Join Temple Judea's - Israel Tour "Generation to Generation - Our Family in Israel" with Rabbi Yaron Kapitulnik June 10 – 24, 2012

Tour Highlights:
Round trip flights USA to TLV and Return
All Breakfasts, 2 Shabbat Dinners, 6 Week-Day Dinners, P2K Lunch as per itinerary, 1 Shabbat Lunch, Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach
Our tour begins in Old Jaffa, Biblical landscapes park at Neot Kedumim, Ayalon Institute, Independence Hall, Nahalat Binyamin, Ancient Casesaria, Underground Roman water system, Atlit, Haifa, Mediterranean Coast, Historic Acco, Underground Crusader Fortress, British prison, Mosque of Jazzar, Tunisian Synagogue, Rosh Hanikra, Peki’in’s Druze community, Home hospitality in Hatzor, Volunteer baking challah in a Tzefat soup kitchen, Kayak on the Jordan River, Kabbalat Shabbat, Kabbalah discussion, Dairy farm, Dead Sea, Camel Trek, Bedouin hospitality, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Ahava Factory, Mount Scopus, Israel Museum, Briefing with Aluf Ben, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem Bird Conservatory or Biblical Zoo, Herzl Exhibit, Har Herzl Military Cemetery, Machaneh Yehuda, Moving B'nai Mitzvah ceremony at Robinson's Arch, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels, Jewish Quarter, Yad L’Kashish, B’nai Mitzvah party, Archeological dig, Latrun IDF Armored Corps center, Kabbalat Shabbat services with Reform Kehillat Yozma in Modi’in, ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun !

  Itinerary

Sunday, 10 June – USA Departure

Monday, 11 June – When You Come Into the Land (Dev. 26:1)
Arrive in Israel (late afternoon), to be met and assisted at the airport by your ITC representative (today’s program depends on arrival time) Our tour begins in Old Jaffa, once the gateway to the Land of Israel Hotel check-in and dinner.
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Tuesday, 12 June – Foundations of the Modern State
Distant past: Experience the biblical landscapes park at Neot Kedumim; enjoy hands-on experiences such as drawing water from a well and leading a flock of sheep as shepherds; conclude by planting a vine there in Israeli soil Recent past: 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 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 enjoy seeing modern Tel Aviv in action. Free time for dinner (on one’s own) Future: Enjoy an evening performance of Myumana (based on availability)
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Wednesday, 13 June – Layers of History
See ancient history come to life at the multi-media center against the backdrop of ancient Casesaria. Excavations include an impressive amphitheatre and aqueduct. Free time for lunch (on one’s own) in Caesaria. Walk through the fascinating, underground Roman water system that once fed ancient Caesaria at Mei Kedem near Binyamina (strap-on water shoes, small towel needed) In Atlit walk through the detention camp that held Holocaust refugees denied entry into Eretz Yisrael by the British; see the incredible, newly arrived “illegal immigration” boat with its wonderful a/v presentation about heroic pre-State immigration. Continue to Haifa for a breathtaking overview of the sparkling city on the Mediterranean Free evening in Tel Aviv
Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Thursday, 14 June – Varieties of Religious Expression
Travel north along the Mediterranean Coast. In historic Acco, a city of many religions. Visit a vast underground Crusader Fortress; the British prison, where Jewish freedom fighters were incarcerated; the beautiful Mosque of Jazzar; the amazing Tunisian Synagogue, which is completely decorated with mosaics depicting stories from Jewish history and traditional texts (number of stops depends on time available) Take the cable car to the mesmerizing ocean grottos of Rosh Hanikra, at Israel’s border with Lebanon. Visit with members of Peki’in’s Druze community in a large cavern; learn about their culture and secret religion, enjoy pita, labane, baklava, and coffee (via IMOT Acco) Hotel check-in. Ethnic home hospitality for dinner in Hatzor, hosted by P2K Tzahar (not included in tour price)
Overnight: Rimonim Inn, Tzefat

