Congregation Torat El?s Israel Adventure Led by Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun June 27 - July 8, 2012

Tour Highlights:
EL-AL, EWR - Tel Aviv - EWR - Non Stop Flights
Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem, Kibbutz Ein Gev, Dan Panorama Hotel Tel Aviv, All Breakfasts, 2 Shabbat Dinners and Lunches, 5 Week-Day Dinners as per itinerary Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach Our tour begins with a welcome orientation, Old City of Jerusalem, Robinson’s Arch the “Masorti Kotel”, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel and Tunnels, Jewish Quarter, Afternoon Swim, Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Masorti Kotel, Shabbat afternoon walking tour, Havdalah with Rabbi, “out on the town” in Jerusalem, Masada, Ein Gedi nature reserve, Camel ride, Avraham Avinu’s Tent, Yad Vashem or Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, Archeological Dig, The Night Spectacular, Tower of David Museum, Lifeline for the Old, Arab-Jewish coexistence Seminar, Tzippori, Jeeps on the Golan Heights, Har Bental, Chocolate factory, Golan Winery, Kayak on the Jordan River, Lake Kinneret boat ride, Mystical city of Tzefat, Ayalon Institute, Rabin Square, Independence Hall, Nachalat Binyamin, Palmach Museum, Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach, Masorti Center, Neve Tzedek

ITC Full Color Israel source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun !

  Itinerary

Wednesday, 27 June – Israel Pilgrims
Overnight flight to Israel

Thursday, 28 June – When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Early morning arrival (7:00 am) at Ben Gurion Airport to be met and assisted at Ben Gurion Airport by your ITC representative. Ascent to Jerusalem; shehecheyanu with a breathtaking overview of Jerusalem’s Old City, where we begin our journey. Enter the Old City of Jerusalem. Visit Robinson’s Arch, the “Masorti Kotel”. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and learn more about the ancient Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. Proceed to the traditional Kotel. Hotel check-in, rest. Welcome dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, 29 June – Jerusalem of Old
In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall’s massive foundation stones. Free time for lunch (on one’s own) in the Jewish Quarter. Travel through many centuries as you tour the Jewish Quarter. Remain in the Jewish Quarter to shop OR Return to the hotel for a swim and Shabbat preparation. Attend Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Masorti Kotel Enjoy a delicious Shabbat dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 30 June – Shabbat in Jerusalem
Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided) Delicious Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel. shabbat rest. Shabbat afternoon walking tour. Havdalah. Free evening “out on the town” in Jerusalem. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 1 July – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Ascend by cable car to the mountain fortress of Masada for a tour of this amazing excavation and a discussion of the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population. Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi nature reserve and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul that took place there “on site”. Stop for a dip in the amazing Dead Sea Take a short camel ride and enjoy a delicious dinner in “Avraham Avinu’s Tent” at Eretz Beresheet
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 2 July – Those Who Made a Difference
Visit the newly-opened state-of-the art Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 12 and over), Children’s Memorial, and Valley of the Communities at Yad Vashem. Alternative for younger children: At the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, enjoy meeting the animals that roamed this land during Bible times (accompanied by adult/s;) At Archeological Seminar’s “Dig for a Day” program at Beit Guvrin, uncover actual artifacts as you participate in an ongoing archeological dig. “Cave crawl” also available for the adventurous OR Optional Free Jerusalem afternoon (shopping; or arrange in advance for those who want to go to Israel Museum, Knesset, Machane Yehuda open-air market) Evening: Attend The Night Spectacular, the fabulous new sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum, with free time for dinner (on one’s own)
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, 3 July – Co-Existence Then and Now
Visit Lifeline for the Old, a moving crafts workshop that employs Jerusalem elderly; enjoy shopping for unique handcrafted Judaica items in their store. Depart for Israel’s north

Participate in a fascinating seminar on Arab-Jewish coexistence
at the Givat Haviva Seminar Center near Hadera, including a visit to an Israeli Arab village. Explore the magnificently excavated ancient city of Tzippori, home to Rabbi Judah the Prince; discover ancient beauty and evidence of a community in which Jews and Romans coexisted peacefully. Check-in and dinner at the hotel
Overnight at Kibbutz Ein Gev

Wednesday, 4 July – 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. Ascend to the peak of Har Bental, where you can enter army bunkers and take in a panoramic view at the crossroads of three countries; discuss the significance of the Golan Height in today’s geo-political reality. Please choose one for the group: Enjoy a tour, tasting, and a chocolatemaking workshop at the delicious chocolate factory at Kibbutz Ein Zivan, run by immigrants from Argentina OR Take a tour and taste the fruits of the region in the form of award-winning wines at the Golan Winery. Glide down Jordan River tributaries in a kayak. Enjoy a Lake Kinneret boat ride, followed by a terrific lakeshore dinner at Decks (steak)
Overnight: Kibbutz Ein Gev

Thursday, 5 July – Mountain Tops and Mysticism
Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat. Travel south to Israel’s center Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute. Continue to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv. At Rabin Square discuss this great Israeli leader and some of the pressing issues facing Israel today
Free evening in Tel Aviv O/N: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Friday, 6 July – Foundations of the Modern State
17 Tammuz - At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion’s moving declaration of the State. Shop for unique craft items in Nachalat Binyamin’s colorful, open-air market; and see modern Tel Aviv in action. Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum (age 5 and up only) Return to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach Shabbat dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Shabbat, 7 July – Shabbat Shalom - Parashat Balak
Shabbat services at the new Masorti Center in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood; meet with a young sabra member to hear about the next generation of Masorti Jews Shabbat lunch at the hotel Optional Shabbat walking tour in Tel Aviv Farewell seudah shlisheet at the hotel Havdalah. Late check-out from the hotel Depart for the Ben Gurion Airport for return to the USA

Sunday, 8 July – A Temporary Departure
Arrive in USA - Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Schonbrun! and ITC Tours Early morning return to Newark Airport

SHALOM UL’HITRA’OT!!!

 

Itinerary Subject to Change