Join Midway Jewish Center’s Family Bar and Bat Mitzvah Israel Tour With with Rabbi Rafi Rank August 19 – September 2, 2012

Tour Highlights:
EL-AL Air Line Newark NJ to Tel Aviv - Return - Non Stop Flights
Hotels: Mount Zion Jerusalem, Isrotel Dead Sea, Leonardo Plaza Eilat and Tel Aviv All Breakfasts, 2 Shabbat Dinners and Lunches, 6 Week-Day Dinners as per itinerary Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach Opening ceremony, Ancient Caesarea, Underground Roman water system, Alona Park, Israel’s Druze community, Dona Gracia House or Hula Valley Nature Reserve, Ophoria Multi-Media Experience, Neve Hana, Kayak Jordan River, Jeeps on the Golan Heights, Gamla, Golan Antiquities Museum, Talmudic Village, Swim in the Sachne, Israel’s border with Jordan, Moving Bar/Bat Mitzvah service, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels, Shopping in the Jewish Quarter, Plant a tree in Israeli soil, Archeological dig, Tel Azeka, Kabbalat Shabbat at Masorti Kotel, Shabbat afternoon walking tour, Havdalah with Rabbi Rank, Sound and Light Show, Tower of David Museum, Yad Vashem, Herzl Exhibit, Har Herzl Military Cemetery, Machaneh Yehuda, Masada, Amazing Dead Sea, Arava Desert, Eilat’s bustling boardwalk, Kibbutz Ketura’s Arava, Underwater Observatory, Swim with the dolphins, Day at leisure in Eilat or Optional* Day trip to Petra in Jordan, Mitzpeh Ramon, Air Force Museum or Volunteer at “Table to Table;” Na Laga’at, Palmach Museum, Independence Hall, Nahalat Binyamin, Musical community Kabbalat Shabbat at the Tel Aviv Port, Masorti Center in the historic Neve Tzedek, ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun!

  Itinerary

Sunday, 19 August – Israel Pilgrims Overnight flight to Israel

Monday, 20 August When You Come Into the Land(Deut. 26:1)
Morning arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, to be met and assisted by your ITC representative (today’s program depends on arrival time) Visit the wonderful excavations of ancient Caesarea, including an impressive amphitheatre and aqueduct and the newly-opened multi-media center, where ancient history comes to life. Continue to the Galilee region. Distribute schoolbags filled with school supplies to the children of Neve Hana at their summer center near Rosh Pina. Hhotel check-in, a Lake Kinneret or pool swim, and dinner. O/n: Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar Guest House

Tuesday, 21 August – In the Footsteps of Pioneers and Mystics
Walk through the Hula Valley Nature Reserve, through which millions of migratory birds pass and other species roam; experience the Ophoria Multi-Media Experience, connecting birds, water, and the Israeli landscape. Tour the courtyards, synagogues, and alleyways of the mystical city of Tzefat. Enjoy a tour and taste the fruits of the region at the lovely Dalton Winery. Glide down the Jordan River in a kayak. Free evening on the Tiberias promenade.: Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar Guest House

Wednesday, 22 August – 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. Please choose two of the following three: Learn about the history of the Golan Heights and the valiant story of Gamla, called the “Masada of the North,” at the lovely Golan Antiquities Museum. Travel back to the time of the Mishnah as you visit the excavated Talmudic Village in Katzrin. Swim in the wondrous natural pools at the Sachne. Travel south, along Israel’s border with Jordan, for the ascent to Jerusalem. Take in a breathtaking view of the Old City. Hotel check-in and dinner - Overnight: Har Zion Jerusalem

Thursday, 23 August – Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem
Take part in a moving Bar/Bat Mitzvah service at Robinson's Arch. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and the Davidson Center. In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall’s massive foundation stones. Free time for lunch (on one’s own) and shopping in the Jewish Quarter. Travel through many centuries as you tour the Jewish Quarter. Festive Bar/Bat Mitzvah dinner at Anna Ticho House. Overnight: Har Zion Jerusalem

