ERETZ YISRAEL– OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (2)

13 Days Tour Program for Conservatives or Reform Congregations

Day 1 - Departure                                                                                   

ELAL non stop flight departs LAX at 01:45pm                                                                                            Acre (Acco)

Day 2 - Arrival in Israel - Bruchim Haba'aim - Welcome to Israel

Arrive at new Ben-Gurion Airport Terminal to be met and assisted by

our representative. Meet you tour guide and bus driver and drive to

Tel Aviv, the city that never sleeps for check in at one of Tel Aviv’s

sea shore hotels overlooking the Mediterranean.dinner in authentic

restaurant. Free time for relaxing, walking on the boardwalk and/or

a dip in the Sea. Overnight: Tel-Aviv

Day 3 - TeL Aviv City Tour

After breakfast we start our tour by visiting the Palmach Museum

( * Visit is based on availability. Substitute to the Palmach Museum will

be the Diaspora Museum) for a multi-media presentation on defense in

the pre-state era, 1920-48. Visit of the Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel was signed in 1948. Visit the Carmel open market and the nearby Nachalat Binyamin's pedestrian mall, with its restored buildings, sidewalk artists and arts and crafts fair. Continue onto Shenkin, one of Israel's most avant-garde streets. After a short Falafel lunch drive through HaBimah Theater, Rothschild Blvd, Rabin Square, Opera House & Tel Aviv Museum to Old Jaffa. At night time we will discover the romantic streets and passages of the old city of Jaffa and its artist colony and enjoy the view from the old Jaffa hilltop. Overnight: Tel-Aviv

Day 4 - Tel Aviv - Coast Line - Galilee

Drive north to visit Caesarea, see ancient history come to life at the newly-opened multi-media center, against the backdrop of ancient Caesarea; excavations include an impressive amphitheatre and aqueduct Visit Daliat El Carmel - an authentic Druze village in Carmel Mountains. We will have a Druz special authentic light lunch and hear about the special Druze community in Israel. Continue to Mt. Carmel for a panoramic view of Haifa area. Continue to Haifa for an amazing view of the Bahai temple. Than on to the Lower Galilee to visit the town of Zippori, where Rabbi Yehuda codified Mishnah in 2nd C. and see the “Mona Lisa of Galilee” - a magnificent mosaic floor from 1st C. We will end the day by driving to the Upper Galilee for Dinner and overnight in Kibbutz hotel. Overnight: Upper Galilee  

Day 5 - Upper Galilee and Golan Heights

After breakfast we drive up through the Golan Height to the peak of Har Bental, where you can enter army bunkers and take in a panoramic view at the crossroads of three countries. From this point we can see across the Golan Plateau bordering with Syria and observe the abandoned Syrian city of Kuneitra and the U.N. outpost located nearby. Than on to the modern city of Katzrin where we can travel back in time as we visit the excavated Talmudic Village of Katzrin. Taste some of the great wines cultivated on the Golan at the Golan Winery. While driving down the Golan we will view Israel’s security situation from on-high while overlooking the Hula Valley from former Syrian fortifications. We will end our day with a wet experience - we will walk in the water of the Banias river continue with a kayaking on the Jordan river – please bring with you extra set of cloths and towels! Return to the kibbutz for dinner. Overnight: Upper Galilee  

Day 6 - Upper Galilee / Tzfat

After breakfast we start the day with a tour of the Kibbutz to learn about agricultural & communal life in Israel. Visit “The Lion of old Tel Hai”. We will take a thrilling jeep tour at the amazing Upper Galilee to the Western Galilee, we will go through the Hula Valley watching the great view of the area, learn about the nature and the special communities along the way. Next we will visit Peki'in, where it is believed that Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son where hiding from the Romans, we will visit the Synagogue dating from 1873. Two stones are embedded in its walls which, tradition has it, were taken from an ancient synagogue built from the Temple stones. We continue to visit Tzefat, a center of mysticism and a contemporary artist colony. Here we will meet a Kabbalistic Artist in his studio to learn about Art & Kabalah. Then, explore the narrow alleyways and synagogues of Tzfat and learn how the mystical traditions that emerged in Tzfat 500 years ago impacted on the entire Jewish world. Proceed for check in. Dinner on own.  Overnight: Tzfat

Day 7 - From the Galilee to Jerusalem

After breakfast, we will drive to the peak of Mount Arbel for a beautiful overview. Arrive in Tiberias and visit the tomb of Maimonides. Visit the ancient city of Beth Shean for an overview of a remarkable archeological site, including a re-stored Roman amphitheater. Visit the Bet Alfa Synagogue National Park on Kibbutz Hefzibah and see the mosaic of the zodiac and the story if the sacrifice of Isaac). Continue to the Gan Hashlosha National Park (Sahne) and chill in the natural springs pools. After lunch we will test the wonderful ice creams of Kibbutz Ein Harod and than drive through the picturesque Jordan Valley and ascend to Jerusalem. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, experience a breathtaking panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade to recite the “Shehechiyanu” prayer of thanksgiving. Continue to the Sheraton Plaza hotel for Check in. Dinner on own. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 8 -  Old City Jerusalem

Enter the Old City and start with an In-depth exploration of the Southern Wall Excavations, including a virtual, computerized “walk” through the Beit Hamikdash at the Davidson Center. Visit the Kotel and the Western Wall (Rabbinical) Tunnels. Walking through the newly restored Jewish Quarter, we will visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodian Quarter and the colorful bazaars of the old city. On to the City of David,-  the most ancient section of Jerusalem, built by King David, including new discoveries and the Hezekiah Tunnel - built 2,700 years ago to secure Jerusalem's water supply from invading armies. Dinner on own. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 9- Friday, July 6th - New City Jerusalem

After breakfast we will drive outside of Jerusalem to participate in an archaeological dig. Dig for a day is a unique program designed for visitor for all ages.  Drive back to Jerusalem and visit the newly-expanded Yad Vashem Holocaust complex where we conduct Yizkor memorial service. Drive via the Supreme Court and the Knesset to visit the Israel Museum and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Continue to the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Stop at colorful, bustling Mahaneh Yehuda market, as Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat Return to the hotel to prepare Shabbat. Shabbat Service at Reform Congregation. Shabbat Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 10- Dead Sea and Masada

After breakfast we depart for the drive down to Dead Sea Basin, the lowest point on earth. Visit Masada -   the 2,000 year old mountain fortress built by King Herod and site of the Jewish zealots’ last stand against the Roman Legionnaires. Optional Bar/Bat Mitzvha ceremony on Masada. Visit the excavation site of Qumran and walk through the impressive Dead Sea sect community area and see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1948. Drive back to Jerusalem. Dinner on own. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 11 - Free day in Jerusalem

Dinner on own. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 12- Latrun - Mini Israel - Neot Kedumim - Departure

This is our last day in Israel. After breakfast we will drive to Latrun – the Armored Forces Memorial, site of many fierce battles from Biblical times through the War of Independence, for control of the access road to Jerusalem. Visit Mini Israel, the Park displays hundreds of models that are exact copies of sites, buildings and landscapes from around the country. Drive to the amazing Biblical Nature Preserve of Neot Kedumim to participate in interesting workshops about ecology in ancient & modern Israel. Here we will celebrate the end our tour with a special Farewell Dinner. Drive to Ben Gurion international airport for your transatlantic flight back to the U.S

Day 13 - Tuesday, July 10th  - Arrival         

Arrive this morning and and start planning your next trip to Israel......