How do I travel free to ISRAEL for study? Are there organizations that
will underwrite somebody wanting study Christian Holy sites within
ISRAEL? Are there organizations that are currently seeking amateur
archaeologist in the dead sea area? Do any of the organizations have
in place programs for people studying for Ministry of Archaeology?
Finally, is there anybody that is a white knight that would provide
ALL expenses from the states to Israel (inc. airfare lodging
transportation & living expenses).

---

Request for Question Clarification by digsalot-ga on 16 Aug 2002 21:34 PDT

There are funds available for just what you are asking.  In order to
know which way to go, what are your qualifications?  Are you
associated with a university either as student or instructor?  Do you
have field training or experience as an archaeological technician? 
and please define what you mean by being an "amateur archaeologist."

There are volunteer and career opportunities both in the subjects and
locations of interest.  Because of the nature of your question, I need
to ask whether your Biblical archaeology studies will be conducted
objectively or you going with a preconceived notion of what "should"
be found to back up a particular Biblical reference.

The reason that last clarification is important is that I have worked
sites in the middle east for years.  (Egypt and Syria)  We have had
serious trouble caused by "archaeological" research groups who have a
6000 year timeline for human history who have vandalized sites and
attempted to destroy evidence that does not back up their particular
version of things.  I have been involved as a witness in the
prosecution of two of these crimes.  I hope you will understand, I
would not want to be responsible for aiding more of the same in their
quest to get there.

Please do not get me wrong.  The vast majority of Biblical
archaeologists are objective and honorable people.  But Biblical
archaeology is also the most abused and has the greatest 'fringe'
element of any archaeological discipline.  I just want to know a
little more about the person asking the question so that I can give a
fitting answer.

Dear Hippraiser, 

There are several ways to join an archeological expedition in Israel.
I have lived in Israel, and can recommend the place to everyone who
has a spiritual soul.

However, there is no "Ministry of Archeology" in Israel. There is
Ministry of Tourism, there is Ministry of Culture - both deal to some
extent with archeological excavations. Full information on the option
to dig Israel is available here -
http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00wk0 and more digs can be
found here - http://www.bib-arch.org/bswbDig.html

The first way, is to study for a term in an Israeli university, doing
all kinds of expeditions. Tel Aviv University has a program called
"join a dig", in which - if you're a university student - you might
even get a credit. You can read more details on the program here -
http://www.tau.ac.il/humanities/archaeology/volunteer/index.html, but
also contact them directly (which is what they basically say in the
page I gave you):
The Tel Aviv University 
Institute of Archaeology 
Tel: 972-3-6409417 
Fax: 972-3-6407237


Tel Bet Shemesh:
Dr. Shlomo Bunimovitz
email: bunimov@post.tau.ac.il


The Megiddo Expedition:
Norma Franklin
email: franklin@post.tau.ac.il

Tel Yafo Expedition:
Professor Ze'ev Herzog [This guy used to be our neighbour in Israel,
so if you can't get him, we may be able to get him for you].
email: yafo@post.tau.ac.il

Yavne-Yam:
Professor Moshe Fischer 
Department of Classical Studies 
Tel. 972-3-6409938 
Fax. 972-3-6406243
e-mail: yavneyam@post.tau.ac.il 

The Hebrew University also holds volunteer excavation projects. One of
them is in Ein Gedi, which is at the Dead Sea. You can reach them at
their site: http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/archaeology/volunteer.htm

Bar Ilan University (a Jewish Religious University) also offers an
excavation program, whose details are available here:
http://www.biu.ac.il/js/archaeo/join.htm
http://faculty.biu.ac.il/~maeira/volunteer.htm

Pepperdine University was involved in excavations in Northern Israel,
but cancelled them due to the situation in the Middle East. They will
underwrite an excavation next year (2003) -
http://www.pepperdine.edu/seaver/religion/isar/Excavation.htm

Brigham Young University (associated with the Letter Day Saints,
Mormons) also offers a program in Israel, which are quite expensive
but could be supported by grants (federal, BYU, etc.). However, they
are not accepting any new applications because of the situation in the
Middle East. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

The Base Institute also offers similar programs,
http://www.baseinstitute.org/explore.html but I am not sure any grants
are possible; Christian Answers offer a similar program, and again -
there are no grants -
http://www.christiananswers.net/abr/abrhome.html#Digs

In both cases, I suggest you'll contact them and ask if there's a
possibility of full or partial sponsorship, due to financial
hardships.

