Jason’s Bar Mitzvah Trip | Dec. 2023

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 Jerusalem & check-in to your hotel - Please note check-in time is from 3:00 pm.

• Take the time to settle in and get used to the new time zone

• Welcome dinner at a local restaurant (on own) - We will happily make recommendations and help make reservations for you, closer to time.

• Jerusalem - Orient Hotel, Orient Room

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - Every day enjoy a delicious buffet Israeli breakfast.

• Meet your guide and begin your special tour of Israel

• Begin your day with a magnificent lookout from the Tower of David - Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the Old and New Cities, as an introduction to your day and the places you will be visiting.

• Tour the Jewish Quarter - See archaeological finds from the First and Second Temple periods, Roman ruins, vibrant synagogues, and learning institutions, all jostling for space in these busy stone streets.

• When its lunch time take a break at the Arab Market - 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. (meal not included)

• 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.

• Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - The Holy Sepulchre is situated on the hill called Golgotha or Calvary. The Church contains the last five Stations of the Cross including the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Several Christian denominations claim ownership to various parts of the site so holy to Christendom.

• Take the light train to the Machne Yehuda Market

• Culinary tour in Machane Yehuda Market - In the heart of Jerusalem, a bustling multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor, a tasting tour through Machane Yehuda Market is an adventure for your taste buds. Enjoy the hustle and bustle with all the rich fragrances, colors, and sounds this iconic Jerusalem market offers. (tastings replace lunch)

• Jerusalem - Orient Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Bar Mitzvah ceremony in front of the Western Wall - At the Egalitarian Section together with Rabbi Goor celebrate Jason's Bar Mitzvah. Reservation for the service should be made by the Rabbi. (donation is required and not included)

• Tour the Archeological Gardens - Walk through the Southern Wall Archaeological Gardens. Get a glimpse of the glory of the Second Temple, the heart of the ancient Jewish kingdom, and the devastation that followed. Visit the Davidson Visitors' Center and enjoy a modern, interactive virtual presentation. The museum presents a taste of the archaeology of Jerusalem from different eras - covering the First Temple, Second Temple, Byzantine, Islamic, and the Crusades periods.

• Celebrative lunch at a restaurant - Recommendations will be made. (meal not included)

• Afternoon options: - (activities are not included)

• A: Visit the Israel museum - Visit the unique collections and expansive grounds of the Israel Museum, the country’s national museum. Linger over the renowned international and Israeli art, the world’s most complete Judaica collections and the charming Billy Rose Sculpture Garden. You can also visit the Shrine of the Book, home to the exceptional archaeological finds of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other rare ancient manuscripts.

• B: Segway tour in modern Jerusalem

• Dinner on your own

• Jerusalem - Orient Hotel - Overnight: Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast & check-out from hotel

• Early departure from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea region

• Masada National Park - Ascend the mountain by a 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.

• Ein Gedi oasis hike - The landscape, climatic conditions and water sources at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve have created a unique ecosystem of springs, waterfalls and pools surrounded by lush greenery in a desolate desert setting. We will have the opportunity to hike up to and cool off in the refreshing pools and waterfalls of the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.

• Time to swim and float in the Dead Sea - At 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. Known in Hebrew as "The Sea of Salt", it is also one of the saltiest lakes in the world - with about 34.2% salinity.
  This is 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 'float' in the Dead Sea.

• Genesis Land - camel ride and desert style meal - Located in the heart of the Judean desert, on the way back from the Dead Sea, in the land where the Patriarchs lived. A magical place, it 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.

• Proceed to Tel Aviv & check-in to your hotel

• Tel Aviv - The Royal Beach Hotel, Bellavista Room

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Meet your guide at Jaffa's Clock Tower and begin your walking day tour of Tel Aviv-Yaffo - (walking day tour - transfers are not included on this day)

• Tour Old Jaffa - On a walk through Jaffa, discover the ancient and modern situated side-by-side. Stroll through the alleyways of the Old City filled with artist studios as well as archaeological discoveries. Discover which Jewish and Christian stories took place in the city.

• Continue with a colorful Graffiti Tour - Explore Florentine through an urban graffiti tour. What kind of story do these images and words tell us about the people living there? What is unique about graffiti in Israel and in Tel Aviv? We will walk through Florentine, the neighborhood of Tel Aviv best-known for graffiti art to answer these questions and many more in a dynamic and inquisitive tour. A workshop is available for an additional cost.

• For lunch: browse through the Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel) - This is 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 opening line 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.

• End your day with a walk along the Independence Trail - Rothschild Boulevard is the beginning of the Independence Trail. This encompasses a number of Tel Aviv’s most important heritage sites. You will learn the history of this fascinating city along the way. The trail ends at Independence Hall, where David Ben-Gurion, first Prime Minister of Israel, read aloud the Declaration of Independence as Israel was declared an independent Jewish state on May 14, 1948. In addition, during this tour you will also learn about the unique and various architectural styles that play a significant part in the history of this first Hebrew City.

• Dinner on own in a local restaurant - Recommendations for restaurants in Tel Aviv will be made closer to time.

• Tel Aviv - The Royal Beach Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Drive north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea National Park - This is one of Israel’s most impressive archeological sites. Here, amazing ancient harbor ruins, beautiful beaches, and impressive modern residences sit side by side. 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. For this purpose, the king's men designed an entirely artificial harbor that was in use for about a Millennium. Caesarea became a central city in Roman and Byzantine times as can be seen from the massive archeological remains on site. 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.

• Enjoy a beautiful hike in Mount Carmel - Hike one of the many trails in the Carmel Mountain National Park. From "Little Switzerland" to more pastoral landscapes, the terrain is beautiful and varied and a hike of any level can be done.

• Druze home hospitality - 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.

• Drive to Haifa to a stunning lookout over The Bahai Gardens and Haifa City - From the Louis Promenade, on the top of Mount Carmel, we will admire the stunning scenery. Nicknamed the Balcony of the Country, a 400 meter long promenade at the top of the Baha'i Gardens offers a view of the entire Haifa Bay, all the way to the border with Lebanon. This impressive spot offers a truly spectacular view, so have a camera ready!

• Proceed back to Tel Aviv

• Friday night Shabbat dinner - Options: at the hotel / restaurant / Eat With - home hospitality (meal not included).

• Tel Aviv - The Royal Beach Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Enjoy a free day to explore on your own - See suggestions below. We will be happy to help book any of the following activities. Guide, transfers and activities are not included on this day.

• Day trip to the Negev Desert

• ANU Museum of the Jewish People

• The Tel Aviv Museum of Art - tour of the Israeli collection with an expert

• Ayalon Institute in Rehovot

• Bike tour along the beach promenade

• Farewell dinner at a restaurant on your own - (meal not included)

• Tel Aviv - The Royal Beach Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Check out from the hotel - Check-out time is at noon. You can leave your luggage with the concierge.

• Day at Leisure - enjoy the hotel facilities - Guide, activities and transfers are not included.

• Giving back optional volunteering activity - Some ideas:
  Leket Israel - volunteer at the logistics center to help sort and pack the collected produce in preparation for distribution to soup kitchens, food pantries, senior citizen centers, homeless shelters and other places serving those in need.
  - Brothers for Life Home - You will meet one of the staff members of Brothers for Life non-profit organization and hear about their special mission. BFL vision is that every wounded combat soldier receives the care and support needed to ensure his return to fulfilling and contributive life.

• Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport and depart back home - VIP fast-track assistance upon departure is available for an additional cost.

• Farewell - we look forward to hosting you again in our beautiful country!