Schaff Israel Journey – Passover 2026

Activities:

• Welcome to Israel - Welcome to Israel! Arrive at Ben Gurion airport. Your driver will meet you at the arrivals' hall.

• Drive from the airport to Bat Yam - Your driver will wait for you at the airport, pick you up and drive everyone to Bat Yam

• AIRBNB - Bat Yam - booked on own

Activities:

• Breakfast on own

• Road Trip through the Judean Desert and lowest place on earth - Driving through the dramatic, moon-like desert landscapes

• OPTIONAL: Stop on route for a brief road-side camel ride. - A scenic, super-fun camel ride in the stunning Judean Desert

• EZ Raider throgh the Judean Desert - Tour through the date fields and the sink holes (must be over 15 years old)

• Dead Sea Boat Ride Salty Landscapes - Embark on an exclusive boat ride on the Dead Sea and sail to see a captivating 'salt-chimneys forest'. During this unique experience you will enjoy the wondrous muds, salt pearls, salt diamonds, water springs streaming to the sea and sink holes filled with sweet water. Learn about the ecosystem and the environmental issues connected to the Dead Sea.

• 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.

• Return back to Bat Yam

• AIRBNB

Activities:

• Breakfast on own

• Head out to Jerusalem

• Knesset Museum tour

• 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.

• 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.

• OPTIOANL: Shtisel tour of the Ultra Orthodox Neighborhoods - Walk the streets of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods and get to know the people, the food, and feel the vibrations of this life. Gain a more complex appreciation for the people by listening to their music, visiting synagogues, various institutions, seeing unique leisure, fashion, and art this world encompasses, and, of course by eating traditional foods.

• AIRBNB

Activities:

• Breakfast on own

• Meet your guide early and drive to Jerusalem

• City of David - Take a trip back in time through the layers of Jerusalem’s past. It was on this hill where King David founded the Kingdom of Israel capital, and where it continuously excavated over the last 120 years, discoveries are regularly made.
  Tour of G area, and Warren Shaft, through the Pilgrim’s Route (just recently opened) , Through Davidson Center, come out of the tunnel at the Western Wall and continue to the

• 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.

• Muslim Quarter - Tasting tour and meeting with locals

• The Jewish Quarter Jerusalem - 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.

• Tower of David Jerusalem Museum + Sound and light show - Visit the newly renovated and stunning Tower of David Museum located in the iconic David citadel. The museum has pioneered the use of new and interactive digital technologies, games, and virtualizations that add a new dimension to understanding the site itself and Jerusalem as a whole, emphasizing the importance of Jerusalem to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Climb up to a magnificent lookout to enjoy a bird's eye view of the Old City and the New City spreading on the surrounding hills outside the Walls.
  Evening program: the Tower of David Sound and Light Show - The ancient walls serve as a stage for a nighttime show which is a celebration of Jerusalem's profound story. Enjoy a multi-sensory experience amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel's courtyard.

• AIRBNB

Activities:

• AIRBNB

• Florentine Graffiti Tour - Explore contemporary Israeli culture through an urban inquisitive graffiti tour in the Florentine neighborhood. What stories do these images and words tell about the people living here? What social issues are reflected in the art on the walls? What is unique about graffiti in Israel and Tel Aviv specifically? In this dynamic tour through Florentine, Tel Aviv's best-known neighborhood for graffiti, you will answer these questions, share your interpretations, and gain an appreciation for this expressive form of art.
  Emphasis on the last 2 years in Israel, political, controversial, and social. All through the eyes of street art

• Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel) + shopping for chag!!! - A culinary and cultural experience in 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 felt here. 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. Founded over 90 years ago, discover the many secrets, stories, and legends of this culinary destination. Enjoy tastings throughout the tour.

• 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.

• Neve Tzedek - Neve Tzedek 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 and a good place to try some Israeli Gelato!

• Sunset tour of Jaffa - Explore the enchanting charm of Old Jaffa, where ancient and modern are situated side-by-side and where people of all faiths meet. Jaffa is one of the most ancient port cities in the Mediterranean basin. Visit Jaffa Port, which for centuries was the gateway to the Land of Israel. Today Jaffa is a mixed city, where Jews and Arabs live alongside each other. Tel Aviv, Jaffa's much younger sister, was established centuries later, but the two were united into one municipality already in 1949, yet each part kept its unique feel and atmosphere. visit vibrant artist studios as well as archeological discoveries, while exploring the rich tapestry of cultures and history that defines this timeless Mediterranean gem.

• AIRBNB

Activities:

• Breakfast on own

• Enjoy a day of leisure to explore and enjoy Tel Aviv on your own - Some suggestions for your day:
  - Bike tour along the beach promenade.
  - The ANU Museum of the Jewish People.
  - The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation.
  - Art workshops such as an upcycling creative workshop in Jaffa.
  Please note: on this day guide, transportation, and activities are not included. We will be happy to add and make reservations upon request.

• Passover Eve - A family-only day, shopping at a market and cooking together

• AIRBNB

Activities:

• Breakfast on own

• Meet your guide and head north

• Caesarea National Park - On the Mediterranean coast, Caesarea National Park is one of Israel’s most impressive archeological sites. Explore the 2,000-year-old Roman theater, Crusader harbor and 12th-century ramparts. 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. 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.

• Glass blowing workshop at the ancient port of Caesarea

• The Bahai Gardens in Haifa - A magnificent scenic lookout over the Baha'i Gardens and Haifa's Bay all the way to the border with Lebanon. Admire the garden's captivating terraces, gracefully cascading towards the Mediterranean Sea, while discovering the history of this sacred site and the principles of the Baha'i religion. Haifa's vibrant landscape unfolds a tapestry of cultures, religions, and historical layers.

• Visit Akko - the Crusaders' City - 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, Muslims and Christians. Discover the impressive subterranean well-preserved Crusaders Middle Ages city,
  walk narrow streets past towering ramparts, venerable synagogues, slender Muslim minarets, and secret passageways. Learn about the city’s rich history, as well as its important role in Israel’s modern history.
  Continue to the vibrant Akko's shuk, a fun bazaar full of fresh produce, cheap eats, spices, and souvenirs. Akko also has several of the best hummus spots in all of Israel which are a “must-taste.”

• Head back to Bat Yam

• AIRBNB

Activities:

• Breakfast on own

• Tour of the Gaza Envelope - A guided drive through significant sites that tell the story of resilience and renewal in the region. meet with a soldier who fought for over 600 days in the war, with a security briefing overlooking the city of Gaza.

• Nova music festival site - Stop at the Nova Festival memorial site - at Re'im Forest stop and bear witness to the tragedy of the Nova Festival.

• Osi Lankri Culinary Queen Catering Ofakim - Recognized as one of Ofakim's "Culinary Queens," Osi invites you to savor a home-cooked meal in her beautiful home. While enjoying the culinary experience, listen to her personal stories about life in the Envelope, her birthplace and hometown. Gain insights into how the October 7th attack affected her home, family, and neighborhood.

• Shuva Achim Hospitality Tent - What started as a field hospital at the beginning of the war in Moshav Shuva, turned into an incredible refreshment spot for soldiers, where they give out clothes, goodies and hot meals to the soldiers serving the in the Gaza Envelope. The name "Shuva Achim" means in Hebrew return brothers (and sisters) - praying that all soldiers will return home peacefully. You will help with what is needed, meet soldiers for a casual talk and show your appreciation.

• Sderot Memorial - Sderot Police Station Memorial

• Head back to Bat Yam

• AIRBNB

Activities:

• Breakfast on own

• Enjoy a day of leisure to explore and get ready for the weddin

• Your driver will pick you up and take you to the airport (timing TBD)

• Farewell - We hope to host you again in our beautiful country!