Congregation M kor Shalom Women s Israel Trip Why travel to Israel with M kor Shalom?

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1 Congregation M kor Shalom Women s Israel Trip Why travel to Israel with M kor Shalom? There are many benefits in going with M kor Shalom on this absolutely fabulous Israel Trip The special friendships you make, the sense of community you develop, and the connection to Israel you experience. Here are just a few of the benefits of going with this congregation on this trip All details are taken care of a welcome change from our very busy lives! You have nothing to plan, no arrangements to make This trip is just for Women! Everywhere possible we added an element that is of special interest to us! Custom Designed Itinerary; not your typical Israel 101 We have included all the must see sites plus some fun hands on activities and opportunities to meet with Israeli women No worries about getting to the airport, we have a private bus to & from M kor Shalom & Newark Airport Travel securely on ElAl Israel Airlines with direct flights 10 full days of touring without the crowds and heat of summer We are staying in YYYYY Hotels and Kibbutz in excellent locations 8 Delicious and varied dinners are included to give you a full taste of Israeli cuisine 3 Lunches are included; other lunches are on your own as we take a break from our touring day Licensed Israeli tour guide, Itsik, who has become a friend of M kor Shalom through the years Safe private coach bus driven by one of a few drivers who have become our friends as well No bill at the end of the trip as tips to our Guide, Bus Driver, and Jeep Drivers are included Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance is included There will be time for shopping! Benefit of going with Congregation M'kor Shalom (priceless!)

Women s Israel Trip November 1 - November 11, 2018 è Thursday morning November 1, leaving M kor Shalom at 9:00am for 2:15pm flight #LY28 from Newark to Tel Aviv aboard ElAl Israeli Airlines arrive in

COST: $4,550 Details of what is included are outlined on the attached Financial Information Page and the Trip Itinerary MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: At least 21 women are required in order for

2 Women s Israel Trip November 1 - November 11, 2018 è Thursday morning November 1, leaving M kor Shalom at 9:00am for 2:15pm flight #LY28 from Newark to Tel Aviv aboard ElAl Israeli Airlines arrive in 6:50am Friday morning, November 2 ç Saturday/Sunday midnight, November 11 for 12:35am flight #LY27 to Newark NJ, arrive Sunday morning, November 6:05am return to M kor Shalom 8:00am COST: $4,550 Details of what is included are outlined on the attached Financial Information Page and the Trip Itinerary MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: At least 21 women are required in order for this trip to take place. There is a maximum of 40 women. PAYMENTS: Deposit due December 1 = $1000 Second Payment due May 31 = $2000 per person Balance due on or before (but not after) August 31 PASSPORTS: If you do not have a passport that is valid until May 31, 2019 you must get a new passport immediately. ElAl Airlines will not finalize any ticket without a name and valid passport number. Important Note: Along with your deposit of $1000 should be 1. A photocopy of the picture page in your Passport 2. The Enclosed Registration Form If you have any questions, contact Merle Steinberg at (856) merlesteinberg@mkorshalom.org The trip is booked through Gate 1 Travel (Tour Company) who makes all travel arrangements and bookings for flight, lodging and ground itinerary. We have exercised reasonable care in making such arrangements always considering safety and security issues. However, Congregation M kor Shalom does not assume any liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, or delay to person and property related to this trip. Congregation M'kor Shalom Women s Israel Trip

