Congregation Beth Shalom's Multi Generational Family Israel Tour Join Rabbi Mark & Linda Zimmerman June 21 - July 4, 2011 "Arise, Travel Throughout the Land" (Gen 13:17)

Tour Highlights
Group transportation to ATL airport round trip flight ATL to Tel Aviv via Newark NJ Delta EL-AL, 5 Star Based on Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem; Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv, All Breakfasts, Dinners and Shabbat Meals as per itinerary. Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in, Deluxe Motor Coach Welcome Orientation and Shehehianu ceremony at the Haas Promenade, B'nai Mitzvah ceremony at the Robinson's Arch, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels, Jewish Quarter, David's City, Hezekiah's water tunnel, Dig for a Day, Machaneh Yehuda, Meah Shearim, Fuchsberg Center, Israel Museum, Havdalah with Rabbi Zimmerman, Yad Vashem, Har Herzl Military Cemetery, Kumran, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Masada, Dead Sea, Camel Trek, Kfar Hanokdim, Jordan River Valley, IDF base, Beit Shean, Ethiopian absorption center, Golan Heights, Golan Winery, Artist village, Banias Nature Reserve, Naot Sandal factory, Tzefat, Kayak Jordan River, Rosh Hanikra, Acco, Crusader Fortress, Turkish Baths, British prison, Tunisian Synagogue, Haifa's Bahai Gardens, Independence Hall, Ayalon Institute, Palmach Museum, Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Zimmerman in Jerusalem and Tel AvivITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun!

  Itinerary

Tuesday, 21 June - USA Departure 

Wednesday, 22 June - When You Come Into the Land (Dev. 26:1)
Late afternoon arrival in Israel, to be met and assisted at the airport by your ITC representative Ascent to Jerusalem Shehehianu ceremony at the Haas Promenade, where we take in a breathtaking view of the Old City of Jerusalem - Hotel check-in Welcome dinner at Anna Ticho House.
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem 

Thursday, 23 June - B'nai Mitzvah in Jerusalem
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Take part in a moving B'nai Mitzvah ceremony at the Robinson's Arch. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and take a virtual, computerized "walk" through the Temple Mount at the Davidson Center In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall's massive foundation stones. Visit the Cardo, and enjoy free time for lunch (on one's own) in the Jewish Quarter. Go way back in time to King David's Jerusalem in David's City and enjoy sloshing through  Hezekiah's water tunnel (strap-on water shoes and flashlights needed). Free evening in Jerusalem (restaurant suggestions, assistance with dinner reservations to be provided).
Overnight: Leonardo Plazal Hotel, Jerusalem 

Friday, 24 June - Digging Israel
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one At the "Dig for a Day" program at Beit Guvrin, have a hands-on experience of archeology as you uncover actual artifacts, taking part in an actual archeological dig; "cave crawl" also available for the adventurous. Visit colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market and the quaint Meah Shearim neighborhood as Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat. Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Shabbat dinner at the hotel - Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel or a synagogue of your choice (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided).
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem 

Shabbat, 25 June - Shabbat in Jerusalem
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues. Delicious Shabbat lunch at the Fuchsberg Center followed by a brief study session. Optional: Walk to the Israel Museum Havdalah with Rabbi Zimmerman - Free evening in Jerusalem. Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel Hotel, Jerusalem 

Sunday, 26 June - Those Who Made a Difference
Buffet breakfast at the hotel - Visit the new, state-of-the art Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 12 and up only)and the Children's Memorial at Yad Vashem; alternative interactive tour for younger children on site. At Har Herzl Military Cemetery encounter the "silver platter" on which the Jewish people have acquired - and continue to acquire - our state. Travel to the Dead Sea Region, pausing to gaze at Kumran, home of the mysterious ancient sect that authored the Dead Sea Scrolls. Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul "on site" Hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight: Isrotel Hotel, Dead Sea 

Monday, 27 June - Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Buffet breakfast at the hotel - Early departure for the ascent by cable car to Masada. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times Spend the remainder of the day at leisure at the hotel luxuriating at its spa and the amazing Dead Sea. Enjoy an early evening camel trek through the desert and a delicious dinner and Bedouin hospitality atKfar Hanokdim.
Overnight: Isrotel Hotel, Dead Sea 

Tuesday, 28 June - Layers of History  
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Travel north through the Jordan River Valley Take pride in Israel's soldiers at an elite fighting unit's IDF base, including lunch with the soldiers (if available; to be arranged through Israel Bonds; cost not included) Tour the remarkable excavation of the ancient Roman city of Beit Shean, including a magnificent Cardo, many residences, amphitheater, etc. Free evening on the Tiberias boardwalk.
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias 

Wednesday, 29 June - The Golan Heights
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Meet with Ethiopian immigrants at an absorption center in Ayelet Hashahar. Ascend the Golan Heights. Travel through the Golan Heights by jeep (Shvilim), off the beaten track, and stop to gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did. Taste the fruits of the region in the form of award-winning wines at the Golan Winery. Visit the charming new artist village at Moshav Aniam on the Golan Heights, followed by a delicious steak dinner there at Suzanne Bistro.
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias 

Thursday, 30 June - Galilee Tapestry
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Take a short hike to the waterfall at the Banias Nature Reserve. Visit the Naot Sandal factory and perhaps take home some of this classic Israeli footwear. Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat. Glide down the Jordan River in a kayak. Free evening in Tiberias.
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias 

Friday, 1 July - The Mediterranean Coast
Buffet breakfast at the hotel - Take the cable car to the mesmerizing ocean grottos of Rosh Hanikra, at Israel's border with Lebanon. Visit Acco, a city of three religions, including your choice of: a "cool and creepy" Crusader Fortress; the new exhibit about Acco's years of Muslim rule at the Turkish Baths; the British prison, where Jewish freedom fighters were incarcerated; the unique Tunisian Synagogue, which is completely decorated with mosaics depicting stories from Jewish history and traditional texts (number of stops depends on time available) Take in a breathtaking overview of Haifa's Bahai Gardens. Continue south to Tel Aviv for hotel check-in - Kabbalat Shabbat at the hotel or on the beach with Rabbi Zimmerman Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv 

Shabbat, 2 July - Shabbat Shalom
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Shabbat morning services at a nearby synagogue. Remainder of the day and evening at leisure to relax at the beach or explore Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa.
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv 

Sunday, 3 July - Foundations of the Modern State
Buffet breakfast at the hotel - At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion's moving declaration of the State Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute. Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the recently opened multi-media Palmach Museum (if available; age 5 and up only) Free time for final shopping, packing. Farewell dinner in Tel Aviv's Maganda Yemenite Quarter. Depart for the airport for overnight flight to Atlanta 

Monday, 4 July- A Temporary Departure Arrive in USA
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Itinerary is Subject to Change