Israel Families Trip with your Cantor | June 2024

Activities:

• Begin the trip with Shehechiyanu from a magnificent lookout - Gather with your guide to meet and say Shehechiyanu to bless the beginning of your journey together in Israel! Enjoy a 360° panoramic view from atop an ancient guard tower at Tower of David grounds. This is where the entire Old City, new Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus, the Judean Desert and the Moab Mountains of Jordan, will be at your feet.

• Continue with a tour of the new Tower of David Museum - This interactive, newly designed museum, tells the story of the history and the centrality of this city, holy to the three monotheistic religions.

• Opening workshop at Kol Ha'ot - Now is your opportunity to reflect on what brought you to Israel and share the expectations you have for this journey. With the "Kol HaOt" team, we will explore the personal meaning of Israel using colors and symbols to give ourselves and our fellow participants a visual picture of what this journey means to us.

• Free time with tasting cards at Machane Yehuda Market - In the heart of Jerusalem sits this bustling, multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor. Immerse yourself in the world of Middle Eastern cuisine as you indulge in a tasting tour through Machane Yehuda Market. Learn about the market's rich history, and meet the vendors who bring this place to life, as you experience the vibrant energy unique to this iconic culinary destination. You will receive a card providing you with our recommendations for the best tastings this market has to offer.

• Welcome dinner at Hatzot (or similar) - Hatzot is a part of Jerusalem’s history. Two brothers, Abraham and Michael Ajami, founded this landmark family restaurant in 1970. Legend has it that Meurav Yerushalmi - the favorite Israeli mixed grill dish - was born at Hatzot Restaurant.

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - Every morning you'll enjoy a delicious buffet Israeli breakfast at your hotel.

• B'nai Mitzvah ceremony and Shacharit led by the cantor - Together as a community, share the joy of prayer, spirituality, and pride as you welcome your young adult members into your synagogue community at the Ezrat Israel Egalitarian Kotel, in front of the Western Wall.

• After a meaningful morning, continue to the Old City - Lunch break on your own in the Jewish Quarter.

• Festive kiddush

• Tour of the Jewish Quarter - Tour Jerusalem’s Old City and meet the people and places that make this place so unique. In the Jewish Quarter, uncover the layers of Jewish history from the time of the First Temple until the present day. In the Christian Quarter, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and, if conditions permit, view from a lookout the Dome of the Rock Plaza and the Temple Mount, a site holy to both Jews and Muslims. Throughout the tour, explore the complexity of a city that is holy to the three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Proceed to the Kotel (The Western Wall), sacred because it is one of the last remnants of the Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans. Feel the stones that have witnessed so much in the history of the Jews. Place your special and personal prayer in the cracks of the stones.

• The Jerusalem Scribe - Kalman Gavriel Delmoor may be a traditional Scribe, but through his unique perspective and expertise in the ancient craft, Kalman brings the Torah to life through his art. Meet Kalman, see him work, and learn about his mission.

• Afternoon - optional to add a visit to Yad Vashem - 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 and the tour is designed to a younger audience. Children under 12 will go to Jerusalem Aquarium or Biblical Zoo.

• Free evening and dinner on own

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Packed breakfast and early departure - Because of the heat, we will depart early for Masada.

• Tour of Masada - Ascend the mountain by cable car to explore Masada, scene of the epic stand taken 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.

• Dead Sea Resort for 'swim' and lunch - Israel’s Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, a stunning, other-worldly landscape of shimmering blue water ringed by bare, orange and yellow hills. The waters of the Dead Sea hold a potent solution of minerals and salts that have strong healing properties. Together with its ethereal beauty, these health-giving minerals make the Dead Sea’s beaches and spas popular vacation spots for Israelis and tourists alike. At one of the local hotels, have lunch and 'swim' in the Dead Sea.

• Ein Gedi Nature Hike - 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.

• Camel ride and early dinner at Genesis Land - Situated in the heart of the Judean desert, in the land where the Patriarchs lived, this magical place enables visitors to experience life as it was in biblical times. Ride by camel to desert hospitality in the style of Abraham and Sarah and enjoy a delicious desert meal.

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel and check out

• Tour of the magnificent Caesarea National Park - On the Mediterranean coast, Caesarea National Park is one of Israel’s most impressive archeological sites. Here, amazing ancient harbor ruins, beautiful beaches, and majestic modern residences sit side-by-side. It was Caesarea where King Herod built a large port in honor of Emperor Augustus Caesar 2,000 years ago. Visit the Roman Theater, Herod’s palace, the walled Crusader town with its galleries and restaurants and Caesarea’s latest attraction, the Time Trek, a fascinating multimedia presentation.

