Jerusalem is not a restful place, and pretending otherwise does a ministry traveler no favors. It is dense, loud and layered, and it will ask more of you than any other stop on the trip. What it gives back is a kind of clarity that is very hard to find from a pulpit six thousand miles away.
The mistake most groups make is speed. A day here covers the sites; a week here changes how you read. If you are traveling to come home different rather than to come home photographed, build in the extra days and let the mornings stay unscheduled.
Highlights
- The Western Wall and the Old City’s four quarters
- The Garden Tomb and the Via Dolorosa
- The Mount of Olives at sunrise
- Yad Vashem and the Israel Museum
Best time to go: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) for the mildest weather.
