlehem, the birthplace
of Jesus.
As with our regular tours, our Christian
itineraries also put emphasis on the edu-
cational aspect of travel by integrating
discussion groups, panels and lectures as
well as other educational activities .
"What is revolutionary about the new
Christian Travel website is its innova-
tive Christian tours that go way beyond
sightseeing and provide a true learn-as-
you-travel experience." says Eran
Kolran, Co-Founder of Identity.
SIGHT of the WEEK The Poreh Nature Reserve is an area of green hills in Israel’s rural south, just north of
Be’er Sheva. This small stretch of land is surrounded by great wheat fields. Just be-
fore Spring sets in these pastures are flourishing with typical Israeli red buttercup
flowers that seem to stain the landscape in spectacularly bright red. The pastoral scene
stands in complete contrast to its location, just a few miles away from the Gaza strip.
We look forward to the day when Palestinians and Israelis can enjoy this great site
together in peace.
SITE of the WEEK
Pg. 1
Hot Air Balloon
Pg. 2
Purim
Pg. 2
Www.IdentityTour.com
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Even today, when I talk
about giving a balanced
view exposing people to a
diversity of perspectives
and opinions, some pro-
spects
comforta-
bly state
that their
group has
an opinion
and may
not be open to hearing other
points of view.
We thought of this objec-
tion thoroughly before start-
ing our business. Our con-
tention then was that our
product is for "open minded
people" of all races and
creeds and that this should
be a big enough market.
This was our business bet
and I am glad to say the bet
paid off.
Yes, there are those who are
narrow minded, whose
opinions are based solely on
the their own prejudice and
limited world view.
They are quite con-
tent never to chal-
lenge their own
opinions and further
more to ignore any-
thing that might be
at odds with them.
However, our clients are
different, their mind's eye
constantly scans the world
for other arguments, they
place opinion in constant
scrutiny and they are re-
warded with true wisdom
and understanding. It is our
pleasure to serve these cli-
ents and we hope to have
the privilege to continue to
Letter From the Founders:
Betting on an Open Minded World Our clients are different, their mind's eye con-
stantly scans the world for other arguments,
It has been an eventful month;
we have doubled our manpow-
er, launched a new Christian
website and are working, as
always, to promote
understanding through travel.
When one looks at all of this
progress, one wonders what
makes a business successful?
The truth is that this business
like any other is a bet.
When we first presented our idea
of running educational tours that
would be inclusive to the
multiple narratives and cultures
of Israel, brows were raised.
Our contention then
was that our market is
"open minded people"
of all races and creeds
Identity Travel is happy to welcome Malcolm
Babbin and David Lev Bannister as our new
Account Managers. Malcolm has held posi-
tions in the spectrum of sales and marketing,
from the design and marketing of jewelry, to
his most recent role of co-publisher for an
international automotive publication. Malcolm
is a joint founder and chairman of the charita-
ble organization “You Have a Friend”, provid-
ing food packages to Jerusalem’s needy. He
was born and educated in the U.K.
Mr. David Bannister is a Tourism Ministry
licensed tour guide , his diverse career includes
PR, sales, movie production and even playing
blues on the guitar He was recently engaged
in arranging a delegation of regional conflict
victims for a high level visit to the British
government.
WELCOME TO IDENTITY NEW FACES
The Story Of Purim
This week the Jewish citizens of Israel celebrated Purim. Huge festive
parades marched through the streets. From school children to working
adults, from kindergartens to offices, through every street in the city, it
seemed that everywhere everybody was dressed in costumes and masks.
This age old tradition began long ago in Persia, as recorded in the Biblical
Scroll of Esther. After Jews got the upper hand and escaped persecution,
winning the favor of King Xerxes, it was hip to be a Jew. Many of the
local non-Jews dressed up as Jews in the hope of escaping punishment.
Esther 8:17: “And in every province, and in every city, wherever the
king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and glad-
ness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land be-
haved as Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. “
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
A hot-air balloon festival in the south of Israel. Spectators came
from all over the country and abroad to see the lift off of the color-
ful flying machines.