JEWISH NATIONAL FUND B nai Mitzvah Trip: Sample Itinerary 9 days 8 nights DAY 1 ARRIVAL / TEL AVIV Welcome to Israel! After arriving into Ben Gurion Airport, meet the driver and transfer to the hotel in Tel Aviv. This evening, take a stroll along Tel Aviv s port and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Tel Aviv Overnight, Tel Aviv DAY 2 TEL AVIV This morning, visit the multimedia Palmach Museum, to learn more about the fight for Israeli independence and the development of the renowned Israeli army. Palmach Museum Afterward, enjoy lunch at a beachfront restaurant followed by an afternoon of relaxation on Tel Aviv s beach, situated along the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean. This evening, see an exciting performance by the Mayumana dance group. Inspired by the beat band Stomp, Mayumana adds uniquely Israeli elements to its pulsating mixture of music, beat, movement humor and joy (TBC). Following the show, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Old Jaffa. Jaffa Overnight, Tel Aviv 1
DAY 3 WESTERN COAST / NORTH After checking out of the hotel, drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the Crusader s city, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre that has been restored as a concert venue. Roman aqueduct in Caesarea Continue to the nearby Druze Village of Daliyat el-carmel, located high on the slopes of Mt. Carmel. During lunch in the village, dine on authentic Druze ethnic foods including olive oil, olives, pita bread, locally produced labaneh cheese and sweet baklava pastries. Following lunch, take a stroll through the bustling village and become immersed in the rich and unique culture of the Druze people. Druze Village Zichron Ya acov An alternative to the Druze village is a visit to Zichron Ya acov, a town rich with Zionist history. Take a stroll through the town s cobblestone streets and learn about the many challenges that Zichron Ya'acov s settlers faced in their attempts to establish the town and how Baron Edmond de Rothschild s vision for the growth of community and his commercial enterprise helped to establish the town. Also known as the Napa Valley of Israel, Zichron Ya acov is home to several world famous wineries. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at the Tishbi Winery s restaurant overlooking part of the Tishbi Estate vineyards. Dine on local cuisine including fresh vegetables, homemade bread and fresh cheeses from the nearby Ya acov and Meiri Dairy farms, and taste some of the spectacular wines produced here. Next, choose 1 of the 3 options below: Option 1: Drive north to Acco, an underground crusader city and one of the only cities never conquered by sea. Explore the gates, towers, tunnels and secret passageways of this ancient city before visiting the famous Acco Prison, built by the Turks and later used by the British to imprison members of the underground. Acco Haifa Option 2: Continue to the port city of Haifa. Go to Mt. Carmel for a panoramic view of the entire Haifa bay. Continue to the magnificent Bahai Hanging Gardens, an UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk through the garden terraces to witness the beauty that many describe as the eighth wonder of the world. Option 3: Drive to the Atlit Illegal Immigration Camp. Converted into a detention camp by the British Mandate, Atlit imprisoned thousands of Jewish immigrants upon arriving into Israel. During a tour of the camp, experience the trauma of the immigrants who were subjected to imprisonment so soon after their release from Nazi extermination camps. 2
Later this afternoon, visit Rosh Hanikra, the northernmost point on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Take a cable car ride from the mountain top down to sea level to see the magnificent grottos carved out of the limestone cliffs. Continue to the hotel to check in. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel. Rosh Hanikra Grotto This evening, head to Beit She an and be transported through history to Israel s Roman period. After a short presentation, stroll through the streets of the excavated city of Scythopolis for a multi-sensory and multi-media tour. See audiovisual presentations projected onto giant screens on the columns, walls and even the tel behind the site. Meet local characters, experience the earthquake that destroyed the city in 749 CE and watch a performance in the Roman amphitheater. Overnight, Kibbutz Guest House, Galilee Beit She an at night DAY 4 UPPER GALILEE After breakfast, depart the hotel for the mystical city of Safed. Stroll through blue-painted alleys and learn about the origins of Kaballah, the famous rabbis that lived here and the artist s community that remains. Afterward, continue to the magnificent Hula Valley for a golf cart tour along the migration route for birds on their journey between Europe and Africa. Safed An alternative option is a visit to the Top-Rope Adventure Park, located near Kfar Blum. A great activity for children 5 years and older, the Top Rope Adventure Park offers a rope-course, rock climbing wall and zipline. A third option is to go to the Manara Cliff, the highest cliff in Israel. Take a cable car ride to the top, stopping at various stations along the way that offer bungee trampolines, rock climbing, repelling, water slides and apple picking. At the top, take a dip in the childrens swimming pool before departing. Bungee Trampoline at the Manara Cliff After lunch, take an exciting jeep ride to the foot of the Golan.. During the jeep tour, stop in Mitzpe Gadot, a former Syrian base and site of particularly harsh battles during the 1967 war. Walk through an old army bunker to see what life was like for soldiers manning the outpost. Continue to the Banias Springs, one of Israel s most breathtaking natural treasures. Take a walk along the ancient paths to the Banias Waterfall, which gushes fresh water out of a limestone cave, creating natural pool-like enclaves. This evening, enjoy dinner overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Jeep Ride Overnight, Kibbutz Guest House, Galilee 3