• Kibbutz experience at Kfar Masaryk - We'll eat lunch in the Kibbutz dining room. Continue with The Secrets of the Kibbutz Miracle, an experiential tour of kibbutz life. The beautifully renovated original kibbutz buildings provide visitors with a glimpse of early 1940s kibbutz living – the pioneers (Halutzim), clothes, rooms, and pastime culture.

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

• Check in to your hotel

• North

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Jeep tour along the border in the Golan - Take a geo-political tour of the Golan with an expert. While traversing the rich landscape, learn about the history, flora, and fauna of the area. Stop for a lookout over the border with Syria from Mt. Bental to get a better understanding of the geography and strategic role this region has for the State of Israel. Your local guide touches upon the nuances of living so close to the Syrian border and what that has meant for Israel as it relates to security and humanitarian issues.

• Children's Track: Chocolate Workshop - Learn the art of chocolate making at the DeKarina Chocolate workshop on Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights. Taste some of the finest chocolate in Israel and then make some of your own to take home.

• Adult's Track: Winery visit and tastings - The Pelter Winery was established in 2005 and is a study in Terroir. Taste the wines made from grapes grown on the rich Golan soil and hear the story of the winery.

• Lunch on route - (meal not included)

• Rafting Adventure and zipline into the Jordan River - During this exciting rafting adventure along the Jordan River, we'll row through one of the most beautiful spots in Israel. Here you will be amongst the plants, trees, and waterfalls in the middle of this beautiful Galilee nature reserve. At the end of the route you'll have the opportunity to get down to the Jordan River by a zipline for a real fun experience!

• Dinner at the hotel

• North

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Enjoy a relaxing morning at the Kinneret and the hotel's pool

• Check out from the hotel

• Havat Rom - Visit this magical organic farm, located on a mountain with a beautiful view of Meron Mountain. This is an agricultural organic farm, where they use ancient knowledge along with modern tools, in an attempt to find the balance between humans and nature. Enjoy a delicious 'farm-to-table' meal from the fresh produce and excellent cheese, tour the farm and visit the goats.

• Travel to Tel Aviv and check in to your hotel

• Afternoon and sunset tour of 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. The two were united into one municipality in 1949, yet each part kept 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.

• Musical Kabbalat Shabbat led by your cantor at Hapisga Garden - At this lovely lookout over the Old City of Jaffa and the Tel Aviv skyline, we will welcome in the Shabbat together as a community, while watching the beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean Sea and the Tel Aviv coast.

• Shabbat group dinner at the hotel

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Shabbat services as a community - This can be at the hotel or alternatively, you may join the services at a local progressive community.

• - OR - Morning at leisure - enjoy the hotel's facilities and beach - Optional activities during your free time: contact us for further information
  - bike along the beach promenade - tour is available
  - private surfing lesson
  - Jaffa Flea Market
  - A visit to Ayalon Institute Bullet Factory in Rehovot

• Optional (not included) - Shabbat Brunch - In private setting, indulge in a Jewish Shabbat Brunch. Enjoy the variety of classic ethnic foods that are part of the Shabbat day meal and learn about the heritage and stories behind the diverse Jewish communities.

• Afternoon tour of Neve Tzedek and the Independence Trail - This 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. Continue to the Independence Trail - following Tel Aviv’s heritage sites and learn about the history of this great city along the way. The trail ends across the street at Independence Hall, where on May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion read aloud the Declaration of Independence as Israel was declared an independent Jewish state.

• Havdalah ceremony

• Free evening and dinner on your own

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel and check out - We can offer a late check-out or extension upon request and based on availability.

• Peres Center for Peace and Innovation - The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation is a leading non-profit and non-governmental organization focused on developing and implementing unique and cutting-edge programs. The center presents the incredible story of Israel, the "innovation nation", and showcases the diverse fields and people behind Israeli innovation.

• Carmel Market Tasting Tour - Continue to Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel), the largest market in Tel Aviv. Touring the market reveals the taste of the ages of Tel-Aviv in the youthful atmosphere of the city's central market. The Polish, the Persian, and the Yemeni... in this case, it is not the start of a joke, but the fascinating culinary traditions that mix in this place. The established market that was founded over 90 years ago, can now reveal its secrets, stories, and legends to you. (The tasting tour serves as lunch.)

• Nahalat Binyamin Street Art Museum - Nahalat Binyamin is the most colorful and artistic of the streets of Tel Aviv. Notice the unique architecture that represents the spirit of the 1920’s, and what became of the buildings nearly a century later – deterioration and renovation. The streets became a Street Art Museum where local artist get permission to express their creativity and receive a platform for their art work. Enjoy a colorful dynamic tour and learn about contemporary Israeli culture through the art on the walls.

• Farwell group dinner and closing session

• Group transfer to Ben Gurion Airport

• L'hitraot! - We look forward to hosting you again in our beautiful country!