Jewish Colorado-October 2023

Activities:

• VIP Arrival - 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. We can arrange this for the group, or for those who arrive independently.

• Optional: Activities will depend upon arrival time

• Time at the Kotel before Shabbat - The Kotel, (The Western Wall), sacred because it is the last remnant of the Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans. Feel the stones that have witnessed so much in the history of the Jews. Personal time to reflect.

• Time to prepare for Shabbat

• Kabbalat Shabbat with the group at the Cinematheque Terrace - Bring in Shabbat with a spectacular view of the Old City.

• Shabbat Dinner at the hotel - As we come together for Shabbat, we will enjoy Shabbat dinner in a private room at the hotel, giving us a chance to connect and get to know one another.

• Oneg Shabbat - Enjoy hot spiced cider and conversation about our goals for our time together

• Isrotel Orient Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Shabbat tefilot options at local synagogues

• Option 1:Walking tour of Nachlaot and Lunch - Magical and mysterious Jerusalem has always attracted writers, poets, and intellectuals, who, in their words, made it Jerusalem of Gold. We will join for a walking tour of the Nachlaot neighborhood, touring through the eyes of your tour guide Josh Weisberg. Josh lived in Nachlaot for many years and loves to offer his own perspective which focuses on art, poetry and culture. This tour will end in his home where we will have a delicious light summer late lunch.

• Option 2: 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. These dishes are brought directly from the homes in which the food was cooked for families that share their heritage and flavors.

• Conversation with Dan Feferman - Dan Feferman is the Director of Communications and Global Affairs at Sharaka, an NGO that works to build people-to-people peace between Israel and the Arab world. Dan is also a founding member of the UAE-Israel Business Council, and founded and heads the Gulf-Israel Policy Forum.

• Stroll through the beautiful urban Park Hamesila - You'll stop along the way for Havdalah to usher out Shabbat.

• Motzei Shabbat: Dinner on your own - Optional cultural experience according to availability. We are happy to make suggestions as to dinner and activities. Perhaps there will be music or other experience possible.

• Isrotel Orient Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Tour the greater Jerusalem area with Colonel Danny Tirza - Tirza is a Security Expert and architect of the Security Barrier. View the city from many angles and engage in a conversation about the complexity of the barrier.

• Visit to Sinsila and Muslala - Visit to Sinsila and Muslala“SINSILA” in Arabic means the natural stonewalls, also called “Salasal”, which are medium-sized stones, close to each other, in the form of monolithic chains. The Sinsila center is located in the heart of East Jerusalem, on the terraces of the Central Library. It is dedicated to educate, inspire, create with, and empower, local communities. Its goal is to heal the urban environment of Jerusalem by providing local and sustainable solutions. Sinsila’s plan action has three main focus points: employment, inspiration, and education. It aims at having a multidimensional approach in order encompass healing the city, community work, urban planning, economic empowerment, sustainability, and ecology.

• Stop for lunch in Mahane Yehuda

• Drive south

• Check in at Beresheet - Check into Beresheet by 3pm and have a chance to enjoy the hotel facilities (should you wish to make any spa treatments, we can assist)

• Dinner at Hotel - We will be joined by Eran Doron, mayor of Ramat Hanegev, who will be with us for our time in the Partnership2Gether region.

• Optional: Stargazing - Mitzpe Ramon is among the best locations in Israel (and in the world!) for stargazing. Why? Because down here, less is more: Less people, less cars, less streetlights and less businesses, meaning more darkness, more space, more stars, and a lot more time to watch the stars…
  You’ll enjoy a combination of spectacular astronomical telescope observations (according to what is visible that night) accompanied by mind-blowing explanations and facts about our universe, along side mythological heroes namedropping and famous myths related to the star constellations we’ll see.

• Overnight: Beresheet

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Early morning yoga or walk around the edge of the Makhtesh - Early start this day as we will spend the entire day in our Partnership region.