Friday, 24 August – Digging Israel
Plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one. 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. Stop at Tel Azeka and stand on the cliffs where the Philistines camped during the battle between David and Goliath. Gaze down over the battleground and review (or act out) the biblical story on site. Return to Jerusalem to prepare for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat at Robinson’s Arch or a synagogue of your choice (suggestions, walking instructions to be distributed) Delicious Shabbat dinner at the hotel or the Fuchsberg Center.
Overnight: Har Zion Jerusalem

Shabbat, 25 August – Shabbat in Jerusalem
Parashat Shoftim. Shabbat morning services at a synagogue of your choice. Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel. Shabbat afternoon walking tour through fascinating Jerusalem neighborhoods. Havdalah with Rabbi Rank - Evening: Attend the fabulous new Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David Museum. Overnight: Har Zion Jerusalem

Sunday, 26 August – Those Who Sacrificed
Visit the new state-of-theart Memorial Museum (12 and over only), Children’s Memorial, and Valley of the Communities at Yad Vashem; special tour geared for younger children on site. Take in a special multi-media presentation about the life of the Father of Modern Zionism at the new Herzl Exhibit (if available) At Har Herzl Military Cemetery encounter the “silver platter” on which the Jewish people have acquired – and continue to acquire – our state. Visit colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market – am yisrael chai!. Depart forthe Dead Sea Region for hotel check-in and dinner Overnight: Isrotel, Dead Sea

Monday, 27 August – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
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. Return to our hotel to spend some time enjoying its pool, spa facilities, and the amazing Dead Sea. Afternoon departure to travel south into the Arava Desert. Continue south to Eilat for hotel check-in followed by a free evening on Eilat’s bustling boardwalk. Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Eilat

Tuesday, 28 August – The Arava Desert
Take part on a workshop at Kibbutz Ketura’s Arava Institute on the subject of kibbutz life and kibbutz dilemmas. Tour the Underwater Observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world, built into a coral reef. Evening: Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Red Sea. Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Eilat

Wednesday, 29 August – The Delights of Eilat or The Wonders of Petra:
Spend today at leisure sampling the delights of Eilat, including beautiful beaches, your hotel’s pool and spa facilities, water-skiing, paddle boats, wind-surfing, banana boats, snorkeling, 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) or 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 included (Petra excursion not included in the tour price) Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Eilat

Thursday, 30 August – Desert Trails
Travel north through the Paran Wilderness and the Ramon Crater to Mitzpeh Ramon. Stop to gaze into the other-worldly Ramon Crater from its northern lip; marvel at this unique geological structure and hear the story of its formation from your guide. Please choose one for the group: Visit Israel’s Air Force Museum near Beersheva to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force OR Volunteer at “Table to Table;” participate in the important mitzvah of leket as you harvest crops for the poor. Continue to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv for hotel check-in. Evening dinner theater: Enjoy dinner at Café Kapish, served by deaf waiters who will teach you sign language during your meal, followed by Na Laga’at, a unique play performed by actors who are both deaf and blind OR at Blackout, served by blind waiters who will teach you how to negotiate a completely dark world during your meal – as followed by Na Laga’at, a unique play performed by actors who are both deaf and blind Overnight: Leonardo Hotel, Tel Aviv

Friday, 31 August – Foundations of the Modern State
Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum. At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion’s moving declaration of the State; discuss whether it seems that the vision of Israel’s founding fathers – articulated in the Scroll of Independence – have come to fruition. Browse through unique craft items in Nahalat Binyamin’s colorful, open-air market, and see modern Tel Aviv in action. Take part in a lively, musical community Kabbalat Shabbat at the Tel Aviv Port along with hundreds of Israelis. Delicious Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Leonardo Hotel, Tel Aviv

Shabbat, 1 September – Shabbat in Tel Aviv
Parashat Ki Tetzei Shabbat morning services at the new Masorti Center in the historic Neve Tzedek neighborhood. Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure to relax on the beach or explore Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa on one’s own (latter is walking distance from our hotel) Farewell dinner at Maganda (Yemenite) Overnight: Renaissance Hotel, Tel Aviv

Sunday, 2 September – A Temporary Departure
Depart for Ben Gurion Airport for flight to JFK

Itinerary subject to change