WEST END SYNAGOGUE TOUR OF ISRAEL LED BY RABBI JOSHUA KULLOCK MARCH 9 18, 2015

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "WEST END SYNAGOGUE TOUR OF ISRAEL LED BY RABBI JOSHUA KULLOCK MARCH 9 18, 2015"

Ralf Fox
5 years ago
Views:

WEST END SYNAGOGUE TOUR OF ISRAEL LED BY RABBI JOSHUA KULLOCK MARCH 9 18, 2015 MONDAY, MARCH 9 "WELCOME TO ISRAEL" Upon arrival a member of our staff will meet the group at Passport Control at Ben

1 WEST END SYNAGOGUE TOUR OF ISRAEL LED BY RABBI JOSHUA KULLOCK MARCH 9 18, 2015 MONDAY, MARCH 9 "WELCOME TO ISRAEL" Upon arrival a member of our staff will meet the group at Passport Control at Ben Gurion Airport to assist you with arrival procedures. He will then escort you to your awaiting Guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel in Tel Aviv. Time permiting, we will go to the Ancient Port of Yaffo and to Kikar Rabin. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner in the Yemenite Quarter of Tel Aviv for an authentic Middle Eastern cuisine at the Maganda Restaurant. OVERNIGHT CARLTON HOTEL, TEL AVIV TUESDAY, MARCH 10 TOURING IN AND ABOUT TEL AVIV After breakfast, start the day at the Palmach Museum. Through a modern multi-media presentation on the history of the Palmach from 1941 to the War of Independence learn about the establishment of the State of Israel. The story tells of the struggle against the British, the illegal immigration, reflecting the motivation and dedication of the youth in their fight for independence. Continue to visit the Independence Hall where Ben Gurion declared the establishment of Israel on May 14, Sit in the very same room where our founding fathers sat on that historic day. Drive to Rehovot to visit the Ayalon Institute ("the bullet factory"), a clandestine operation that manufactured armaments right under the noses of the British! Proceed to 'Shafdan' the Dan Region Wastewater Treatment Plant - the largest and most advanced of its type in the Middle East. See how our waste water is recycled by special treatments into reusable water for agriculture. Return to Tel Aviv and time permitting - stroll along Tel Aviv s popular Nachalat Benjamin Pedestrian Arts and Craft Fair. On Tuesdays, the street is transformed into an artisan s paradise with performing street entertainers, music and an array of hand made crafts and jewelry stalls. OVERNIGHT CARLTON HOTEL, TEL AVIV WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 "THE COAST OF ISRAEL" Early this morning check out of your hotel and depart Tel Aviv heading north along the coast to Caesarea and its Roman and Crusader antiquities to see the excavated Roman Theater echoing theatrical performances of long ago. Today, this theatre still serves as a spectacular venue for concerts and music festivals. Visit the hippodrome and port, as well as the Crusader City. While here see the Caesarea Harbor project cinematic exhibition that will take you on a majestic virtual tour of the site.

2 Continue along the coastline to the ancient city of Akko for lunch at Abucristo Restaurant. After lunch tour Akko, once the Crusader capital of the North and now a city of mixed Arab and Jewish populations. Walk on the city walls to the harbor, and through the colorful markets, to visit the huge underground Crusader Halls. While here visit the beautiful Bahai gardens a World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO before proceeding to Rosh Hanikra where a cable car will lower you toward the grottoes. The grottoes resulted from an ongoing geological process over thousands of years and are a natural wonder, fascinating in its mystery and breathtakingly beautiful. Travel on through the Galilee to your hotel and check in. Dinner has been included for you at the hotel this evening. OVERNIGHT PASTORAL KFAR BLUM HOTEL, GALILEE THURSDAY, MARCH 12 "THE GOLAN HEIGHTS" Start the day at the springs and waterfall of Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan River to enjoy a nature hike along the reserve. Board your awaiting jeeps to ascend the Golan Heights. During the course of the expedition, you will pass former Syrian army headquarters and positions overlooking the Galilee. Continue to the Druze village of Ein Kinya to meet a Druze family who will host you for lunch and take you on a tour of the village. This visit will give you an insight into the history and culture of this minority group. To complete the picture of the Golan's strategic role in our security and contemporary politics, drive to an observation point overlooking the Valley of Tears, the site of a major tank battle during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and overlooking the Syrian - Israeli border today. Conclude the day with a visit to the 'De Karina' chocolate factory in Ein Zivan that makes hand made chocolates. Here you may take part in a fun workshop making and tasting chocolate. Meet with the chocolatiers that use the finest quality ingredients for their products. OVERNIGHT PASTORAL KFAR BLUM HOTEL, GALILEE FRIDAY, MARCH 13 "FROM THE HILLS OF THE GALILEE TO JERUSALEM" Check-out of your hotel this morning. Drive to Safed, the city of the mystics, to visit the synagogues of Rabbi Isaac Luria and Rabbi Joseph Karo. There will also be time to wander about the alleys, lanes and art galleries of the Old City of Safed. Visit The Ancient Synagogue of Hamat in Tiberias. View the remains of the building, built between 286 and 337 A.D. One of the most beautiful features of the synagogue is the mosaic floor, the oldest discovered in Israel. The beautiful mosaic is made up of three panels; the central one shows a large zodiac with Helios at the Center steering his celestial chariot toward the sun. Drive along the shores of Lake Kinneret, stopping to pay your respects to famous Israeli artists and poets buried at the Kinneret Cemetery on the waters edge. Southward along the Jordan Valley and Ascend to Jerusalem. Upon your first view of the eternal Holy City stop for a moment's reflection and prayer led by Rabbi Kullock.

