Sha’arey Shalom Family Trip- July 2024

Activities:

• Arrival at Ben Gurion airport - Transfer to Jerusalem and check into your hotel

• Gather in the lobby to meet your guide and get to know one another - Say Shehechiyanu to bless the beginning of your journey.

• Welcome dinner at Hatzot - Hatzot is a part of Jerusalem’s history. Two brothers, Abraham and Michael Ajami, founded this landmark family restaurant in 1970. Legend has it that Meurav Yerushalmi - the favorite Israeli mixed grill dish - was born at Hatzot Restaurant.

• Cassia Hotel Jerusalem

Activities:

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

• Begin with a tour of the new Tower of David Museum - This interactive, newly designed museum, tells the story of the history and the centrality of this city, holy to the three monotheistic religions.

• Tour Jerusalem’s Old City and meet the people and places that make this place so unique - In the Jewish Quarter, uncover the layers of Jewish history from the time of the First Temple until the present day. In the Christian Quarter, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Throughout the tour explore the complexity of a city that is holy to the three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• The Jerusalem Scribe - Kalman Gavriel Delmoor may be a traditional Scribe, but through his unique perspective and expertise in the ancient craft, Kalman brings the Torah to life through his art. Meet Kalman, see him work, and learn about his mission.

• 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.

• Free time with tasting cards at 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. You will receive a card providing you with our recommendations for the best tastings this market has to offer.

• Cassia Hotel Jerusalem

Activities:

• Packed breakfast and early departure - Because of the heat, we will depart early for Masada.

• Tour of Masada - Ascend the mountain by cable car to explore Masada, scene of the epic stand taken 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 'swim' in the Dead Sea.

• Ein Gedi Nature Hike - This beautiful nature reserve features Nahal David, a spectacular water hike for all ages. Trails in a range of levels of difficulty take you alongside and through the cool, fresh waters of Nahal David, down waterfalls, along jaw-dropping canyons, and past caves. If you’re both quiet and lucky, you might even glimpse the sure-footed ibex and other local animals.

• Camel ride and early dinner at Genesis Land - Situated in the heart of the Judean desert, in the land where the Patriarchs lived, this magical place 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.

• Return to Jerusalem

• Cassia Hotel Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel and check out

• Visit the museum at Yad Vashem - Yad Vashem is 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.

• Depart Jerusalem and travel north

• Druze home hospitality, cooking workshop and meal - 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 and check in to your hotel - Get ready for Shabbat

• Kabbalat Shabbat outside on the hotel grounds

• Shabbat dinner at the hotel

• Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Jeep tour along the border in the Golan - Take a geo-political tour of the Golan with an expert. While traversing the rich landscape, learn about the history, flora, and fauna of the area. Stop for a lookout over the border with Syria from Mt. Bental to get a better understanding of the geography and strategic role this region has for the State of Israel. Your local guide touches upon the nuances of living so close to the Syrian border and what that has meant for Israel as it relates to security and humanitarian issues.

• Children's Track: Chocolate Workshop - Learn the art of chocolate making at the DeKarina Chocolate workshop on Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights. Taste some of the finest chocolate in Israel and then make some of your own to take home.

• Adult's Track: Winery visit and tastings - The Pelter Winery was established in 2005 and is a study in Terroir. Taste the wines made from grapes grown on the rich Golan soil and hear the story of the winery.

• Lunch on route - (meal not included)

• Rafting Adventure and zipline into the Jordan River - During this exciting rafting adventure along the Jordan River, we'll row through one of the most beautiful spots in Israel. Here you will be amongst the plants, trees, and waterfalls in the middle of this beautiful Galilee nature reserve. At the end of the route you'll have the opportunity to get down to the Jordan River by a zipline for a real fun experience!

• Picnic dinner

• Havdalah ceremony

• Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - Check out of the hotel

• Drive to Havat Rom - Visit this magical organic farm, located on a mountain with a beautiful view of Meron Mountain. This is an agricultural organic farm, where they use ancient knowledge along with modern tools, in an attempt to find the balance between humans and nature. Enjoy a delicious 'farm-to-table' meal from the fresh produce and excellent cheese, tour the farm and visit the goats.

• Continue to 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 magnificent 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.

• Travel to Tel Aviv and check in to your hotel

• Afternoon and sunset tour of 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. 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.

• Dinner with your family at a restaurant - We will make reservations.

• Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin the day with a Graffiti Tour - Enjoy a creative Graffiti workshop in the trendy neighborhood of Florentin, and experience fun and artistic freedom. Discover new and daring Israeli Graffiti Artists that are gaining recognition around the world.

• Time for lunch in the Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel) - The Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel), is 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 secret, stories, and legends of this culinary destination. Enjoy tastes of the market throughout the tour.

• Continue to Neve Tzedek - This 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, after a period of neglect, the neighborhood was restored and has become a trendy fun beautiful part of the city and a good place to try some Israeli Gelato!

• Afterwards go to the Independence Trail - Rothschild Boulevard is the beginning of the Independence Trail which leads to 10 of Tel Aviv's heritage sites. You will learn the history of this fascinating city along the way. The trail ends at Independence Hall, where, on May 14, 1948, Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, read aloud the Declaration of Independence as Israel was declared an independent Jewish state. 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 at a restaurant as a group

• Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel and check out - We can offer a late check-out or extension upon request and based on availability.

• Peres Center for Peace and Innovation - The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation is a leading non-profit and non-governmental organization focused on developing and implementing unique and cutting-edge programs. The center presents the incredible story of Israel, the "innovation nation", and showcases the diverse fields and people behind Israeli innovation.

• Carmel Market Tasting Tour - Continue to 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. (The tasting tour serves as lunch.)

• Nahalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Market - Visit Nachalat Binyamin, an open-air market in the heart of Tel-Aviv that has become synonymous with quality Israeli crafts and folk art. The market is comprised of over 100 stands representing specialty crafts and folk art in virtually every medium imaginable: wood, stone, sand, glass, ceramics, and various metals with most if not all containing materials or themes found only in Israel.

• Farwell group dinner and closing session

• Group transfer to Ben Gurion Airport

• L'hitraot! - We look forward to hosting you again in our beautiful country!