Israel @75 – Lehigh Valley Jewish Federation Mission

Activities:

• Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport - 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 guide and driver.

• SheHechiyanu with a drink and introduction at Mikveh Israel - Mikveh Israel is the first agricultural school in the Land of Israel, founded in 1870, by the Alliance movement.
  The magnificent synagogue was designed with the influence of the French agricultural farms. The eclectic architecture was the typical style at that time.
  The school is a milestone in the modern Jewish national movement, that was only then starting to evolve in Europe.

• Check-in to your hotel

• Evolution of Jaffa – visiting the lesser-known parts of Jaffa

• Ajami Neighborhood and the Flea Market - Tour the Ajami neighborhood of Jaffa, a predominantly Arab neighborhood in Jaffa, you’ll hear a challenging narrative about the city and its history. Continue your tour through Jaffa, enjoying the beauty of the winding streets and the beautiful port with its biblical reference.

• The Gate to the Promised Land - The Jewish story of Jaffa in Biblical times and modern days. Jaffa port and city were the first places where the new Olim (Jewish immigrants) where welcomed in the Land of Israel. We will follow Jewish and Zionist milestones such as the Hebrew Gimnasiya, Khan "inn" for the immigrants, the Eretz-Israeli Office (the operational branch of the WZO), and was also a stepping stone for visionary Jews for a brave new world.

• Opening program at De Yaffa, Flea Market - Specially curated exhibition portraying the 19th century life in Israel (specially made for the group) – who were the people who lived in the land of Israel back then? How did the life look like? What were the challenges and achievements of those days?
  Ottoman style opening dinner and live music

• Sheraton Tel Aviv

Activities:

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

• Morning tracks:

• Track 1: the Tel Aviv Museum of Art - In this dynamic tour we'll figure out what makes Israeli art into what it is, and what’s it relationship with the Zionist narrative as well as the international art world. This tour through the extensive Israeli collection at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art is an amazing way to visually explore the Israeli narrative from the early 20th century until today. What is the story the Arts Establishment tells about Israeli Art?

• Track 2: Market tasting tour - Discover the diverse communities by tasting their delicious cuisine in Shuk Hacarmel and the Yemenite Quarter. Touring the market reveals the taste of the ages of Tel-Aviv in the youthful atmosphere of the city's central market.

• Street food lunch break on own

• Social Eyes - BINA is an Israeli-born movement at the intersection of Jewish education and social activism. BINA works to advance democracy, pluralism and justice in Israel and the Jewish world through limud (study), ma’ase (action) and kehilla (community), emphasizing Jewish culture and values of tikkun olam (repairing the world).
  Tour South Tel Aviv and Neve Sha'anan neighborhood, a microcosm of Israel. In recent years, Israel has seen a significant rise in non-Jewish immigrants such as migrant workers, asylum-seekers and refugees, presenting new challenges to the Jewish State. With our own eyes we will see how diverse groups have left their impact on Israel and on the neighborhood,

• Time to get ready for Shabbat

• Kabbalat Shabbat as a community followed by dinner - You could join a local synagogue such as Kehilat Halev in Rashi Street.

• Sheraton Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Walking tour of the Independence Trail - Inspired by the Freedom Trail in Boston, the new Independence Trail leads to 10 of Tel Aviv’s heritage sites teaching visitors the history of this great city along the way. The trail begins at the intersection of tree-lined Rothschild Boulevard and Herzl Street, home to Tel Aviv’s first kiosk. 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.
  *please note this is 30 minutes walk from the Sheraton Hotel.

• Changing the Map - Re:il with Joe Perlov - – an interactive map program, where the group will create together a map of the Middle East that investigates both the history and the current status of the area.

• Shabbat leisure - Those who wish to visit ANU Museum (the new Diaspora Museum) can visit on their own - open on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

• Afternoon tour - Giborot - From the early days of the establishment of Tel Aviv as the first Hebrew city, women have played a key role in building the foundation. Learn about Golda Meir, Rachel the Poet, Tzina Dizingoff, Ahuva Ozeri and others who were the movers and shakers that were part of making this city so great.

• Dinner on own

• Sheraton Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast & check-out from hotel

• Begin the day with a visit to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People - In June 2021, after ten years of planning and construction, the largest Jewish museum in the world opened its doors. You’re invited to join a fascinating journey that portrays the story of the Jewish people through the generations and up to the present time. The Museum represents all parts of the Jewish people and highlights the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities in different periods of history. This story is about all of us and each and every one of us is part of it.

• Drive to Haifa and tour Wadi Nisnas and Wadi Salib - Drive to Haifa and learn about the early days of the State of Israel. Learn about the Jewish undergrounds that took actions in the city as part of the battle against the British Mandate, the protests of the Mizrahi Jews against the State of Israel and end with a more optimistic taste when you'll discover the co-existence in the city today. Wadi Nisnas is one of Haifa’s most colorful neighborhoods, full of narrow streets, picturesque stone houses, and the Wadi Nisnas market. It is a mixed neighborhood that captures the nature and atmosphere of the city of Haifa - a city of many faiths and communities, that live alongside each other in an exemplary co-existence. The Wadi Nisnas market is the place to go and experience some of the local flavors: taste pastries, spiced tea, the best falafel in Israel, and strong Turkish coffee, along with other delicatessens and aromas.