3 Participate in an age-old tradition by saying the "Shehecheyanu" blessing as pilgrims did when approaching Jerusalem throughout history. Arrive at your hotel and check-in. Towards the evening head to the Old City of Jerusalem. As the sun sets preparations will be made for Welcoming the Shabbat. Make your way to the Southern Wall, a special isolated area looking over the Mt of Olives, the City of David and the surrounding area, for a special service where men and women can be together. Return to your hotel where dinner is included for you tonight in a private room at your hotel. SATURDAY, MARCH 14 "WALKING TOUR IN JERUSALEM" No touring vehicle is provided today. This morning feel free to attend Shabbat services at the Kotel or a synagogue of your choice. After the morning service, meet your Guide at the hotel and walk to the Fuchsberg Center, where lunch is included for you today. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. In the evening as Shabbat concludes, participate in a Havdallah service led by Rabbi Kullock. Then, make your own way to David's Tower (Jaffa Gate) to enjoy the amazing Sound and Light Spectacular Show. Here you will be treated to a colorful series of moving images that turn the massive walls, arches, towers, turrets and archaeological ruins into lifelike depictions of events that took place over the millennia. OVERNIGHT INBAL HOTEL, JERUSALEM SUNDAY, MARCH 15 "THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM" Start the day from an observation point overlooking Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade. Then on to the Goldman Observation Point to overlook the "Seam Line" which runs around Jerusalem, where you will be able to see the close proximity of Palestinian towns to Jerusalem. Enter the Old City through the Zion Gate to take an in depth tour of the Jewish Quarter including the Cardo. Take a roof top tour of the reconstructed Jewish Quarter. Besides walking along underground ancient streets you can walk along the rooftops passing from one home to another where you have an unusual vantage point towards the Temple Mount and the ancient streets below. Visit the Hurva Synagogue which stands on the west side of Hurva Square in the Jewish Quarter. It has been rebuilt in the same Neo-Byzantine style as the original, with a central plan and a large dome over the main hall. On to the Western Wall and Western Wall Tunnels for a tour and to see the archaeological discoveries excavated in a vast concealed tunnel along the Western Wall (pending confirmation). Continue to the City of David, a small hill just outside of the Ottoman Walls of the Old City that was the site of Biblical Jerusalem and the capital of King David. Tour this fascinating location and see the new discoveries from recent excavations. Also visit the Canaanite dry tunnel which is 3,400 years old. Return to the hotel. MONDAY, MARCH 16 "THE NEW CITY OF JERUSALEM"

