Photo Albums

Day Two of the REL 290 immersion trip started in Haifa. Pictured here is the Baha'i Garden.

From there, it was a short trip up the coast to Acre, a prominent city of the ancient world and a UNESCO Heritage site,where the the el-Jazzar Mosque figures prominently.

The class visited the Hospitaller Fortress, which dates back to the Crusades. As a city, Acre has existed for 4,000 years.

Inside the fortress, Anthony Douglas '17 gives a little attention to a cat.

The sheer size and scope of the Hospitaller Fortress is immense, and one of the reasons Napoleon laid siege to Acre, but was never able to control it.

Greg Sklar '17 (center) and Nathan Neal '17 (right) share a light moment.

Here is the interior of the el-Jazzar Mosque.

While Marcus Hoekstra '18 pets a cat (they are everywhere) at right, Dr. Royalty plays a little joke on the class, saying, 'did you know it was the Ottomans who invented Frisbee golf?' The reply, 'really?'

Jimmy Suess '17 strolls the alleys of Acre between the fortress and the Templar Tunnel.

Ben Johnson '18 and Sklar (center) inside the Templar Tunnel, which ran 350 meters from the fortress to the port.

Once at the port, (from left) Luke Gunderman '18, Daniel Azar '18, and Taylor King '18 have a photo taken on the shores of the Mediterranean by Tim Riley '18.

The class then enjoyed a Q&A session with peace activist and reconciliation expert Elias Jabbour, founder of the House of Hope, in Jabbour's home in Shefar 'Am, Isreal.

Jabbour told the students, 'I don't think we can determine who is to blame in this conflict. It's Turkey, Great Britain, Israel, Palestine, and others. It's been 67 years and we are still suffering. Let's share the land. That is better than tearing it up.'

He continued, 'I began House of Hope 30 years ago, and we ask why? The first story in the Bible is a murder case. Two brothers killing each other. Why? They quarrelled over the grace of God. Is this inherent to our psyche? Let's begin to learn peace.'

Dr. Royalty enters the House of Hope.

Political Science Professor Ethan Hollander leads the group through the streets of Shefar 'Am.

Much like other parts of Israel, Shefar 'Am is a densely populated place.

The facade of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the site where the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary.

The front door of the Basilica of the Annunciation.

The Basilica features impressive architecture.

The students pause for a moment of reflection inside of the Basilica of the Annunciation.

(from left) King, Alex Johnson '19, Ben Johnson, Cameron Glaze '17, Gunderman, Dr. Royalty, and Reno Jamison '17 discuss the inscription on the base of this statue.

Dr. Royalty and Gunderman take the discussion a little further.

The Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth.