Join Rabbi Richard and Linda Spiegel on Temple Etz Chaim's Israel Multi Generational Family Tour July 5 - 18, 2012

Tour Package Includes:
Round trip Air LAX to Tel Aviv and return
Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem, Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv, Leonardo Plaza Hotel Tiberias
All Breakfasts, 4 Week-Day Dinners, 2 Shabbat Dinners and 2 Lunches as per itinerary. Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Air Conditioned Deluxe Motor Coach, Welcome Orientation, Sheheheyanu prayer, Kabbalat Shabbat overlooking the Kotel, Optional Shabbat services at Kehillat Moreshet Yisrael with Rabbi Spiegel, Shabbat walking tour, Old City, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Latrun IDF Armored Corps, Archeological dig, Cave crawl, Ayalon Institute, Weitzman Institute, Na Laga’at, Volunteer at “Table to Table;” Independence Hall, Palmach Museum, Rabin Center, Mediterranean swim, Ancient Casesaria, Alona Park, Israel’s Druze community, Rosh Hanikra, Ancient city of Tzippori, Mystical city of Tzefat, Tzefat kabbalistic Artist, Kayak on the Jordan River, Golan Heights, Har Bental, Beit Alpha, The Night Spectacular, Tower of David Museum, Masada, Amazing Dead Sea, Spa Time, Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel, Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, Model of Jerusalem; Billy Rose Sculpture Garden, Lifeline for the Old, Yad Vashem, Biblical Zoo, Har Herzl Military, Machaneh Yehuda, Moving Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony, Masorti Kotel, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels, Jewish Quarter, Knesset Menorah, Time for shopping, ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun !

  Itinerary

Thursday, July 5 - Israel Pilgrims Depart on overnight flight to Israel

Friday, July 6 - When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Welcome to Israel! Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport to be met and assisted by your ITC representative Hotel check-in to prepare for Shabbat Sheheheyanu prayer overlooking the Kotel, followed by Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Kotel (bus both ways) Delicious Shabbat dinner at the hotel (private room) Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, July 7 - Shabbat in Jerusalem
Parashat Balak Optional Shabbat services at Kehillat Moreshet Yisrael with Rabbi Spiegel. Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel. Shabbat afternoon walking tour into the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Free evening in Jerusalem Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, July 8 - Digging Israel (Please choose spa treatments for next Friday, if desired)
At the Latrun IDF Armored Corps center, review (or climb on) the tanks and learn about battles fought there for the road to Jerusalem. 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 actual archeological dig; "cave crawl" also available for the adventurous. Group may split: Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute OR At Weitzman Institute in Rehovot learn of the impressive accomplishments of Israel's top science university. Hotel check-in. Evening: Enjoy dinner at Café Kapish in Old Jaffa, served by deaf waiters who will teach you sign language during your meal, followed by Na Laga'at, unique play performed by actors who are both deaf and blind Overnight: Carlton Hotel,Tel Aviv(ocean view)

Monday, July 9 - Foundations of the Modern State
Volunteer at "Table to Table;" participate in the important mitzvah of leket as you harvest crops for the poor At Independence Hall relive Ben Gurion's moving declaration of the State. Group may split: Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the recently opened multi-media Palmach Museum OR Visit the new Rabin Center for a high-tech presentation on the history of the State of Israel and the life of this special leader (latter for repeat Israel travelers) Enjoy some time for a Mediterranean swim. Free evening in Tel Aviv. Overnight Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Tuesday, July 10 - The Mediterranean Coast
Tour the magnificent excavations of ancient Casesaria, including an impressive amphitheatre, hippodrome, and aqueduct. Walk through the fascinating, underground Roman water system that once fed ancient Caesaria at Alona Park near Binyamina (strap-on water shoes, small towel needed) OR Meet members of Israel's Druze community in Issufia, hear about their fierce patriotism and enjoy their warm hospitality for lunch (vegetarian). Take the cable car to the mesmerizing ocean grottos of Rosh Hanikra, at Israel's border with Lebanon. Hotel check-in. Free evening on the Tiberias promenade. Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.

Wednesday, July 11 - In the Footsteps of Mystics and Pioneers.
Explore the magnificently excavated ancient city of Tzippori, home to Rabbi Judah the Prince Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat. Meet with Tzefat kabbalistic artist, Avraham Lowenthal, in his gallery to explore Jewish mysticism through the prism of his creations. Return to the hotel for a swim Enjoy a Kinneret boat ride and dinner at Decks Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias

Thursday, July 12 - Kayaks on the Jordan River
Golan overview, Har Bental. Travel south, Visit Beit Alpha an ancient Byzantine-era synagogue at the foot of Mount Gilboa. Arrive in Jerusalem Hotel check-in - Free time for dinner (on one's own) Evening: Attend The Night Spectacular, the fabulous new sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum. Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, July 13 - Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Early departure for the Dead Sea Region. choice of Dead Sea Hotel Spa for the day or Ascend Masada by cable car. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times. Proceed to the Hod Hotel for lunch, spa time and a dip in the amazing Dead Sea. Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel (with bus both ways) Delicious Shabbat dinner at the hotel Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, July 14 - Shabbat in the Holy City
Parashat Mattot Massei. Optional Shabbat services at a synagogue of your choice (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided) Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel Afternoon at the newly renovated Israel Museum, tour the new Shrine of the Book and Second Temple Model of Jerusalem; children's wing and Billy Rose Sculpture Garden also available Free evening in Jerusalem Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, July 15 - Those Who Sacrificed
Visit "Lifeline for the Old," a moving crafts workshop that employs Jerusalem elderly. Enjoy shopping for unique handcrafted Judaica items in their store. Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Children's Memorial at Yad Vashem (age 12 and up only) alternative: Bibical Zoo for children. At Har Herzl Military Cemetery encounter the "silver platter" on which the Jewish people have acquired - and continue to acquire - our state. Walk through colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market - am yisrael chai!. Free evening in Jerusalem Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, July 16 - Jerusalem of Old
Take part in a moving Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony at Masorti Kotel "Robinson's Arch", the "Conservative Kotel". Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and learn more about the ancient Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall's massive foundation stones. Travel through many centuries in a guided visit to the Jewish Quarter Dinner at Eretz Bereshit Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, July 17 - Modern Jerusalem
Tower of David Museum. Stop to see the Knesset Menorah and recall the many stories from Jewish history that are sculpted on it. Free afternoon for final shopping and packing. Early evening hotel check-out. Farewell banquet at Olive and Fish Restaurant. Depart for the airport.

Wednesday, July 18 - A Temporary Departure
Return to the USA - Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Spiegel ITC Tours!

*Itinerary is Subject to Change