c. 1996 Religion News Service

(RNS)-Jim Green looked across the Sea of Galilee and felt a strong connection to his spiritual ancestry.

As he sat in the tourist boat, the Southern Baptist from Mobile, Ala., concluded the scenery didn’t look much different than it did 2,000 years earlier, when, according to Christian Scripture, Jesus floated across the same waters.

“I thought to myself, `I’m feeling the same breeze as he did. I’m looking at the same mountains. I’m hearing the same water lapping on the boat.’ I think it probably made Jesus more real to me.”

Green was in a group of 43 Christians on an eight-day trip to the Middle East. Such travel has hit an all-time high, according to Barbara Bahny, public relations director for the Israel Ministry of Tourism in New York. Last year, close to 450,000 Americans, most of them Christians, visited Israel and nearby countries.

These modern pilgrims journey to connect with their religious heritage, renew their faith, learn more about the Bible and to vacation.

In all, 2.5 million people from around the world traveled last year to the Holy Land, the region east of the Mediterranean that encompasses biblical Palestine.

Three major faiths-Jews, Christians and Muslims-have shrines and historic landmarks in the Holy Land, sometimes within sight of each other. This shared sense of heritage is perhaps most evident in Jerusalem, where Jews line up along the Western Wall to pray and remember their lost temple.

Nearby, Christians flock to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which enshrines the traditional site of Jesus’ burial. And not far away, Muslims congregate at the Dome of the Rock, where they believe their prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven.

For centuries, religious believers have made such pilgrimages. They go to touch the bones of saints, to fulfill a religious obligation or to see the land of their ancestry.

The Rev. Mike Watson, pastor of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile, helped lead the trip to the Holy Land that Green took. One purpose, he said, was “to deepen our spiritual life.”

Visiting the Mount of Beatitudes, the pilgrims read the Beatitudes. When they stopped at the pool at Bethesda where Jesus healed a man, they conducted a healing service. When they stopped at nearly all the holy sites, they took time to reflect on their faith.

Because of such experiences, many travelers say they return from the Holy Land with a renewed spirit. For Jews, in particular, the importance of such travel is evident. Israel is a Jewish nation.

Muslims, to a lesser extent, also visit Islamic sites in Israel and see the land.

The bulk of the traffic, however, is generated by Christians. About 60 percent of the American tourists are Christians, according the Israel Ministry of Tourism. They want to see where Jesus was born, where he grew up, where he preached. They want to see all the places described in the Old and New Testaments.

When they return home, many say they read the Bible with new enthusiasm. They now can visualize the otherwise distant land, the seas where the disciples fished, the mounts where Jesus preached.

Some people take home part of the land itself, as if the ground were somehow blessed. Green bought a half-gallon jug at a shop near the banks of the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized. He filled it with river water and plans to give it to friends who want to baptize their babies.

Despite the steady flow of tourists, the Holy Land has maintained its sense of the sacred, travelers say. It hasn’t become another Disney World, although some places can appear commercial. Near the traditional sight of Lazarus’ home, for instance, merchants set up a Lazarus Tomb T-shirt shop.

Many of the marked sites are only approximate locations. After centuries of changes, it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact location for all of the biblical stories.

But just being in the vicinity, getting a feel for the land, is what’s most important, says Watson.

“It transforms your reading of the Bible from then on. When you read names and places, they have significance they wouldn’t otherwise have. It’s a very meaningful trip.”

(OPTIONAL TRIM FOLLOWS)

WHEN TO GO: The Holy Land is popular all year round. Summer is the busiest season, but it’s also the hottest. Spring is the prettiest time. Winter is the cheapest.

WHERE TO GO: You could spend a long time trying to see everything, especially if you venture into Egypt, Jordan and other countries in addition to Israel. If you stay in or near Israel, some of the most popular sights include Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, Caesarea, Masada and Kfar Cana.

FOOD: Good kosher food is plentiful, as is falafel, hummus and other Middle Eastern cuisine. Some American-style food in some areas.

WHAT TO BRING: Comfortable shoes. If you want to see the land, you’ll need to do some walking.

LENGTH OF TRIP: The average trip to the Holy Land lasts about 13 days. There’s a lot to see. Give yourself plenty of time.

LANGUAGE: You’ll get around fine with English. Hebrew and Arabic are the native tongues, but many people know English as their second or third language.

LODGING: You can stay anywhere from a dirt-cheap hotel to a luxury accommodation. The Holy Land is extremely crowded during important holidays. If you go during such times, book rooms way in advance.

WEATHER: If you drive 30 minutes in any direction you might enter a different climate zone. Israel isn’t a big country (about the size of New Jersey), but it has a varied topography and climate. In the barren desert, it can top 100 degrees in the summer; other places are milder. Winter temperatures can dip below freezing, but it’s generally not bitter cold. If you go in the winter, dress in layers.

MJP END HOLMES