Date

Program

Meals/Overnight

Sunday December 23

Departure from IAD on British Airways 216 at 6:15pm.  Transfer in London Heathrow to BA 165.

Monday December 24

Bruchim Haba’aim-Welcome to Israel!

Arrival at Ben Gurion airport at 3:00pm.  Welcome dinner in Tel Aviv’s Yemenite Quarter followed by check-in at hotel located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Welcome Dinner
 

Overnight:  Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Tuesday December 25

Exile and Return

Reenact the moving moment when David Ben Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel at Independence Hall.

Visit the multi-media Palmach Museum OR Adults-Program with the Bina Secular Yeshiva or Alma.  (Parallel program for kids)

Explore the First Hebrew City at the Nahalat Binyamin arts & crafts fair. 

Enjoy dinner at Kapiche café, where the wait staff at deaf, followed by a moving performance of the Na Lagaat (Please Touch) blind-deaf theatre group.

Lunch-on own in Tel Aviv

Dinner at Kapiche Café

Overnight:  Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Wednesday December 26

Track 1-Altruism in Action

Visit the Ayalon Institute, a secret underground bullet factory from the British Mandate Period.

Then continue to the Judean Desert for a camel ride and Bedouin “hafla” dinner.  Camp out in a Bedouin tent (bathrooms and showers available).

Track 2-Start Up Nation

Spend the day exploring why Israel is the Start Up Nation-leading the world in the hi-tech revolution.  Site visits and meetings with companies and individuals on the cutting edge of innovative technologies.

Lunch-on own

Bedouin Dinner

Overnight:  Kfar Hanokdim Camel Ranch

Lunch-on own

Dinner-on own

Overnight:  Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Thursday December 27

Track 1-What Price Freedom

Ascend Herod’s mountain fortess of Masada by the Roman Ramp in time for sunrise.  Explore why the Jewish rebels chose to live here after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.  (Parallel programming for adults & kids).  Descend by the cable car.  Breakfast in the air-conditioned youth hostel.

Hike to the Nahal David waterfall at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.

Float in the Dead Sea (weather permitting).

En route to Jerusalem, meet Ethiopian families who crossed the desert to Sudan to wait for months in refugee camps before being airlifted to Israel by the Mossad.

Check-in and evening at leisure.

Track 2-Jerusalem’s New City

Meet Ethiopian families who crossed the desert to Sudan to wait for months in refugee camps before being airlifted to Israel by the Mossad.

Learn more about Menachem Begin at the multi-media Begin Museum.

Visit the Underground Prisoner’s Museum, where members of the Haganah were executed by the British Mandate forces.

Explore the recently remodeled Israel Museum, including the Second Temple Period model, Shrine of the Book, and Judaica wing.

Evening at leisure.

Breakfast at Masada Youth Hostel

Lunch-on own at Ein Gedi

Dinner-on own in Jerusalem

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Lunch-on own in Jerusalem

Dinner-on own in Jerusalem

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday December 28

This Year in Jerusalem

We begin the day with an outlook over Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade.  Adults-Did Abraham pass the test?  What does Lech Lecha mean today?   Kids-Jerusalem Panorama activity.

We then make our way to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.  Adults-See how Jerusalem’s elite lived 2000 years ago at the Herodian Mansions.  Kids-Jewish Quarter Scavenger hunt.

Lunch break and shopping time in the Cardo.  Time to prepare for Shabbat.

Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel or local synagogue followed by festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

Lunch-on own in Jewish Quarter

Shabbat dinner at hotel (private dining room)

Overnight:  Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat December 29

Shabbat in Jerusalem

Shabbat morning services at Moreshet Israel followed by Torah study at the Conservative Yeshiva.  Lunch at the Fuchsberg Center.

Rest/leisure time.

Optional walking tour of Jerusalem neighborhoods.

Group Havdalah followed by free evening.

Shabbat lunch at Fuchsberg

Dinner-on own

Overnight:  Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday December 30

Shoah to Tekumah

We learn and remember at Yad Vashem, including visits to the historical museum and Children’s Memorial. (Young children will visit the Biblical Zoo).

Program on Israel’s heroes at the Mt. Herzl Military cemetery.

Time at leisure and dinner break.

Evening:  Hands-on art program with Kol Ha’ot:  Illuminating Jewish Learning Through Art.

Lunch-on own at Yad Vashem

Dinner-on own

Overnight:  Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday December 31

Mitzvah Day

Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony at Robinson’s Arch (the Masorti Kotel) followed by celebratory Kiddush.  (Rain back up:  Moreshet Israel).

Depart for the North. 

Tzippori or Aryeh Malkin at Ein Dor.

Continue to the mystical city of Zefat.  Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

Evening:  Art & Kabbalah program with local artist.

Kiddush

Lunch-on own en route

Dinner at hotel

Overnight:  Rimon Inn, Zefat

Tuesday January 1

Mystics and Mountains

Explore the synagogues of the mystics in the Jewish Quarter of Zefat.  (Parallel programs for adults & kids).

See the 3D Ophariya movie at the Hula Nature Reserve, where millions of birds rest on the migration route between Europe and Africa.

Meet young IDF soldiers defending Israel’s northern border.

Enjoy dinner in the pioneering Dubrovin farm with live Jewish music.

Lunch-on own

Dinner at Dubrovin Farm

Overnight:  Rimon Inn, Zefat

Wednesday January 2

Golan 360⁰

Ascend the Golan Heights.

Adults-Meet Elaine Hoter, who wrote a children’s book after her son was killed in a terror attack.  Kids-Hands-on workshop at the De Karina chocolate factory.

Outlook over Syria from the bunkers at Mt. Bental.

Dinner break in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  See the beautiful Tiberium sound & light water show before returning to Zefat.

Picnic Lunch

Dinner-on own in Tiberias

Overnight:  Rimon Inn, Zefat

Thursday January 3

Galilee Mosaic

Spend the morning volunteering at the Zefat Absorption Center.

Continue to the Carmel Region.  Enjoy a Druze home hospitality lunch.

Visit the Nisco Museum for mechanical music in the Ein Hod artist colony.

Continue to Jerusalem.  Check-in and evening at leisure.

Druze Lunch

Dinner-on own in Jerusalem

Overnight:  Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday January 4

Political Update

The adults will spend the day delving into the current political and security situation.  Political briefing followed by political topography tour, survey of the separation barrier and field trip to Gush Etzion to meet with residents.

The kids will have their own program:  mezuzah/Hebrew calligraphy workshop with a Sofer Stam as well as time to enjoy the hotel pool.

We’ll all rendezvous at the Machaneh Yehuda fruit & vegetable market.

Prepare for Shabbat.

Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel or local synagogue followed by festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

Lunch-on own

Shabbat dinner at hotel (private dining room)

Overnight:  Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat January 5

Bashanah Haba’ah

Shabbat morning services followed by lunch at the hotel.  Rest time.  Group Havdalah followed by summary discussion and farewell dinner. 

Shabbat lunch at the hotel

Farewell Dinner

Overnight:  Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday January 6

Departure

Early morning transfer to airport for departing flight on British Airways 162 at 7:40am. Transfer in London. Arrival at IAD at 5:50pm.