3 FINANCIAL INFORMATION Including refundable amounts and travel insurance The Basic Cost = $4,550 for members of M kor Shalom; cost is based on at least 25 women. Airfare has been estimated as of October 2018 and could possibly change. Additional costs: Single room*, please add $1090. Not a member of M kor Shalom**- please add $150 per person. The Cost Includes: (please also refer to the itinerary) All trip preparation and administration Private bus to and from M kor Shalom and Newark Liberty Airport Air-fare (coach) on El Al Airlines All tours and entrance fees to sites Lodging: YYYY Hotels and Kibbutz Food: All breakfasts; 8 dinners; 3 lunches Licensed Israeli tour guide (Itsik) and driver with private, secure tour bus Tips for the Tour Guide & Bus Driver in Israel Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance Cancellation Provisions: This is the link to our tour company s travel insurance provisions. Please read it carefully at this time. ( If, at any time after the insurance is purchased, you need to cancel due to any of the provisions outlined in the travel insurance policy, you will need to contact, directly, the insurance company for any applicable refund. If we need to cancel the trip, we will contact the tour operator. If you choose to not purchase insurance, please confirm this on the Trip Registration Form. Non-Refundable amounts are shown below please refer to: anything contrary regarding money paid to Tour Company supersedes anything shown below. Cost Breakdown: Land = $2600 Air = $1250 Ins = $200 Prepaid expenses = $500 (including lunches & tips) Days before the Trip: A. 90 to 61 days prior to departure B. 60 to 31 days prior to departure C. 30 days or less prior to departure Schedule of payments for the Other pre-paid Non-Refundable Tour costs not covered by Company Costs insurance $200 insurance $100 from prepaid expenses $1350 (50% of land) & $200 from prepaid $1250 (100% of air) expenses $200 insurance $3950 (100% of land and air) $200 insurance $400 from prepaid expenses Total Non-Refundable Amount* Only Amounts listed under Tour Company may be subject to insurance $300 $3000 $4550 * The single room cost must be added to the land cost for refundable/non-refundable amounts. ** The non-member cost of $150 is non-refundable as of A above. All financial questions should be directed to Merle Steinberg at (856) , Merlesteinberg@mkorshalom.org Congregation M kor Shalom

4 Women s Israel Trip REGISTRATION FORM (to be returned to Merle Steinberg, along with deposit check) NAME* Food** (Vegetarian fish? Dairy or Gluten free, food allergy, etc.) Current M kor Shalom Member Yes No Sweatshirt size * PASSPORT INFORMATION: A copy of the picture page of your passport should accompany the deposit check. If you don t have a passport, please include the name that will be on your passport. ** Food information will be forwarded to the airline and hotels. We cannot guarantee that special meals will be available. Other than on the flight, all of our meals are family style, off of a menu, or buffet where you can select from a variety of items. A meat meal will never have dairy. Please feel free to pack non-perishable foods just in case. If you have food allergies, you may want to go to to purchase a card that will list such allergies in Hebrew and can be used in restaurants in Israel. Full Street Address Cell Phone # Other Phone # Addresses to be used for trip communication q I am looking forward to Masada and the Dead Sea option q I am not going to Masada There is no additional cost for the Masada/Dead Sea option q I have read the schedule for payments and non-refundable amounts on the FINANCIAL INFORMATION page and I will comply with such. Rooming: q I am requesting a single room and will pay the additional cost. q I am sharing a room with: There is a possibility of 3 in a room; upon hotel availability. q I do not have a room-mate at this time; I would prefer to share with another traveler. Trip Insurance: q I want to have the Trip Insurance purchased through Gate 1 Travel. q I do NOT want to have the Trip Insurance purchased through Gate 1 Travel and I will: Deposit: q waive insurance fully or q will purchase my own insurance q Enclosed is a deposit of $1,000. Please make checks payable to Congregation M kor Shalom Signed by: Date: Congregation M kor Shalom

5 Women s Israel Trip November 1 - November 11, 2018 Thursday, November 1, 2018 Our journey begins! Arrive at M kor 9:00am to meet and greet before boarding our coach bus for a 2:15pm flight from Newark Liberty Airport to Tel Aviv aboard ElAl Israel Airlines (#LY28). Dinner and breakfast on the plane. Friday, November 2, 2018 We will arrive in 6:50am. After going through Passport Control, we will get our luggage and then head out of the airport to our private coach bus. Our tour guide, Itsik and driver, Zion will meet us and lead us to our first stop on our amazing adventure. Situated about halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Neot Kedumim, a unique recreation of the physical setting of the Bible will allow us to see life as it was lived by our ancestors 3,000 years ago. We will enjoy another breakfast, a tour of the site and then we will fulfill the Mitzvah of planting a tree! As we approach Jerusalem, we will stop at the Haas Promenade for a breath-taking view of the city. We will then check into hotel and have time to refresh before going to Kabbalat Shabbat services at Kol HaNeshama, a member of the Progressive (Reform) Movement. Shabbat Dinner will be at our hotel. Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Saturday, November 3, 2018 After a typical Shabbat breakfast you have a choice of a full day excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea; with Spa or staying in Jerusalem to visit the Israel and the Bible Land Museums. This evening we will all meet up at the hotel and go to dinner at Luciana s Italian Restaurant in the Mamilla outdoor mall. As three stars appear in the autumn sky there will be plenty of time for shopping or sitting at a café with a hot cappuccino. Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Sunday, November 4, 2018 After a full breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our day with a very special visit to Yad LaKashish- Lifeline for the Old. This organization empowers and supports nearly 300 elderly Jerusalem residents by providing them with creative work opportunities in artistic workshops. We will have an opportunity to see them at work and then visit their gift shop where everything has been made by the residents. We then go to Har Herzl, Israel s Arlington Cemetery where we will pay our respects to past leaders such as Golda Meir, Itzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Theodor Herzl, as well as soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in defense of Israel. A short walk to Yad Vashem, the Memorial Museum to the Six Million Jews that were killed during the Holocaust. We will have our own private guide that will lead us through the museum.

