Women of Hope – Solidarity Trip November 2024

Activities:

• Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport - VIP service and private transfer can be arranged.

• Check-in to the hotel - Please note: check-in time is after 3:00 PM.

• Meet your group and tour guide

• Opening program

• Welcome group dinner at a local restaurant

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Volunteer with Metzilot Mazon - The Jerusalem Food Rescuers, aims to create a more Just and sustainable urban food system with less waste. Working with the wholesale market, they divert surplus produce that would have otherwise gone to waste and support communities that don’t have equitable access to food. You will help sort and pack fruit and vegetables in preparation for distribution for those in need.

• Lunch break at a local restaurant with a social impact

• Pay tribute to the soldiers at 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. Hear some of the incredible men and women who fell on October 7 or during Swords of Iron War.

• Break, free time and rest.

• Join a local community for Kabbalat Shabbat - welcoming the Shabbat together.

• Shabbat Dinner

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Morning Multicultural Tour of the Old City - 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, meet an Armenian artist, and stand at an marvelous lookout, see the Temple Mount, also known the Al Aqsa Compound, a significant Muslim site. Delve into the complexity of a city sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Back at the hotel for down time and lunch - (meal not included)

• Afternoon Poetry and Historical Tour of Mishkenot Sha'ananim - Explore the picturesque neighborhood and rich cultural heritage of Mishkenot Sha'ananim, the first Jewish residential area built outside the Old City walls in 1860 by British philanthropist Moses Montefiore to help the Jews of the Old Yishuv. While wandering through the quaint alleys, hear about its history, the people who lived here, and how it has changed over the years. The landscapes of the Old City walls and Mount Zion serve as a background and add to the beauty of this place. Explore Jerusalem through the eyes and poetry of Yehuda Amichai and other poets and writers.

• Havdalla - transition from Shabbat to the new week

• Night Out experience at the Machane Yehuda Market - Experience the vibrant energy unique to this iconic culinary destination.

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel & check-out.

• Morning Agricultural Volunteering at Kaima Organic Farm - Founded in 2013, Kaima is an educational farming network using employment and nature to engage and empower teens and young adults exploring non-traditional education. The farm serves as an outdoor classroom for a multi-layered process, including hands-on organic farming, leadership development, business learning, and community development. Amid the current conflict, Kaima participated in supplying fruits and vegetables to a local caterer supporting evacuees, Holocaust survivors, and those in need.

• Magical Picnic and Israeli Wine Tastings in Jerusalem Hills - Walk between the lush green, see the ancient water channels, and explore the local Israeli trees, such as olive, fig, almond, and pomegranate. At a lovely spot, we will eat a light meal and enjoy a taste of Israeli wines produced by female wine makers.

• Depart south.

• Meet Zenab Garbia at her Gallery - Zenab is a remarkable Bedouin woman and talented artist. Hear her captivating personal journey and gain an insight into the rich tapestry of the Bedouin community. See the beauty of her art where traditional embroidery meets innovative mediums like ceramics, bridging heritage with contemporary creativity.

• Check-in to the hotel & dinner.

• Sde Boker Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Begin your Morning with Yoga Session.

• Nature as Therapy - go on a beautiful hike in the Negev Desert - Hike in the stunning oasis in Ein Avdat National Park, in a beautiful canyon in the Negev desert. The Ein Avdat Spring flows down in a waterfall towards an 8-meter deep pool of water. The canyon is part of Nahal Zin, which is the longest wadi or dry riverbed in the Negev desert. If you are lucky you might see the Ibexes and make sure to look for the vultures in the sky. For an exciting trail, hike up and climb ladders, at the end you will enjoy a spectacular view of the Negev desert.

• Leisure, Pool & Spa Time at the Hotel - (lunch not included, lobby bar restaurant offers meals).

• Prepare Together Goodie Bags for Soldiers - The next day you will meet soldiers and this will be an opportunity to give them a gift.

• Outdoor Dinner and Bonfire Under the Starts

• Sde Boker Kedma Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel & check-out

• Geo-political Tour of "Otef Aza" the Gaza Envelope - Stop at key lookout points, including the town of Sderot, for an in-depth discussion of the complexity of the Gaza Border situation.

• Meet Female Soldiers for a Casual and yet Inspirational talk - Meet in person with soldiers serving in the area for an open discussion and to hear about their services, the challenges, and the path they are taking.

• Lunch and Home Hospitality - Enjoy authentic home-made food, meet with a local woman and get to know her personal story and her life in the Western Negev.

• Stop at the Nova Festival Memorial Site - Visit the site of the Nova Music Festival, now a memorial site, bear witness, and pay respects to the 364 Israelis murdered by Hamas on the morning of October 7th.

• Drive to Tel Aviv

• Check-in to the hotel & free evening

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Behind the Scenes with Rays of Light - Meet Dana Dvorin who, with two others, founded a podcast initiative, Rays of Light, that is aiming to commemorating the heroic stories of women that survived the October 7th massacre. Ms. Dvorin is also the founder of an NGO that helps women who were abused through drama. Discuss the inspiration behind the podcast, and her work in general.

• Explore the Street Art in Florentine - Learn about contemporary Israeli culture through the graffiti on the walls, and see an Israel that you might not know. View trauma of the war as expressed on the walls by local artists. Explore the new art and learn about the Israeli society during these difficult times.

• Levinsky Market - Culinary Tasting 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.

• Free time to explore Tel Aviv on your own

• Meet with the Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, Activist and Groundbreaker - An expert on international law, human rights, and feminist theories. Established and heads The Civil Commission on Oct. 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. The commission's members worked to document every piece of information regarding cases of abuse to present to the international community. After months of intense work, meetings and presentations the U.N has acknowledged these violations and atrocities. She was awarded the Israel Prize in the field of Solidarity (Arvut Hadadit) for her tireless work to raise awareness and acknowledgement to the crimes committed by Hamas.

• Group dinner.

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel & check-out

• Glimmer of Hope - Meet with Dr. Einat Wilf - One of the most articulate spokespeople for Zionism and a passionate advocate for a new honesty about the Palestinian war on Israel. Dr. Wilf grew up as a member of the Israeli left who believed that when the Palestinians would have their own sovereign state, Israel would finally live in peace. But like many Israelis of the left, she lost the certainty that she once had. During her talk Wilf will share her new vision for peace.

• Explore the Resilience of Israel through a Fashion Tour - An exclusive inside look into the heart of an industry that has always stood at the junction of politics, culture, and innovation. Visit with distinguished fashion designers to hear their stories of hope. Tour studios and workshops to discover how the war has fortified a profound spirit of solidarity among designers as they rallied to support evacuated families and soldiers with remarkable creativity and compassion. This fashion tour unveils the power of the human, and Israeli, spirit to create and design beauty even in the toughest circumstances.

• Lunch break and free time at Jaffa Flea Market - Wander through the Yafo Flea Market, a very ‘happening’ area with a classic flea market combined with cafes, restaurants, bars, and cute stores. Enjoy free time and eat lunch in one of the restaurants there (meal not included).

• Women Trailblazers Tour at the ANU Museum - 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 an interactive experience and follow stories of remarkable Jewish women throughout different periods of history until present day. The tour will include a visit to the October Seventh Exhibition, which wishes to record & present the unique creative burst that is well felt among Israelis since the war began. The exhibition curates works by 25 artists whose creative activity reflects the atrocious times Israeli society is facing since October 7th.

• Closing session and Farewell Dinner

• Group transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport and Fly Back Home

• We Look Forward to Hosting You again in Our Beautiful Country!