Join Rabbi Mark Hyman on Congregation Tikvat Jacobs Israel Adventure Tour July 15 - 25, 2011

Tour Package Includes:
Roundtrip Air - LAX - Tel Aviv- LAX - 11 Nights Hotels including late check out.
King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem - Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Tiberias.
11 Days of touring with one of Israel's best tour guides - Super Deluxe Air Conditioned Motor Coach.
Daily buffet breakfasts, 4 weekday dinners,2 Shabbat dinners, 2 Shabbat lunches, as per itinerary.
Welcome Orientation, Jerusalem, Haas Promenade, Yad Vashem, Second Temple Model, Israel Museum, Machaneh Yehudah, Kabbalat Shabbat at Robinson's Arch the "Masorti Kotel", Shabbat walking tour, Masada, Roman Ramp, Camel trek, Dead Sea, Dead Sea resort, Jerusalem Masorti congregation, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels, Via Dolorosa, Holy Sepulcher, Coptic Village, Arab Market, Shopping in the Jewish Quarter, David's City, Hezekiah's water tunnel, Tower of David Museum, Independence Hall, Nahalat Binyamin, Museum of the Diaspora, Ayalon Institute, Neve Hana, Israel's border with Jordan, Beit Shean, Beit Alpha Synagogue, Sachne, Boat ride on the Kinneret, Mystical city of Tzefat, Golan Heights by jeep, Har Bental, Jordan River in a kayak, Rosh Hanikra, Historic Acco, Crusader Fortress, Turkish Baths, British prison, Tunisian Synagogue, Israel's Druze community, Kabbalat Shabbat at Kol Haneshama, Havdalah with Rabbi Hyman, Lifeline for the Old, Israel Museum, Herodian, Takoa Home hospitality ITC full color source book, A fun filled spiritual adventure and Much Much More!!

  Itinerary

Wednesday, 13 July - Israel Pilgrims
Overnight flight to Israel.

Thursday, 14 July - When You Come Into the Land
Afternoon arrival in Israel to be met and assisted at Ben Gurion Airport by your ITC representative. Ascent to Jerusalem. Gaze upon the Old City of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade, standing where Abraham stood at the dawn of Jewish history; take in the breathtaking view. Hotel check-in and welcome dinner.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, JLM

Friday, 15 July - Those Who Make a Difference
First Timers: Tour the new state-of-the-art Memorial Museum (age 12 and up only) and the Children's Memorial at Yad Vashem; alternative, interactive tour available for children on site. Repeat Visitors: Visit the new Shrine of the Book, the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem, the Weisbord Pavillion (modern art), and the Children's Wing and the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden at the Israel Museum (local guide). Everyone: Walk through colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehudah Market as Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat. Enjoy some free time to swim, prepare for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat at Robinson's Arch, the "Masorti/Conservative Kotel". Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 16 July - Shabbat in Jerusalem Parashat Pinchas
Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues. Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel. Shabbat walking tour to the Tower of David Museum for a wonderful presentation of the history of the city. Continue the walk through the colorful quarters of Jerusalem's Old City, including a rooftop overview. Havdalah with Rabbi Hyman Free evening "out on the town" in Jerusalem.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 17 July - Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Early departure to ascend Masada by cable car. Tour this amazing excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times. First Timers: Descend Masada by the Roman Ramp. Take a camel trek through the desert and enjoy a delicious lunch and Bedouin hospitality in a Bedouin tent. Stop for a dip and mud baths at the Dead Sea. Repeat Visitors: Descend Masada by cable car. Spend some time today at a Dead Sea resort hotel, enjoying its spa facilities, lunch, and the amazing Dead Sea. Everyone together: Return to Jerusalem. Group dinner at Little Italy (dairy). Evening program with a Jerusalem Masorti congregation (with twinning possibility).
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 18 July - Jerusalem of Old
Shaharit services at Robinson's Arch, with the option of a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony. Tour the Southern Wall Excavations and experience a multi-media tour of the ancient Temple at the Davidson Center. First Timers: In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall's massive foundation stones (local guide). Repeat Visitors: Take a walking tour along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; visit the Coptic Village, and Arab Market. Everyone together Free time for lunch (on one's own) and shopping in the Jewish Quarter. 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). Evening: Attend The Night Spectacular, the fabulous new sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum, followed by free time for dinner (on one's own) at the new Mamilla Mall.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, 19 July - Foundations of the Modern State
At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion's moving declaration of the State. Browse through unique craft items in Nahalat Binyamin's colorful, open-air market, and see modern Tel Aviv in action. Visit the Museum of the Diaspora for a special encounter with Jewish communities around the world and throughout the ages. Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute. At the Masorti affiliated children's home, Neve Hana, in Kiryat Gat, see the tremendously heartwarming work carried out there with children who have no other home; enjoy their petting zoo and gourmet bakery, a work project staffed by students. Return to Jerusalem for a free evening.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Wednesday, 20 July - The Jordan River Valley
Travel north along Israel's border with Jordan. Tour the remarkable excavation of the ancient Roman city of Beit Shean, including a magnificent Cardo, Roman baths, residences, and amphitheatre. Stop at the ancient Beit Alpha Synagogue to examine its striking mosaic floor; enjoy a short, amusing film about plans to renovate this ancient synagogue two millennia ago. Swim in the wondrous natural pools at Sachne, fed by underground springs (towel needed). Hotel check-in. Enjoy a boat ride on the Kinneret followed by a delicious lakeshore dinner at Decks.
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Tiberias

Thursday, 21 July - In the Footsteps of Mystics and Defenders
Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat. Travel to the Golan Heights by jeep, off the beaten path, 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. Glide down the Jordan River in a kayak (age 5 or over). Free evening on the Tiberias promenade.
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Tiberias

Friday, 22 July - The Mediterranean Coast
Take the cable car to the mesmerizing ocean grottos of Rosh Hanikra, at Israel's border with Lebanon. Visit historic Acco, a city of three religions, including your choice of: a "cool and creepy" Crusader Fortress; a multi-media exhibit about Acco's years of Muslim rule at the Turkish Baths; the beautiful Mosque of Jazzar; the British prison, where Jewish freedom fighters were incarcerated; the unique Tunisian Synagogue, which is completely decorated with mosaics depicting stories from Jewish history and traditional texts (number of stops depends on time available) Meet members of Israel's Druze community in Dalyat al Karmel, shop in their colorful market, hear about their fierce patriotism, and enjoy their warm hospitality (coffee/cake) Return to Jerusalem for hotel check-in Kabbalat Shabbat at Kol Haneshama. Delicious Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 23 July - A Heavenly Shabbat Parashat Mattot
Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues (suggestions, directions to be provided). Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at a choice of neighborhood synagogues. Shabbat rest. Havdalah with Rabbi Hyman.
Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday,24 July - Layers of History
Visit Lifeline for the Old, a moving crafts workshop that employs Jerusalem elderly. Enjoy shopping for unique hand-crafted Judaica items in their store. At the Israel Museum, tour the new Shrine of the Book, the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem, and the children's wing (optional) Visit the site of the ancient fortress of Herodian, built by Herod and used by Jewish fighting forces throughout the ages; also the site of an ancient synagogue and King Herod's newly discovered tomb. Enjoy a tour of the special community of Tekoa and home hospitality for coffee and cake with a Tekoa family. Return to Jerusalem for final packing. Farewell dinner at Olive and Fish (meat).
Depart for the airport.

Monday,25 July - A Temporary Departure
Arrive in USA Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Hyman and ITC Tours!

*Itinerary is Subject to Change