June 14 - 25, 2009 Temple Israel's Israel Experience with Rabbi Ezring
Sunday, June 14 - Departure Depart the U.S.A.
Monday, June 15 - When You Come Into the Land Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. Welcome by your ITC representative.. Drive through Tel Aviv, the "city that never sleeps" Welcome middle-eastern dinner with a Yemenite touch at Maganda. Free evening in Tel Aviv with an opportunity to meander through the Old City of Jaffa,
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv Tuesday, June 16 - The First Hebrew City Independence Hall, site of David Ben Gurion's monumental proclamation of the State of Israel in May 1948. Tour the Ayalon Institute, near Rehovot, tour clandestine munitions factory used during the British Mandate.Follow the story of Israel's pre-state elite fighting force, the Palmach, while walking through a state of the art multimedia experience. Walking tour colorful Carmel Market, Shenkin Street, Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian mall, with its restored buildings and sidewalk artists. Enjoy dinner on your own.
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, TLV
Wednesday, June 17 - Along the Coast Depart Tel Aviv and drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, one of the Land of Israel's most important cities during the Roman Period; visit Herodian Theater and new excavations along the Mediterranean shore; enjoy the new interactive audio-visual program "The Stars of Caesarea," located in the 900-year-old crusader building. Walk through the 2,000 year old underground water tunnel that once brought water to Caesarea. 3 options for the entire group: Option 1 Guided visit to Zichron Ya'acov, one of the first communities established by the early Zionist pioneers, including a walk along the colorful Pedestrian Mall; Visit a Druse village in the Carmel Mountains for a window into the unique world of the Israeli Druse community. Option 2 Visit Acre (Akko), a UNESCO Heritage Site, and a multi-layered experience from the days of the Crusades through contemporary Israel, including; the newly renovated Crusaders' City, British Prison used in pre-state days for Jewish and Arab prisoners and the site of the famous prison break the Templar Canal to the port of Acre, Ottoman Fortifications around the city. Option 3 Descend to Rosh Hanikra by cable car to explore the natural grottos in the cliff. Drive across the Upper Galilee. Dinner at the hotel.
Thursday, June 18 - Nature and Security Explore Safed, center of Jewish mysticism for hundreds of years, and a contemporary artists' colony, visits to the Ari and Abuhav Synagogues with their great stories and mystical messages, stroll through the quaint art galleries and shops in the artists' colony, Safed Candle Factory, Drive to the Upper Galilee for a short hike along the Banias River at the base of the Golan Heights. Enjoy kayaking on the Jordan River. Sunset jeep tour on Golan Heights in the footsteps of IDF soldiers; enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and gain insight into the strategic complexity of the Golan. Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Kibbutz Kfar Blum Guesthouse Friday, June 19 - Driving the Rift Hula Nature Reserve and the Ophoria Interactive Experience, connecting birds, water and the Zionist endeavor. Drive via Tiberias, one of the four holy Jewish cities in Israel and where Maimonides is buried Visit the Kinneret Cemetery and hear about the dreams of the early Zionist pioneers. Ancient Beit Alpha Synagogue examine its striking mosaic floor; enjoy a short, amusing film about plans to renovate this ancient synagogue two millennia ago. Beit Shean National Park, one of the largest archaeological sites in Israel, with its biblical tel exposing the vast Roman-Byzantine City. Jordan Rift Valley. Welcome to Jerusalem! Enter the vibrant and colorful 3,000 year old city and experience the convergence of the old and the new. Stop at Mount Scopus to say the traditional "shehecheyanu" blessing. Shabbat services Festive. Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
Shabbat, June 20 - Shabbat in Jerusalem Shabbat services at the Conservative Yeshiva. Shabbat lunch at the hotel - Museum of the History of Jerusalem at David's Citadel, walk through the history of Jerusalem from the time of Abraham 4,000 years ago to the end of the British Mandate over Palestine. Shabbat walk through hidden alleyways to Mt. Zion, Temple Mount Overlook and King David's Tomb. Havdalah overlooking the Old City. Free evening in Jerusalem, night on the town.