6 We then return to the hotel to change and get ready for our desert experience. A very short drive to the Judean Desert for a visit to Genesis Land where we will be met by Eliezer the man servant of Abraham! He will lead us by camel to the Patriarch s tent for a little ancient hospitality and stories about our ancestors before feasting on a typical Bedouin Hafla dinner in their tent. Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Monday, November 5, 2018 After breakfast we will drive to the Old City of Jerusalem where we will be spending most of the day. Starting in the Jewish Quarter we walk through the Cardo which dates back to the Roman era. Then a visit to the Hurva Synagogue and hear the fascinating story of this synagogue which began in the 1700's. From here we will walk to the steps leading down to the Kotel (Western Wall) Plaza. There will be time at the Wall before we visit the Chain of Generation Center which takes us from Abraham through to the return of Jerusalem to Israel on June 7, The center is made up of sculpted glass, lights, smoke, sound, holograms and archeological finds. Dinner tonight is at HaMotzi, known for their Moroccan and Middle Eastern flavors. Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Tuesday, November 6, 2018 After breakfast we say l hitraot to Jerusalem and make our way north through the Jordan Valley. We will discover Ethiopian Jewish culture at the Germachin Center in Beit Shean. Learn about this community's modern-day Exodus story and the challenges facing the Ethiopian Israeli community today. Then we will drive to Kibbutz Gesher where our visit will begin with a wonderful lunch before looking into the past by learning about who lived here in 1939 and the "Legend of Bread." What was their vision for the future including electric power. We then continue to Tzmach Junction for a little history and a little shopping before arriving at our Kibbutz Guest House to get settled and have dinner. Overnight: Kibbutz Maagan, Galilee Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Wednesday, November 7, 2018 After a delicious kibbutz breakfast we leave bright and early to begin our journey north near the Lebanese border to Kibbutz Misgav Am. There we will meet the kibbutz military liaison who will talk to us about security and point out different sites over the border. Next, he will escort to us one of the border bases where we will meet with some of the soldiers that patrol the border and keep Israel, and us, safe. We then meet up with our jeeps for an extraordinary tour of the Golan Heights. We will see Syrian Bunkers and observations points as well as spectacular views. We then make our way to Kibbutz Ein Zivan. Here we will participate in a chocolate seminar at the De Karina Chocolate factory. The seminar will end with all of us making our own chocolate treats; Lucy and Ethel style? Then a quick stop at the Naot Shoe Factory.

