MONMOUTH FEDERATION FAMILY TRIP TO ISRAEL-AUG.2013 Mon. July 29 GETTING ACLIMATED, TRAVELLING NORTH Welcome to Israel! 1:00 pm- Land at Ben Gurion Airport, Receive snack boxes for the ride up north, since we wouldn t want to be without food for any part of our journey. 2:45 pm Drive to the city of Tiberias on the Kineret, or Sea of Galilee. Learn about the life of the Second Aliyah Pioneers that settled in the area at Hatzer Kinneret. Sample and shop for dates, one of the local specialties produced in the area. 5:30 pm- Continue to Kibbutz Deganya, the 1 st Kibbutz of Israel. Listen to the story of the life in the Kibbutz and enjoy an early dairy dinner at Café Rishonim. 7:00 Drive to Kibbutz Hagoshrim for check in Overnight Hagoshrim Kibbutz Guest House
Tuesday, July 30 FUN DAY IN THE GOLAN Climb up the Golan Heights to visit Mount Bental on the border with Syria, where in a clear day you can see Damascus. Drive by jeeps through Apples orchard and enjoy a fresh bubbly cider. Light sandwich lunch After lunch a spatzier (or wander) through the Odem Forest, the largest nature reserve in the Golan Heights, offering apple and cherry orchards, impressive landscapes, refreshing water pools and thick forests. Enjoy a visit to the Deer Forest- a charming area inside the village of Odem where deer, ibexes and gazelles wander around. Afternoon -Kayaking in the Jordan River. Enjoy a river adventure, comfortably rafting by and under riverside foliage, down the beautifully clear Hatzbani stream, later merging with the Banias stream to create the Jordan River, on which our rafting adventure continues. Early evening -Kfar Blum activity park- Offering Zip line sliding to the river, climbing wall and rope park activity in grass and shady grounds. Followed by fun dinner on site. Overnight Hagoshrim Kibbutz Guest House
Wednesday, July 31 -SPIRITUALITY Begin the day with a visit to Kfar Giladi secret weapon slick. This was hidden in the Kibbutz since the British Mandate pre state period and discovered only in 1970. Learn about the early struggles for Israel s independence. Visit Tzfat- Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism. Tour ancient synagogues associated with the founders of Kabbalah and the Artists Colony which counts amongst its members both secular and religiously observant Jews who are influenced by Kabbalistic themes. Special workshops for kids and families: Cheese making in the 3 generations old Hameiri Dairy OR candle making in the famous Safed Candle factory. Lunch on own in the Artists Colony in Tzfat. Afternoon Optional Hike in Tel Dan. The Dan River is the largest and most important source of the Jordan. The trail passes along streams, the river, and through a shady tangle of trees. Easy wet walk for the whole family. Or return to hotel for a swim in the pool Dinner at hotel followed by a lantern night tour at Nimrod s Fortress. Overnight Hagoshrim Kibbutz Guest House
Thursday, Aug 1 DIVERSITY AND CO- EXISTENCE Morning check out of hotel Travel to Haifa for a beautiful overview of the unique Bahai Gardens. Drive down the Carmel Mount to Wadi Nisnas a neighborhood in Haifa where Jews, Arabs and Christians coexist. Participate in a workshop in Beit Hagefen A Community Center for all religions. Lunch in Haifa on own Visit Yemin Ord Youth Village supported by the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County. Hands on activity with the children residents. Drive south to meet another minority living in Israel the Bedouins of the desert. Arrive to Kfar Hanokdim Bedouin Village. Enjoy a short camel ride. Settle in your tent and proceed to a Bedouin Dinner Feast with drum circle entertainment and a bonfire. Overnight: Kfar Hanokdim (Special accommodations for parents.)
