Welcome to Israel! Upon individual arrivals, meet your arranged transfer and head to the Inbal Hotel in Israel s capital city, Jerusalem. This evening, we will officially commence our journey with a Schecheyanu Ceremony atop Mt. Scopus, followed by a welcome dinner at a restaurant in Jerusalem. Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem Following breakfast, leave the hotel for Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum & Memorial, a sprawling complex of tree-studded walkways leading to various exhibits, archives, monuments, and memorials. Yad Vashem tells the story of the Holocaust from a unique first-hand perspective, emphasizing the experiences of survivors through original artifacts, testimonies, and personal possessions. Continue to Mt. Herzl, site of Israel s national cemetery. Visit the gravesites of former leaders and dignitaries such as Shimon Peres, Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir, and Yitzhak Rabin. Lift your spirits with a visit to the famous Machane Yehuda Market and become immersed in the bustling energy of Jerusalem s shuk (Hebrew for market ). Take time at your leisure to eat lunch and wander among the many local vendors selling delicious cheeses, pastries, spices, and more. Venture into the Old City to experience Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel. Spend a special Shabbat dinner at the hotel with Nefesh B Nefesh Lone Soldiers, who will share their personal stories of leaving their family, friends, and homes in order to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Hear from Doreet Freedman, VP of Partnerships & Development at Nefesh B Nefesh (NBN), who will discuss NBN s critical work and how JNF has played a key role in its success. Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Today will be at leisure in honor of Shabbat. Services will be offered at the hotel for those who are interested. Alternatively, consider participating in one of the following optional activities: OPTION 1*: Masada & Dead Sea Day Tour Spend the day at Masada and the Dead Sea. The bus will depart from the hotel early this morning and drive via the Judean Hills along the shores of the Dead Sea. Visit Masada, the mountain fortress built by King Herod where religious zealots made their final stand against the Romans. Take a cable car ride to the top of the Herodian Palace Complex and learn about the history of the Jewish fighters. Afterwards, proceed to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth. Enjoy lunch, float in the buoyant waters, and spend time relaxing at the beach. (Note: Option to book massages on own at the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea Resort for added fee.) OPTION 2*: The Israel Museum Visit the Israel Museum, one of the world s leading art and archeology museums. See the original Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world; view the Holy Land Model, a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple Period; stroll through the beautiful sculpture garden; and explore other fascinating exhibits at this one-of-a-kind cultural institution. Enjoy dinner at leisure, experiencing Jerusalem at your own pace. Reconvene this evening for a night tour of the Western Wall Tunnels; an incredible labyrinth of underground arches, tunnels, and passageways. Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem *Additional Cost- not included in tour price.
Enjoy breakfast before checking out of the hotel. Head to Ammunition Hill, site of the most pivotal battle of the Six-Day War. Walk through the battlegrounds and bunkers to follow in the footsteps of the soldiers who fought here. See the multimedia exhibit and movie that tells the story of this fierce battle and reunification of Jerusalem. End at JNF s Wall of Honor, which commemorates Jewish veterans from around the world. Proceed to the Old City of Jerusalem for a comprehensive walking tour. Discover the historic Jewish & Christian Quarters, see the ancient City of David, stroll the Cardo, and take time for silent contemplation at the Kotel, and enjoy free time in the heart of Israel s capital for lunch and an opportunity to shop and explore. Depart south to Hatzeva and enjoy dinner upon arrival before checking into your accommodation. Overnight: Hatzeva Following breakfast and check-out, begin the day of touring JNF sites in the Central Arava. The first stop will be at the Vidor Visitor Center and the Yair Research and Development Station to learn how agricultural experts and farmers are working together to find solutions to the challenges of desert agriculture. Continue to Sapir to visit the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT). Here you will be met with a cacophony of voices of students from Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, and more that make up the student population at AICAT. These students receive professional agricultural training and a unique experience before returning home to develop their local agricultural industry. Take part in a special Dedication Ceremony of the Emergency Response Center in Sapir and witness a unique Security Drill. Enjoy lunch with students, physicians, and staff, before going to see the JNF Housing Development Fund project in Yahel. Proceed south to Kibbutz Ketura. Site of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (AIES), Ketura was founded by a small group of young North Americans at