As for traveling to Israel, I am afraid most programs mention that
you'll have to BYO (bring your own, money). Most of the grants
available are for academic programs (which also include excavations).
However, there are several grants possible.

Dorot.org is probably your best possible source. They sponsor travel
grants, which do not exceed $1000:
http://www.dorot.org/travel.html Proving in any way that you're
related to the Jewish people might get you a free trip to Israel, in
Israel2000 - http://www.israel2000.org/

The Hebrew University offers scholarships and financial aid programs
for members of many nations (including Americans). Their address in
the United States:
E-mail: hebrewu@hebrewu.com 
Office of Academic Affairs (OAA)
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 
11 East 69th Street 
New York, N.Y. 10021 
Tel: (800) 404-8622 or (212) 472-2288 
Fax: (212) 517-4548 

In addition, The  Foundation for Biblical Archaeology
http://www.tfba.org/dig.php, is "an IRS-approved, Nonprofit
Organization established in the State of North Carolina in 1996 to
promote the science of biblical archaeology by providing funding and
support for expeditions, publication, research, and education".

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers these scholarships:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0hx30

Three more grants for excavations are available here -
http://digcaesarea.org/ - at a page dealing with excavations in
Caesaria.

You may also find interest in "regular" grants from various
foundations: http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Organizations/Grant-Making_Foundations/?tc=1

You might be interested, while waiting for you trip, to check out this
site on the Qumran excavations:
http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il/cave/cave1.html
You didn't indicate in your question if you're a scholar, but if you
are, this might be a good financial-aid link for you:
http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il/educate/fellowships.shtml

This site provides a list of grants possible for "Jewish and related"
studies in Israel (including Christian ones):
http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/dinur/Grants/grants.htm

As for living expenses, you might want to consider volunteering at a
Kibbutz, in a program which enables, after the period of voluntary
work (during which you live in the Kibbutz and all your expenses are
paid by the Kibbutz), to travel in Israel with a small salary they
give you: http://www.kibbutz.org.il/eng/welcome.htm

More information on archeological excavations in Israel: 
http://www.s-t.com/daily/01-98/01-19-98/c02li085.htm 
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/111998/trav19a.html 

Regarding Digsalot's claims, you might want to erad:
http://www.str.org/free/commentaries/apologetics/records/archeolo.htm
As you may have understood from the cancellation of many excavations,
it is not advised by the State Department to visit Israel this time:
http://travel.state.gov/israel_warning.html

I think that answered your question. However, if you need more
clarifications, I'll be happy to provide some before you'll rate the
answer. I also add my search terms, to make further research easier
for you:
"bible archeology" israel 
"biblical archeology" grants
"sponsorship" trip israel 
"travel to israel for free" 
church sponsored israel excavations 
"biblical archeology" israel excavation  
christian grants israel
christian israel excavations 
church israel excavations 
seeking "amateur archaeologists"
sponsorship "trip to israel"
"amateur archaeologists" israel
"bible archeology" israel funding 
"travel grant" israel
"travel grant" israel christian
"travel to israel" grant
"travel warning" israel
seeking "amateur archaeologists" israel
volunteer kibbutz archeology 


Have a great and sunny time in Israel!

---

Request for Answer Clarification by hipraiser-ga on 17 Aug 2002 13:12 PDT

I am currently studying for Christian Ministry (Pastor of a Church). 
I am Not studying Archaeology. In Scripture Jesus says "I tell you, if
these become silent, the stones will cry out!" Luke 19:40 NASB. The
Impetus behind my desire to GO to Israel is to see and touch -- In My
Journey it is MY hearts desire to be there to help  unearth the
archaeological record (the very stones that cry out) (I know that I am
a amateur - but there must be a place that would desire that help of a
person willing to lend a hand)I don't know if any Christian
organizations, foundations, Individuals, etc. that would sponsor
somebody who was hoping to get a hands-on experience of Gods' Covenant
Land and be able to bring that back to others when sharing his word!