Friday Aug 2 ASCENT TO JERUSALEM AND WELCOMING SHABBAT Light breakfast in the dark,followed by an easy climb to Massada by sunrise. As you explore the ancient remains of fortifications, King Herod's palaces, storerooms and baths, you will hear about the spirit of its last Jewish defenders. These Zealots held out for three years against the legions of Flavius Silva and chose to die as free men at their own hands in preference to Roman slavery Continue along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and arrive at a lovely hotel, located on the shores of the Dead Sea. Lunch and enjoy a swim in the hotel's swimming pool or private beach. Drive to Jerusalem. Participate in a Shehecheyanu ceremony upon arriving to Mt. Scopus Check in to hotel afternoon getting ready for Shabbat Welcoming the Shabbat-Depart for the Kotel for Kabbalath Shabbat- return walking to hotel. Traditional Shabbat dinner at hotel. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem
Saturday, Aug 3-SHABBAT RELAXATION Shabbat morning service options Lunch on own in Jerusalem. Light sandwiches dinner at hotel, with discussion groups. Havdalla separating the Shabbat from the rest of the week Depart hotel. Enjoy the spectacular Sound & Light Show at the Tower of David Fortress. The walls of the Citadel serve as a stage for a nighttime show which is a celebration of sight and sound. The story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant breathtaking, virtual reality images. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem
Sunday,Aug. 4-3,000 YEARS OF HISTORY Enter the walls of the Old City for a day tour of the city. Walking through the 3,000 years old alleys and narrow streets-history reveals itself to us. Visit the Kotel Tunnels An exciting tour of an underground tunnel exposing full length of the Western Wall. Explore the Herodian Temple Mount reconstruction at the Davidson Center with an interactive supercomputer Ir David: Deep underground, the City of David reveals some of the most exciting archeological finds of the ancient world. Trek through knee high deep water in King Hezekiah's 2,700 year old water tunnel, one of the wonders of early engineering. Falafel Lunch in the Old city Afternoon at leisure to refresh by the pool Evening tour of the famous Biblical Zoo Dinner in Little Italy across the hotel Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem
Monday Aug 5 JEWISH MEMORY VS. HISTORY Breakfast speaker After breakfast-visit to Yad Vashem, Israel s Holocaust Remembrance Museum safeguarding the memory of the past and imparts its meaning for future generations. Children under 10 years visit the Science Museum All- Herzl Museum -a unique educational center that offers a hands-on encounter with the Zionist Movement and its founder, Binyamin Ze ev (Theodor) Herzl. Picnic lunch The visit will be followed by a hands on activity in Jafi/ JDC program. Feel the strength of the Jewish State and the connection to the Jewish people. Early evening Scavenger Hunt Game in Nachlaot Dinner at Ima Middle Eastern restaurant Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem
Tue. Aug 6 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE Depart hotel to Tel Aviv. Visit Independence Hall, where the state of Israel was declared by David Ben Gurion in May 14, 1948. Stroll through Rothschild Blvd and hear the story of the first streets of the city of Tel Aviv, founded 102 years ago, literally from sand. Spend time walking through the arts and crafts stands in Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian Mall. Lunch on own. Wander through the alleys of Old Jaffa, before driving to Tikkun Olam activity, gleaning in the fields with Leket Israel. Conclude the day at The Ayalon Institute: visit the secret underground ammunition factory established by the Haganah, the Jewish resistance, during the British Mandate. The factory was disguised to fool the British into thinking it was a kibbutz. Enjoy dinner with authentic accordion dances, just like an Haganah member. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem
Wednesday, Aug 7- FAREWELL Morning to pack check out of hotel at 11 am Drive to Holon, a town South of Tel Aviv that in the last decade established itself as a main cultural center. We will divide into 2 groups and experience one of the following exhibitions Dialogue in the Dark A sensory experience for those who've already seen it all. In complete darkness, following a blind guide you will experience the world without the benefit of your sense of sight. An Invitation to Silence - Guided by a deaf guide, you will discover the non- oral communication skills that exist in every one of us, and which are best expressed in the absence of voice and sound. Lunch boxes at the adjacent Peres recreation Park. On our way out of Holon, pass through some of the city s 35 magical storybook playgrounds unique sculptures inspired by loveable Israeli children s books. Late afternoon arrive to Neot Kdumim unique Biblical Landscape Reserve for some hands on activities that will connect you to the soil of Israel "I have gathered my myrrh with my spice;" - perfumes in ancient times were produced from scented herbs dissolved in oil. We will walk along the scented herbs and prepare perfumed sachets. Visit the Flock - our ancestors were farmers and shepherds. We will discuss their way of life and do an actual sheepherding. Tree Planting - A meaningful tree planting ceremony. Each participant receives a certificate. Enjoy a Biblical farewell dinner before driving to the airport for your return flight.