Uncovering Classic Israel | November 2023

Activities:

• Shalom! Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport - Private transfers can be arranged.

• She'echeyanu and Kabbalat Shabbat Ceremony - In a beautiful lookout over the Old City walls, in the First Jewish neighborhood outside of the walls, gather together to welcome the Shabbat together. The service will be led by Cantor Debbie.

• Optional: join one of the local communities for Friday night services

• Shabbat Friday night dinner as a community

• Jerusalem: The Orient Hotel, Colony View Room

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - Every morning you will enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel.

• Masada National Park - Ascend the mountain from by a cable car 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.

• Lunch on route

• Nature hike in Ein Gedi oasis - The landscape, climatic conditions and water sources at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve have created a unique ecosystem of springs, waterfalls and pools surrounded by lush greenery in a desolate desert setting. We will have the opportunity to hike up to and cool off in the refreshing pools and waterfalls of the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. The stunning Ein Gedi oasis consists of two separate waterways: Nahal David (David’s Stream), where David took refuge from King Saul; and Nahal Arugot, where remains of a 6th-century synagogue were discovered.

• Time to swim and attempt floating 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.

• Travel back to Jerusalem

• Dinner on own

• 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. (transfer not included)

• Jerusalem: The Orient Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• A meaningful visit to Yad Vashem - Guided tour of Israel’s national Holocaust museum. Yad Vashem presents a profoundly Jewish memorial of the Shoah. From its dramatic structure to its powerful exhibits, such as the chilling Children’s Memorial, Yad Vashem is an unforgettable place of tribute and remembrance. You'll be guided by a local guide.

• Tasting Tour in the Machane Yehuda Market - In the heart of Jerusalem, a bustling multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor, a tasting tour through Machane Yehuda Market is an adventure for your taste buds. Enjoy the hustle and bustle with all the rich fragrances, colors, and sounds this iconic Jerusalem market offers.

• Visit Israel museum - Tour 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.

• Free afternoon for shopping and relax time

• Group 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.

• Jerusalem: The Orient Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin the day with a magnificent lookout from Tower of David

• Continue with the tour of the Jewish Quarter - See archaeological finds from the First and Second Temple periods, Roman ruins, Byzantine cardo, vibrant synagogues, and learning institutions, all jostling for space in these busy stone streets.

• Free time for lunch and shop at the Arab Market - Browse in the famous Arab shuk (market) in the Muslim quarter. Check out the local humus and sweets Its many stalls sell spices, pastries, pottery, sheepskin, embroidered clothes and so much more. Meet store-owners whose stores have been in their family for generations.

• Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - The Holy Sepulchre is situated on the hill called Golgotha or Calvary. The Church 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 the site so holy to Christendom.

• Tour of the Western Wall Tunnels OR the Archeological Garden

• Time to Reflect at the Kotel - Proceed to the Kotel (The Western Wall), sacred because it is one of the last remnant of the Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans. Feel the stones that have witnessed so much in the history of the Jews. Place your special and personal prayer in the cracks of the stones.

• Free evening and dinner on own

• Jerusalem: The Orient Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast & check-out from hotel

• Head north and tour Tzippori National Park - Tzipori was once the capital of the Galilee, the seat of the Sanhedrin and the place where the Mishna was completed. At Tzippori, view the ruins and ancient mosaic floor to see how native species have been part of the national iconography for centuries.

• Rish Lakish family owned olive oil press - Olive picking followed by a visit to Reish Lakish, a family-owned olive oil press. Meet the family, see the process of making olive oil, and get to taste excellent produce of the press and farm.

• Unforgettable sunset kayaking in the Kinneret laggons - Kayaking adventure along the Jordan River and the Kinneret lagoons. Row through one of the most beautiful spots in Israel, amongst the plants, trees, and waterfalls in the middle of this beautiful Galilee nature reserve. Enjoy some coffee, tea, fresh fruit snacks.

