Monday, June 16, 2008 - The journey begins
Depart Memphis on Continental flight CO 2968 at 1:25 PM
Arrive in Newark-Liberty at 5:08 PM
Depart Newark Liberty on Continental flight CO90 at 10:50PM

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - Welcome Home - Shalom Teachers! (D) Shalom and welcome to Israel! Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (4:15pm) and meet your tour educator Head to Tel Aviv After a festive welcome dinner, explore Old Jaffa and hear about its famous visitors: Andromeda, Jonah and the Whale and Napoleon. Program: "What does Israel mean to me?" - An interactive program in which the participants express and clarify their conceptions of Israel and their expectations from the program in Israel. This will be reflected upon at the end of the program. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - Education Israeli Style (B, D) Start the day at Independence Hall, say Shecheyanu for being home for the first time. Spend the rest of the day as guests in an Israeli school; visit the classrooms and see teachers in action. Tour Tel Aviv and pause at Rabin Square to remember In the evening, enjoy dinner with the teachers whose classrooms you visited earlier in the day Overnight: Tel Aviv

Thursday, June 19, 2008 - Mosaics, Kabbalah and the Media (B, D) Head north along the Mediterranean Coast to Atlit British Detention Camp where Jewish "illegal" immigrants were kept trying to enter the Land following World War II. Enjoy an educational program at the camp and continue up the Carmel Mountain in the footsteps of Atlit escapees Visit the Druze Village of Ossafiyah and enjoy a traditional Druze lunch Continue to Zfat, city of Mystical Judaism (Kabbalah). Explore the narrow alleyways lined with ancient synagogues and artists' galleries. In the evening a workshop on Israel in the Media - How Israelis are portrayed in the world media, what Israelis think of events as compared to how they are shown in the world press. Participants will be asked to role-play in this activity. Overnight: Tiberias or at a Kibbutz in the Galilee

Friday, June 20, 2008 - Heroism and Spirituality (B, Shabbat - D) Morning session: how Biblical texts mesh with the lay of the Land Drive south to Beit She'an area, where the ancient Israelites, with King Saul and his son Jonathan heading them, fought their last battle with the Philistines. View and better understand the story of Jezebel and the Navoth Vineyard. Visit the ancient Synagogue of Beit Alpha with its unique mosaic floor (designed by a father and son in their early stages as mosaic floor artists) Ascend to Jerusalem, pause at a vantage point to say Shehehianu Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel Festive Shabbat Dinner Overnight: Jerusalem

Saturday, June 21, 2008 - Shabbat in Jerusalem (B, L) Shabbat Services and Discussion about Parashat Hashavua: Shelach (Numbers 13:1-15:41) Moses sends twelve spies to the Land of Canaan. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig, to report on a lush and bountiful land. But ten of the spies warn that the inhabitants of the land are giants and warriors "more powerful than we"; only Caleb and Joshua insist that the land can be conquered, as G-d has commanded. This is the essence of this trip, to travel to the Land and learn about it, appreciate it and come back with positive feedback like Joshua and Caleb. Continue with a visit to the David Citadel museum. View the Old City from top of Phasael Tower. Continue to visit the model of Jerusalem as it was in the Second Temple Period and the 19th Century model Walk the Old City Ramparts from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate. Session: The ABC's of Israeli Politics- with Neil Lazarus Havdallah Evening at leisure to meet friends and explore Ben Yehuda Street Late night explore the Western Wall Tunnels stretching under the Old City (pending confirmation) Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Jerusalem of Gold (B, D) Start the day at the Israel Museum to see the model of Jerusalem 2000 years ago and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Enter the Jewish Quarter through the Zion Gate as generations of Jewish Warriors have. Explore the Jewish Quarter taking in highlights such as the Cardo (Old Roman "shopping street" - still active today), the Broad Wall and the Southern Wall Excavations. Visit the City of David and end the day with a spiritual visit to the Western Wall In the afternoon meet with social workers at Neve Yaacov JDC program Overnight: Jerusalem

Monday, June 23, 2008- The lowest place on earth (B, L) Head south to the Dead Sea Continue to Massada, ascend and descend by cable car and hear tales of Herod and the Zealots who chose death over slavery at the hands of the Romans Later, swim (float) in the Dead Sea Drive to Jerusalem via Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found Workshop: "Jerusalem at the center of the Jewish History, Tradition and Life" - an interactive discussion that will introduce the participants to the history of Jerusalem, starting with Abraham and King David to its becoming the united capital of the State of Israel. This will be achieved through readings and stories or a preparation session for the Yad Vashem visit Overnight: Jerusalem

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - Honor and Remembrance- Shalom U'lehitraot (B, D) Visit Yad Vashem, Holocaust Memorial site: Walk along the Avenue of the Righteous Meet with a survivor Tour the new museum Visit the Children's Memorial and other memorials Yizkor service in the Valley of Lost Communities Session on teaching the Holocaust hosted by the School for Holocaust Studies Continue to Mount Herzl for a ceremony by the graves of Israeli soldiers and Herzl, Rabin and others. This will surmise the day's educational idea of "The reason and cost of having a Jewish Homeland". A short discussion will revolve around the question of "What would Israel be like if there was no Holocaust?" A farewell visit to the Western Wall Closing session: "What Did This Trip Do for me?" An interactive program in which the participants express and clarify their conceptions of Israel at the end of their visit to Israel. This will be compared with their expectations from the beginning of the program Festive farewell dinner Head to Ben Gurion Airport After dinner head to Ben Gurion Airport and depart for the US Depart Ben Gurion Airport on Continental flight CO 91 at 11:50 PM

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - Leavin' on a Jet plane...
Arrive at Newark - Liberty at 4:45 AM
Depart Newark-Liberty on Continental flight CO 2943 at 8:55 AM
Arrive in Memphis at 11:09 AM
Shalom!

* Program is subject to change