Sunday, July 04, 2010
Depart to Israel
DL 6295 BOS/JFK 5:00P - 6:39P
DL 086 JFK/TLV 7:55P - 2:55P July 05

Monday, July 05, 2010 - Welcome Home (D) Shalom and welcome to Israel. Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (2:55PM) and meet your Tour Educator. Ascend to Jerusalem. Pause at the Haas Promenade with its spectacular view for a traditional Shehehianu ceremony. Enjoy a spiritual visit to the Western Wall Overnight: Jerusalem

Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - Jerusalem of Gold (B, D) Start the day with a visit to the David Citadel museum. View the Old City from the top of Phasael Tower. View the models of Jerusalem through the generations from the Second Temple period until the 19th century. Walk the Old City Wall Promenade from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate. Visit Mount Zion and the tomb of King David, founder of the city Enter the Old City through the Zion Gate and descend the Western Hill to the unique City of David. Prepare to get wet as you explore the water tunnel built by King Hezekiah Spend the afternoon at the Machne Yehuda market buying products for tonight's meal. Spend the evening preparing your own traditional meal under the direction of a professional cook (pending confirmation). Overnight: Jerusalem

Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - Masada (B, L) Early morning depart from Jerusalem to Masada, the last stronghold of the Jews against the Romans. Ascend the mountain via cable car to enjoy a comprehensive tour including King Herod's famous hanging palaces. Descend via cable car and continue to a spa hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea for a luncheon. Enjoy the Dead Sea spa experience Spend time shopping for AHAVA products In the evening enjoy free time at leisure to enjoy the fresh air of Jerusalem Overnight: Jerusalem

Thursday, July 08, 2010 - Model to Reality - Jerusalem Second Temple Period (B, D) Visit the Hadassah Hospital to visit the state-of-the-art Center for Emergency medicine Explore the Jewish Quarter taking in highlights such as the Cardo, the Broad Wall (First Temple Period), explore the Southern Wall excavations and hear about the centrality of the Temple in Jewish life. Enjoy time for shopping in the Jewish Quarter Meet for dinner with "Lone Soldiers". Night visit to the Western Wall Tunnels Overnight: Jerusalem

Friday, July 09, 2010 - Honor and Remembrance (B, Shabbat-D) Start the day with an emotional visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum. See the Children's Memorial and Avenue of the Righteous Gentiles. Meet with a Holocaust Survivor. Continue to Mount Herzl and view the gravesites of Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and Theodor Herzl along with those of Israel's fallen soldiers Return to Jerusalem to see the city prepare for Shabbat including a stroll through the ultra- orthodox Jewish neighborhoods Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel Overnight: Jerusalem

Saturday, July 10, 2010 - Shabbat Shalom (B, L) Optional Shabbat Services. Matot-Massei Numbers 30:2--36:13 Moses conveys the laws governing the annulment of vows to the heads of the tribes of Israel. The tribes of Reuben and Gad (later joined by half of the tribe of Menasseh) ask for the lands east of the Jordan as their portion in the Promised Land, these being prime pastureland for their cattle. Moses is initially angered by the request, but subsequently agrees on the condition that they first join, and lead, in Israel's conquest of the lands west of the Jordan. The boundaries of the Promised Land are given, and cities of refuge are designated as havens and places of exile for inadvertent murderers. Walk the New City neighborhoods and enjoy some time relaxing Havdallah Head to the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Promenade for shopping Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday, July 11, 2010 - Biblical Stories Mesh with the Lay of the Land (B, D) Depart Jerusalem and enjoy camel ride and hospitality at Eretz Bereshit. Continue to Tel Yizrael or top of Mount Gilboa and learn about the last battle of King Saul with the Philistines. Hear tales of the beautiful Shunamite women, Avishag, companion to King David in his old age and the Shunamite woman who was told by the prophet Elisha that she would bear a son. Hear tales of the infamous Jezebel who orchestrated the death of Navoth so her husband, King Ahab, could take over his vineyard! Learn about the Prophetess Devorah and about the Prophet Gideon Afternoon cruise on the Sea of Galilee and special dinner Overnight: Kibbutz in the Galilee

Monday, July 12, 2010 - Kabbalah and Wet Land (B, L) Depart for Zfat, city of mystical Judaism-Kabbalah. Meet with a Kabbalist for an enlightening discussion and enjoy time for visiting the ancient synagogues and shopping in the many artists' galleries and boutiques After a special fish lunch at Dag-Al-Hadan visit the northern wet land and enjoy a leisure hike at the Dan River, one of the Jordan River major tributaries. Ascend the Golan Heights to peer deep into Syria from atop Mt. Bental Pause at a vantage point to look down on the Hula Valley and hear about Eli Cohen, Israel's master spy. Overnight: Kibbutz in the Galilee

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - Crusaders, Bahai and Druze (B, D) Depart the Eastern Galilee and drive along the northern border with Lebanon to Rosh Hanikra. Descend by cable car to visit the grottos carved by the sea. Continue to Akko, the crusaders city, enter the Knights' Halls and walk the escape tunnel. Enjoy this Mediterranean town and proceed to Haifa, often referred to as the San Francisco of Israel because of its lovely bay and hilly contours. After viewing the Bahai Gardens continue to visit to the village of Ossafia for early dinner and traditional Druze hospitality. Learn about this unique community and its contributions to Israeli society. Drive south along the Mediterranean highway to Tel Aviv In the evening stroll through the ancient harbor city of Jaffa and visit the numerous galleries and artists that took residence in these old houses. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - The City that Never Sleeps (B, D) Enjoy a short city tour of Tel Aviv, pause at Rabin Square to reflect and talk about peace, and visit the Independence Hall, where Israel was declared as a State. Meet the Bau sisters, and hear the story of their father, Yosef, an assistant to Oscar Schindler who arrived in Israel after the War and continued working for Israeli intelligence. In the afternoon enjoy the sandy beach of the Mediterranean Sea Return to the hotel for relaxation and late check out Enjoy a farewell dinner at Maganda, the Yemenite Quarter of Tel Aviv Late evening drive to the airport for flight back to the US

Thursday, July 15, 2010 - Farewell (B)
Depart for US
DL 087 TLV/JFK 12:40A - 6:45A
DL 6292 JFK/BOS 8:20A - 9:49A
Shalom U'lehitraot

* Program is subject to change