“Seeing is believing,” says Dr. Jim Murphy, who will guide students on a visual walk through Israel in a class this fall at the Polk County Campus of Isothermal Community College. Students will see present-day sites of ancient stories as well as modern-day life with the help of present-day technology.
Dr. Murphy is a biblical scholar who has visited Israel and the Middle East 19 times. His class will meet on Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. – noon for four weeks from Sept. 14 – Oct. 5.
Each week will have a different focus to help broaden attendees’ knowledge and appreciation for the country and its people.
Topics will include reviewing the building and the destruction of Jewish temples, journeying down the Rift Valley (from the beginning of the Jordan River, through the Sea of Galilee, the lower Jordan, Jericho, Qumran, and Masada), exploring various cities of importance (Nazareth, Bethlehem, Cana, Haifa, Bethany and more) with the last class focusing on Jerusalem (a center for three world religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam).
Dr. Murphy will return to Israel for his 20th trip to the Middle East next spring, April 30 – May 10, 2012 as he co-directs another tour.
For more information on the class, or to pre-register, please call the ICC Polk Campus at 828-894-3092.
– article submitted
by Dr. Jim Murphy