Temple Solel B’nai Mitzvah Trip- June 2024

Activities:

• Group arrival at Ben Gurion Airport - You will be greeted at Ben Gurion Airport by your guide and Via Sabra staff and transfer to the hotel in Tel Aviv.

• For those not arriving with the group, VIP Arrival and tranfer can be added (not included)

• Transfer to your hotel and check in

• Late afternoon- Gather in the lobby to begin the trip - Time TBD

• Begin the trip with Shehechiyanu Garden at Gan Hapisga - Open the trip overlooking the Old City of Jaffa and the Tel Aviv skyline where the ancient and the modern come together. Gather with your guide to meet and say Shehechiyanu to bless the beginning of your journey together in Israel!

• Design your Artifact bags - Each trip participant will receive a small bag for collecting artifacts during the trip. Some of the treasures that will go in your bag will be given to you, others you will add yourselves. At the end of the trip you will share your treasures with the group to tell your story of the trip.

• Welcome Dinner- Israeli style! - Dive into hummous, salads, grilled meats, 'chips' (fries) and other classic Israeli food.

• Tel Aviv- Royal Beach or Crowne Plaza

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Begin the day in 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.

• Jaffa Flea Market - Wind your way through the Flea Market which features everything from antiques to hip new clothing and design stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars.

• Stop for a cool snack of Malabi - Malabi is a sweet cold treat flavored with rosewater and topped with cinnamon, nuts, coconut, sweet syrup, and other flavors of your choice. Malabi is a classic Middle-Eastern dish that has become one of Israel's popular street foods.

• Continue to 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 David Ben-Gurion, first Prime Minister of Israel, read aloud the Declaration of Independence as Israel was declared an independent Jewish state on May 14, 1948. 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.

• Lunch basket for Rothschild Blvd. - Each family will receive a lunch basket with pre-selected sandwiches, salad, and fresh fruit.

• Free time at 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.

• Prepare for Shabbat

• Kabbalat Shabbat at the Tel Aviv Port (pending availability) - Welcome Shabbat at the Tel Aviv Port with Beit Tefilah Israeli in a prayer that combines the old and the modern, sunset and music.

• Shabbat Dinner at the hotel

• Tel Aviv- Royal Beach or Crowne Plaza

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Depart for Caesarea National Park - Drive to the coastal Caesarea which reveals the wonders of the past that were built by one of the greatest builders of the ancient world, Herod. Caesarea’s antiquities park houses unique building from various periods, bearing silent witness to the upheavals that have visited Caesarea and the region over the past 2,300 years.

• Optional (can be added)- Snorkeling in the Caesarea Harbor or Tornado Boat on the Mediterranean

• -Snorkeling in the Ceasarea Harbor - Tour the inner bay of King Herod’s sunken harbor with an experienced guide. See the ruins of King Herod’s magnificent harbor and sunken archeological artifacts amidst the Mediterranean marine life.

• -Tornado Boat - Take an exciting tornado boat ride on the Mediterranean where you'll see the coast from the sea, including Rosh Hanikra, Israel’s northernmost coastal border known for its stunning chalk-white cliffs.

• Druze 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.

• After lunch choices:

• -Ein Hod Artists Village - Ein Hod is on the road to Haifa and is an artists' village on a hill, at the foot of Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean coast, the town of Atlit, and an ancient 12th century crusader fortress. After the War of Independence the area was abandoned and left in ruin. In the fifties, a group of artists led by the acclaimed Dada artist Marcel Janco decided that Ein Hod would be a place where they could work, build studios and workshops, and form a creative environment for art and art education.

• -Shady hike in 'Little Switzerland"on Mount Carmel

• Wine Truck for adults and Ice Cream for kids Truck Stop - Cool off with a stop that will thrill everyone- wine and beer for adults, ice cream and limonana for kids!

• Return to Tel Aviv - Evening on your own

• Tel Aviv- Royal Beach or Crowne Plaza

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• 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.

• In smaller groups you'll enjoy each of the following:

• -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.

• -Gazoz Workshop - Meet Benny Briga the legendary Gazoz master of the Levinsky Market and author of the Gazoz book with Adeena Sussman. Briga has reimagined the Turkish tradition and given it a creative twist that results in delicious and beautifully bubbly beverage. Join Benny to learn how you can make this yourself.

• -Levinsky Market Culinary Tour - 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.

• Hagal Sheli (My Wave) - Surfing lesson with Hagal Sheli (My Wave), an NGO that uses surfing as a vehicle for personal development and advancement. In 2012 Omer and Yaron, educational entrepreneurs and avid surfers, developed a unique surfing program for transforming the lives of youth-at-risk. Their mission: Empower youth to never give up, to continue to pursue their dreams and to ultimately succeed: ‘In the ocean, as in life’. Must be age 11 and up to participate.

• Return to the hotel to shower and rest

• Outdoor Tel Aviv dinner - With a private chef, enjoy a summer dinner of modern Israeli food for adults and kids both.

• Tel Aviv- Royal Beach or Crowne Plaza

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of the hotel

• Drive to the Ayalon Institute - Visit the Ayalon Institute, a clandestine ammunitions factory built in 1945 by the Haganah. In just three weeks, preparations for the factory were completed and it was code named the Ayalon Institute. Above ground, it appeared to be no more than a kibbutz. However, located eight meters below ground, this was the country's largest bullet factory. It has been said that the bullets manufactured at the Ayalon Institute played a crucial role in the success of the War of Independence.

