Photo Gallery

Building Bridges Through Service Visual Stories of Unity

Building Bridges Through Service Visual Stories of Unity

Through photos and stories from our journeys, we celebrate relationships formed between Jews and Christians through service, learning, and shared faith experiences in the Holy Land. These stories reflect the beauty of discovering our shared heritage while walking where Jesus taught and ministered. 

The Trip That Changed Everything: How one Journey in 2022 Opened our Hearts to Israel and Its People

View from Tel Aviv of Old City Jaffa
A statue of the first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion on Fishermans beach Tel Aviv
Physical fitness is huge in Israel. This is one of many free outdoor gyms on the beach in Tel Aviv
Vollyball on the beach
Sunset in Israel Tel Aviv 9/2/22
Tel Aviv Yacht Club
One of the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea from Tel Aviv
One of the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea from Tel Aviv
Walking to Carmel Market
Artwork in an alley way near Carmel Market
Street Art in Tel Aviv
Our first look at Carmel Market 9/2/22
Flower shop at the market
Every kind of Baklava Knafeh at Carmel Market
Candy store at Carmel Market
Olives at Carmel Market
The aroma of the spice shops at the market is absolutely amazing. You can find almost anything from zatar, sumac, shawarma seasonings as well as all types of dried herbs for tea and cooking.
Having a cool drink at one of the food vendors at the market.
Delicious shawarma bowl from an Arab food vendor at Carmel Market
The Jonah Fountain in the old city of Jaffa
St. Peters Church Jaffa
View from Jaffa looking back towards Tel Aviv The Modern City of Tel Aviv is called Tel Aviv-Yafo because as the modern suburb grew it encompassed Jaffa(Yafo Hebrew word meaning Beautiful)
Old City Jaffa
The Gate of Faith
Jaffa is just stunning
House of Simon the tanner in Jaffa.
Fishermans cove on The Sea of Galilee
Ruins of the "Palace of the Procurators" where the apostle Paul was imprisoned for over two years. And where he made his famous speech before Felix and Festus. (recorded in Acts 23-26)
Caesarea is also the town of Cornelius the first gentile to become a follower of Yeshua.
There was absolutely no archeological evidence that suggest that Pontius Pilate ever existed outside of the New Testament scriptures. Until 1961 when the Pilate Stone was found that bears his name in Caesarea.
Ancient amphitheater at Caesarea built by Herod the Great
The acoustics are amazing.
With a seating capacity of 3500 the amphitheater is still in use today.
Over 2000 year old Herod's Hippodrome or sporting arena. I can almost see the chariot races.
This is exactly what it looks like an ancient toilet.
Mount Carmel
Statue of Elijah on Mt. Carmel Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is your God follow him; but if Baal is god follow him.” 1Kings 18:21
View from Mount Carmel The scene of Elijah's confrontation with the false prophets of Baal. "The LORD-he is God! The LORD-he is God!" 1Kings 18:39 The Jezreel Valley,
A beautiful rose in a garden on Tel Megido
Somewhere in the Jezreel Valley
View of Mount Arbel from the Galilee. The traditional place where Christ gave the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Mark 16:15
View of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee from our hotel
A quick swim in the Sea of Galilee
The Jesus boat museum
Caesarea Maritima The place of one of Herod's great palaces and where the apostle Paul was in prison and went before Agrippa.

From Tragedy to Togetherness: Serving alongside Jewish Communities after October 7th

5/26/24 Upon our arrival in Tel Aviv we headed straight to this little greek restaurant on the beach.
5/26/2024 Muslims and Jews enjoying the beautiful Tel Aviv beaches. You would never know just a few hours ago missiles were being fired towards them. What Apartheid State????
5/27/24 Sidestreet in Tel Aviv
On the walk to Carmel Market 5/27/25
One of our favorite food vendors at Carmel Market from our first trip.
5/27/24 Coffee shop at the world's largest open air market Carmel Market. There are not as many vendors due to the war but the people are resilient.
Coffee shop in Carmel Market
The Overlook in Sderot with a view of Gaza. May 28, 2024
View of the Gaza Strip from Sderot. May 28, 2024 Bridget spoke about how she felt as she stood on this overlook in the blog Echad
Looking down into Gaza May 28,2024
An IDF soldier keeping watch
Sderot Mural Commemorating the battle at the police station in Sderot on October 7th, 2023 *I do not own the rights to this photo
Bomb Shelter in Sedrot at the Children's Wish Garden *I do not own the rights to this photo
5/28/24 Revital's Hamal is a non-profit organization formed on October 7th 2023. The founder Revital Ben Yosef left her corporate career to fund her mission to serve up food, love and support for soldiers. https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/Revitals_Hamal
Revital explains to us what we will be doing and how the Hamal serves the soldiers at this make shift rest area (Shuva Junction) near the Gaza border. For many soldiers this is their last home cooked meal before going on duty and for others it is a meeting place when they are able to come out off duty.
Our first act of duty was to wash the dishes at a near by kibbutz because the water has been shut off unexpectedly.
Michael helping an Israeli volunteer wash dishes.
Schnitzel cooking station at the rest area.
Revital's Hamal making Schnitzel for IDF soldiers in Gaza
Revital's Hamal making Schnitzel for IDF soldiers in Gaza
Mark and Susan with the finished product of amazing pastries that soldiers will come pick up to bring back into Gaza to soldiers. Many tell stories of giving treats to the Palestinian children.
This free store is set up at the rest area for soldiers.
With donations brought from home we donated personal care items such as feminine hygiene products for the female soldiers.
Visiting with IDF soldiers while they took a much-needed break from their duties in Gaza. Every Israeli citizen men and women over the age of 18 serve in the IDF.
Arugot Organic Farm produces natural holistic skin care products. AMAZING PRODUCTS!!! https://www.arugot.com/product-category/organic-facial-care/
Arugot Organic Farm produces natural holistic skin care products. AMAZING PRODUCTS!!! https://www.arugot.com/product-category/organic-facial-care/
Michael & Bridget standing with Itay Lachem of Arugot Organic Care.
October 7th Hero Dr. Gedalya Fendel giving us a tour of the wreckage of vehicles badly burned and shot up during the attacks. Dr. Gedalya saved several lives including two children who tragically lost their parents in the Hamas attack.
Every vehicle shown in these pictures are from the 10/7 attack. The vehicles have been brought and stored here to process forensics.
Every vehicle shown in these pictures are from the 10/7 attack. The vehicles have been brought and stored here to process forensics.
Every vehicle shown in these pictures are from the 10/7 attack. The vehicles have been brought and stored here to process forensics.
Memorials at the Nova Music Festival
Memorials at the Nova Music Festival
Memorials at the Nova Music Festival
One of the memorials at the Nova site of the victims and hostages
Our tour guide Barak expressing his personal connection to one of the Nova victims a close friend he considers family.
Cat speaking to us at the site of the Nova Music Festival
Having a heart wrenching discussion after visiting the Nova site. This day forever changed our lives! Understand more by reading Bridget's blog Journal Entry when she opens up and shares her personal journal entry.
Helping to prepare meals for Holocaust survivors and Shabbot meals for troops at Esther's Kitchen.
Stocking the shelves of a food bank at Esther's Kitchen (To Love your neighbor as yourself)
When we finished stocking the shelves of the pantry the neighboring warehouse needed help packing produce for mostly Ethiopian immigrants and displaced families.
Lunch break after working at Esther's Kitchen with the Authentic Israel crew
5/31/24 A beautiful day picking eggplant at John's Garden in Mazkeret Batya.
The street art is different this trip. Bring Them Home Now, a testament to the unity and determination of the people of Israel to not leave a single brother or sister behind.
One of our favorite food vendors at Carmel Market from our first trip.

