Congregation Beth Shalom's Israel Journey With Rabbi Jonathan Case May 29 – June 10, 2012 Optional - Eilat/Petra Extension: June 9 – 13 2012

Tour Highlights:
CLE or CAE - Tel Aviv - CLE or CAE - Round trip Flights
Dan Panorama Jerusalem, Palm Beach Acco, Dan Panorama Tel Aviv
All Breakfasts, 6 Week-Day Dinners, 2 Shabbat Dinners and 2 Shabbat Lunches as per itinerary Touring with one of Israel’s Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach Opening ceremony at a JNF forest: Put down roots as you plant a tree in Israeli soil, Haas Promenade, Tomb of King David, Holocaust Memorial, Old City of Jerusalem, Kotel (Western Wall) Lag B’Omer bonfires, Yad Vashem, Herzl Exhibit, Military Cemetery, Machaneh Yehuda, The Night Spectacular, Tower of David Museum, Conservative Yeshiva, Kotel Tunnels, Southern Wall Excavations, Masorti Kotel, Davidson Center, Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat walking tour to the Tower of David Museum, Jerusalem’s Old City, Havdalah with Rabbi Case, Dead Sea Region, Masada, Masorti synagogue, Ancient Caesaria, Beit Shearim, ITC’s interactive discussion guide, Tzedaka project, Rosh Hanikra, Israel’s border with Lebanon, Historic Acco, British prison, Underground Crusader Fortress, Tunisian Synagogue, Port city of Haifa, Bahai Gardens, Mystical city of Tzefat, Kabbalistic artist, Glass-blowing demonstration, Atlit, Israel’s Druze community, Ayalon Institute, Tel Aviv, Café Kappish, Optional Na Laga’at, Independence Hall, Palmach Museum, Nahalat Binyamin, Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach with Rabbi Case, Shabbat walking tour in Old Jaffa, ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun !

  Itinerary

Tuesday, 29 May – Israel Bound! Overnight flight to Israel

Wednesday, 30 May – When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Morning arrival in Israel, to be met and assisted your ITC representative at Ben Gurion Airport (today’s program depends on arrival time) Opening ceremony at a JNF forest: Put down roots immediately as you plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one; share something about the person in whose honor/memory you are planting with the rest of the group. Gaze upon the Old City of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade, standing where Abraham stood at the dawn of Jewish history; take in the breathtaking view. Visit the tomb of King David, once the best vantage point for Jews wishing to catch a glimpse of the Temple Mount; proceed to the nearby Holocaust Memorial. Enter the Old City of Jerusalem and stop for prayer and reflection at the Kotel (Western Wall) Hotel check-in and welcome dinner. Walk through streets and parks near your hotel to see some of the many Lag B’Omer bonfires kindled by Jerusalem children and teens Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Thursday, 31 May – Those Who Sacrificed - Lag B’Omer
Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem. Take in a special multi-media presentation about the life, dreams, and accomplishments of the Father of Modern Zionism at the Herzl Exhibit . Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery. Visit colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market – am yisrael chai! Evening: Attend The Night Spectacular, the fabulous new sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum, followed by free time for dinner (on one’s own) at the new Mamilla Mall O/N: Dan Panorama Hotel, JLM

Friday, 1 June – Jerusalem of Old
Take part in an inspiring text study session at the Conservative Yeshiva on the subject of Jerusalem – (with excellent teacher to develop a thirst for learning and a connection with Center) In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the massive foundation stones of the Western Wall. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and visit Robinson’s Arch, the “Masorti Kotel”; learn more about the ancient Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. Kabbalat Shabbat at Robinson’s Arch. Shabbat dinner at the hotel (private room) Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem Shabbat, 2 June – Shabbat in Jerusalem - Parashat Emor - Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues. Shabbat lunch at the hotel. Shabbat walking tour to the Tower of David Museum for a wonderful presentation of the history of the city and a rooftop overview; continue the walk through the colorful quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City. Havdalah with Rabbi Case. Free evening in Jerusalem. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 3 June – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Depart for the Dead Sea Region - Ascend Masada by cable car; tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times. Spend some time today at a Dead Sea resort hotel, enjoying its spa facilities, lunch, and the amazing Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem for a free evening OR Evening program with a Jerusalem Masorti synagogue. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 4 June – Layers of History
Depart for Israel’s north See ancient history come to life at the multi-media center against the backdrop of ancient Caesaria. Tour Caesaria’s magnificent excavations, including the hippodrome, an impressive amphitheatre, and the aqueduct Explore the fascinating sarcophagi of Beit Shearim, where sages from the Mishna were once buried; study Mishna in small groups by candlelight in the ancient catacombs using ITC’s interactive discussion guide. Hotel check-in and dinner (indoor pool and health club at Acco hotel open daily 6 am until 10 pm) Overnight: Palm Beach Hotel, Acco,

