Larry Vickar Delegation- April 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.

• Transfer to Jerusalem

• Stop for an overlook at the Haas Promenade - 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 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Check into your hotel and get settled

• Dinner at a restaurant

• Tower of David Sound and Light Show - Amidst the archaeological remains in the David Citadel courtyard the story of Jerusalem unfolds through virtual reality images. The Night Spectacular uses trompe l'oeil technology – the stones of the walls and structures fade into the scenes and the viewers are part of a multi-sensory experience.

• Orient Hotel Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Begin the day at the Mount of Olives - The Mount of Olives offers a panoramic lookout over the city. There are countless Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions about Mt. Olives, including that from here the Messiah will come, and from here the dead will be resurrected in the vision of the End of Days. Enjoy a beautiful lookout of the Holy Basin, the old and new city of Jerusalem.

• Enter the Old City through the Jaffa Gate - An imposing entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, the Jaffa Gate is one of the six original entrances built by Suleiman the Magnificent. The Jaffa gate is full of fascinating details, like the abrupt right-angle turn within the gatehouse, the chamber above the gate, and the huge mezuzah, which is new since the time of Suleiman.

• Tour the Christian Quarter - One of the four neighborhoods of Jerusalem’s Old City, the Christian Quarter is home to a rich tapestry of Christians of many denominations. The historic and impressive Church of the Holy Sepulcher, encompassing the last 5 Stations of the Cross, dominates the area. Retrace the footsteps of generations of pilgrims, or eat some of Israel’s best hummus at one of the authentic restaurants in the quarter.

• Walk through and have lunch in the Muslim Quarter - Extending from the Damascus Gate to the Via Dolorosa, the Muslim Quarter is the largest of the Old City’s quarters and has been home to Palestinian Arabs for centuries. Meet people who have lived in the Old City for generations, practicing their crafts and raising their families. Browse the famous Arab shuk (market) in the Muslim quarter. Its many stalls sell spices, pastries, pottery, sheepskin, embroidered clothes and so much more.

• Jewish Quarter with the Western Wall - The Jewish Quarter is best known for the Western Wall, but there’s a lot more to see and do here. 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.

• 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.

• Dinner at the hotel

• At Latrun, observe Israel's National Memorial Day for fallen solders and victims of terrorLatrun - At 8:00 p.m. a national siren will sound to mark the beginning of Memorial Day.

• Orient Hotel Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Yad Vashem - Visit the museum at Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Memorial to the Holocaust. Tour this memorial to the darkest moment in 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.

• At 11:00 a.m. a siren will sound to mark the Memorial day and the country will come to a stop.

• Israel museum including lunch - 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.

• Dinner at a restaurant in the Mamila mall - Mamila mall

• See the Independence Day celebrations on Ben Yehuda Street - Ben Yehuda Street is a pedestrian street in the center of Jerusalem. Spend the evening taking in the celebration as the streets are filled with people celebration, with music playing in the streets, and fireworks.

• Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of hotel

• Drive to the Dead Sea area

• Masada National Park - Ascend the mountain from the east 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.

• 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 'float' in the Dead Sea.

• Drive to the north through the Jordan Valley

• Time permitting- stop at Qasar al Yahod - Jordan River Baptism site - The baptismal site on the banks of the Jordan River, Qasr al-Yahud, is the site where according to tradition, Jesus was baptized.

• Check into your hotel

• Dinner at Magdalena Restaurant - Magdalena Restaurant with a view of Mt. Arbel that offers innovative Galileen cuisine with a Mediterranean touch.

• Isrotel Gomeh Hotel North

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Stephen Harper Educational and Interpretive Center at the Hula Valley - At one time, the Hula Valley was an important resting place for migrating birds and many species of rare fish and plants creating a wonderland of flora and fauna. In 1948, the government decided to drain the swamps and pond and convert them into agricultural fields. Due to efforts to conserve at least part of the original landscape the Hula Valley Nature Reserve was the first nature reserve in Israel.

• Spend time in your Partnership area

• Explore the Golan Heights by Jeep - Learn about the recent history of the region and explore the issues that have confronted Israel during the civil war in Syria. Stop at Har Bental, an extinct volcano and an army stronghold.

