Elisa and Scott Judson Israel Trip – October-November 2024

Activities:

• Arrival at Ben Gurion airport - Your VIP agent will be waiting to greet you at the sleeve of the plane. After assisting with arrival procedures and collecting your baggage, you will be taken to meet your driver.

• Transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem

• Dinner on your own

• Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Encompass the Old City of Jerusalem by following the Ramparts Walk - Walk on the top of the walls built by the Ottoman ruler, Sultan Suliman the Magnificent, in 1536, and observe the picturesque views of both the Old City with its alleys and shrines and the New City spreading on the surrounding mountains outside the Walls.

• Continue to the Jewish Quarter - Tour the Jewish Quarter of the Old City including the Southern Walls excavations. Visit the Kotel, the ancient Cardo, the Hurva Synagogue, and walk through the Old City’s narrow streets.

• Hurva Synagogue - Founded in the 18th century, the iconic Hurva synagogue in the old Jewish quarter was destroyed in 1948, leaving only an arch against the sky. Today, the Hurva has been restored to its early splendor as the heart of a vibrant Jewish community, offering marvelous views across the Old City from the balcony around its domed roof.

• Lunch on your own in the Old City

• Visit the Western Wall Tunnels - Explore what’s under the Muslim Quarter through the Kotel Tunnels Tour. The Western Wall is impressive, but its greatness is truly discovered when you descend underground to the Western Wall Tunnels. The tunnels run along approximately 488 meters (1601ft) of the Western Wall, giving visitors a taste of the challenge that stood before Herod the Great during the biggest of all his immense building projects - the expansion of the Temple Mount.

• We take time to reflect at the Western Wall – Ha Kotel Ha’Ma’aravi or simply HaKotel - Over generations, Jews came to pray here, as it was the closest they could come to the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount. When you see the Wall, you aren't just seeing it with your eyes - there is so much more. There are thousands of years and the weight of millions of Jews there. Your eyes may just see giant bricks and people praying, but your heart sees infinitely more. What does being here mean to each of us individually and as part of the Jewish people?

• Dinner on your own - We will be happy to make recommendations and reservations for you

• Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Visit the museum at Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Memorial to the Holocaust - Tour this memorial to the darkest moment in the world and Jewish history, its children’s memorial, and exquisite gardens. Yad Vashem is an unforgettable place of tribute and remembrance. You'll be guided by a member of the Yad Vashem staff.

• Machane Yehuda Market Tasting Tour - After a meaningful morning focusing on our past, we will head to the present and modern day. If you really want to get the feel for Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda Market is the place to go. Here you can meet people of all nationalities, religions and ages. Here you can see foods and fruits of all colors, sizes and shapes.
  Friday at Machane Yehuda is an extra special treat. You can sense of Shabbat is in the air. There is an added urgency to the shopping frenzy as shoppers look for the nicest and freshest in honor of the Sabbat. Things that you can be sure to see in people’s baskets are Challah, wine, fruit, fish, and even aromatic leaves to be used in the Havdalah ceremony at the end of Shabbat.

• Visit the National Library of Israel - Founded in Jerusalem in 1892, the National Library of Israel (NLI) holds the collective memory of Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths and the Jewish people worldwide. While continuing to serve as Israel's preeminent research library, over the past decade NLI has embarked upon an ambitious journey of renewal to encourage diverse audiences in Israel and around the globe to engage with its treasures in new and meaningful ways. This transformative renewal is taking place through a range of innovative educational, cultural, and digital initiatives, as well as through the construction of a new landmark campus, on schedule to open its doors in 2023.

• Dinner on your own

• The Tower of David Sound and Light Show - The ancient walls serve as a stage for a nighttime show which is a celebration of Jerusalem's profound story. Enjoy a multi-sensory experience amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel's courtyard.

• Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Enjoy a day of leisure to explore and enjoy Jerusalem on your own

• Private Anniversary Celebration Cooking Workshop and Dinner - Details to follow

• Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - And check out from hotel

• Travel to the Dead Sea Region

• Continue on a short hike at Ein Gedi National Park - This beautiful nature reserve features Nahal David, a spectacular water hike for all ages. Trails in a range of levels of difficulty take you alongside and through the cool, fresh waters of Nahal David, down waterfalls, along jaw-dropping canyons, and past caves. If you’re both quiet and lucky, you might even glimpse the sure-footed ibex and other local animals.

• Tour Masada National Park - Ascend the mountain from the east (via cable car) to explore Masada, scene of the epic stand by Jewish rebels at the end of the Great Revolt against Rome nearly 2,000 years ago. The new museum at the Visitor Center reveals the secrets of the daily life of the rebels, the story of the excavations, and how the site became one of Israel’s most important symbols.

• Lunch stop for lunch on your own

• Drive to Kedma Hotel - Check into the hotel

• Dinner at the hotel

• Isrotel Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin your day at the Mitzpe Ramon Visitors Center National Park - Visit the Mitzpe Ramon Visitors Center and learn the geological story behind this unique and amazing work of nature through interactive exhibits. At the center, pay tribute to Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first and only astronaut, who tragically died on a space mission in 2003.
  
  View the crater from a stunning vantage point, at the heart of the promenade which stretches along the Ramon Crater mouth. There is a hanging terrace providing a marvelous observation point over the depths of the crater.

• Take the driver's seat and explore the Ramon area! - For thrill-seekers, self-driving ATV tours are a real adventure and a particularly fun way to get to discover the area. Engage in an unforgettable outdoor experience through scenic desert beauty.

• Lunch and wine tasting at Ramon Vineyard - Wine tasting at the Kerem Ramon Winery whose wines are produced from top-quality grapes that come from organic vineyards and cared for entirely by human hands- no mechanical machines are used.

• Return to the hotel for rest time

• Shabbat dinner at the hotel

• Isrotel Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - I

• Hike in the stunning oasis in Ein Avdat National Park - The Ein Avdat Spring flows down in a waterfall towards an 8-meter deep pool of water. The canyon is part of Nahal Zin, which is the longest wadi or dry riverbed in the Negev desert. If you are lucky you might see the Ibexes and make sure to look for the vultures in the sky.

• Sde Boker Grave of Ben Gurion - Visit the grave of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, and his wife Paula, located near Sde Boker. One of his famous quotes is: "It is in the Negev that the creativity and pioneer vigor of Israel will be tested, and this will be a crucial test" - his vision for settling the desert continues to bloom today. Overlook towards the breathtaking Tzin Valley and the Avdat highlands in the heart of the Negev. Throughout the day, you’ll see his vision come to life.

• Time for lunch on your own

• Explore Avdat National Park - Heading deep into the Negev desert, stop at Avdat on the ancient Nabatean Spice route. The nomadic Nabateans transported valuable spices, perfumes, and even wine, from the Arabian Peninsula to Europe along this route, over 2,000 years ago. Explore the impressive ruins, and learn the history of the desert’s significance on the culture and flavors of Israel.

• Time to enjoy the hotel facilities

• Isrotel Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - Check out of the hotel

• Spa time at Kedma Hotel - Depart the hotel

• Stop for lunch in Beer Sheva - Be'er-Sheva and the Negev cover almost two-thirds of the country's land area, and are considered the most significant source of available land reserves. The Israeli government transferred the IDF's elite units to the south, as well as changing national priorities, and the establishment of the national cyber complex – CyberSpark - in Be'er-Sheva, place the city in the heart of the Israeli high-tech industry. Can the periphery be transformed?

• Continue on your way and stop at the Yaacov Agam Museum of Art - The Yaacov Agam Museum of Art is in Rishon LeZion, the hometown of internationally acclaimed Israeli artist Yaacov Agam. The museum will showcases six decades of Agam’s groundbreaking artistic research, presenting temporary exhibitions and permanent displays of some of his most important artworks, coming from prestigious collections and museums worldwide.

• Drive to Tel Aviv - Check into the hotel

• Dinner on your own

• Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Free day

• Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Tour Old Jaffa - Jaffa is one of the most ancient port cities in Israel and the Mediterranean basin. Today, Jaffa is a mixed city, where Jews and Arabs live alongside each other. Tel Aviv, Jaffa's younger sister, was established centuries later, in the year 1909. Though the two were united into one municipality in 1949, each part has retained its unique feel and atmosphere. Jaffa has been regenerated in recent years with the old narrow streets and courtyards becoming a highly popular part of Tel Aviv’s urban tapestry.

• Time on your own to visit Shamai Sam Gibsh in Jaffa

• Lunch on your own at the Jaffa Flea Market - Wind your way through the Flea Market which features everything from antiques to hip new clothing and design stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars.

• Continue to Neve Tzedek - Neve Tzedek is the first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside of Jaffa and is now one of the most beautiful and desirable locations in Tel Aviv. It was built in 1887 by dignitaries of the old Jewish community of Jaffa. Looking to head out of the ever-growing and over-crowded Jaffa, they built, what was considered back then, modern and comfortable housing.. In recent years, the neighborhood was restored and has become a trendy fun beautiful part of the city and a good place to try some Israeli Gelato!