• Group outdoor dinner

• Check-in to the hotel

• Kibbutz Ginosar: Nof Ginosar, Deluxe Rooms

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Tour of Tzfat - Discover Tzfat which sits at a higher altitude than any other city in Israel and has been known since the 16th century as a major center of Kabbala, Jewish mysticism. The old synagogues, narrow alleyways, and artists’ studios add to the hilltop city’s unmistakable charm. You can wander around the artist quarter and find some beautiful galleries in the artist quarter.

• Pelter Winery - tour 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. Together with the wine, enjoy a lunch of local cheese.

• Continue with a jeep ride of the Golan Heights - 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 strategical roll this region has for the State of Israel. Your local guide touches on 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.

• Tour the beautiful village of Ein Keshatot - A Jewish village from the Period of the Mishna and Talmud, with a magnificent synagogue in its center. enter the synagogue that features the original Ark Complex – the most preserved and magnificent ever to be discovered in Israel. The synagogue was excavated and reconstructed with advanced technological methods, and today it stands at a height of one story.

• Group dinner at a local restaurant

• Drive back to the hotel

• Kibbutz Ginosar - Nof Ginosar Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast & check-out from hotel

• Travel to Rosh Hanikra ("Head of the Grottos") - With the stunning chalk-white cliffs at Israel’s northernmost coastal border. Enjoy the view of the Mediterranean coastline stretched out before you, then take the cable car down beneath the cliffs to the grottos below and tour the system of underground marine caves eroded by pounding waves over thousands of years.

• Free time to get lunch in Akko

• Stop to admire the stunning scenery of The Bahai Gardens - From the Louis Promenade, look over the Baha'i Gardens and enjoy the 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!

• Tour of the impressive Caesarea National Park - Located on the Mediterranean coast , where 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 dreamed 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 Millenium. The city 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 as a performing venue today and the hippodrome that held 20,000 spectators for chariot races.

• Proceed to Tel Aviv & check-in to the hotel

• Dinner on own

• Tel Aviv: Carlton Hotel, Superior City View Room

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin with the interactive exhibition at 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.

• Continue with a tour of the 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.

• Time to relax, swim and explore on own

• Recommended:

• Browse through the Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel) - Enjoy time on own to get lunch at the Carmel Market. 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.

• Check out Nachalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts fair - Where local artists display and sell their crafts surrounded by beautiful, historical buildings, many in the process of being preserved.

• Afternoon tour the picturesque Jaffa old city - On a walk through Jaffa, discover the ancient and modern situated side-by-side. Stroll through the alleyways of the Old City filled with artist studios as well as archaeological discoveries.

• Kabbalat Shabbat in Hapisga Garden - Together as community welcome the Shabbat in a beautiful lookout over Old Jaffa, modern Tel Aviv and Mediterranian sea. The service will be led by Cantor Debbie.

• Shabbat group dinner at the hotel

• Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• This morning the group will break into small groups and get to choose to join one of the following:

• Track 1: dynamic colorful Graffiti Tour - Explore Florentine through an urban graffiti tour. What kind of story do these images and words tell us about the people living there? What is unique about graffiti in Israel and in Tel Aviv? We will walk through Florentine, the neighborhood of Tel Aviv best-known for graffiti art to answer these questions and many more in a dynamic and inquisitive tour.

• Track 2: Bauhaus Architecture Tour - In the heart of the “White City”, it is lined with Tel Aviv’s iconic architecture, the Bauhaus style, which led to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many of these buildings have been beautifully restored and now house the offices of financial institutions, creative firms, cafes and luxury residences.

• Track 3: 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 on own with the museum's app.

• Lunch on own

• Time to explore on own - Optional sites you may want to visit and we can assist with booking them for you:
  - Tel Aviv Art Museum
  - Jaffa Flea Market
  - Ayalon Institute in Rehovot

• 4:00pm - check out from the hotel and transfer to Ben Gurion Airport

• Havdallah ceremony - saying goodbye to the Shabbat and reflecting on your Israel journey.

• We look forward to hosting you again in our beautiful country