• Mount of Beatitudes - Mount of Beatitudes is a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. A Catholic Church was built 1930's by the well-known "Architect of the Holy Land" Antonio Barluzzi, using the local dark basalt stone. Its octagonal walls commemorate the Eight Beatitudes, each graced with the first words of one of the eight verses of the Sermon on the Mount.

• Capernaum - Located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was a fishing village in the days of Jesus. This is where Jesus called his first disciples, the brothers Peter and Andrew. The remains of the ancient village were excavated starting the 19th century - some of the findings are a testimony to the rich Jewish lives in the early Roman times, and the existence of a Judeo-Christian community as Christianity grew and evolved in the land. Amongst other astonishing relics, we can still visit a very well-preserved synagogue and remains of the House of Peter and the Byzantine church that was built over it. A modern octagonal church is situated above the site nowadays - its glass floor allows a look at the remains under it. As the place in which Jesus, Peter, and the Apostles lived and preached, Capernaum is a main site of pilgrimage for Christians.

• Primacy Church of St. Peters - On the shore of the Sea of Galilee, a modest grey Franciscan chapel and a small Crusader building mark the site where Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection and tested St. Peter before appointing him leader of his church. The rock in the middle of the church floor is believed to be the Mensa Christi, where Jesus prepared and ate breakfast with his disciples.

• Tabgha - Church of the Multiplication - Tabgha is one of the special and peaceful Christian sites around the lake - the traditional site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fish. Some maintain that this is also the place where Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:22-34).

• Druze meal in a private home - Together with your hosts in their private home, learn how to make traditional Druze Galilean dishes and then enjoy the feast. Learn about Druze culture and history from your hosts and from the food you eat.

• Gomeh Hotel, North (or Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv)

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of your hotel

• Nazareth - Israel’s biggest Arab city, Nazareth is a fascinating place, set in the Lower Galilee. It combines traditional, simple Arabic charm, Christian history, and grand old Arabic architecture. Nazareth is home to many important early Christian sites, including the Basilica of the Annunciation, Mary’s Well, and the Synagogue Church, as well as an authentic, living Arab souk (market).

• Visit the Tova Vickar Educational and Special Needs Facility in Meggido

• Visit Kibbutz Ramat Hashofet

• Drive to the Vickar outlook in Emek Hefer

• Drive to Tel Aviv and check into your hotel - Ramat

• Shabbat dinner (hotel or restaurant) - Ramat

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Begin the day at 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.

• 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, but 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.

• The White City - 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.

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Meet Sarah Mali

• Meet Canadian Ambassador

• Palmach Museum - Palmach Museum which aims to provide a sense of the period that led to the founding of the State of Israel. Appropriately, the main exhibit takes place in a series of underground chambers. Remarkably realistic sets, sounds, lighting, special effects and even moving rooms, make the visitor feel part of this extraordinary experience.

• 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.

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Option 1: Spend the day visiting museums of peoplehood

• Option 2: Coastal Touring

• 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 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.

• The Bahai Gardens - From the Louis Promenade at 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!

• Akko historical tour - Walk through 4,000 years of history in this ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient city of Akko, situated on the Mediterranean coast, is one of the oldest ports in the world, and a city shared by Jews and Muslims. Walk narrow streets past towering ramparts, deep moats, green domes, venerable synagogues, slender Muslim minarets, and secret passageways. Discover the subterranean city built beneath Akko in the Middle Ages by the Crusaders. Learn about the city’s ancient history, as well as its important role in Israel’s modern history.

• Return to Tel Aviv

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of the hotel

• Netiv HaAsara - Striving for Peace at Netiv HaAsara, a moshav on the western border of Israel with the Gaza Strip. Visit the Peace Wall on the border. Meet Tsameret Zamir, an artist and the creator of the project who will talk about life in the moshav in the shadow of the ongoing security situation – and about the hope of a good and peaceful future. Choose a colorful optimistic tile on which to write a personal wish and later glue to the border wall.

• Depart Tel Aviv

• Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• Sde Boker Grave of Ben Gurion - Visit the grave of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, whose vision for settling the desert continues to bloom today. Throughout the day, you’ll see his vision come to life.

• Drive to Eilat

• Eilat hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of the hotel

• Continue to Jordan portion