the close of the Yom Kippur War in November 1973. AIES is the premier environmental education and research program in the Middle East, preparing for future Jewish and Arab leaders to cooperatively solve the region's environmental challenges. Students at AIES study a range of environmental issues from a transboundary and interdisciplinary perspective while learning peace-building and leadership skills. Enjoy dinner here with faculty before returning to the hotel for the night. Overnight: Kibbutz Ketura, Ketura After breakfast, proceed to Kibbutz Grofit for a visit to the Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center, a rehabilitative center that uses horseback riding as a means of therapy for children with mental and physical disabilities from kindergarten through high school. Continue south towards the Red Sea, stopping at the Regional R & D Center for Renewable Energy, located opposite Kibbutz Yotvata. Visit Timna Park, a site of great historical significance and a premier recreation destination for Israelis and tourists. Start at the JNF Chudnow Visitor Center and discover the park s archeological and geological treasures, such as King Solomon s breathtaking pillars, ancient copper mines, and mountains that afford spectacular views. Enjoy lunch at the park before taking time to explore the beautiful hiking and biking trails at your leisure. Reach Israel s southernmost city, Eilat, and spend free time at the luxurious promenade parallel to the Red Sea, lined with trendy shop, bars, and restaurants where you will have dinner at your leisure. Overnight: Kibbutz Ketura, Ketura
Have an early breakfast this morning before checking out of the hotel and departing for Mitzpe Ramon. Experience an exhilarating jeep tour ride through the Ramon Crater. Discover the unique landscapes and hidden treasures of this one-of-a-kind geological phenomenon. See the JNF Skate Park and Mitzpe Ramon Fire Station, a JNF initiative that has helped ensure the safety and security of local residents and the surrounding region, and learn about the progress of Israel s fire and rescue efforts. Enjoy lunch at the local Spice Quarter, a developing area in Mitzpe Ramon with various cafes, restaurants, and boutiques, and enjoy free time. Visit the gravesite of David Ben-Gurion, Israel s first Prime Minister, and learn of his significant role in developing the Negev from his very own grandson, Alon Ben Gurion. Hear firsthand accounts of his grandfather s vision and how Jewish National Fund is helping to fulfill his dream of transforming the desert into a pioneer of innovation and opportunity. Arrive in Be er Sheva and check-in to the hotel before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Leonardo Hotel, Be er Sheva Following breakfast at the hotel, walk in the footsteps of Abraham, the founding father of the Covenant, with a visit to Abraham s Well on the banks of the biblical Be er Sheva River. Afterwards, see how Jewish National Fund is supporting the growing Bedouin population in the Negev with Project Wadi Attir. Tour the new goat-milking facility the most advanced in Israel taste locally-produced goat cheeses, and see the thriving medicinal and herb fields. Proceed to Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran; a one-of-a-kind rehabilitative village that provides high-level medical services and unparalleled care to children with severe cognitive and physical disabilities. Survey the beautifully landscaped grounds and see the various therapeutic services offered here.
Continue south to explore the developing region of Halutza, where several communities were built for Gush Katif evacuees forced from their homes after the 2005 disengagement from Gaza. Following lunch, tour the grounds with Yedidya Harush, JNF-Halutza Liaison, and see how Halutza is flourishing in its desert surroundings. Pick vegetables fresh off the vine at the organic greenhouses, survey the new housing sites, and see the state-of-the-art Medical Center. Enjoy a catered lunch before returning to Be er Sheva and seeing the Be er Sheva River Park, the centerpiece of JNF s efforts to create a renaissance for the city. Hear how this urban renewal project has served as an anchor of tourism and recreation. See the Pipes Bridge, a pedestrian and cycling bridge that links to the Old City of Be er Sheva, and the 12,000-seat amphitheater now the largest in Israel. Experience an Ethiopian-style dinner with local residents of Be er Sheva, as they share their unique stories. Overnight: Leonardo Hotel, Be er Sheva Enjoy breakfast before checking out of the hotel. Proceed to the Ayalon Institute, a secret underground bullet factory established in 1945 by the Haganah- Israel's prestate military army. Tour the grounds, which played a major role in aiding the Jewish soldiers that fought for Israel s Independence. Continue to Neot Kedumim, Israel's Biblical Landscape Reserve. Following a brief tour, plant a tree in the soil with your own hands at the Harvey Hertz-JNF Ceremonial Tree Planting Center and contribute to JNF s ongoing afforestation efforts in Israel. Arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel s bustling metropolis, in time to explore Nachlat Binyamin Arts & Crafts Fair; a festival of arts, crafts, pottery, and street performances. Pass through the Carmel Market and capture all the liveliness of this vibrant, open-air market. Grab lunch on your own and enjoy free time to shop. This evening, enjoy a special Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv
Today will be at leisure in honor of Shabbat. Services will be offered at the hotel for those who are interested. Alternatively, consider participating in the following optional activity: Tour the ancient ruins of the city of Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. See the excavations from the time of the Crusades, the historic aqueduct, and the site of the old amphitheater that has been restored and converted to a concert venue. Our journey concludes with a farewell dinner before transferring to Ben Gurion Airport for return flights to the USA. Overnight, En route