4 We will begin this morning visiting the completely renewed Israel Museum, which is acknowledged as one of the best and most comprehensive encyclopedic museums in the world. The Museum houses treasures in archeology, Jewish world culture, and all of the fine arts, while preserving the landmark Shrine of the Book, housing the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Biblical manuscripts in existence. Also on the grounds of the museum is a model of ancient Jerusalem. Continue to Yad Vashem where, accompanied by a local curator, tour the central memorial and museum dedicated to the Holocaust. Continue the visit by descending to the Valley of the Communities - a man-made valley in the form of the European Map built in remembrance of over 5,000 European Jewish communities that suffered under the Nazis. Hold a memorial service Led by Rabbi Kullock and place a single flower at the community of your choice. Close by is Mount Herzl Israel's "Arlington Cemetery". Pay homage to those who gave their lives defending Israel. Conclude the day at the Mahane Yehuda open air market of Jerusalem to see how the locals do their shopping. Take in the sites, smells and noises of the market. And don't forget to pick up some chocolate rugelach! TUESDAY, MARCH 17 "KINGS AND REBELS IN THE DESERT OF JUDAH" Depart Jerusalem and drive east through the Judean Desert, arriving at the mountain-top fortress of Masada for an in-depth tour of the site. Ascend the cliff top fortress by cable car. From the top of Masada, the outlines of the Roman encampments are still visible below. Continue to a hotel/spa on the shore of the Dead Sea for an afternoon of R & R. Enjoy the tasty buffet lunch (included). You also have use of the hotel's private Dead Sea beach and private outdoor pool. You may wish to reserve treatments at the spa (not included, should be reserved in advance). In the afternoon travel to the oasis of Ein Gedi for a hike through the cascading waterfalls, where you may even get to see wild animals roaming freely in the desert. OR Return to Jerusalem via the caves of Qumran where the Essenes lived 2000 years ago and where the original Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in Visit the ruins of this ancient desert village, before returning to Jerusalem. Freshen up at your hotel. Drive into the Judean Desert to the "Land of Genesis" for a camel ride through the hills. Here, you will be greeted by "Abraham" and his family who will host you in their tent for a Farewell biblical style dinner! WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 DEPARTURE You will be picked up at your hotel at 6:30 this morning and transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for your very early morning departure flight on Wednesday, March 18. At the airport, a member of our staff will assist you with departure procedures. Shalom u Lehitraot Itinerary subject to change.

5 Q U O T A T I O N HOTELS: Accommodation at hotels includes full Israeli breakfast daily and hotel service charge. The price has been based on the following hotels: HOTELS: March 9 11 (2 nights) Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv (Deluxe Sea View rooms) March (2 nights) Pastoral Hotel, Kfar Blum, Galilee (Boutique rooms) March (4 nights plus late check out on March 17) Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem (Superior rooms) MEALS: In addition to the complete Israeli breakfast served daily, we have included the following meals; Monday, March 9: Welcome dinner at Maganda Restaurant, Tel Aviv. Wednesday, March 11: Lunch at Abucristo Restaurant, Akko. Wednesday, March 11: Dinner at hotel option in the Galilee. Thursday, March 12: Lunch at Ein Kinya Druze Village on the Golan Heights. Thursday, March 12: Dinner at hotel option in the Galilee. Friday, March 13: Shabbat dinner in a private room at the hotel option in Jerusalem. Saturday, March 14: Lunch at Fuchsberg Center (Conservative Yeshiva). Tuesday, March 17: "Lunch and Swim" at a Dead Sea Hotel, Spa. Tuesday,, March 17: Farewell dinner at Land of Genesis OR Abu Gosh Restaurant. TOURING SERVICES INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: Nine days of touring with a professional English speaking tour Guide. Eight days services of a driver in a touring in an air-conditioned touring vehicle. Overnight stays away from home base and expenses for the tour Guide and driver. All mileage per the above program. All tour coordination services. Jeep tour on the Golan Heights. Curator at Yad Vashem Visit with local guide at the Diaspora Museum. One group departure transfer from hotel to Ben Gurion Airport. OTHER SERVICES IN ISRAEL: One group VIP meeting/assistance upon arrival before Passport Control. Entrance fees to the various parks and sites have been included, as per the itinerary. Porterage at hotels. Bottled mineral water on touring bus throughout. One group VIP meeting/assistance upon departure in the Terminal. TOTAL COST NET TO MABAT: Cost per person sharing a double room: $3,500

