Day 1, SATURDAY, August 18, 2012: Depart the United States
on our overnight flight to Israel.
Day 2, SUNDAY, August 19,
2012: Arrival to Israel… Greeting and assistance by an Ayelet
representative… Transfer to our hotel in Tel Aviv for check-in… Welcome dinner
at the Maganda this evening… Overnight Tel-Aviv.
Day 3, MONDAY,
August 20, 2012: Breakfast… Start the day with a visit to Independence
Hall where the establishment of the state of Israel was declared… Stop for a
moment of reflection at Rabin Square, place of assassination of Prime Minister
Itzhak Rabin… Next we "join up" with the paramilitary forces at the Palmach
Museum… Continue to Old Jaffa, an 8000-year-old port city… Visit the ancient
ruins and walk along the restored Artist's Quarter, as well as the amazing flea
market…Enjoy the afternoon at leisure… Overnight Tel Aviv.
Day 4,
TUESDAY, August 21, 2012: Breakfast… This morning we join Table to
Table, an organization dedicated to feeding the hungry in Israel to collect
fruits or vegetables for distribution… Visit the Weitzman Institute for a look
at the hi-tech advances in science being made today in Israel. We also have the
chance to visit to former home of Chaim Weitzman, located on the campus, where
we learn the story of his life in service to Israel. Return to Tel Aviv where we
visit the new Rabin Museum, tracing the history of Israel through the lifetime
of Yitzhak Rabin…Free time, beach time, and a free evening. Overnight Tel Aviv.
Day 5, WEDNESDAY, August 22, 2012: Breakfast… Drive
north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region… See the excavations of
the crusaders' city, the aqueduct, and the Roman Theater that has been fully
restored… Visit Zichron Yaakov, where we first stop at the Aharonson House to
learn about the history of the Nili spies…Lunch on own in Zichron … Continue to
Safed, where we see the Caro and the Ha'ari synagogues, the most important
synagogues in the city…Check in for Dinner and overnight at our kibbutz in the
Galilee.
Day 6, THURSDAY, August 23, 2012: Breakfast… We
begin the day continue the day with a hike in Tel Dan Nature Preserve… Enjoy a
Jeep tour to the Golan (those not taking jeeps can travel up to the Golan by bus
along the main road)…Continue to Kibbutz El Rom, where we hear the story of the
tank brigades during the decisive Yom Kippur war battles that took place on this
very spot…Enjoy a fun Rafting trip down the Jordan River (those not taking the
rafting trip can either return to the Kibbutz for free time, or visit a nearby
Winery)…Dinner and overnight at our kibbutz in the Galilee.
Day
7, FRIDAY, August 24, 2012: Breakfast… Begin our day at the ruins of
Tzippori, including the floor mosaic known as the Mona Lisa of the Galilee…
Visit Moshav Nahalal, including a home hospitality lunch with the Aviran
Family…See the raised Tel excavations at Meggido, site of biblical Armageddon…
Continue up to Jerusalem… As we enter Jerusalem we stop for a special
"Sh'hekiyanu!" ceremony atop the Haas Promenade, overlooking the City of
Gold…Check in and time to relax and refresh… Welcome Shabbat and enjoy Shabbat
dinner with a local Progressive congregation… Overnight Jerusalem.
(B,D)
Day 8, SATURDAY, August 25 2012: Breakfast…
Shabbat Shalom!.. This morning we invite you to join us for services at HUC… We
enjoy lunch after a tour of the college campus … Free day to relax and enjoy the
calm of Shabbat in Jerusalem, or explore on own…Overnight Jerusalem
(B,L)
Day 9, SUNDAY, August 26, 2012: Breakfast…We begin
today with a visit the excavations at Ir David and a walk through Hezekiah's
Tunnel - Bring water shoes! (option to instead watch the Ir David historical
movie)… Time for reflection at the Western Wall…In depth look at Temple times as
we walk through the fascinating Western Wall tunnels… Tour the Old City of
Jerusalem, beginning at the Southern Excavations… Walk along the Cardo, the
ancient Roman road and marketplace…Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre…
Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 10, MONDAY, August 27, 2012:
Breakfast… This morning we celebrate a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at the Southern Wall…
Visit Yad L'Kashish, Lifeline for the Old, which assists elderly community
members in Jerusalem… Visit the military cemetery at Mt. Herzl and the Mt. Herzl
Museum, where we learn about the life of one of Israel's greatest historical
leaders and visionaries… Drive to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust to
visit the museum and the valley of the lost communities (optional children's
activity)… We see the amazing new Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David…
Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 11, TUESDAY, August 28, 2012:
Early morning departure to the south… Stop at Qumran to see the place where the
Dead Sea scrolls were found…continue to King Herod's fortresses and castle atop
Masada, ascending by cable car or snake path … Visit the remains of the walls,
palaces, synagogue, and the bathhouses, learning about the Jewish Zealots last
stand against the Roman forces … Descend by cable car… Next we enjoy an
unsinkable swim in the healing salty waters of the Dead Sea… Time permitting we
enter Ein Gedi for a short hike to the waterfall…Enjoy a biblical desert
experience with a camel ride at Eretz Bereishit… Overnight
Jerusalem.
Those not traveling to Masada and the Dead Sea for the day can
choose to remain in Jerusalem for a day at leisure or visit on own the world
class Israel Museum, which recently underwent a $100 million
renovation.
Day 12, WEDNESDAY, August 29, 2012:
Breakfast… Take part in a "hands-on" archeological dig at Beit Guvrin… Try a
delicious pita with hummus at Abu Gosh… Free time for last minute shopping or
relaxation…This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner together… Transfer to the
airport for our flight home to the United States
Those not going on the
dig can enjoy a full day at leisure in Jerusalem. Options include the new
Menachem Begin Center, the Islamic Museum of Art, The Museum on the Seam and
many other wonderful cultural opportunities.
Day 13, THURSDAY,
August 30, 2012: Arrival back in the US.
THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!
*itinerary
subject to change |