• White City Tour - Explore Lev Ha'ir, the Heart of the City, where the first roots of Tel Aviv were planted in 1909. Lev Hair contains some of Tel Aviv’s most beautiful buildings, being at the center of the UNESCO designated “White City” known for its Bauhaus, Eclectic, and International Style architecture. The area is densely populated, rooted in history, and with a glance towards the future with impressive skyscrapers, and a high concentration of start-up companies. Bordered by Habima Theater in the north and Florentin and Neve Tzedek in the south, Lev Ha’ir is a gateway to almost every district in the city. Lev Ha'ir is a cultural hub, filled with galleries, restaurants and parks.

• Nachalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Market - Enjoy time to explore the local artistic spirit in Nachalat Binyamin open-air market in the heart of Tel-Aviv. It has become synonymous with quality Israeli crafts and folk art. The market comprised over 100 stands representing specialty local crafts in virtually every medium imaginable: wood, stone, glass, ceramics, and various metals, all original and handmade. The unique architecture as well as the graffiti on the walls provide a perfect backdrop for the arts and crafts market.

• Dinner on your own - We will be happy to make recommendations and reservations for you

• Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Caesarea National Park - On the Mediterranean coast, Caesarea National Park is one of Israel’s most impressive archeological sites. Explore the 2,000-year-old Roman theater, Crusader harbor and 12th-century ramparts. The city was initially built by King Herod in the 1st century BC, who dreamt of a major seaport to connect the Province of Judea with Rome. View the spectacular Roman amphitheater, still used today as a performance venue, as well as the hippodrome that held 20,000 spectators for chariot races.

• Light lunch and wine-tasting at Amphora Winery - Enjoy wine tastings at Amphorae Winery - the winery deserves the coveted title of Israel’s most beautiful vineyard and can compete with rural vineyards around the world. At the heart of Makura Farm on Moshav Kerem Maharal in the north, decorated with a stone mosaic and shaded by a red tile roof, is the lovely winery building, with the forested slopes of the Carmel mountain ridge in the background.

• Drive to Haifa

• The Bahai Gardens - A magnificent scenic lookout over the Baha'i Gardens and Haifa's Bay all the way to the border with Lebanon. Admire the garden's captivating terraces, gracefully cascading towards the Mediterranean Sea, while discovering the history of this sacred site and the principles of the Baha'i religion. Haifa's vibrant landscape unfolds a tapestry of cultures, religions, and historical layers.

• Druze cooking workshop and dinner - Together with your hosts in their private home, prepare traditional Druze Galilean dishes and then enjoy a dinner of the foods you create. Learn about Druze culture and history from your hosts and from the food you eat.

• Return to Tel Aviv

• Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Graffiti Tour - Explore contemporary Israeli culture through an urban inquisitive graffiti tour in the Florentin neighborhood. What stories do these images and words tell about the people living here? What social issues are reflected in the art on the walls? What is unique about graffiti in Israel and Tel Aviv specifically? In this dynamic tour through Florentin, Tel Aviv's best-known neighborhood for graffiti, you will answer these questions, share your interpretations, and gain an appreciation for this expressive form of art.

• Levinsky Market Cullinary Tour

• Sarona - Sarona is a renovated complex in the heart of Tel Aviv, originally a German Templar Colony, the site sits at the heart of what is a new central business district of the city, with offices and apartments surrounding the beautifully landscaped complex, in which 33 original Templar buildings dating up to more than 140 years, have been painstakingly restored, and today house boutique stores, artist galleries, quaint cafes, and some of the city’s hottest restaurants and bars.

• Milk and Honey Distillery - Stop at the Milk and Honey Distillery, the first whiskey distillery in Israel, for a tour and tasting.

• Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Ayalon Institute - The Ayalon Institute is a clandestine ammunition factory built in 1945 by the Haganah. a Zionist paramilitary organization. Above ground, it appeared to be no more than a kibbutz bakery. However, eight meters below ground was really the country's largest bullet factory. It has been said that the bullets manufactured at the Ayalon Institute played a crucial role in the success of the War of Independence.

• Chaim Weizmann Institue - Chaim Weizmann Museum

• Shabbat Dinner

• Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Free day in Tel Aviv

• Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of the hotel

• Transfer to the airport - Or depart Saturday night November 9.

• Sgds