Join Temple Beth David Israel Tour with Rabbi Michael Singer June 11 – 22, 2012

Tour Highlights:
Round trip Air FLL to Tel Aviv and return
Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem, Lavi Guest House-Hod Wing, Leonardo Negev Beer Sheva
All Breakfasts, 4 Week-Day Dinners, Shabbat Dinner and Lunch as per itinerary
Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach, Welcome Orientation, Beersheva, Tel Sheva, Jo Alon Museum of Bedouin Culture, Mitzpeh Ramon, Ein Avdat Oasis, Ben Gurion’s Hut in Sde Boker, VIP tour of Beersheva, Visit Masorti synagogue, Eshel Avraham in Beersheva, and speak with Rabbi Mauricio Balter, Dig for a Day at Beit Guvrin, Latrun IDF Armored Corps center, Haas Promenade, Kotel Tunnels, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, Nature and ecology workshop at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, Second Temple Model of Jerusalem, Kabbalat Shabbat in Jerusalem, Shabbat walking Tour in the Old City, Children’s activities with youth counselor, Havdalah with Rabbi Singer, Masada , Amazing Dead Sea, P’til Tekhelet, Moving shaharit service at Robinson’s Arch, Read Torah at the “Masorti Kotel”, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Hands-on jewelry workshop, David’s City, Hezekiah’s water tunnel, Kol HaOt workshop exploring Jewish life through art with Rabbi Matt Berkowitz, Learn about Krav-Maga, Israel’s border with Jordan, Tour Kibbutz Lavi, Golan Heights, Chocolate factory at Kibbutz Ein Zivan, Golan Winery, Visit Rabbi Singer’s family, Kayak the Jordan River, Plant a tree in Israeli soil, Ancient synagogue of Hammat in Tiberias, Tzefat Kabbalah Center, Jewish handicrafts program, ITC source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun !

  Itinerary

Monday, 11 June ? Depart USA
Depart on overnight flight to Israel

Tuesday, 12 June ? When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Early morning arrival (ideally) in Israel, to be met and assisted at Ben Gurion Airport by your ITC representative (today?s program depends on arrival time) Proceed directly to Beersheva, area of our forefather, Abraham?s, wanderings in Israel, at the dawn of Jewish history. At Tel Sheva, the best example of what we imagine a Biblical well to be, review (or act out) biblical courtship scenes that took place at wells. Please choose one for the group: Visit a center for traditional Bedouin weaving done in women?s homes in the Negev village of Lakiya. Learn about Bedouin culture and see their traditional hand-weaving process demonstrated OR Visit the fascinating Jo Alon Museum of Bedouin Culture near Lahav for an in-depth introduction to this desert culture and lunch in a Bedouin tent. Hotel check-in and welcome dinner. O/N Leonardo Negev Hotel, Beersheva

Wednesday, 13 June ? Desert Dreamers
Travel to Mitzpeh Ramon to explore the other-worldly Ramon Crater and marvel at this unique work of nature. Take part in a wonderful hands-on workshop, featuring biblical sources, about mud brick construction in ancient Israel and help build a mud brick structure. Walk through the beautiful nature reserve at the Ein Avdat oasis. Visit Ben Gurion?s Hut in Sde Boker for personal insight into the life of this outstanding Zionist leader and Israel?s first prime minister. Possible VIP tour of Beersheva with the Goodman?s, including meeting with Beersheva?s mayor. Visit Masorti synagogue, Eshel Avraham in Beersheva, and speak with Rabbi Mauricio Balter about the many and varied activities it offers to the local community. Catered dinner at Eshel Avraham, to be joined by Rabbi Balter and some synagogue families. O/N: Leonardo Negev Hotel, Beersheva

