Discovery Institute’s Insiders Tour to Israel has been a huge success, jointly led by Stephen Meyer, Michael Medved, George Gilder, and Titus Kennedy. Discovery president Steve Buri and board chairman Bruce Chapman were among the travelers. That’s Dr. Meyer above lecturing at Qumran, where the light-hearted Essene cult enjoyed a desert lifestyle by the shores of the Dead Sea and inscribed and later hid the famed Dead Sea Scrolls. 

You’ve probably never seen Steve Meyer in shorts. Neither had I. You’ve probably also never seen Dr. Meyer dancing, but since this is Israel, “simcha dancing” is to be expected, and Steve obliged on an evening cruise on the Sea of Galilee:

Michael Medved, a communications Iron Man, amazingly not only led much of the tour but also did three hours of live radio daily from 10 pm to 1 am. (His show airs in the United States from 12 noon to 3 pm Pacific time, so that’s why.) Here he is with George Gilder; note the characteristic Gilderian hand-gesturing:

And here are Michael and his wife Dr. Diane Medved at the desert fortress of Masada, a place with a grim history — but what a cute couple!

Another cute couple, albeit not very well lit in this photo, Steve and Angelica Buri touring the Israel Museum:

The group dined by the Jaffa Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem:

And they heard from Titus Kennedy, a dashing young archaeologist, here lecturing at Jericho:

And here on the Mount of Olives:

Jealous? Well, there’s always “Next year in Jerusalem,” as the saying goes. Photos are courtesy of Bruce Chapman, Bethany Woodward, and Diane Medved.