Study Suggestions
READING and STUDY SUGGESTIONS
Try to spend some time in the library before you leave for Israel. You will remember much more of your trip if you have a basic understanding of the things you will be seeing. The children’s section often has good, basic books which can be read quickly. Visit the adult section once you have an over-all understanding. The section designated as travel to Israel is 915.69, and the section of Israeli history is 956. Before you start on library books, spend some time with maps. Try to find one that is pre-June 1967 (Six-Day War), and one that is post-1967. Notice the areas of the West Bank (Biblical Judea and Samaria), the Golan Heights (Biblical Bashan), and Gaza. Notice the relative locations of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Nazareth, Judea, Samaria, and the Sea of Galilee. When you pick books from the library, remember that information will vary drastically if it was written pre-1967. Literature which dealt with currents events will show a marked evolution over the years, as well as reflecting the political perspective of the writer. It would be to your advantage to become familiar with the following words/names/dates.
- David Ben Gurion
- Theodore Herzl
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Massada
- Sabra
- Druze
- Bedouin
- Diaspora
- Hassidim (ultra orthodox)
- kibbutz/kibbutzim
- immigrant situation
- B.C.E. and C.E. designations
- 70 C.E.-destruction of Jerusalem
- 132/5 C.E.(A.D.) BarKokhba revolt
- May 14/15, 1948-Independence
- June 1967-Six-Day War
- 1973-Yom Kippur War
VIDEOS/DVDs: “That the World May Know”* (Ray Vander Laan). Excellent series from Focus on the Family. Order from Christian bookstores or on the web. “Sandals in the Sand” from Back to the Bible is also good. The following may be found in the library: “Exodus”, “A Woman Called Golda”, “Massada”, “Shoah” (5-tape series), “Israel” taken from a program by National Geographic; other travel films on Israel.
BOOKS: Many of these are available at public libraries.
- Bodie Thoene, The Zion Chronicles. Series of 5 easy-to-read historical novels (messianic perspective) in the time period just before the War of Independence. Well documented. Read them in sequence. (Gates of Zion is first.) Can be found at some libraries or on eBay.
- Collins & Lapierre, O Jerusalem. Historical account of the same time period as The Zion Chronicles.
- Marvin R. Wilson, Our Father Abraham. Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Christian bookstores.
- Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. This classic unabridged volume is a great reference book. Obtain from a Christian bookstore.
- Woodrow Kroll, Bible Country, a Journey Through the Holy Land. Travel/study book with pictures from Back to the Bible.
- Leon Uris, The Haj. Historical novel which presents the mindset of the leader of an Arab village vs. the leader of a Jewish kibbutz, pre-1948. Great info, although occasional parts would be R-rated.
- James Michner, The Source. Historical novel about a tel in the north of Israel. (Read after the trip.)
- Ellisen, Stanley, Who Owns the Land. (Multnomah Press)
- Bard & Himelfarb, Myths and Facts. History of the region. Ask for this at a Jewish Center.
WORLD WIDE WEB:
www.studytrip.info choose Learn Bible Sites … info on Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Italy.
www.jpost.co.il Jerusalem Post…daily international newspaper
www.jerusalemonline.com daily 2 minute synopsis of Israeli TV news