• Kibbutz Sde Boker - In the bare Negev desert lies Kibbutz Sde Boker, an unexpectedly bright green square of irrigated fields that was the beloved home of David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, and his wife, Paula. From their graves to the hut where he lived and the gardens where he worked, discover what made Ben-Gurion choose this modest kibbutz in the Negev.

• Visit the Ben Gurion Archives - The Ben-Gurion Archive was founded in the 1970s, ‏as part of the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute, to commemorate “The Old Man”. The Archive is located in the Negev, close to Ben-Gurion’s Desert Home in Sde Boker, and at an educational center (Midrasha) that bears his name – nowadays the town of Midreshet Ben-Gurion.

• Day in the Region - JEWISHcolorado’s decades-long partnership with the Ramat HaNegev region leverages social, human, and financial resources here in Colorado and in Israel as a means to inspire community engagement and development.
  
  Through relationships, education, culture, and community-building initiatives, JEWISHcolorado and Ramat HaNegev have built—and continue to build—a solid foundation for the future generations in Israel and a connection to the land and its people that is both deep and strong.
  
  Day to include: Nitzana Education Community, Security briefing on the border, afternoon wine tasting at Ramat Negev Winery, learning about all the agricultural endeavors as we make the desert bloom, and more!

• Lunch with Lone Soldiers and the Masait- Food Truck - The "MASAIT" (truck in Hebrew) in the middle of the desert is the most popular restaurant on wheels in the area run by chef Nir Alkasi. Nir cooks his delicious foods and is also known by soldiers as "Nir, the Shnitzel King of Nitzana." Hit the road, everybody, visit K'Mehin and make sure to ask Nir what the special of the day is at the "Masait".

• Evening- Dinner and Out of the Desert - Music of Ramat Hanegev - Enjoy a desert dinner under the stars and evening of music with The Shargi Ensemble, made up of Jewish and Bedouin musicians and led by Ramat HaNegev native David (Dudi) Itzhaki, who will play a set of original songs composed by Itzhaki. Your evening awaits under the stars with a taboon for bread making, smoked meats, spirits, desert music, star-gazing, and the most magical dinner you’ve ever had. The evening will include a 'shuk' of local businesses as well as a desert wine-tasting featuring the wines of the area.

• Overnight: Beresheet

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out

• Drive to Tel Aviv - After checking out we will make our way to Tel Aviv.

• Private tour of 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.

• Israeli Cuisine with Foodish - Foodish is the new culinary arm of ANU – the largest Jewish Museum in the world, which brings the story of Jewish food to the forefront. Enjoy wine and light bites for a "taste" of Foodish.

• Choose from one of the following options:

• A. Tel Aviv Fashion Scene - The tour addresses the relationship Israeli fashion has with the various aspects of living in Israel including identity questions, sub-groups in Israel, immigration to Israel, wars and cultural life and social entrepreneurship. Meet old and new fashion brands, designers who use ancient crafts and other professionals who use the best technology. We will walk, talk and shop.

• B. Start-Up Nation Central - Start-Up Nation Central is an independent non-profit that builds bridges to Israeli innovation. They connect business, government, and NGO leaders from around the world with Israeli innovation, offering Israeli innovators access to high-potential and previously inaccessible markets, through highly customized business engagements, and through Start-Up Nation Finder – an easy to use, up-to-date, free online platform for discovering and connecting with the thousands of relevant innovators.

• Drinks Overlooking the Sea - After our afternoon tours, we will come together for drinks or a glass of wine as we watch the sun set over the sea.

• Check into hotel and dinner on own - After checking into hotel, enjoy evening on own. We will be happy to make restaurant recommendations and reservations. As it gets closer to the trip, we will provide options for cultural experiences in town.

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out

• Carmel Market Tasting Tour - For those who wish to get up early, we will head over to the 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.

• 10:00 Depart for the airport

• 1:40 p.m. VIP Departure - Depart from Ben Gurion Airport to Dubai. El Al Flight Depart 1:40PM, arrive Dubai 5:55PM.

