Thursday, February 12, 2009
Depart the US for Israel
IB6166Y 12FEB BOSMAD 630P 720A 13FEB
IB3754Y 13FEB MADTLV 1010A 345P

Friday, February 13, 2009 - Welcome Home and Kabbalat Shabbat (Shabbat-D) Shalom and welcome to Israel! Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (3:45PM) and meet your tour educator. Ascend to Jerusalem and pause at the Haas Promenade with its spectacular view for a traditional Shehehianu ceremony. Kabbalat Shabbat and Festive Shabbat Dinner Walk to a vantage point overlooking the Western Wall and enjoy a spiritual visit to the Western Wall In the evening: "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: Jerusalem

Saturday, February 14, 2009 - Shabbat Jerusalem Style (B, L) Optional Shabbat Services Walk 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 (It is very important to visit the site before entering the city for it provides a better understanding once inside the city). Walk the Old City Walls Promenade from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate. Afternoon Parashat Hashavua discussion: Parashat Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23) The Children of Israel camp opposite Mount Sinai, where they are told that G-d has chosen them to be His "kingdom of priests" and "holy nation." The people respond by proclaiming, "All that G-d has spoken, we shall do." Havdallah and opening session by Shlomo (Momo) Lifshitz, President of Oranim Educational Initiatives. Then some time to explore the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall. Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday, February 15, 2009 - the Dead Sea and the Desert (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. After descending stay to reflect and ask the question "Why was there a need for Massada to become a symbol of Jewish resistance against persecution". Swim (float) in the Dead Sea followed by a nature walk to the waterfall Return to Jerusalem via Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found In the evening a 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. Overnight: Jerusalem

Monday, February 16, 2009 - the Holocaust, Redemption and Jerusalem (B, L) 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 with the head of 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?" Then head to Mt Zion, and visit King David's tomb (founder of the city). 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) and the Broad Wall. View the Southern Wall Excavations and a farewell visit to the Wall Evening at leisure in Jerusalem and walk the Western Wall Tunnels (7:20PM) Overnight: Jerusalem

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - Biblical Heroes, Modern Heroes (B, D) Drive north to Beit Shean 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. Ascend the Golan Heights and head to Mt. Bental, to spy deep into Syria and view the ghost town of Kuneitra Pause at Mitzpe Gadot to hear about Israel's master spy Eli Cohen and view the Hula Valley. Evening discussion: The role of the teacher in the Diaspora in times of crisis in Israel - discussion of the Robert I. Lappin Teachers to Israel Position Paper. Overnight: Kibbutz by the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - Kabbalah, Druze and Aliyah Bet (B, L) Head to Zfat, city of Mystical Judaism (Kabbalah). Explore the narrow alleyways lined with ancient synagogues and artists' galleries. Continue to the Carmel Mountain to the Druze Village of Ossafiyah for an authentic Druze Lunch. Next visit Atlit, an Illegal Immigration Detention Camp (Aliyah Bet) from the British Mandate period Onward to Tel Aviv. Pause at Rabin Square to remember 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: Tel Aviv

Thursday, February 19, 2009 - Education, Israeli Style (B, D) Spend the morning as guest in an Israeli school, to visit the classrooms and see teachers in action (Tel Mond). After lunch a session: How Biblical texts mesh with the lay of the Land. Using the example of Tel Afek and Even Haezer, the story of the first battle with the Philistines and the capture of the Holy Ark will be explored. In the evening, enjoy dinner with the teachers whose classrooms you visited earlier in the day Overnight: Tel Aviv

Friday, February 20, 2009 - The City that Never Sleeps (B, Shabbat-D) Start the day with a visit to the Independence Hall where Ben Gurion declared the independence of the Jewish Home, the State of Israel. Walking tour of Tel Aviv Then to trendy Shenkin St., the Carmel Market and the Nahalat Binyamin arts and crafts fair. Late afternoon Session: The ABC's of Israeli Politics - with Neil Lazarus Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Dinner Shabbat Session Overnight: Tel Aviv

Saturday, February 21, 2009 - Shabbat Tel Aviv Style (B, L) Shabbat Services Parashat Hashavua Discussion: Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18) Parashat Mishpatim contains fifty-three mitzvoth -- 23 imperative commandments and 30 prohibitions. G-d promises to bring the people of Israel to the Holy Land, and warns them against assuming the pagan ways of its current inhabitants. The people of Israel proclaim, "We will do and we will hear all that G-d commands us." In the evening enjoy a walking tour of Old Jaffa, to hear of Napoleon, Andromeda and Jonah and his whale. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Sunday, February 22, 2009 - Farewell (B, D) In the morning travel to Neot Kedumim to have first encounter with Biblical gardens and plant a tree. Continue the day with an educational session: What Did This Trip Do for me and I do I bring Israel into the classroom?" An interactive program in which the participants express and clarify their conceptions of Israel at the end of their visit to Israel and will be provided with tools and teaching aids that will allow them to bring Israel into the classroom. This will be compared with their expectations from the beginning of the program. Festive farewell dinner at the Yemenite Village Overnight: Tel Aviv

Monday, February 23, 2009
Early morning head to Ben Gurion Airport and depart for the US
LY 007 TLVJFK 1040A 410P
B6 1016Y 23FEB JFKBOS 725P 903P

* Program is subject to change