JERUSALEM Home of Many Religions January 11 19, 2016 Day One: Sunday, January 10, 2016 DEPARTURE Depart the USA Overnight: Flight Day Two: Monday, January 11, 2016 ARRIVAL Individual arrivals at Ben Gurion International Airport Check into the hotel Meet at the lobby & walk for dinner Introduction & Orientation to the program and dialogue with scholar over dinner at the at Olive & Fish restaurant, offering an international styled kosher meat menu with a Mediterranean flair Day Three: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 JEWISH LAYERS OF JERUSALEM Walking tour through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, for visits to archaeological treasures and other highlights, including: A walk along the Rooftops of the Old City for a behind the scenes look at the various communities in Jerusalem and how they live alongside each other
The Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem in the 6 th century. Hurva Square, the central square of the Jewish Quarter The 2,000 year old Herodian Mansions Group lunch in a restaurant in the Jewish Quarter Visit the Kotel (Western Wall) and experience the special atmosphere of this holy site. Explore the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, including the Davidson Center, Robinson s Arch and the Southern Wall steps, where Jewish pilgrims entered the Temple Mount 2,000 years. Performance by Joyce Klein Dinner on your own, perhaps at the Old Train Station Plaza, a central neighbourhood hub for food, entertainment, culture and enrichment Day Four: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 THE BEGINNING OF CHRISTIANITY Overlook Jerusalem from the crest of Mount of Olives, traditional site of Jesus ascension to heaven, for a glorious view of the Old City of Jerusalem. Descend to the Garden of Gethsemane, with its ancient olive grove and modern Church of All Nations. It was here, tradition holds, that Jesus prayed before his arrest. Group lunch en route Enter the Old City of Jerusalem through St. Stephen s Gate (aka Lions Gate); visit St. Anne s Church and the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus told the lame man to take up his mat and walk. Continue along the Via Dolorosa and explore the fascinating medieval Church of the Holy Sepulchre, venerated by many as the site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Walk through Jerusalem s famous Old City Market (shuk). Reflection time Dinner at a restaurant in Jerusalem Day Five: Thursday, January 14, 2016 ISLAM BEYOND BORDERS Early morning visit to the Temple Mount Harem esh Sharif, site of Mohammed s ascension to heaven; view the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the site of the ancient Jewish First and Second Temples. Special study program at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, with a leading scholar, followed by lunch
LaDa at The Geopolitics of Jerusalem ובליבה חומה :ירושלים: Travel through the city of Jerusalem, exploring some of its political and diplomatic complexities including the Security Barrier to gain a behind the headlines insight into current developments. Dinner with Joyce Klein, at a restaurant Day Six: Friday, January 15, 2016 BETHELHEM Depart Jerusalem and drive to Bethlehem. Visit the city of Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Machaneh Yehudah open air market; enjoy the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of this vibrant area where Jerusalemites shops, with lunch Time to freshen up before Shabbat Experience a traditional family Shabbat dinner with members of Shabbat of a Lifetime Day Seven: Saturday, January 16, 2016 TOWERS AND CAVES Free morning in Jerusalem Visit the renewed and wonderfully creative Israel Museum, with its wideranging and eclectic collection, from Archaeology and the Dead Sea Scrolls, to Jewish Life and Art, European Art, Contemporary Israeli Art and the open air model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period. Walk through the picturesque neighbourhood of Ein Kerem, with its Church of the Visitation, Church of John the Baptist and art galleries. Return to Jerusalem Reflection time Dinner on you own Day Eight: Sunday, January 17, 2016 A MULTI CULTURED SOCIETY Visit Herodian, Herod s final resting place and fortress, carved out of a mountain, just south of the city of Jerusalem, and explore the site where his tomb was finally discovered. Drive to Gush Etsion, including meeting at one of the Yeshiva. Lunch en route
Return to Jerusalem Free afternoon Dinner on your own & free evening Day Nine: Monday, January 18, 2016 A NATION S CAPITAL The Labyrinth of Israeli Politics: Dialogue with Prof. Reuven Hazan of the Political Science Department at Hebrew University Take a VIP tour of the Knesset (Israel s parliament) and meet with a Knesset member to discuss current political issues. Explore Jewish and Israeli judicial traditions at the Supreme Court building, including a meeting with a present or former Supreme Court justice. Lunch on your own, en route Free time Festive farewell dinner Day Ten: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 DEPARTURE. Check out of the hotel. Departure flight to the U.S.A., arriving the same day. This is the third trip Jehon Grist, Peretz Wolf Prusan and Ariel Goldstein are leading together. Previously they went to Israel in 2014 and Spain in 2015.
Trip scholar: Peretz Wolf Prusan, who served for 20 years as rabbi and senior educator at Congregation Emanu El in San Francisco, assumed his duties as Rabbi and Senior Educator for Lehrhaus Judaica in October 2010. In 1985 he went to Israel to learn at the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion and became a rabbi in 1990. Peretz has led JCCSF/Lehrhaus Judaica trips to Cuba, Israel, Spain, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. Trip Scholar: Jehon Grist Jehon Grist, Executive Director of Lehrhaus Judaica, holds a PhD in Mediterranean History and Archaeology from UC Berkeley. He has been a professional educator for 35 years, a tour leader for 16 and produces the digital history course for the Spain tour, including vivid introductions to our itinerary sites. Jehon has led JCCSF/Lehrhaus Judaica trips to Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Spain. Trip Leader: Ariel Goldstein Ariel Goldstein, Travel Program Manager at the JCCSF studied tourism at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, graduating as a tour guide. He has led tours throughout Israel, Europe, the Persian Gulf, Latin America, China, India and Africa. Ariel speaks Spanish, English, Hebrew and Portuguese.