On December 24-29, 2014 the Novomedia team made a press tour to Israel. The group of 7 journalists visited the most famous places of the Holy Land. The main purpose of the trip was to obtain the real picture of Jesus Christ’s life and ministry in order to cover evangelical and biblical issues with a deeper understanding of the historical background. The group was accompanied by an experienced guide Nina Hauben.

Israelis say: in Tel Aviv people rest, in Jerusalem they pray, in Haifa they work. During the trip, journalists visited 5 major cities of Israel (Netanya, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Jerusalem, Nazareth) and had a chance to prove this statement true by their own experience. All these cities left very different impressions in participants’ memories: Netanya is a resort city, very calm, located on the Mediterranean Sea bank. Journalists lived in this city. 

Tel Aviv is a modern city; it impressed us with new buildings, restaurants, boutiques and business centers. Here, in the office of the top PR company Peer&Levin, our Ukrainian group held its business meeting. 

Jerusalem is a historical center. The city’s atmosphere takes you back to the Biblical times. Joined by Christians from other countries, the Ukrainian team prayed at the Wailing Wall, walked along the Via Dolorosa, from Gethsemane to Golgotha, and down the ancient stone streets and districts. This particular tour was named “Jerusalem, the City of Three Religions”. Almost in every major place we found a Christian temple, a Judaic synagogue and a Muslim mosque. This is exactly the atmosphere that attracts palmers from all over the world. In Jerusalem, Ukrainian press group had meeting with Deputy Director General on Eurasia Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel Zvi Rav-Ner.

“I have heard a lot about Israel, but to see it with your own eyes, to touch it with your own hands and to stand on this blessed Land is a completely different feeling.  I had special feelings visiting places significant not only to Jews but also to Christians. I wanted not only to see, but to stay in the silence for a while, to reflect and to pray, to feel the breath of Biblical stories,” emphasized Yuriy Vavrenuyk, editor of “Blogovestnik” magazine. 

The trip to Nazareth was also unforgettable. This little town has its own unique features. Nazareth is mainly inhabited by Arabs, but there also many Christians in the town who come to see where Jesus Christ spent His childhood years.

The Sea of Galilee looked very calm and magnetic place. Gazing at its clear water, participants of the trip imagined how Jesus’ disciples were fishing, how the Savior worked miracles when multiplying bread and fish. A light wind was bringing the sound of psalms sang by Asian palmers nearby.

Jordan river appeared absolutely different. A narrow and not very deep river, swarmed with catfishes and decorated with green bushes along the riverbanks. A great number of Christians from different denominations and with different skin colors are coming to Jordan to be baptized as Jesus Christ.

In the free time, participants of the press tour walked around and talked with local citizens who seemed very friendly and hospitable. They also visited a service in a synagogue in Netanya to have a better understanding of Judaic religious traditions. The participants also had a chance to talk to priests from protestants evangelical churches. 

After the fellowship with the local people, one understands that even non-religious Jewish families honor the holly Friday. They gather at the festive table to pray and to honor Judaic traditions. The group of Ukrainian journalists was lucky to witness Bar Mitzvah ceremony, initiation of a boy into adulthood. The whole family as well as friends accompanied the young man from synagogue to the Wailing Hall, sang songs and gave sweets to everyone around.

During this trip Christian journalists discovered a lot of new topics for their articles. Chief Editor of “Evangelical vineyard” magazine Lyudmyla Zhakun shared the topic of her future article; she is going to write on how deeply the sacral is saturated with the commercial. “It would like to research how many Christians all over the world prefer to perform rituals instead of analyzing what they see and confide in God,” Lyudmyla said.  

Zoya Nikityuk, Dean of “New Journalist” school said: “Israel is a country where you want to come back again and again. Israelis are very hospitable and friendly people who are proud of their history and who know it very well. Israel is a country where family and traditions come first. Here you can be emotionally, physically and spiritually recharged. Almost every corner in this country reminds a biblical story. Here you can feel God in a special way. Because His Son walked this Land.”

The leader of journalists’ group and President of Novomedia Association Ruslan Kukharchuk summed up: “Journalists specializing in Christian issues absolutely need to visit the holy places in order to have a more profound historical, geographical and spiritual background. We would like to say thank you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel for organizing this useful and eventful trip.”

Novomedia Association press-center