Sunday, December 20, 2009 - On our way!
Depart the USA for Israel

Monday, December 21, 2009 - Welcome Home Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and meet your Tour Educator Drive to Neot Kedumim, the biblical reserve for a program and tree planting. Ascend to Jerusalem and pause at a vantage point overlooking the city to say Shehehianu. Enjoy a spiritual visit to the Western Wall Visit the Time elevator for an introduction to Jerusalem's 3000 years of history Welcome home dinner and opening session Overnight: Jerusalem area

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - Jerusalem, the City of Peace Start the day with walking the Old City Ramparts from the Jaffa to Zion Gates. Visit Mt Zion and the Tomb of King David, founder of Jerusalem. Enter the Old City through Zion Gate as Jewish Warriors have done for generations. Descend the Western Hill to the City of David, the "original" Jerusalem Enjoy a wet walk through the Hezekiah Tunnel dug in biblical times Continue to the Israel Museum to see the model of Jerusalem, to sum up the visit to First Temple Period Jerusalem (City of David) and to prepare for Jerusalem of the Second Temple period. Visit the Dead Sea Scrolls, housed in the dramatic Shrine of the Book. After dinner, enjoy a lively evening Israeli dance instruction Overnight: Jerusalem area

Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - Discovering the Hidden Start the day with a hands-on archeological experience at Ein Zurim while you sieve through debris dug out of the Temple Mount. Depart Jerusalem to Tel Azeka and view the Ella Valley where David Fought Goliath Continue to a Tikun Olam activity of Table to Table Visit to Machon Ayalon, a secret Hagana munitions plant. Head south for a camel trek, deep in the desert to be followed by a Bedouin Hafla (feast) Overnight: in a Bedouin Tent in the desert

Thursday, December 24, 2009 - Massada Rocks Start the day by climbing Massada for a spectacular sunrise. The palatial fortress is known as the last independent Jewish territory from the destruction of the second Temple to the rebirth of the modern State of Israel. Stop for lunch and swim (float) in the Dead Sea. Enjoy a hike to the waterfall in the desert oasis of Ein Gedi. Get a glimpse of desert wildlife. Here David hid from King Saul in Biblical times. Bathe in this fresh water oasis only a short distance from the Dead Sea. Overnight: Jerusalem

Friday, December 25, 2009 - Creating the State and the City that Never Sleeps In the morning, "join" a Palmach unit at the fabulous multi-media Palmach Museum (Beit Hapalmach - pending confirmation) to trace the events that led to the founding of the state. Relive history as you gather at Independence Hall where David Ben Gurion Proclaimed Israel's Independence. Enjoy a short city tour of Tel Aviv, pause at Rabin Square to reflect and talk about peace and remember. Enjoy Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian-Shopping Street and trendy Shenkin Street Families and friends pick up [Staff members and participants that remain with the group - return to Jerusalem] Kabbalat Shabbat Festive Shabbat dinner and Oneg Shabbat Overnight: Jerusalem

Saturday, December 26, 2009 - Shabbat Shalom Optional Shabbat Services at the hotel After services enjoy a Shabbat leisure walk (Oneg Shabbat) through some of the new neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Return to the hotel for lunch After lunch spend some time in small group discussions on Jewish Identity and Parashat Hashavua Parashat Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) Judah approaches Joseph to plead for the release of Benjamin, offering himself as a slave to the Egyptian ruler in Benjamin's stead. Upon witnessing his brothers' loyalty to one another, Joseph reveals his identity to them. "I am Joseph," he declares. "Is my father still alive?" The brothers are overcome by shame and remorse, but Joseph comforts them. "It was not you who sent me here," he says to them, "but G-d. It has all been ordained from Above to save us, and the entire region, from famine." The brothers rush back to Canaan with the news. Jacob comes to Egypt with his sons and their families -- seventy souls in all -- and is reunited with his beloved son after 22 years. On his way to Egypt he receives the Divine promise: "Fear not to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again." Joseph gathers the wealth of Egypt by selling food and seed during the famine. Pharaoh gives Jacob's family the fertile county of Goshen to settle and the children of Israel prosper in their Egyptian exile. Havdallah Families and friends drop off participants After dinner, enjoy a unique Jerusalem by night tour including Ben Yehuda Street and the Western Wall Tunnels (pending confirmation) Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday, December 27, 2009 - Northern Exposure and Go Golan! Depart for Beit She'an the reconstructed ancient Roman town of Scytopolis. Beit She'an contains some Israel's most spectacular archaeological finds. See the colonnaded streets, ritual baths, basilica and Roman temple. Ascend the Golan Heights and view the region from atop Mitzpe Ha'Shalom. Descend to Hamat Gader and enjoy the ancient Roman Bath and hot springs Overnight: Galilee area

Monday, December 28, 2009 - Kabbalah, Jews and Druze Start the day in Zfat, city of mystical Judaism (Kabbalah). Explore the narrow alleyways lined with ancient synagogues and artists' galleries Drive across the lush Galilee to visit a Druze Village for home hospitality and lunch Head to Mini Israel to relive your visit to Israel Overnight: Jerusalem area

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - Remembrance, Return and Farewell Start the day with a visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. Experience the museum, the Children's Memorial, the Valley of the Communities, and the Boulevard of the Righteous Among the Nations. Continue to Mount Herzl and visit the gravesites of Herzl, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and other Zionist luminaries as well as the graves of fallen Israeli soldiers. Enter the Jewish Quarter and take in some highlights of the Jewish Quarter such as the Cardo and the Broad Wall (First Temple period) and then explore the Southern Wall excavations and reflect on the centrality of the Temple in Jewish life. Farewell visit to the Western Wall Closing session and farewell dinner Overnight: Jerusalem area

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - Leaving on a Jet Plane...
Early morning drive to Ben Gurion Airport for your return flight
Depart for the US
Shalom U'lehitraot!

* Program is subject to change