DAY 5 NORTH / JERUSALEM After breakfast and checking out, head to Gan Hashlosha, located at the foot of the Mount Gilboa, where King Saul was killed in the battle against the Philistines. Take a dip in the natural hot springs and relax in the natural jacuzzi underneath the waterfalls. Gan Hashlosha Following a picnic lunch, continue towards Jerusalem and stop at the Yad Kennedy Memorial, built in honor of former President John F. Kennedy. Designed as a tree stump to symbolize a life cut short, it has 51 pillars representing the United States of America and is almost 24 feet tall. Here, each person will have the opportunity to plant a tree and contribute to JNF s ongoing afforestation efforts in Israel. Upon arrival, drive to the Haas Promenade for a beautiful panoramic view of the city. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Jerusalem. Planting a Tree If you are going to have your Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony tomorrow, then this evening, meet with the Rabbi for a private review session. Western Wall Tunnels DAY 6 JERUSALEM After breakfast go to Jerusalem s Old City for a walking tour. Enter through the Jaffa Gate and head straight to Ramparts Walk and take a jaunt along the walls of Jerusalem to see fascinating views of the Old City. Continue to the Western Wall, the last remaining retaining wall which enclosed the Temple Mount in the Second Temple Period. Continue to the Western Wall Tunnels, an incredible labyrinth of tunnels, arches and passageways that expose Jerusalem s rich history, archeology and topography. Kotel Following lunch in the colorful Mahene Yehuda Market, choose from one of the following options: Option 1: If you choose to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony, proceed to the Southern Wall where you will meet the Rabbi for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony. Ir David Tunnel Option 2: Visit Ir David for a tour of the City of David, which is the actual location of the Biblical City of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3,000 yrs. ago. Here, see the world's most significant archeological finds relating to the Biblical Period in Jerusalem, evidence of the more than 3000 year-long Jewish presence in the city beginning with King David. 4
Tonight, celebrate this special Bar/Bat Mitzvah day with a B nai Mitzvah celebration and dinner at one of Jerusalem s exclusive restaurants. After dinner tonight, see the Light and Sound Show at the Tower of David, a cutting-edge pyrotechnics show that unfolds with a blaze of images that tell the story of Jerusalem s history. The City of Light depicted in the footlights at the Tower of David Yad Vashem DAY 7 JERUSALEM This morning, go to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum & Memorial for a solemn tour. A sprawling complex of tree-studded walkways leading to museums, exhibits, sculptures, and memorials, Yad Vashem tells the story of the Holocaust from a uniquely Jewish perspective, emphasizing the experiences of the individual victims through original artifacts, survivor testimonies and personal possessions. B nai Mitzvah Wall Afterward, drive to JNF s American Independence Park, the site that commemorates the partnership between American Jews and the State of Israel. If you choose to have your child s name inscribed on the JNF B nai Mitzvah Wall, you will participate in a dedication ceremony. This stone wall, designed to look like a Torah scroll, has glass tiles embedded with the names of the B nai Mitzvah child, his/her hometown, date of the B nai Mitzvah and the name & home country of a child who perished at the hand of the Nazis. After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring parts of the new city of Jerusalem. Begin at the Knesset, Israel s Parliament building. Take a guided tour and learn about how Israel s government works. Afterward, stop by the famous Menorah, the emblem of the State of Israel. Chagall windows Next, view the architectural splendor of Israel s Supreme Court building before driving to the Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem to see the Chagall stained glass windows. Chagall s 12 exquisite stained-glass windows depict the blessings that Jacob bestowed to each of his 12 sons, who later became the founders of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Later this afternoon, enjoy the Time Elevator, an exciting simulator ride through Jerusalem s 3,000 year history. Amid crashing ceilings, splashing water, billowing smoke, stunning computer-generated animation and other special effects, journey through Jerusalem's historic turning points beginning with the city of David and ending at the 1967 Six-Day war. Time Elevator 5
DAY 8 TEL AVIV After breakfast, make your way to Tel Aviv. Along the way, visit the Ayalon Institute, a secret bullet factory established by the Haganah in 1945. As the largest bullet factory during that time, it produced 2.25 million bullets from 1946 1948, completely in secret. Ayalon Institute After lunch in Tel Aviv, choose from one of the following options: Option 1: Visit Tel Aviv s Safari Park, offering 250 acres of animal life. The uniqueness of the Safari is that many of the animals roam around freely, with no cages to confine them. Carmel Market Option 2: Take advantage of some of Tel Aviv s best shopping areas. Start at Nahalat Benyamin, the famous pedestrian street filled with musicians, handmade jewelry and artifacts. Continue to Tel Aviv s own Soho on Shenkin Street, the lively and colorful street especially known for its unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance before ending at the open-air Carmel Market. Option 3: Spend a leisurely afternoon relaxing on the beach. Later this afternoon, return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Tonight, enjoy a special Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Tel Aviv beach Cable Car Ride over Masada DAY 9 MASADA / DEAD SEA After breakfast this morning, drive south towards the Dead Sea. Along the way, stop in the ancient oasis of Ein Gedi and hike to the famous waterfall Nahal David. Proceed to Masada for a cable car ride to the top of the Herodian Palace Complex. This is the location of the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing suicide in 73 AD. Next, descend to the depths of Dead Sea, for an afternoon at leisure. After lunch, take a swim in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea, indulge in an optional spa treatment or simply relax at the beach. Late this afternoon, begin the drive to Tel Aviv. Head to the airport for the return flight back to the USA. Dead Sea Overnight, En Route 6