Friday, 15 June – Partners in Israel
Volunteer baking challah in a Tzefat soup kitchen (arranged through Tzefat Kabbalah Center/P2K) Glide down the Jordan River in a kayak or raft (age 5 and over) Return to the hotel to swim, prepare for Shabbat. Optional: Pre-Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat, accompanied by ethnic musical instruments, at a scenic overlook in Tzefat (arranged through Tzefat Kabbalah Center) Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Rimonim Inn, Tzefat

Shabbat, 16 June – Shabbat in Tzefat
Take a walking tour through Tzefat with our guide. Shabbat lunch at the hotel. Meet with Eyal Reiss from the Kabbalah Center for a discussion on Kabbalah. Evening: Dinner at Decks and free time on the Tiberias promenade.
Overnight: Rimonim Inn, Tzefat

Sunday, 17 June – The Galilee, Golan Heights, and Jordan River Valley
Visit a modern dairy farm where you can bottle-feed the calves and try your hand at milking cows; taste different varieties of olive oil and fresh chocolate milk. Travel through the Golan Heights by jeep, off the beaten track,and stop to gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did. Take a tour and taste the fruits of the region in the form of award-winning wines at the Golan Winery. Travel south along Israel’s border with Jordan to the Dead Sea Region. Optional afternoon hike to Ein Bokek. Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Isrotel, Dead Sea

Monday, 18 June – 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 enjoy a its pool, spa facilities and the amazing Dead Sea. Late afternoon: Enjoy a camel trek through the desert and a delicious dinner and Bedouin hospitality in a Bedouin tent. Overnight: Isrotel, Dead Sea.

Tuesday, 19 June – Partners in Israel
Take a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to the waterfall and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul “on site” Stop for a visit at the Ahava Factory – learn about and support the unique Dead Sea cosmetics industry. Ascent to Jerusalem. Take in a breathtaking view of the Old City of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus; make the sheheheyanu blessing with Rabbi Kapitulnik. Hotel check-in. Evening: Tour the newly renovated Israel Museum, including the Shrine of the Book, the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem, art and archeology exhibits, children’s wing.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Wednesday, 20 June – The Golan Heights
Morning briefing at the hotel with Aluf Ben. Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 10 and up only) and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem. Please choose one alternative for younger children: At the Jerusalem Bird Conservatory, take part in an ecology workshop and see birds ringed to be tracked by conservationists OR Visit the Biblical Zoo (each visit accompanied by adult/s; not included in tour price) Enjoy a special multi-media presentation about the life, dreams, and accomplishments of the Father of Modern Zionism at the Herzl Exhibit. Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery. Walk through colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market – am yisrael chai! Free evening in Jerusalem.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Thursday, 21 June – Jerusalem of Old
Take part in a moving B'nai Mitzvah ceremony at Robinson's Arch, the “Masorti Kotel” Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and take a virtual, computerized “walk” through the Temple Mount at the Davidson Center. In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the massive foundation stones of the Western Wall. Travel through many centuries as you tour the Jewish Quarter including free time for lunch (on one's own) and shopping. Visit the gift shop of Yad L’Kashish, where elderly Jerusalemites have dignified employment creating unique craft and Judaica items. B’nai Mitzvah party at Darna.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, JLM

Friday, 22 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, taking part in an actual archeological dig; “cave crawl” also available for the adventurous. At the Latrun IDF Armored Corps center, review (or climb on) the tanks and learn about battles fought there for the road to Jerusalem. Return to Jerusalem to prepare for Shabbat. Take part in Kabbalat Shabbat services and a catered Shabbat dinner with Reform Kehillat Yozma in Modi’in.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 23 June – Shabbat in Jerusalem
Optional Shabbat morning synagogue tour. Presentation (today or Friday morning) by a representative of IRAC, to talk about religious pluralism in Israel Late afternoon walking tour in Mishkenot Sheananim and Ketef Hinom. Late check-out from the hotel Farewell Middle Eastern dinner in Abu Ghosh (“kosher style”)
Depart for the airport

Sunday, 24 June – A Temporary Departure
Arrive in USA. Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Kapitulnik and
ITC Tours!

Itinerary Subject to Change