• Boxed lunch

• Beit Guvrin Dig for a Day - Explore Beit Guvrin National Park where you will be able to take part in an archeological dig. The caves of Beit Guvrin hold a rich trove of artifacts that visitors like you have uncovered over the years. Don’t forget to check out the amazing Bell Caves too.

• Partnership Visit in Shaar Hanegev - Visit your Partnership2Gether region and meet your Israeli partner families for a fun event (swimming or other.) Learn about your Partnership projects.

• Drive to Kfar Hanokdim

• Check into Kfar Hanokdim - Kfar Hanokdim is a green oasis shaded by palm trees and crowned with biblically inspired gardens where you will find a picturesque scene-Bedouin tents comfortably fitted with colorful rugs and mattresses. Kfar Hanokdim, surrounded by the breathtaking views of the Judean desert and offers relaxed desert hospitality.

• Parshat Hashavua Family Session- Shelach - Discussion and Activity about the weekly parashah led by Cantor Tiep. Look at the well-known story of the twelve spies that were sent into Israel to scope things out. What do you think they saw? Did it look like anywhere you've been in Israel so far?

• Camel Ride & Desert Dinner

• Evening Drum Circle

• Kfar Hanokdim private rooms and tent for kids

• Kfar HaNokdim

Activities:

• Kfar HaNokdim

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Masada National Park - Early morning ascent of the mountain from the Roman Ramp 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.

• Descend Masada by cable car

• Continue to a 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.

• Ein Gedi 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.

• Optional (in place of Ein Gedi Hike)Dead Sea Bike ride - Bike in the spectacular scenery of the Dead Sea. Several route options available depending on the level of the riders. Riding off-road, explore the area between the mountains and the sea in the stunning quiet landscape of the area. (Additional cost for those who choose this option.)

• Drive to Jerusalem and check into your hotel

• Free evening in Jerusalem

• Optional 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.

• Cassia, Orient, or similar

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Begin the day at the City of David and get ready to get wet! - Visit the City of David where King David captured a well fortified city with its own water source for the new kind of national state that he envisaged. Walk through water in Hezekiah’s Tunnel, part of the ancient City of David built around the Gihon spring, which is on the side of the cliff overlooking the Kidron Valley. Continue through the newly excavated Pilgrim’s Way- walk like our ancestors did from the City of David through a tunnel to the Davidson Center in the Old City.

• Walk through the Southern Wall Archaeological Gardens at the Davidson Center - Get a glimpse of the glory of the Second Temple, the heart of the ancient Jewish kingdom, and the devastation that followed. Visit the Davidson Visitors' Center and enjoy a modern and interactive virtual presentation. The museum presents a taste of the archaeology of Jerusalem from different eras - covering the First Temple, Second Temple, Byzantine, Islamic, and the Crusades periods.

• Tour the Jewish Quarter - 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. You'll have time for lunch on your own

• Meet the Jerusalem Scribe - Kalman Gavriel Delmoor is a traditional Scribe with a modern lens. Through his unique perspectives and expertise in the ancient craft, Kalman brings the Torah to life in his art. Discover the fusion of artwork and tradition below. Meet Kalman, see him work, and learn about his mission.

• Walk through Muslim Quarter and stop for some Arab sweets - 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.

• Visit the incredible Church of the Holy Sepulchre - The church is situated on the hill called Golgotha or Calvary and contains the last five Stations of the Cross, including the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Several Christian denominations claim ownership to various parts of this site so holy to Christendom.

• Return to the hotel to freshen up and rest

• Dinner at Cafe Shalva - Shalva is a Jerusalem based organization that provides services to children with special needs and their families. Graduates of Shalva work at the café, and the café’s profits go back to the center to support its programs.

• Cassia, Orient, or similar

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• B'nai Mitzvah Ceremony at Merkaz Shimshon of the Hebrew Union College - Gather for your special Shacharit B'nai Mitzvah Ceremony! Together as a community share the joy of prayer, spirituality, and pride as you welcome your young adult members into your synagogue community in this incredible space overlooking Jerusalem's Old City.

• Celebratory lunch at Merkaz Shimshon or other

• Afternoon- free time - Enjoy the pool, rest, or if you're still up for more action, visit the Jerusalem Zoo.

• Family Treasure Hunt in Machane Yehuda Market - In the heart of Jerusalem sits this bustling, multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor. You'll be given assignments in teams for a tasty treasure hunt. Enjoy the hustle and bustle with all the rich fragrances, colors, and sounds this iconic Jerusalem market offers.

• Dinner on your own - Bus or walk back to your hotel

• Cassia, Orient, or similar

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.

• Children too young for Yad Vashem will go to the Bloomfield Science Museum

• Continue to Mount Herzl - 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.

• Light lunch and Challah Baking Workshop

• Time to rest and prepare for Shabbat

• Kabbalat Shabbat and Home Hospitality with Kehillat Har-El - Kehiat Har-El, established in 1958, is the founding congregation of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism.

• Cassia, Orient, or similar

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Progressive Shabbat Service Hike in Sataf - Hike your Shabbat morning service by stopping in stations throughout the hike to sing and engage in the Shabbat service. The Sataf is on the site of ancient agricultural terraces which date to the time of the ancient Israelites.

• Shabbat Brunch with traditional Shabbat Foods - Enjoy the variety of classic ethnic foods that are part of the Shabbat day meal.

• Return to the hotel, time to pack

• Improv Workshop and wrap up - Together with professional Improv actors, wrap up your trip engaging in fun and creative ways to summarize your journey.

• Final dinner and celebration of your trip!

• Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your flight home - Other options will be customized as requested.

• Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your flight home