One day calls for a prayer service on the Sea of Galilee as well as a visit to the ancient synagogue of Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the "Sermon on the Mount." While visiting Capernaum, Pastor Brooks said Rabbi Cohen would discuss the importance of that synagogue and the importance of Capernaum in Jewish life.
"So we're going to go to the synagogue at Capernaum, which Jesus spoke in, according to the New Testament, and then we'll go up on the Mount of Beautitudes and I'll read the Sermon on the Mount to the group," Pastor Brooks explained. "There's a good example of a place that's important to the Jewish community and to the Christian community, which is only separated by a highway."
Pastor Brooks said he is looking forward to visiting some of the places that are special to him with some of his Jewish friends "who are also special to me."
"I feel like the Jewish community is suffering worldwide from anti-Semitism," he said. "It's not as bad in the United States, but it's terrible in Europe and, obviously, the Middle East. So friends of the Jewish community and the friends of Israel need to step up and be counted. We don't need to be silent these days. I'm not going to be silent, and many other Christians in Kansas City don't want to be silent either," Pastor Brooks said.
"Going to Israel with (our Jewish friends) and visiting Yad Vashem with them and going with them to the Western Wall is a demonstration of our solidarity with the Jewish people and with the nation of Israel," he added.
The group's stated mission is to acknowledge the legitimacy of the various faiths. Members of the mission are committed to a policy of not influencing the religious expression of others and to honor each other's beliefs.
"Usually if you go on a mission, you bring Knesset members in; you bring different politicians in to speak. We are not doing that," Szneler said. "This is only visiting holy sites."
"I've often taken Jewish groups in earlier days along what's called the Stations of the Cross. I've always found it to be a fascinating educational experience. To go with people and to see it from their faith perspective, I think will be an enriching experience for me," Rabbi Nemitoff said.
"The way that Jews and Christians look at the Temple Mount are fascinating," he said. "If you think about the story of Jesus, the story of Jesus is Jesus criticized the moneychangers in the Temple. To some extent, Christians look at the Temple in not such a positive light, where Jews have always seen it as a glorified home of God. I think to be able to take this place that Jesus preached at and to take this place that Jews hold so holy as the fountainhead of Judaism will be a great learning experience."
His goal for the trip, Rabbi Nemitoff said, is "Christians will walk away feeling a deeper understanding and commitment to Israel and to Jews. Jews will come away with a much deeper understanding of what's Christianity is all about."
"The more we can learn about them and the more they can learn about us, the less anti-Semitism, the less hatred, the more peace and cooperation there will be," he said.
"For one reason or another - and I give Paul Brooks and Alan Cohen and Amy Katz all the credit for doing this - they have really created an atmosphere in this town that in my experience is pretty special," Rabbi Nemitoff said. "Having lived in a number of major cities ... I've never, ever seen a group of Christians and Jews that have been so committed to sharing their faith in a non-confrontational way.
"For us to take this trip to Israel takes it to the next level, and I hope what will emerge will no longer be an annual gathering, but rather an increased ability of Jews and Christians to understand one another and to communicate."
Szneler thinks this trip is important because he believes "it's always important for people to go to Israel and experience what's going on there firsthand. Whether you're Jewish or Christian, when you care deeply about the situation it's important to go be supportive of Israel and see for yourself the situation because it's not always as it appears in the media."
Rabbi White is also looking forward to the trip. He will be traveling with a small group from Ohev Sholom, including his 14-year-old son. He's never been on an interfaith trip to Israel before.
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