Thursday, 14 June ? Digging Israel
At the ?Dig for a Day? program at Beit Guvrin, have a hands-on experience of archeology as you uncover actual artifacts while taking part in an ongoing archeological dig; ?cave crawl? also available for the adventurous. Tour the Latrun IDF Armored Corps center; review (or climb on) the tanks and learn about battles fought there for the road to Jerusalem. Ascent to Jerusalem. Take in a breathtaking view of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade, standing where Abraham stood as he contemplated bringing his son, Isaac, to the alter. Hotel check-in. Group dinner at Little Italy. Evening: In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the massive foundation stones of the Western Wall. O/N: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, 15 June ? Making a Difference
Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 10 and up only), the Children?s Memorial, and the Valley of the Communities at Yad Vashem. Alternative for younger children: Visit the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo OR Enjoy a nature and ecology workshop at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. Visit the newly renovated Israel Museum, including the Shrine of the Book; the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem; Judaica, art, and archeology exhibits; children?s wing. Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat a choice of neighborhood synagogues (suggestions, directions to be provided) Shabbat dinner at the hotel Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 16 June?Shabbat in Jerusalem.
Parashat Shelah Shabbat services at a choice of synagogues Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel Shabbat walking tour through the four colorful quarters of the Old City; children?s activities at the hotel with youth counselor. Havdalah with Rabbi Singer, followed by a free evening in Jerusalem (shops will be open; optional music or dance performance, based on availability ; advance reservations required; Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 17 June ? Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Travel through the Judean Desert to 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. Stop for a dip in the amazing Dead Sea. At P?til Tekhelet, take part in a workshop, based on traditional Jewish sources, to learn all about tekhelet and even make some of this special blue dye. Free evening in Jerusalem (optional music or dance performance, based on availability; advance reservations required; not included in the tour price) Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 18 June ? Jerusalem of Old
Take part in a moving shaharit service at Robinson?s Arch; read Torah at the ?Masorti Kotel?. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and learn more about the ancient Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. Free time for lunch (on one?s own) Hands-on jewelry workshop at the Silver Charm jewelry store in the Cardo (arranged by Rabbi Singer) 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 (optional music or dance performance, based on availability; advance reservations required; not included in the tour price) Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, 19 June ? Visual and Martial Arts
Take part in a Kol HaOt workshop exploring Jewish life through art with Rabbi Matt Berkowitz. Learn some moves in Krav-Maga, Israel?s home-grown martial art, developed by the Israeli army. Travel north through the Jordan River Valley, along Israel?s border with Jordan. Tour Kibbutz Lavi with one of its members and learn about the challenges of establishing and maintaining a religious kibbutz in the Galilee. Dinner at the hotel. O/N: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, North

Wednesday, 20 June ? The Golan Heights
Ascend the Golan Heights and gaze down over the Galilee, as the Syrians once did; enter former Syrian bunkers and learn how master spy, Eli Cohen, revealed their secrets. Enjoy a tour, tasting, and a chocolate-making workshop at the delicious chocolate factory at Kibbutz Ein Zivan, run by immigrants from Argentina Enjoy a VIP tour and wine-tasting at the Golan Winery Visit with Rabbi Singer?s family. Glide down the Jordan River in a kayak or raft (age 5 or over) Free time for dinner (on one?s own) on the Tiberias Promenade. Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, North

Thursday, 21 June ? In the Footsteps of Sages and Mystics
Leave a piece of yourselves in the Galilee as you plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one. Visit the ancient synagogue of Hammat in Tiberias, including a fascinating mosaic floor. Enjoy a tour of the synagogues and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat and a visit to the Tzefat Kabbalah Center Take part in a special, hands-on Jewish handicrafts program (choice of weaving, beadwork, paper-making, pottery; crafts activities not yet included in tour price) at the Canaan Gallery in Tzefat?s artist colony. Meet with a Tzefat kabbalistic artist in his gallery to explore Jewish mysticism through the prism of his creations AND/OR See a glass-blowing demonstration by Sheva Chaya in her gallery. Farewell dinner at Gan Eden Restaurant Depart for the airport

Friday, 22 June ? A Temporary Departure
Morning arrival in USA - Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Singer and ITC Tours!

Itinerary Subject to Change