The Words of the Jordan Family
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The Words of the Jordan Family |
Jerusalem, Israel - In response to requests from UPF chapters around the world, we are establishing a tour and conference company to host Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI) trips. We invite UPF leaders to organize groups to come in June, August, October, and December this year, as well as February and April of 2011.
In the past, the Middle East Peace Initiative has offered a range of programs from interfaith pilgrimages to fact-finding tours, leadership consultations, and grass-roots encounters. Visiting the historic and holy sites of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, participants gain a first-hand understanding of the history and spirituality of the Abrahamic faiths. Briefings, dialogues, and opportunities to interact with the variety of people in the region give unique insights into current events and opportunities to serve as ambassadors of goodwill and build lasting relationships with people of diverse cultures.
Requests have come from UPF chapters around the world asking to resume such trips for Ambassadors for Peace and those who may be interested in becoming Ambassadors for Peace. Participants in past programs reported that it was a landmark experience, offering insights into the peace process and first-hand encounters with people of diverse faiths and cultures.
We are happy to announce that in order to accommodate these requests we have established a tour and conferencing company called UNI-SARA. We will offer a MEPI program every other month:
2010
June 10-16
August 12-18
October
7-13
December 16-22
2011
February 10-16
April 7-13
Organizers are invited to let us know preferred dates. We can accommodate a group from a region or nation as small as 15 participants and as large as 120. For large groups, it is possible to request a choice of dates.
Projects will be tailor made for each group in the spirit of past projects as reported on upf.org's MEPI page. Each MEPI program will include quality accommodations, meals, and tours as always. In addition, the interfaith programs, conferences, lectures, etc., can be tailored to suit each group's requirements. There will be possibilities to meet officials of Israel and Palestine as well as representatives of the main religions in the region. We aim to make each MEPI a memorable event for the participants as well as one that helps the peacemaking efforts in the Holy Land. A sample program could include:
Day 1. Arrivals and orientation
Day 2. Visit the three main holy sites of the Old City of Jerusalem, Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, and Ein Kerem
Day 3. Bethlehem and Ramallah
Day 4. Galilee and Nazareth
Day 5. Visit the Druze community and Haifa/Acre
Day 6. Knesset (Parliament)/Jerusalem municipality and scenic tour of Jerusalem and/or the Dead Sea
Day 7. Departures
Organizers can invite current or prospective Ambassadors for Peace and people affiliated with the Universal Peace Federation. People from various religions and organizations are also welcome. Each person will be awarded a certificate of participation in the pilgrimage.
The basic price for a week's stay, including all expenses apart from the flight, is about US$850 per person. This price is based on a minimum of 15 people, but there can be variations according to the season. For those who bring a group of more than 15 people, their own cost within Israel will be completely covered.
We are grateful for the guidance of Hod Ben Zvi, senior advisor of UPF-Israel, and Prof. Eliezer Glaubach, president of the Professors World Peace Academy-Israel.