• Tulip Winery - Visit the very special Tulip Winery in Kfar Tikva, Village of Hope. The winery employs the developmentally disabled adults who live in Kfar Tikva and produces excellent wines.

• Group dinner in a restaurant

• NEA Hotel Shavei Tzion

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Margalit Startup City Galil - Visit Margalit Startup City Galil in Kiryat Shmona. This is a groundbreaking hub for investors, developers, entrepreneurs, and academic researchers collaborating to create the next big FoodTech and AgriTech startups. You will also discuss the contribution of the founding of a start-up center in the northern periphery of Israel.

• Talking Walls - Graffiti Project in Shtula - Come see the Lebanese border from a new perspective. Talking Walls is a 400 meters long murals on the cement walls located on the Israeli-Lebanese border. This is a corporation of artists from Israel and around the world. The local residents were involved and shared their feelings and thoughts about living on the border, which was translated into art. This is an opportunity to delve into the human perspective of the challenging geo-political reality.

• Druze home hospitality and lunch - Together with your host in their private home, learn about Druze culture and history and enjoy a real feast.

• Tour of Peki'in - According to tradition, Peki'in has maintained a Jewish presence since the Second Temple period. The elderly sole remaining member of the Zinati family cares for the ancient synagogue as best she can. We will also learn about the Druze connection to the State of Israel and pay tribute to the fallen Druze IDF soldiers at the local memorial monument.

• La Chocolita local boutique workshop - Learn how to make chocolate and taste delicious pralines in a lovely garden in Peki'in!

• Light dinner at the hotel

• Erev Yom Hazikaron ceremony with a local community

• NEA Hotel Shavei Tzion

Activities:

• Breakfast & check-out from hotel

• Pay respect to the fallen and take part of a local Memorial Day ceremony - Place - TBC. optional ceremonies: Negba ceremony with Yoav partnership, Latrun Masa programs ceremony or other ceremonies that take place in a local military cemetery.

• Light lunch

• Mount Herzl - As Israel’s national cemetery, Mount Herzl is the final resting place of leaders of Zionism and Israel, including Yitzhak Rabin and Herzl himself, and of thousands of soldiers killed defending the State of Israel. At Mount Herzl you will find a moving monument to the 28,000-odd soldiers and civilians killed in combat or by terrorism since the founding of the state.

• Check-in to your hotel

• Havdallah Ceremony - Between Zikaorn Leatzmaut – use the text from the Declaration of Independence.

• Cocktail and Israeli Party - Israeli food, Rikudei Am (Israeli folk dancing session) followed by an Israeli music party at a private venue. Optional to invite guests from your partnershop and/or lone soldiers.

• Join the street parties taking place in Jerusalem

• Orient Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Panorama view of Jerusalem – Old:New - From the Haas Promenade take in a wide view of Jerusalem's Old and New Cities and the surrounding Judean Desert as far as the eye can see. See Jerusalem's complex geography, strategic setting, and beauty. Begin the conversation about Jerusalem's centrality to Islam, Christianity, and Islam. See the IDF Airforce Independence Day flyover.

• Israel as a capital - The Knesset, Israel's parliament, was named after “Haknesset Hagedolah,” the Great Assembly of the Second Temple period. Today it stands as a symbol of both Jewish sovereignty and dedication to democracy. In lively, often heated, debates, its 120 elected members reflect the divergence of Israeli public opinion, legislate and oversee the workings of the government. Tour around Israel’s capital hill. Discuss the political and internal challenges Israel is dealing with today

• Bike along the train track park - See the city development and enjoy the festive atmosphere in the streets of Jerusalem.

• Afternoon - Burma Road - Travel in jeeps along the road that was formed during the Independence War as part of the struggle to break into Jerusalem and stop the siege. Their mission was to make sure Jerusalem is part of the new Jewish state.

• Free evening and dinner in Jerusalem (on own) - This evening could be an option to add a visit to Yoav region, and maybe to have home hospitality dinner with your partnership.

• Orient Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Sharing History - Tour Jerusalem’s Old City and meet the people and places that make this place so unique. We will meet along the tour a representative from each religion.

• Take time to reflect at the Western Wall - Proceed to the Kotel (The Western Wall), 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.

• Free time for lunch and shop in the Old City - Browse in the famous Arab shuk (market) in the Muslim quarter. Check out the local hummus and sweets, the many stalls selling spices, pastries, pottery, sheepskin, embroidered clothes, and so much more. Meet store-owners whose stores have been in their family for generations.

• Social eyes: the future of Jerusalem - Visit new social projects in Jerusalem, revolving co-existence: Muslala, Sinsila ans Metzilot Mazon.
  Muslala is a nonprofit organization established in 2009 by artists, residents, and community activists. Muslala wishes to produce a new model that combines artistic activity with a social orientation. Tour the center, learn about the different branches of this special organization - the ecological, food just and co-existence branch.

• Kol Haot closing program - Now is your opportunity to reflect on the time you’ve spent in Israel and to share the experiences, sites, and people you’ll want to remember most after you’ve returned home. 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 meant to us

• Farewell group dinner

• Airport group transfer - Fly back home.

• Optional extension at Beresheet Hotel - For those who wish to stay, we will be happy to offer an extension from Friday to Sunday at Beresheet Hotel in Mitzpe Ramon. For more information please contact Via Sabra.