7 Dinner tonight is at Roberg Restaurant. We have an incredible opportunity to put on our aprons and be mentored by international chef, Ilan Roberg, the owner and operator of this family restaurant. Chef Ilan will guide us in making a scrumptious dinner together. Overnight: Kibbutz Maagan, Galilee Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Thursday, November 8, 2018 Our visit to the Galilee concludes with breakfast and a drive to Zippori. The liveliness of Jewish life in this ancient city is indicated by the remains of the 4500-seat theatre, magnificent synagogue and beautiful mosaic floors found throughout the city. One of those mosaics is called the "Mona Lisa of the Galilee" which was originally in the dining room of a wealthy home that was destroyed in a third century earthquake. It bears the image of a beautiful woman whose eyes, like the work of art she was named for, seem to follow you everywhere. We now make our way towards the Mediterranean coast and the famous Tishbi Winery. Family owned and operated we will have lunch and taste various wines along the way. Our sightseeing tour will end with a visit to Caesarea, a magnificent city built by King Herod. We then drive to Tel Aviv and check into our hotel. This evening you have free time to explore, shop, find a unique café for dinner and enjoy the vibrancy of this thriving city. NOTE: Our hotel has an indoor pool! Overnight: Renaissance Hotel, Tel Aviv Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Friday, November 9, 2018 After a full Israeli breakfast, we will visit the sites of Tel Aviv. Beginning with the very well designed Itzhak Rabin Center; which depicts his remarkable life and tragic end. The center piece is the Israeli Museum which begins with his assassination and then via a downward spiral corridor leads you through an interactive account of his life. On our drive back to Tel Aviv and, traffic permitting, we will make a brief stop at Rabin Square and his memorial. Our next stop will be Independence Hall. Beginning with a short film about Tel Aviv and the 60 families that founded the city in After the film we will proceed to Declaration Hall where on May 14th, 1948 members of the Provisional State Council declared the establishment of the modern State of Israel. Weather permitting, we enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Nachalat Binyamin Arts and Craft Street Fair before returning to our hotel. Joining us for Shabbat dinner will be two women soldiers from The Lone Soldier Program. The IDF currently has 2,500 Lone Soldiers serving in a range of positions in the army, after making Aliyah without their parents. For these soldiers, the process is a challenging and intense experience that may involve a difficult process of adapting to military service and to an independent life style in Israel. We will have the opportunity to hear from these women about their life in Israel and the army. Overnight: Renaissance Hotel, Tel Aviv Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

8 Saturday, November 10, 2018 Leisurely Shabbat Breakfast This is our last day in Israel. This morning we will visit the recently completely redesigned Diaspora Museum - The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. This unique global experience tells the ongoing and extraordinary story of the Jewish people. We then drive to Jaffa for a walking tour and then lunch at the famous Abu Lafaya Restaurant, a M kor Shalom favorite. We return to the hotel to enjoy this afternoon on our own; last minute shopping, a leisurely walk or take advantage of the hotel health club and swimming pool. This evening we will enjoy, what has also become a M kor Shalom tradition, dinner on the beach at Café London followed by Havdalah. Then on to the airport for our return flight home. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Sunday, November 11, 2018 Our flight (LY#28) will leave at 12:30am. Snacks and breakfast on the plan before arriving at Newark Airport at 6:05am where our coach bus will be waiting to take us back to M kor Shalom and then home! Hotel Information: Jerusalem: Galilee: Tel Aviv:

9 Congregation M kor Shalom Guidelines for Shopping in Israel IF YOU SEE IT, YOU LIKE IT & YOU CAN AFFORD IT BUY IT! 1. Traveling to Israel is a special experience; buy special items to remind you of this trip. Ritual items are excellent for this purpose; a tallit or kippah. 2. Don t worry about exchange rates they are usually within pennies of each other from store to store and there is really nothing you can do about this but enjoy your purchases. However, if you use credit or debit card to charge something in shekels (especially larger purchases) banks will get a better exchange rate then we would get. 3. When in the Shuk (Arab Market) shop with your eyes - do not pick up something that you are not interested in buying. You can bargain but be reasonable; respect is very important to the merchants. 4. In a regular store you cannot bargain, but you can ask if that is the best price or is there a discount if you buy multiples. 5. If you purchase an item that costs over $100 US in a store that collects VAT (Value Added Tax = 17%) you should receive a form from the cashier that you can bring to the airport for reimbursement. In order to get this reimbursement, you will be asked to show the item to the VAT counter in the airport. In Eilat you will not be charged VAT. 6. A Chanukah menorah (Chanukiah) has 9 branches. A menorah, like the one in the 1 st and 2 nd Temples has 7 branches. When purchasing a menorah count the branches so you get the one you want. 7. Ahava is the most well-known brand of Dead Sea products, but it is not the only brand. Look for other brands and for the best price. 8. Naots are shoes that people like to buy in Israel. Remember to use European sizes: add 34 for men and 31 for women to your US size. A women s size 6 is a What you purchase - you need to schlep. Some items may be better purchased at the airport duty-free shops upon leaving Israel, providing there is time. 10. Please show everyone all purchases!

10 Although we are happy to provide these shopping guidelines, we cannot be held legally responsible J for your over or under shopping. The economy of Israel welcomes and thanks you for your support.

Temple Micah Family Friendly Israel Trip December 19-31, 2018

Temple Micah Family Friendly Israel Trip December 19-31, 2018 We return to Israel to affirm our solidarity with the Jewish People, the Jewish State, and our vision of Progressive Zionism. Trip includes: