Kehillat Israel Adventure in Israel Led by Rabbi Amy Bernstein Cantor Chayim Frenkel Rabbi Nick Renner and Executive Director Matt Davidson July 13-24, 2016 Draft Itinerary updated October 8, 2015 Wednesday, July 13: HERE WE COME! Departure El Al 006 departing at 1:15pm from LAX Thursday, July 14: BRUCHIM HABAIM (WELCOME)!!! Arrival in Ben Gurion Airport at 1:45pm; meet and greet service Travel to Jaffa; participate in a "Welcome to Israel" ceremony and shehechyanu blessing together, overlooking the port in which Jews had been coming to the Holy Land for thousands of years Check into your hotel Celebratory welcome dinner at Deca Overnight: Hilton Hotel, Tel Aviv - Sea View Rooms Friday, July 15: THE FIRST HEBREW CITY At Independence Hall, hear the dramatic story of Israel s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, and his bold decision to declare the state despite the incredible pressure not to do so. Learn some Hebrew and Israeli culture on a South Tel Aviv graffiti tour Follow ten young Jews as they help in the struggle to start up the Jewish state at the Palmach Museum At the Israeli Museum at the Rabin Center, follow the life of Yitzhak Rabin from his days in the Palmach through the signing of peace treaties with the Palestinians and Jordan, until his assassination in 1995. Follow the history of Israel during this same time period. Learn some Hebrew and Israeli culture on a South Tel Aviv graffiti tour Walk through the Nahalat Binyamin Arts & Crafts Fair - with its street artists and entertainers and the adjacent Carmel Market 1
Return to the hotel to relax and prepare for Shabbat In the evening, join Israelis of all religious spectrums for a spiritual and musical rendition of kabbalat Shabbat with Beit Tefilah Yisraeli on the Tel Aviv Port Shabbat dinner at the hotel Overnight: Hilton Hotel, Tel Aviv Saturday, July 16: SHABBAT SHALOM Optional Shabbat morning service overlooking the beach Session with educator Rachel Korazim: The Tale of Two Cities exploring contrasting Zionist representations of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in the writings of Yehuda Amichai, Naomi Shemer, Yehonatan Gefen, Nahum Gutman and Yoram Thar-Lev; children will participate in a "building a new city" activity on the Tel Aviv beach Enjoy the rest of the morning on the beach Lunch in hotel Visit the Reuven Rubin Museum of art OR Optional walking tour of trendy Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv s first neighborhood Free evening on the Tel Aviv Port Overnight: Hilton Hotel, Tel Aviv Sunday, July 17: NORTHERN EXPOSURE Visit the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled Travel north along the Mediterranean to the ancient port city Caesarea which served as the seat of Roman power. Examine the complex relationship between Jewish & Pagan Roman Civilizations which continue to resonate today. Visit the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled Head to Herzliyah s Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy, to learn about Israel s diplomatic and strategic challenges Performance and workshop with the Galilee Jewish/Arab Acrobatic performance composed of high school students from the Galilee. Dinner at Decks Restaurant on the shores of the Kinneret Cruise on the Sea of Galilee Overnight: Pastoral, Kibbutz Kfar Blum Monday, July 18: MYSTICS AND MOUNTAINS Ascend up to Tzfat; explore the alleyways and synagogues of mystics and trace the development of Kabbalah in the 16 th Century. Meet with a Kabbalistic Artist in his studio and see how he synthesizes Jewish mysticism into his art Encounter with Israeli soldiers on the Israeli-Lebanese border in the upper Galilee; discuss with them what it means to have the responsibility of Israel s security at the age of 18 2
Encounter with Israeli soldiers on the Israeli-Lebanese border in the upper Galilee; discuss with them what it means to have the responsibility of Israel s security at the age of 18 Tour and tasting at the award winning boutique Adir Winery Ascend up to Tzfat; explore the alleyways and synagogues of mystics and trace the development of Kabbalah in the 16 th Century. Meet with a Kabbalistic Artist in his studio and see how he synthesizes Jewish mysticism into his art Ride ATVs for outstanding views of northern Israel Return to hotel for dinner and a Kleizmer concert Overnight: Pastoral, Kibbutz Kfar Blum Tuesday, July 19: GOLAN 360 O Hike along the Tel Dan Stream one of the three main tributaries into the Kinneret. Adults will see the Biblical archaeology while children will visit the 100 Acre Wood Ascend Mt. Bental for a view into Syria; hear the heroic stories from the Yom Kippur War Get your hands dirty at a chocolate making workshop in the DeKarina Boutique Chocolate Factory Walk through the Snir Stream, one of the three main tributaries into the Kinneret At Tel Saki on the Syrian border, hear a first hand, on site account of one of the most significant and heroically fought battles of the Yom Kippur War. Visit IDF field hospital providing medical treatment to Syrians