Thursday, December 21, 2017 - Monday, January 1, 2018 Itinerary as of 3/9/17 Group Flights: December 21, 2017: El Al 002 JFK/TLV 6:45pm/12:25pm Dec 22 January 1, 2018: El Al 001 TLV/JFK 12:45am/6:00am Thursday, December 21 6:45pm. Group flight, El Al 002 departs JFK OVERNIGHT: EN ROUTE Friday, December 22 12:25pm. Group flight arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport Assistance at the airport and transfer to Tel Aviv Drive through Tel Aviv and view the Bauhaus architecture and Rabin Square Check into the hotel 4:00pm. Kabbalat Shabbat program led by Noga Brenner from The Bina Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture, a UJA-Federation of New York recipient. Bina was founded as a forum for secular Israelis to explore their Jewish roots in a pluralistic and creative way. Noga will lead a special Kabbalat Shabbat service accompanied by guitarists and moderate an interactive parent-child learning session and discussion using Jewish texts to look at a topic related to intergenerational relationships Shabbat dinner at the hotel (included) OVERNIGHT: DAN PANORAMA HOTEL, TEL AVIV Saturday, December 23 Optional: Shabbat services at a local synagogue 1
Walk to Jaffa, one of the oldest biblical cities in the world, and an important seaport since antiquity. Visit Jaffa's restored Old City including the artists' colony and the quaint historic harbor. Jaffa has much to offer in the way of art galleries, gift-shops and restaurants found tucked away amongst the winding, cobblestone alleyways. Nearby, visit the flourishing flea market. Tour the new Visitors Center, which tells the ancient city s 4,000-year-old story using state-of-the art techniques. An animated film recounts the myth of Andromeda and a dynamic display on a huge screen traces the city s history by illustrating important periods and events that took place there: the conquest of Jaffa by the Egyptians 3,500 years ago, the story of the Prophet Jonah who tried to flee from God, the spread of Christianity that began in Jaffa, the Ottoman administration, the wars and the reconstruction of the city Lunch on own, en route or at the hotel Free afternoon in Tel Aviv for an opportunity to: Explore the colorful and historic Neve Zedek Neighborhood Visit some of Tel Aviv s legendary Art Galleries Enjoy the Ganei Yehoshua Park on the Yarkon River Wander through the Tachana, Tel Aviv s newly renovated old train station Return to the hotel Dinner and evening at leisure OVERNIGHT: DAN PANORAMA HOTEL, TEL AVIV Sunday, December 24 Visit the magnificent Palmach Museum. The aim of the museum is to give a sense of the period, which led to the founding of the State of Israel. Appropriately, the main exhibit takes place underground in a series of chambers. Remarkably realistic sets, sounds, lighting, special effects and even moving rooms, make the visitor feel part of this extraordinary experience (confirmed) Visit Givat HaKibbutzim, also known as the Ayalon Bullet Factory, and descend into the reconstructed underground munitions factory located under the kibbutz bakery. The kibbutz was established in order to hide the factory in British-controlled Palestine. In order for the British not to notice the illegal operation, the kibbutzniks built and operated a bakery and laundry directly over the factory, thus the noise of the factory would not be heard Lunch en route, on own Dig deep into the past at Beit Guvrin, where thousands of underground caves date back to the time of the Phoenicians. Become an archaeologist for a day and take part in a hands-on archaeological dig at the caves, which served as storerooms, burial crypts and safe havens during the time of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans (confirmed) Return to the hotel Dinner and evening at leisure OVERNIGHT: DAN PANORAMA, TEL AVIV 2
Monday, December 25 Breakfast and check-out of hotel Caesaria, built by Herod the Great, was the Roman capital of Palestine for nearly 600 years. The extensive seaside ruins date back to Roman, Byzantine and Crusader times. Explore the 2,000- year-old Roman Theater, Crusader harbor and 12th-century ramparts. In addition to exciting ruins, this site also contains some new audio-visual presentations, which use modern technology (holographs) to highlight the ancient site and allow you to meet some of the historical figures who lived there Climb and explore the Carmel Caves Lunch on own in Akko Akko, the coastal city, served as one of the key ports of Israel over much of its long history. The Canaanites and Phoenicians utilized the port, and the city is mentioned in ancient Egyptian records. Walk along the city s old harbor and visit the local market. Also visit the Turkish baths and the Prison. The Templars, who were also known as the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, built the Templar tunnels in the second half of the 12th century. Thanks to these buildings, UNESCO declared Akko a World Heritage Site in 2001 Check into the hotel Dinner at the Dan Carmel Hotel OVERNIGHT: DAN CARMEL HOTEL, HAIFA Tuesday, December 26 Jeep tour up the Golan Heights in the footsteps of IDF soldiers and their battles in the Six Day War, to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and gain an insight into the strategic complexity of the Golan Enjoy the culinary delights of a chocolate workshop at the De Karina Chocolate Factory in Ein Zivan. Depart for Safed, which sits at a higher altitude than any other city in Israel and has been known since the 16th century as a major center of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. Safed is one of Israel s four holy cities, along with Jerusalem, Tiberias and Hebron. Its old synagogues, narrow alleyways and artists colony add to the hilltop city s unmistakable charm Lunch on own, en route Visit Tzahal Absorption Center in Safed. The goal of the absorption center is to help integrate and prepare new immigrants for independent living within Israeli society. It has residential units for the families to live in and activities for both adults and children. For adults, this includes Hebrew studies, conversion classes, seminars and community activities, workshops on parenting, employment, consumerism, and trips around Israel. Activities for children focus on education reinforcement and enrichment in subjects such as Jewish customs, festivals, and Israeli culture. 3
