Join Mosaic Law Congregations Israel Family Adventure with Rabbi Reuven Taff June 26- July 7, 2011

Tour Highlights:
American Air SMF- LAX - EL-AL LAX - Tel Aviv - and Return
Dan Panorama Hotel Haifa, Kibbutz Guest House Tiberias, King Solomon Hotel Jerusalem, Isrotel Dead Sea
All Breakfasts, 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
Opening ceremony and orientation, Coastal road to Haifa, Ma'apilim Boat exhibit at Atlit, Kibbutz Menara on the Lebanese border, Upper Galilee, Hear the moving stories that took place there before the State was born, Optional rappelling, iking or riding on a two-person bobsled back down the mountain, Kibbutz Kfar Blum, Option of rafting or kayaking down the down the Jordan River, Golan trails by jeep, Valley of Tears Kahalani battle, Talmudic Village, Mystical city of Tzefat, Old City of Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Biblical Zoo, Har Herzl Military Cemetery, Herzl Exhibit, Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Rabbi Taff will take us on a tour of three synagogues, Shabbat afternoon walking tour, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels, Shopping in the Cardo, Yad Sarah, Knesset, Archeological Dig, Kibbutz Yad Mordecai, Partnership 2000, Overlook of Gaza at Moshav Netiv Asarah, Nokdim camel ranch, Walking up Massada or take Cable Car, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Dead Sea, Ayalon Institute, Old City of Jaffa , Independence Hall ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun! 

  Itinerary

Sunday, 26 June - USA Departure

Monday, 27 June - When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, to be met and assisted by your ITC representative and our Tour Guide. We will bus directly on the coastal road to Haifa (bringing into the hotel only an overnight bag with a change of clothes, toiletries, etc.and leaving everything else on the bus).
Overnight and welcome dinner: Dan Panorama Hotel, Haifa

Tuesday, 28 June - Layers of History
After breakfast we board the bus for the Ma'apilim Boat exhibit at Atlit. It's very new - a really terrific multi-media presentation on an actual boat (similar to the Exodus) that was brought to Israel after being found in the Baltic Sea and then brought to Atlit on a 36-wheel truck! The boat was refitted to look like it did at the time of Aliyah Bet, replete with life-sized dolls on the crowded bunks. Then we will head to the Galilee Panhandle to Kibbutz Menara. Menara is a Kibbutz up in northern Israel, very close to the Lebanese border, with some breathtaking views of Upper Galilee, Lebanon, and Syria. To get to the high end of the cliff, we will take a cable car all the way to the top and hear the moving stories that took place there before the State was born. Optional (at participants' expense) - enjoy rappelling, biking, or riding on a two-person bobsled back down the mountain. We then will then bus to Kibbutz Kfar Blum, where we will have the option of rafting or kayaking down the Jordan River.
Overnight and dinner: Kibbutz Hagoshrim or Ginnosar Guest House, Tiberias

Wednesday, 29 June - The Golan Heights
Travel through Golan trails by jeep, off the beaten track, and stop to gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did At Kibbutz El Rom. See original footage from the brave Valley of Tears Kahalani battle, which secured the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War. Travel back in time as you visit the excavated Talmudic Village in Katzrin. Enjoy a delicious lakeshore dinner at Decks in Tiberias.
Overnight: Kibbutz Hagoshrim or Ginnosar Guest House, Tiberias

Thursday, 30 June - The Jordan River Valley
Tour the synagogues and courtyards of the mystical city of Tzefat. We will enter a cave and experience through mystical story-telling and music what life in this ancient city was like. We will then take some time for browsing and shopping in the many shops and galleries. We will then travel to Jerusalem on Israel's newest superhighway, "Route 6" where we will ascend Jerusalem. Take in a breathtaking view of the Old City of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus. Hotel check-in followed by a free evening in Jerusalem.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, 1 July - Those Who Sacrificed
Visit the new Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 12 and up only) and the Children's Memorial at Yad Vashem. Children up to age 12 will join Rabbi Taff at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, where we will enjoy meeting the animals that roamed this land during Bible times. We then bus to Har Herzl Military Cemetery where we will encounter the "silver platter" on which the Jewish people have acquired and continue to acquire our state. At the multi-media Herzl Exhibit, the Father of Modern Zionism and his untiring quest are "brought to life" before your eyes" (if available). Visit colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market - am yisrael hai! Return to our hotel and prepare for Shabbat. We will then Bus to the Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat Services and walk back to our hotel for a delicious Shabbat dinner.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 2 July - Shabbat in Jerusalem
Parashat Chukat. Rabbi Taff will take us on a tour of three synagogues, the Italian Synagogue, the Great Synagogue and lastly the Center for Conservative Judaism. Shabbat lunch at the hotel. Shabbat afternoon walking tour of fascinating neighborhoods near the hotel led by our guide. Havdallah with Rabbi Taff. Free evening in Jerusalem.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 3 July - Jerusalem of Old
Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and take a virtual "tour" of the ancient Temple Mount at 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 Cardo. We will then visit Yad Sarah, a facility that provides free medical supplies for those in need; assist volunteers there in constructing walkers for patients. We will then bus to the Kenesset for a group photo in front of the Menorah which was a gift from the Rothschild Family. Free evening in Jerusalem.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 4 July - Partners in Israel
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. Travel to Kibbutz Yad Mordecai for Lunch hosted by our Partnership 2000 Community followed by a multi-media presentation about the valiant War of Independence battle fought there to secure Tel Aviv against Egyptian invasion. Overlook of Gaza at Moshav Netiv Asarah. Proceed to Nokdim camel ranch for a desert camel trek and Bedouin dinner and hospitality. Continue to the Dead Sea Region for hotel check-in.
Overnight: Isrotel, Dead Sea

Tuesday, 5 July - Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
4:30 am departure from hotel for those who will be walking up Massada via the snake path. 7:15am departure for those who will be the ascending by cable car to Masada. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times. Those who climb Massada to see the sun rise, will wait on the mountain until the rest of the group arrives via the first cable car, (departing at 8am). When the rest of the group arrives to the top at 8:05am, our guide will re-tell the story of Massada as we walk through the ruins of this ancient fortress. We will then descend Masada by cable car and proceed to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve where the amazing waterfalls will cool us off. Return to the hotel to enjoy swimming in the dead sea, the hotel swimming pools and take advantage of the spa. Dinner included at the hotel.
Overnight: Isrotel, Dead Sea

Wednesday, 6 July - Foundations of the Modern State
Depart hotel early for our drive and tour of Tel Aviv. Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute. We then bus to the Old City of Jaffa where we will explore the alleyways, art galleries and market stalls of this city, once the gateway to Eretz Yisrael. We then will conclude our tour at Independence Hall where we will relive Ben Gurion's moving declaration of the State. Given what we've seen of Israel during this trip, we will try to answer this question: "To what extent has the vision of the signers of Megillat Ha'atzmaut been fulfilled?" Farewell dinner at Maganda Restaurant.
Depart for the airport.

Thursday, 7 July - A Temporary Departure
Return to the USA. Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Taff and ITC Tours!

*Itinerary Subject to Change