Drive up to Jerusalem Welcome to Jerusalem ceremony overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem; shehehiyanu prayer and l chaim Check into your hotel and free night out on town Wednesday, July 20: THIS YEAR IN JERUSALEM! Start the day at the Haas Promenade overlooking the Old City; begin the exploration of the Jewish love affair with Jerusalem starting with the Biblical accounts of the Binding of Isaac Bible in hand, explore the City of David s latest excavations while considering Jerusalem as the venue for the development of Jewish morality and values. Parallel programing for youth. Then explore together Jerusalem s nearly 4,000 year old underground water system and flashlight in hand wade through Hezekiah s Tunnel Shopping and lunch in the Jewish Quarter and Roman/Byzantine Cardo Private prayer and contemplation time at the Kotel (Western Wall) See how incredible Herod's Temple project must have been at the Western Wall Tunnels Session at the hotel with Khaled Abu Toameh, Arab Affairs Correspondent for the Jerusalem Post: Can Israel and the Palestinian Authority Make Peace? Guided drive around the Jerusalem seam line including Jewish and Arab housing in the contested Shimon HaTzadik/Sheik Jarrah neighborhood, Har Homah and outlook into 3
Bethlehem. Meet local residents and hear a variety of perspectives about coexistence in Jerusalem Lunch and shopping time on your own in the Old City Private prayer and contemplation time at the Kotel (Western Wall) Tour the Muslim and Christian Quarters, including the 14 Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa, culminating at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Thursday, July 21: FROM HOLOCAUST TO REDEMPTION Visit and stand in solemn memory at Israel s Yad Vashem memorial to the Holocaust; younger children to the Biblical Zoo or the Bloomfield Science Museum Participate in an actual archaeological dig at the Beit Guvrin National Park Visit Kibbutz Reisheet, the first urban kibbutz in Israel which is still continuing its pioneering aspirations. Religion in the Public Sphere -Walking Tour of Cinema City, Nahlaot and Machaneh Yehuda with Rabbi Aaron Lebowitz, founder of Hashgacha Pratit (Community Kosher Supervision) and Jerusalem City Council member Dialogue between Amos Davidovitch colonel(res.) in the IDF and founder of Global Peace Experiences, and with Palestinian dialogue activist Issam Issa, who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza and was placed on the Hamas hit list. Having returned from addressing a UN Forum in NY during the height of the Gaza fighting, Issam has a unique story and a unique perspective. Friday, July 22: WHAT PRICE FREEDOM? Take the cable car up to the fortress of Masada the desert fortress and hear one of the most dramatic stories in Jewish history. Parallel guiding for youth Float in the Dead Sea In Sde Boker, visit the tomb of David Ben Gurion and explore his vision of making the desert bloom Check into your hotel and prepare for Shabbat Group Shabbat services overlooking the Ramon Crater Shabbat Dinner in the hotel Overnight: Beresheet Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon Saturday, July 23: SHABBAT SHALOM Optional group services in the hotel Free day to enjoy the spa facilities Shabbat Lunch in hotel Meet some residents of Mitzpe Ramon and hear what brought them to this development town Conclude Shabbat with Havdallah, followed by a drum circle Overnight: Beresheet Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon 4
Sunday, July 24: MEET THE PEOPLE Start the day with a jeep ride to see the geological phenomenon of the Ramon Crater Learn about the creation of the crater and about Israel s first astronaut who took his last name from the crater at the Mitzpe Ramon Visitors Center Ride camels and experience renowned Bedouin Hospitality at Khan Hashayarot Concluding discussion (children to have parallel, interactive summarizing session) Farewell dinner in a Tel Aviv restaurant Transfer to the airport for your flight home Monday, July 25: L'HITRAOT (SEE YOU SOON)! El Al flight 001 departing Ben Gurion Airport at 12:30am Arrival at LAX at 7:00am Start planning your next trip Listed accommodations, activities and speakers are subject to confirmation Program will be staffed by Keshet Israel Tour Educators and Keshet Youth Counselors There will be parallel educational programming for adults and youth throughout the trip to allow for age-appropriate learning All breakfasts plus underlined meals are included in the package price This itinerary is proprietary to Keshet and is intended for the promotion of and to inform those considering joining this Keshet trip. It is not to be transmitted to any other party without prior authorization from Keshet K e s h e t T h e C e n t e r f o r E d u c a t i o n a l T o u r i s m i n I s r a e l P O B o x 8 5 4 0 J e r u s a l e m 9 1 0 8 4 I s r a e l P h o n e : 9 7 2-2 - 6 7 1-3 5 1 8 F a x : 9 7 2-2 - 671-3 6 2 4 k e s h e t @ k e s h e t i s r a e l. c o. i l w w w. k e s h e t i s r a e l. c o. i l 5