Where Vision Became Personal: Our Board's Transformational Journey with Omer Eshel of the Bible Comes to Life

The Bible Comes to Life Tour with Omer Eshel
November 2025 Trip with the Bible Comes to Life
Our AMAZING tour guide Omer Eshel
And we are off the the Holy Land. Leaving Springfield airport
Boarding for the first leg of the trip
Meeting up with some of our team in Chicago
Meeting with Faith Leaders ready for a week of intense Biblical teachings.
Zippori was instrumental city during the time of Jesus.
Looking over a model of what this town would have looked like based on the archeological evidence found.
Here is the first century roads in Zippori known as Roman Roads
Zippori
We made it to Masssada
Walking through the archeological remains of Massada Fortress
Looking over the Dead Sea from Massada
Sitting in the Massada synagogue used during the great revolt. Fragments of Deuteronomy and Eziekiel were found under the floor!!
Massada
Bible Study in Ein Gedi where David hid from Saul
Omer reading the account of David fleeing from Saul
Bible Study in Ein Gedi
Floating on the Dead Sea
A Visit to The Davidson Center in Jerusalem
One of many Mikvahs found near the Temple Mount
The Southern Steps where Jesus would have entered the Temple after a Ritual bath in the nearby Mikvah
Sitting on the Southern Steps reading Songs of Ascent
Our entire travel group on the Southern Steps
Visiting the City of David
Stepped-stone structure in the City of David
Archeologist at work uncovering more truths that prove the Bibles accuracy
Taking a break on the entrance to the Pilgrimage Road
Looking out into a part of the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan from The City of David
Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee
Fish Lunch by the Sea of Galilee
The entire group enjoying a traditional fish lunch by the Sea of Galilee
Omer explaining the geography of The Valley of Elah Where David slew Goliath
Michael during Bible study overlooking the Valley of Elah
The Valley of Elah
The Valley of Elah
Watching the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee with friends
Coffee and Bible Study at sunrise on the Sea of Galilee
Omer at Magdala
A replica of The Magdala Stone. The original is now on display at the Bible Museum in Washington DC
First Century Synagogue found in Magdala
Synagogue from the time of Jesus found in Magdala
Standing on stones that Jesus would have certainly stepped on
Fishing village of Magdala
Mikvah in Magdala
Baptism in the Jordan River
Gamla The City on a Hill
Gamla
Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found
Ancient "dropbox" where the scrolls could be returned after studying
Ancient "dropbox"
Looking through the drop box
Discovering Massada
Massada
Overlooking Syria and Lebanon from Israel
Michael's interview on the Bible Comes to Life
Dinner with Omer and the family on The Cliffs of Gadara
Tammy & Bryan in Caesarea Philippi where Jesus revealed his identity as the Son of God to his disciples
Michael and Bill in Caesarea Philippi
Charlie & Mardie in Capernaum
Ancient ruins of Caperaum the hometown of the disciple Peter
Standing in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee
Bridget, Tammy & Mardie on the shore of the Sea of Galilee
Just outside the ruins of Synagogue in Caperaum
A chance encounter with Johnathan Cahn
Johnathan Cahn praying the Aaronic blessing over our group
Walking the streets of Old City Jerusalem
Old City Jerusalem
The Garden Tomb
Outside the Tomb of Jesus
View of the Dome of the Rock from inside the Old City
Jerusalem the City of Gold
Olive Tree in Garden of Gethsemane
Garden of Gethsemane
Michael, Bill & Bryan discussing the second coming of Jesus outside The Church of all Nations