• Meet, greet and assist by Marhaba VIP concierge - Guests will be met at arrivals gate by Marhaba representatives that will guide and assist through airport formalities, porter assistance and guide to hotel transfer location

• Welcome Dinner and Reception at Armani Kaf - Welcome dinner reception with guest speakers Rabbi Ross Kriel and Mr. Alex Peterfreund, Co-Founders of the Jewish Council of the Emirates. Joined by Emirati young leaders focused on building the future -- Social Media Influencers and Hebrew speakers Hamdan Al Kindi, Loay Al Shareef and Alanoud Al Hashmi, CEO of the Futurist Company, Ben Taylor Marketing Emirates Airlines, Rashid and Sarah A Malik

• Overnight: Dubai - Overnight: St. Regis Dubai

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Depart for Abu Dhabi

• Tour of Masdar City - Tour Masdar City with a member of Mubadala Development Company - Masdar’s philosophy of urban development is based on the three pillars of economic, social and environmental sustainability. Masdar City is a ‘green print’ for the sustainable development of cities through the application of real-world solutions in energy and water efficiency, mobility and the reduction of waste OR a private tour of the iconic museum Louvre– the first universal museum in the Arab world that translates the spirit of openness of cultures.

• Abrahamic Family House - The Abrahamic Family House will be a collection of three religious spaces: a mosque, a synagogue and a church, all of which will sit upon a secular visitor pavilion. The house will serve as a community for inter-religious dialogue and exchange, nurturing the values of peaceful co-existence and acceptance among different beliefs, nationalities and cultures.

• Lunch - Lunch at The Kosher Place Invited Guest: Rabbi Levy Duchman, First Rabbi in the UAE

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - Tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world’s largest mosques and an architectural masterpiece that beautifully combines Islamic architecture and design which stands over 100 metres tall at its highest point.

• Qasr Al Watan - Private tour of Qasr Al Watan -the presidential palace with a visit to the grand hall, the collection of presidential gifts and the library.

• Dinner - Kosher Dinner at the Azure Terrace Invited Guest: Israeli Ambassador Amir Hayek

• Return to Dubai

• Overnight: Dubai - Overnight: St Regis

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Meet with Senior Rabbi of UAE - Depart for the Villa of Rabbi Ellie and Esti Abadie, Senior Rabbi, UAE

• Visit the Mini Miracles Jewish Nursery and Education Center - Dubai’s first-ever Jewish cultural space, aptly named Abraham’s Miracles Cultural learning Center, its a place to gather and learn, not just for the Jewish community across the city, but for the UAE as a whole, the Jewish community worldwide, and for intercultural engagement with individuals from all backgrounds. It is home of the first Jewish nursery in the UAE and the gulf: Mini Miracles Nursery, currently serves children ages 18 months to four years. The purpose is to bring children together in a happy, tolerant, open minded place. Core values and principles are to be taught with high academic standards while catering to different languages, including French, English, Arabic and Russian. There is also a center for Jewish identity called the Abraham Miracles Center, which is structured for teenagers and adults. Participate in Shabbat programming and hands-on activity with the children

• Visit the Dubai Frame - Rising 150 meters from Dubai’s Zabeel Park, the “World’s Largest Picture Frame”, offering up panoramic views of the skyline while framing views of iconic buildings such as the Burj Khalifa. Invited Guest and Frame engineer, Dr. Eli Hamadimann

• Lunch - Cultural Lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) in the Al Fahidi historical district, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Bur Dubai. We will be introduced to our Emirati host who will talk to us about UAE culture, customs, and religion. Ask an Emirate you happen to see – what, why and how?

• Crossroads to Civilazation Museum - Crossroads to Civilizations Museum (CCM)– a museum dedicated to the importance of universal values, such as tolerance and respect. Visit the first ever Holocaust exhibit in the Arab world hosted by a former member of the UAE Federal National Council and Founder of the museum OR Take an Abra across the creek and visit the Spice Market where you will discover new flavors as we learn about the traditional use of aroma to fend off anything from stress to insomnia. Next take a plunge into the Gold Souk where the trade has been passed down from generation to generation.