Tuesday, 5 June – Northern Communities
Take part in a tzedaka project –e.g., in the northern border town of Shlomi with Arnie Draiman (“Mitzvah Heroes”) Take the cable car to the mesmerizing ocean grottos of Rosh Hanikra, at Israel’s border with Lebanon. Visit historic Acco, a city of three religions, including your choice of: the British prison, where Jewish freedom fighters were incarcerated; an enormous underground Crusader Fortress; the unique Tunisian Synagogue, which is completely decorated with mosaics depicting stories from Jewish history and traditional texts Dinner at the hotel Overnight: Palm Beach Hotel, Acco Hotel, Haifa

Wednesday, 6 June – In the Footsteps of Mystics
Take a panoramic bus tour of the sparkling port city of Haifa, including views of the spectacular Bahai Gardens; learn a bit about the Bahai religion. In-depth tour the synagogues; courtyards; Ari’s mikveh; and cemetery, where scholars, kabbalists, and martyrs are buried in the mystical city of Tzefat, including free time for shopping. Meet with a Tzefat kabbalistic artist in his gallery to explore Jewish mysticism through the prism of his creations. Enjoy a glass-blowing demonstration with a Tzefat artist in her studio; hear how she connects the spiritual to the physical through her art. Free evening Overnight: Palm Beach Hotel, Acco Hotel,

Thursday, 7 June – Ascent to Jerusalem
In Atlit walk through the detention camp that held Holocaust refugees denied entry into Eretz Yisrael by the British; see the incredible, newly arrived “illegal immigration” boat with its wonderful a/v presentation about heroic pre-State immigration. Meet members of Israel’s Druze community in Dalyat al Karmel, shop in their colorful market, hear about their fierce patriotism, and enjoy their warm hospitality. Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute. Proceed to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv. Evening: Enjoy a dairy dinner at Café Kappish, served by deaf waiters who will teach you sign language during your meal. Optional: Stay at Café Kappish for Na Laga’at, a unique play performed by actors who are both deaf and blind (not yet included in tour price; tickets must be reserved in advance) Overnight: Dan Panorama, Tel Aviv

Friday, 8 June – Foundations of the Modern State
At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion’s moving declaration of the State. Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum. Browse through unique craft items in Nahalat Binyamin’s colorful, open-air market, and see modern Tel Aviv in action. Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach with Rabbi Case. Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Shabbat, 9 June – Shabbat in Tel Aviv - Parashat Behar-Behukotai
Shabbat services with Kehillat Sinai, Tel Aviv’s leading Masorti congregation. Shabbat lunch at the hotel. Shabbat walking tour in Old Jaffa, conducted by Beit Daniel: “Tolerance,” which is led by both Arab and Jewish guides working together OR “Bread and Butter,” which focuses on multiculturalism through the role of bread in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (please choose one for the group) Havdalah with Rabbi Case. Farewell dinner at Maganda Yemenite restaurant (departure time permitting) or at the hotel. Depart for the airport

Sunday, 10 June – A Temporary Departure - Arrive in USA
Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Case and ITC Tours! Eilat/Petra Extension: 9 – 13 June 2012 Saturday night, 19 May – Remaining in Israel! Overnight: Dan Panorama or Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv Sunday, 10 June – Sun and Fun -Transfer to Tel Aviv for morning flight to Eilat. Spend the day at leisure sampling the delights of Eilat, including beautiful beaches, your hotel’s pool and spa facilities, water-skiing, paddle boats, windsurfing, banana boats, snorkeling, a swim with the dolphins, or scuba- and “snuba”-diving to get up close and personal with Red Sea coral and fish (extra charges apply for some of these activities) Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Eilat. Monday, 11 June – The Wonders of Petra. Early departure for Petra to explore the amazing decorated red rock formations of the ancient Nabateans. Enter Jordan at the Arava crossing and travel to the Red Rose City by bus (approx. 2.5 hours). Tour its treasury, the Roman theatre, and the impressive caves and rock formations of this Nabatean City; buffet lunch is part of the tour Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Eilat. Tuesday, 12 June – The Red Sea. Board a luxury touring yacht at the Eilat marina for a leisurely cruise and lunch on the Red Sea.

Itinerary Subject to Change