6 Single Supplement: $1,250 (one person in a room) Child under 12 years of age, sharing a Triple Room with parents: $1,500 Child older than 12 years of age sharing a Triple Room with parents: $1,600 PLEASE NOTE: The above-suggested program includes many elements that have not yet been booked. They are pending final booking and confirmation. As such, there may be slight changes in the final program. The above cost is subject to change at any time as per notice from hotels and other suppliers of services. Should the number of participants and/or rooming arrangements and/or flight schedules change, the price will need to be revised. THE ABOVE TOUR IN ISRAEL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Cost of round trip airfare from country of origin to Israel. Any expenses of a personal nature. Meals other than those indicated. Any gratuities at all. Spa treatments. Beverages at meals. Early check-in and late check-out. Overtime or over-mileage beyond what has been allotted. Any guests at meals other than the participants of the party. Personal health insurance, insurance for baggage, personal items, trip cancellation or interruption. HOTELS IN ISRAEL: Please note that check-in at Israeli hotels is 2:00 PM 3:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM - 12:00 noon. Should you want guaranteed early check-in this will involve a supplemental charge. Note also that check-in at many Israeli hotels on Saturdays is often two hours after sundown. Some Israeli hotels charge for wireless internet services THE TOUR DAY: The above proposal has been priced based on the itinerary, mileage and hours to be traveled, and the other touring elements noted above. Should you veer from the printed program this may result in overmileage and/or overtime charges above and beyond what has been budgeted. The base tour day is based on up to ten hours per day. Such charges will be billed to you at the end of the trip. GRATUITIES IN ISRAEL: The recommended tip for the Guide and driver is $12per person, per day (1/3 to driver and 2/3 to guide). It is customary also to tip your airport drivers and hotel staff. This is of course left up to your discretion. PASSPORT / VISA INFORMATION: All passports need to be valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the USA. Note that upon entering Israel, your passports are no longer stamped. Instead you will receive a formal stamped form with a visa valid for 3 months. Please keep this form as you will need it for hotel check in, car rental, bank affairs, etc. TERMS OF PAYMENT FOR THE LAND PORTION: 1. A deposit of $500 per person is required to assure reservations days before arrival 50% of the total amount is required. 3. Final and full payment is required 40 days prior to arrival. 4. Payment may be made via bank transfer 5. For payment by credit card add 3%. Please request our credit card form. 6. All above prices and all payments must be made to West End Synagogue. CANCELLATION POLICY: If cancellation is received in our office: 1. Up to 60 days before arrival date $500 per person will be charged.

7 2. Between days before arrival an additional $1,000 per person will be charged. 3. Within 30 days of arrival - full payment will be charged. 4. Cancellation of various elements in the program less than 48 hours prior to the event may well result in a full cancellation charge. NEW VAT TAX REGULATIONS Please be aware that according to the new Israeli tax laws, being strictly enforced by all hotels, all guests holding Israel citizenship, even those with dual citizenship/passports both for individual travelers and guests part of a group, or invited local guests, will be charged VAT tax. Therefore we need to receive this information in advance in order to finalize the bill. Should we not get this information in advance, and hotels charge us VAT tax, be aware that we will charge you with this extra amount retroactively. Should the Israeli Government change the VAT tax law for tourists holding foreign citizenship, a VAT tax will apply to all touring services. INSURANCE: Insurance for baggage, personal items, health coverage and trip cancellation and interruption is not included, but is highly recommended. We suggest obtaining coverage through your local provider. RESPONSIBILITY: Mabat Platinum Ltd., (hereinafter called the Tour Operator), acts only as an agent for the various companies, owners or contractors providing the means of transportation, accommodation and other services. All exchange orders, coupons and tickets are offered subject to the Terms and Conditions under which such services are offered or provided. The issuance and acceptance of such tickets shall be deemed to be consent to the further conditions that the Tour Operator shall not be in any way liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in any vehicle, or through the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger/s or of any hotel proprietor, personnel or servant otherwise in connection therewith. The airline and transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act; omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. The right is reserved to withdraw any tour announced in this program and to make such alterations to the itineraries as may be found desirable for the proper carrying out of the tours. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable in the Tour Operator's discretion to alter the arrangements or itineraries for the passenger/s comfort or welfare or for any reason whatsoever, such alterations may be made without penalty to the Operator. The Tour Operator reserves the right to change any hotel/s listed with one of a similar category if circumstances necessitate. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the passenger/s. The right is reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of any group at any time. Sincerely yours, Carole Carole Kracer Director of Marketing North America 9/7/2014

OHEV SHALOM ISRAEL 2016 MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR Led by Cantor Paul and Arlene Frimark

DEPARTURE: Sunday, May 15, 2016 RETURN: Thursday, May 26, 2016 OHEV SHALOM ISRAEL 2016 MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR Led by Cantor Paul and Arlene Frimark HOTELS: Accommodation at hotels includes full Israeli breakfast