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
Sunday, June 21 - Memories for the Future Guided tour of the Knesset, Chagall stained glass windows depicting the twelve tribes of Israel at the Hadassah hospital, Ein Kerem. Newly renovated Yad Vashem complex, the Jewish. National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including: Avenue of Righteous Gentiles, the new Historical Museum, The Children's Memorial, Holocaust Toy Exhibit, Valley of the Communities, Memorial Service. Yad Vashem for Kids: Special children/youth program at the Yad Vashem complex the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, using interactive programming, arts & crafts and children's stories and diaries.Time for Lunch. Visit the Israel Museum, including Judaica exhibit, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the ancient Jerusalem model. Hike in the Jerusalem Forest to the Sataf Spring
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
Monday, June 22 - Layers of Jerusalem B'nai Mitzvah service at the "Masorti Kotel," Robinson's Arch Tour of the Southern Wall Excavations, followed by a guided visit to the Davidson. Archaeological Park with a special visit to the Davidson Center, to view a presentation of life during the time of the Temple. o Stop at the Kotel, and then visit the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount Lunch on one's own in the Old City. Walking through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, guided visits to the Cardo, the Hurva Square, and the 2,000-year old Herodian Mansions Free time for shopping in the Old City. Celebratory dinner at the quaint Anna Ticho House.
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem Tuesday, June 23 - Jewish Strategies for Survival Descend to the Dead Sea Basin. Short hike to Nahal David freshwater spring at Ein Gedi. Nature Reserve, oasis in the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. Ascend the cable car to Masada, Herod's. Mountain palace and site of the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman Legionnaires. Discuss Masada's role as a symbol of Jewish defense and its current significance in modern Israel. Bathe in the relaxing and healthy sulphur springs at the Mineral Beach and float in the Dead Sea. Enjoy camel rides at Genesis Land and then enjoy a visit in a biblical-style tent in the Judean Desert; and learn about their relationship to Israeli society, their customs and lifestyles; including a biblical/Bedouin style meal. Return to Jerusalem
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
Wednesday, June 24 - Between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Drive to the Jerusalem Hills and tour the enormous stalactite/stalagmite cave with its many natural works of art at the Avshalom Nature Reserve in the Judean Hills. Visit the Armed Forces Memorial at Latrun, a pivotal point on the Tel Aviv - Jerusalem road and the site of many fierce battles for control of the road to Jerusalem from Biblical times through the War of Independence. Visit the award winning Ella Winery at Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Hey, established by a Napa Valley vineyard owner in order to create a true-blue Israeli winery, which has succeeded beyond expectation, with wine tasting. Return to Jerusalem and rest of the afternoon at leisure to relax, shop, explore. Festive farewell dinner. Transfer to Ben Gurion or return to the hotel to continue the next day for Eilat -
Overnight: Flight to USA/ or Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
Tour Package Includes • Group roundtrip EL AL Airfare from Charlotte NC to Tel Aviv • 5 Star Sheraton Moriah Hotel Jerusalem, Carlton Tel Aviv and : Kibbutz Kfar Blum Guesthouse, Upper Galilee • All Breakfasts 5 Week-Day Dinners, Shabbat Dinner and Lunch as per itinerary • Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Touring Motor Coach • Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport - Welcome by your ITC representative • Tel Aviv the "city that never sleeps", Habima Theater, Rabin Square • Old City of Jaffa, Tel Aviv Port, Neve Zedek Neighborhood, Independence Hall, Ayalon Institute • Beit Hapalmach, Carmel Market, Shenkin Street, Nachalat Binyamin, Caesarea, Herodian Theater • Zichron Ya'acov, Druze village, Carmel Mountains, Acre (Akko), British Prison, Explore Safed, Banias River • Golan Heights, Kayaking on the Jordan River, Jeep tour on the Golan Heights, Hula Valley Nature Reserve • Tiberias, Kinneret, Beit Alpha Synagogue, Beit Shean National Park, Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Ezring • Shabbat services at the Conservative Yeshiva, Shabbat walking tour, Tower of David • Havdalah under the stars with Rabbi Ezring, Knesset, Chagall windows, Yad Vashem, Yad Vashem for Kids • Israel Museum, B'nai Mitzvah service at the "Masorti Kotel," Robinson's Arch, Southern Wall Excavations • Davidson Center, Kotel, Western Wall Tunnels, Jewish Quarter of the Old City • Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, Masada, Genesis Land, Latrun, Ella Winery at Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Hey • ITC full color source book
A GREAT TOUR FILLED WITH MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AND FUN !
• Main Tour June 14 - 25 - Land/Air Package $4815* - Land Only $3375 • Single Room Supplement $1325 - Reduction for Child 12 to 17 as 3rd in Parents room $750 • *Prices are based on a minimum of 30 full paying participants • *Plus Airport Tax $98,Fuel Surcharge$412**,Tips for Guide,Driver and Restaurants $115 • Eilat/Petra Extension: June 24 - 28, - $1220* Land Package - Single Supplement $395 • Round trip Tel Aviv - Eilat Air - Arava Crossing Point and cross into Jordan. • Jordanian Arava, Petra, Fun in the Sun in Eilat optional water sports, hiking, • Jeep trip and much more. *Plus border crossing Tax $45 in US cash • Eilat extension price is based on a minimum of 15 full paying participants