---

Clarification of Answer by politicalguru-ga on 17 Aug 2002 15:40 PDT

Dear Hippraiser, 

First of all, many of the links I have mentioned in my answer are fit
for amature archeologists such as yourself. All of the Israeli
universities, for example. I have no doubt they'll accept you with
warm and open heart (I mentioned academic points and cresits only in
case it is relevant for you).

As for the funding, I included a list of possible sources in my second
part of the answer (most of them are not only for those seeking
academic excavations). I did a further search for funding resources.
There's a list of fund granting organizations also here -
http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Organizations/Fundraising/Grants/?tc=1
and some might fit your purposes.

These Churches and organizations offer some help in funding, but I am
not sure if they are exactly what you're looking for (religiously):
http://genesis.nhcucc.org/cwa/travel.html 
http://www.pghpresbytery.org/forms/ 
http://www.syntrin.org/program/funding.htm 

Another idea is to join some kind of mission heading for the Middle
East, and getting there that way.

I hope these links and information helped you even more.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by hipraiser-ga on 20 Aug 2002 13:16 PDT

I will say again, I am currently studying for Christian Ministry
(Pastor of a Church). I am Not studying Archaeology, my interest is in
Biblical Archaeology from a Christian World View (The Stones Cry Out).
Please answer -- w/contact information or links - are there any grants
- foundations - FOR Bible Believing Christians who believe in the in
errant Word of God (the links that you provided are denomination
specific)

http://genesis.nhcucc.org/cwa/travel.html  
http://www.pghpresbytery.org/forms/  
http://www.syntrin.org/program/funding.htm  
  
{I am sorry for the confusion the original question read "Ministry of
Archaeology" and should have read "Ministry OR Archaeology" this might
have lead to some confusion on both our parts)

The denominations listed above would not fund because me I am not a
member of their church -- other funding sources you have identified
would have required that I would have to be Jewish and I am not.
Please help if you can  -- I am not looking for long-term funding, I
am looking for what some may call short term mission funding, I come
from a Pentecostal Church. Ideally I am looking to go on a short term
mission/trip for Feast of Tabernacles.

Thank you for your continued help.

---

Clarification of Answer by politicalguru-ga on 21 Aug 2002 04:50 PDT

Dear Hippraiser,  

I understand you (or so I hope). 

Not being a university student: The archeological expeditions in
Israel are managed by the state, and are granted only to universities
and/or the Israeli Antique Authority, and not to churches or
individuals. Moreover, many Bible archeology groups, that publish that
they'd let you dig are either telling half-truths, or doing it under
these same institutions (as I noted before, everyone, including you,
can volunteer to dig with these universities - you don't have to be a
student).

Very little information was found regarding non-denominational
Christian grants. One of the good sources is
http://www.generousgiving.org/marketplace/ but you have to register
there (It is sort of a meeting place between grant-seekers and
benefitors).

Other possible grants: 
http://www.msfdn.org/grants/index.cfm?fuseaction=grants 
http://www.lilly.com/about/community/foundation/index.html 
http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/grnville/religion.html 

I hope that helps, but do not hesitate to contact me again :-)

I would like a refund for my question- after several rounds with my
researcher the final result was that none of the links provided would fund
an Individual Christian for a Travel Grant! each of the foundation were
looking for either in the orginal answer sobody who was Jewish or the
clarification answers were looking to fund specific denominations of which
I was not a member or fund thru a Larger body (church /or school) In the
text of my orginal question I used the word "Sombody" indicating an
individual not an institution (501c3) (FYI The Mustard Seed Foundation is
not currently funding any grants to North American Applicants and they
don't fund Individuals)

hipraiser,

I'm going to disqualify myself from answering since I'm in the process
of writing a book on a related subject, but the draft version is
online at

http://www.fonerbooks.com/serial.htm

morris-ga

Hey Morris,

Very nice work.  I've been there twice and enjoyed reading your draft.
;)  You're doing good.  Makes sense to me, and it certainly brought
back lots of memories!  :)

tlspiegel-ga