Israel: May 2008

Dr. Alan Hix, associate professor of religion, traveled to Israel to survey the excavation site at Kursi and lecture to a group from the Jerusalem Institute for Biblical Exploration (JIBE).

Earlier this year, Shorter joined the Kursi Consortium so that Shorter students may study abroad in Israel during the summer of 2009 and participate in excavations at Kursi. Led by Shorter faculty member Dr. Hix and Dr. Jim Scarry, the excavation is under the coordination of JIBE.

Next summer’s Israel program will also include interaction with students at the Mar Elias Educational Institution and the Bethlehem Bible College.

Main building for elementary through high school classrooms at the Mar Elias School

Dr. Hix with the executive manager of the Mar Elias Educational Institution in Ibillin

A tenth grade class at the Mar Elias School

Dr. Hix lectures from the stage of the first century Roman theater at Sepphoris

Dr. Hix explains the mosaics found in the peristyle building at Sepphoris,
which he helped to excavate with the University of South Florida

Dr. Hix with the associate director of the Kursi excavation,
Paul McCracken, and his wife, Nancy

Dr. Hix explores a cistern underneath the Byzantine Church at Kursi

Dr. Hix examines the remains of a caldarium (hot room) of a Roman bath at Kursi

Dr. Hix at the southwest corner of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem