Streiker Center Temple Emanu-El (Re)Discover Israel- VERSION 2

Activities:

• Pick up from airport and Tel Aviv and travel to Kedma Hotel - Those who arrive early can be picked up at one of these stops or we can arrange private transportation to the Kedma Hotel (not included)

• Check into the hotel

• Gather in the hotel lobby to begin the trip

• Begin at the Grave of Ben Gurion at Sde Boker - At the grave of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, and his wife Paula, located near Sde Boker, hear Ben Gurion's vision for Israel and think about his famous quotes in light of the events of October 7 : "It is in the Negev that the creativity and pioneer vigor of Israel will be tested, and this will be a crucial test." Overlook towards the breathtaking Tzin Valley and the Avdat highlands in the heart of the Negev.

• Shehechiyanu at Carmey Avdat Winery - This modern-day vineyard is planted on the remains of the ancient terraces, taking care to preserve the archeological remains of the former vineyard. When it rains the vineyard is irrigated by the floodwaters – exactly as it was in ancient times. Meet the winemaker and owner and hear how the war has affected their winery.

• Dinner at the hotel

• Isrotel Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Early morning yoga option

• Maktesh Ramon Hike or ATV Off-Road Ride - Walk through the stunning Negev Desert and get to know the endless variations of the landscape. Explore the remarkable Makhtesh Ramon and immerse yourself in the details of the land around you.

• Lunch at 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."

• Visit the Ramon Visitors Center - Through interactive exhibits, the Mitzpe Ramon Visitor Center, set on the northern cliffs of the Ramon Crater, tells the geological story behind this unique and amazing work of nature and contrasts it with the life of Astronaut Ilan Ramon.

• Return to the hotel to rest

• Sunset Jeep Ride - Ride through the stunning Negev Desert and get to know the endless variations of the landscape.

• Desert dinner under the stars - Desert Dinner- it’s not a mirage! 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.

• Star Gazing with an expert

• Isrotel Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Depart the hotel for Otef Aza

• Stop at key lookout points for an in-depth discussion of the complexity of the Gaza Border situation with a geopolitical expert

• Lunch with soliders at the 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.

• At the site of the Police Station in Sderot, hear the story of October 7

• Stop at the Nova Festival memorial site - At Re'im Forest, stop and bear witness to the tragedy at the Nova Festival on October 7.

• Erev Simhat Torah and dinner with a Reform community in the Otef Aza area (pending availability)

• Return to Kedma Hotel

• Isrotel Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of the hotel

• 11:00 a.m. Depart the hotel and drive north

• Meet the Bedouin "Desert Stars" - Visit a Bedouin Village and meet youth who are part of the Desert Stars Program which is building a generation of Bedouin leaders to promote a thriving Bedouin community and a strong Israeli society. The project empowers mission-driven teens and young adults to realize their individual and collective potential as change-making leaders.

• Bedouin lunch with Desert Stars

• Drive to Tel Aviv

• Short walking tour of Old 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.

• Check into your hotel

• Evening on your own

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• ANU Museum of the Jewish People - The newly re-imagined ANU Museum of the Jewish People tells the story of the Jewish people through the generations and up to the present time. Dive into this dynamic and interactive experience that represents all parts of the Jewish people and highlights the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities throughout different periods of history.

• Graffiti Tour - What stories do these images and words tell about the what has happened in Israel since October 7? 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 Florentin, 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.

• Time for lunch at Levinsky Market - The Levinsky Market specializes in spices and Mediterranean delicacies. It is, in many ways, the best market in Tel Aviv, known for its variety, freshness, and special atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a rare Indian spice or some good quality saffron - this is the place. Shops offer a cornucopia of excellent cheeses, smoked fish, wines, and other delicacies. Tour the market and have "tastings" throughout.

• Free time

• Visit the Square of the Kidnapped and Missing - Visit to The square of the Kidnapped and Missing in front of the Tel Aviv Art Museum. See the powerful art created by various artists, including the Shabbat Table set for 200 missing Israelis, to show support and shine a spotlight on the importance of rescuing the lives of those abducted to Gaza. (Hopefully, by the time of this mission, all of the hostages will have been released and back home with their families.)

• Kabbalat Shabbat

• Private Shabbat Dinner in a unique setting

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Harvest olives and visit an olive press - Conditions permitting, pick olives, meet the family who owns the business, see the process of making olive oil, and taste the olive oil.

• Geopolitical talk about the northern borders

• Lunch at Uri Buri - For the past 40 years , the popular Uri Buri restaurant has offered a variety of delicately prepared fresh fish and seafood dishes, and boasts a wine list with over 100 different kinds of fine Israeli wines.

• Akko 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, 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.

• Return to Tel Aviv

• For dinner, in small groups explore Israeli Street Food - Enjoy favorites such as sabich, at Sabich Tchernichovsky, and taste falafel at HaKosem, which in recent years has developed a serious cult following in Israel.

• Late night stop at Golda Ice Cream - Get ready to be wowed!

• Isrotel Royal Beach Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of the hotel

• Site visit with Brothers For Life - Brothers for Life is devoted to ensuring that every wounded combat soldier receives the care and support needed to ensure his/her return to a fulfilling and contributive life. Meet staff members and clients and join them for lunch at their center. Brothers for Life was created by and is run by injured Israeli veterans, and gives critical and immediate help to other injured Israeli combat veterans who sacrificed their lives for the safety of the Israel's citizens.

• Or visit A Healing Place - A Healing Place is an emergency mental health facility that was established during the war in response to the need for care for thousands of traumatized young people at music festivals around the Gaza Strip. Led by Ilana Kvartin, numerous caregivers volunteered, including psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, psychotherapists, and certified clinical instructors. Within a few days, a new model for initial mental assistance was developed, offering a holistic, integrative, and community-based approach.

• Farm to Table - Nura at Mata - Connect to Land of Israel wilderness in a foraging and a delicious meal - in Jerusalem hills meet Nurit Hertz in her backyard and walk into the forest. Become familiar with the local plants that grow in the Judean Hills, to identify edible plants, and learn how to use them for both medicine and food. Gather from the variety of plants and create a meal inspired by the food people have been eating here since ancient times.

• Stop at the Machal Memorial - The Machal Memorial dedicated in 1993, was created to honor volunteers who came from outside of Israel to fight on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people. The memorial is made up of the letters Mem, Chet and Lamed, forming the word Machal.

• 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza - Visit the memorial monument that takes the form of an American flag transforming into a flame at the tip, with a metal remnant from ground zero embedded at the base. Talk about the U.S.-Israel relationship.

• Drive to Jerusalem and check into your hotel

• Dinner at Hatzot restaurant - 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.

• Mamilla Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Today you will choose two half-day options from the following: - You'll have time for lunch on your own between the morning and afternoon experiences.

• -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.

• -Tour Jerusalem’s Old City and meet the people and places that make this place so unique - Explore Jewish history in the Jewish Quarter, spanning from the First Temple era to the present. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Christian Quarter and, conditions permitting, visit the Temple Mount, a significant Muslim site. Delve into the complexity of a city sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• -The National Library of Israel - Founded in Jerusalem in 1892, the National Library of Israel (NLI) holds the collective memory of Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths and the Jewish people worldwide. While continuing to serve as Israel's preeminent research library, over the past decade NLI has embarked upon an ambitious journey of renewal to encourage diverse audiences in Israel and around the globe to engage with its treasures in new and meaningful ways. This transformative renewal is taking place through a range of innovative educational, cultural, and digital initiatives, as well as through the construction of a new landmark campus, on schedule to open its doors in 2023.

• -Israel Museum - Visit the Israel Museum, the country’s largest cultural institute and ranked among the world's leading art and archeology museums. Linger over the renowned Israeli art, the Judaica collections in the Jewish Art and Life Wing, and in the Archaeology Wing visit the world's most extensive holdings of the Land of Israel. Among the highlights of the campus is the Shrine of the Book, home to the exceptional archaeological finds of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Biblical manuscripts in the world, as well as other rare ancient manuscripts. Tour with your guide followed by time on your own to explore the galleries that interest you the most.

• Dinner at Ben-Sira Hummus

• 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.

• Mamilla Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Speaker- What come next? Hear what Haviv Gur has to say. - Haviv Rettig Gur is a veteran Israeli-American journalist and analyst and serves as The Times of Israel’s senior analyst. He has reported from over 20 countries and lectures on Israeli politics, the US-Israel relationship, the peace process, modern Jewish history and identity, and Israel-diaspora relations. Gur is one of the most thought-provoking and detailed analysts of our time.

• Time in 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.

• Lunch at Azura - Lunch at Azura, a family-run institution in the Iraqi section of the market, famous for its Turkish-inspired delicacies that are slow-cooked to perfection atop kerosene burners.

• At Mount Herzl pay tribute to those who have fallen since October 7 - As Israel’s national cemetery, Mount Herzl is the final resting place of leaders of Zionism and Israel, including Yitzhak Rabin and Herzl himself, and of thousands of soldiers killed defending the State of Israel. At Mount Herzl you will find a moving monument to the 28,000-odd soldiers and civilians killed in combat or by terrorism since the founding of the state.

• Free time/Packing/Rest

• Final dinner at Reshta Restaurant - Reshta chef restaurant in Ein Rafa village is set among green fields in front of the breathtaking view. Offering authentic Arabic food, Reshta restaurant is named after a traditional lentil and noodles dish, which is made by the restaurant’s chef, Ranam Barhom, out of local produce, grown in the fields surrounding the restaurant.

• Transfer to the airport, Jerusalem, or Tel Aviv

• Sgds