• Return to hotel/Free time/Prepare for dinner

• Kabbalat Shabbat Services / 7:00pm Shabbat dinner with members of the Dubai Jewish Community at The St. Regist Palm Hotel - Join one of the first Jewish community established in the UAE. Lead by Ross Kriel, Co-Founder of Dubai Jewish Community, Co-Founder and Representative to the Community Development Authority

• Overnight: Dubai - Overnight: St Regis Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Shabbat Services and Shabbat lunch with members of the Dubai Jewish Community at The St. Regis Palm Hotel - Optional: Shabbat morning services

• Optional site-seeing - A. Visit the Museum of the Future
  The Museum of the Future is an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic ideologies, services, and products. Founded by the Dubai Future Foundation, The Museum of the Future seeks to foster solutions to the challenges that future cities face, in addition to housing innovations and being a hub that brings researchers, designers, inventors and financiers under one roof.
  B. Visit to Alsekal Avenue
  Established in 2008 by founder Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, who sought to cultivate a vibrant creative community and support cultural production in Dubai. Spanning 500,000 sqft in the Al Quoz industrial area of Dubai, Alserkal Avenue is home to a community of over 70 contemporary art galleries, visual and performing arts organizations, designers, home grown and entrepreneur-led businesses, and community spaces. As one of the region’s foremost destinations for contemporary art, and home to Dubai’s risk-takers, makers and wide-ranging creative communities, the Avenue provides cultural experiences for local, regional and international audiences through its extensive year-round programming

• 6:00pm – VIP Visit to the Top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world - Visit to the top of the Burj Khalifa exclusive VIP 155th floor with VIP elevator access with cocktails and canapes

• Havdallah and Final Dinner With the Group - Farewell dinner at The Kosher Place or Ellie's Cafe

• Depart for the airport for return flight - For those leaving tonight: Guests will be met at VIP airport departures by Marhaba representatives that will guide and assist through airport formalities, porter assistance and assist the guest to the airplane boarding gate.

• Overnight: Dubai - Overnight: St Regis (for those not flying out)

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Optional touring for those who wish to stay (additional cost) - Explore the Heritage Project
  Explore the Dubai Heritage Village and the Al Shindagha historic district. Located in the Shindagha near the creek’s mouth, the Dubai Heritage Village (Hatta Village) provides a glimpse into Dubai’s traditional culture and lifestyle, including Emirate’s maritime history, pearl diving traditions and architecture. Displays include a tented Bedouin village, ancient armoury, wooden chests and cooking utensils.
  
  Modern Dubai Tour
  • Jumeirah Mosque (Photo Stop)
  • Atlantis the Palm (Photo Stop)
  • Burj Al Arab (Photo Stop)
  • Madinat Jumeirah (View)
  • Passing by Sheikh Zayed Road
  Visit to Dubai Design District
  Visit Moors & Saints, a fine jewelry store offering products inspired by Moorish design and architecture. Through each collection, Moors & Saints is mapping Moorish design from where it started in Andalusia and Morocco and how it traveled to places as far as India or Mexico showing up across a multi religious spectrum of sacred sites inspired by Alhambra, the Great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba or the Al Qarawiyyin university to name a few. Explore the history of Moorish design and learn how it showed up in churches in Latin America, mosques in South-East Asia and synagogues in Europe... Chama is a cultural entrepreneur and bridge-builder on a mission to promote shared belonging and bring pluralism back to the Middle-East & North-Africa. Lead by Chama Mechtaly, Founder of Moors & Saints, a researcher, a visual artist, a jewelry designer, an intersectional feminist, an advocate for interfaith dialogue and a consultant to NGOs and governments on sustainable peace building and cross-cultural cooperation.

• Depart for the airport for return flight - Guests will be met at VIP airport departures by Marhaba representatives that will guide and assist through airport formalities, porter assistance and assist the guest to the airplane boarding gate.