The Tzahal Absorption Center is supported by the Jewish Agency for Israel, one of UJA- Federation s largest recipients Dinner at Decks Restaurant (included) OVERNIGHT: DAN CARMEL HOTEL, HAIFA Wednesday, December 27 Breakfast and check out of the hotel Tour the beautiful Bahai Gardens. Be sure to stop at the top for breath-taking views of the gardens below and the surrounding shoreline At the Biblical-style village of Kfar Kedem, don traditional Israelite dress and take a donkey ride through countryside which has hardly changed in 2000 years. Afterwards, enjoy a whole range of activities such as baking fresh pita bread and making home-made cheese (from goat s milk) as our ancestors did. For a taste of manna from heaven, enjoy these delicacies as we stay for lunch in true Talmudic-style Lunch en route, on own Visit the ancient synagogue of Beit Alpha, which is located at kibbutz Beit Alpha in the Beit She'an Valley. View a very special audio/visual presentation that explains the process of making the mosaic floor of a 6th century synagogue. Excavations starting in 1929 exposed outstanding mosaic floors preserved intact for almost 1,500 years, one which depicts the sacrifice of Isaac as described in the Torah as well as zodiac signs and Jewish motifs such as a shofar, menorah and more. Drive south towards Jerusalem along the Jordan Rift Valley 4:00pm. Check into the hotel Early dinner on your own 8:00pm. Night Spectacular Sound and Light Show not to be missed! OVERNIGHT: DAN PANORAMA HOTEL, JERUSALEM Thursday, December 28 8:15am. Depart hotel Descend to the Dead Sea Basin Arrive at Masada and ascend by cable car or climb up the Snake Path. 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 Roman legions in 70BCE and chose to die as free men at their own hands in preference to Roman slavery. From the top of Masada, the outlines of the Roman encampments are still visible below 4
Celebrate B nai Mitzvah of members of the group at Masada Have lunch (included) at the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea Hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea and swim in the in the hotel's swimming pool or go down to their private beach to experience a therapeutic dip in the salty waters of the Sea. Let the buoyant waters support you as you relax on your back and think of nothing else but the sea and salt all around you. The hotel also provides excellent spa facilities (please note that entrance to the spa and all treatments are not included in the cost. It is advisable to reserve these treatments well in advance) Return to Jerusalem Dinner and evening at leisure OVERNIGHT: DAN PANORAMA HOTEL, JERUSALEM Friday, December 29 Walking tour through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, with visits to some of the sites excavated over the past 30 years, including: The Cardo, a Byzantine street that is now the world s oldest shopping arcade The Hurva Square, the central square of the Jewish Quarter The 2,000-year-old Herodian Mansions The Jerusalem Archaeological Park, including a visit to the Davidson Center and the Southern Wall Excavations The Kotel (Western Wall) The Western Wall Tunnel Lunch on own in the Old City Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Kotel (Western Wall) Experience an authentic Shabbat evening at the Western Wall and home of a host family in the heart of Jerusalem with Shabbat of a Lifetime. You will receive an informative introduction to Shabbat in Jerusalem at the Western Wall followed by home hospitality including a five-course meal OVERNIGHT: DAN PANORAMA HOTEL, JERUSALEM Saturday, December 30 Enjoy a Scavenger Hunt through Yemin Moshe and the Windill. Optional Programming: Tour the stunning Israel Museum, including a special children s visit to the Youth Wing. The museum is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel, which is ranked among the world s leading art and archaeology museums. Founded in 1965, the museum houses encyclopedic collections, including works dating from prehistory to the present day in its archaeology, fine arts, 5
and Jewish art and life wings; it also features the most extensive holdings of biblical and Holy Land archaeology in the world. Along with the exhibits, the museum includes the model of Jerusalem during temple times, the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden, and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed Dinner on own OVERNIGHT: DAN PANORAMA, JERUSALEM Sunday, December 31 9:00am. Visit the Yad Vashem complex, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including: The Avenue of the Righteous The new Historical Museum The Children's Memorial Ending with a Memorial Service 1:00pm. Experience the sights, smells, and tastes of Jerusalem while walking through the Machaneh Yehuda open-air market Balance of afternoon at leisure 6:00pm. Festive Farewell Dinner at Olive and Fish Restaurant (included) Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport Monday, January 1 12:45am. Group flight El Al 001 departs Tel Aviv 6:00am. Arrive JFK Airport, NY Itinerary subject to change UJA-Federation of New York cares for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, responds to crises close to home and far away, and shapes our Jewish future. 6