Sunday, April 11, 2010 - The Journey Begins...
Depart the US for Israel.
LY006, LAX/TLV, 13:45 - 14:15 (April 12)

Monday, April 12, 2010 - Welcome Home! Shalom and welcome to Israel. Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (2:15 PM) and meet your Tour Educator. Drive north to the Western Galilee Overnight: Yehiam Kibbutz Guest House

Tuesday April 13, 2010 - Mediterranean Shores Start the day in the ancient port of Akko to explore the Knights' Halls and the secret escape tunnel dug by the Crusaders Descend by cable car to explore the magnificent grottos carved by the sea at Rosh Hanikra. Hear about the Night of the Bridges and view the old tunnel that led to Lebanon. Relax on the beach at Hof Achziv one of Israel's most interesting beaches Overnight: Yehiam Kibbutz Guest House

Wednesday April 14, 2010 - Making Israeli Friends Continue north to meet with your P2K partner school, ORT at Ma'alot Tarshicha. Following icebreaker activities join your peers at Ma'alot Tarshicha. Enjoy a nature hike around the Summit of Mt. Meron, the highest mountain in the Upper Galilee mountain range. Ascend to Zfat, city of Mystical Judaism (Kabbalah). Explore the narrow alleyways lined by ancient synagogues and artists' galleries. Overnight: Nofei Gonen Kibbutz Hotel

Thursday, April 15, 2010 - Go Golan! Ascend the Golan Heights, peer deep into Syria and the ghost town of Kuneitra and view the new city built after the Yom Kippur War, from Mt. Bental. Prepare to get wet as you hike the Gilaboon stream! Pause at Mitzpe Gadot to view the Hula Valley and to hear the exploits of Israel's master spy, Eli Cohen. Enjoy a thrilling kayaking adventure on the Jordan River. Depart the Galilee area and travel south along the Jordan River Valley to Jerusalem Ascend to Jerusalem. Pause at a vantage point overlooking the city to say Shehehianu Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, April 16, 2010 - Remembrance Visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. Tour the museum, the Children's Memorial, the Valley of the Communities and the Boulevard of the Righteous among the Nations. Continue to Mount Herzl to see the graves of Herzl, Golda Meir, Yitzchak Rabin and other Zionist luminaries as well as graves of Fallen Israeli Soldiers. See the Jerusalemites prepare for Shabbat at Machne Yehuda Market Kabbalat Shabbat and a spiritual visit to the Western Wall. Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem

Saturday, April 17, 2010 - Shabbat Jerusalem Style Shabbat Services at the Wall Start the day with a visit to the Israel Museum. Enter the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept and view the Second Temple Period Model. Parashat Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33) The Parshahs of Tazria and Metzora continue the discussion of the laws of Tumah v'Taharah, ritual impurity and purity. A woman giving birth should undergo a process of purification, which includes immersing in a mikvah (a naturally gathered pool of water) and bringing offerings to the Holy Temple. All male infants are to be circumcised on the eighth day of life. Tzaraat ("leprosy") is a supra-natural plague, which can afflict people as well as garments or homes. If white or pink patches appear on a person's skin (dark pink or green in garments or homes), a Kohen is summoned. Judging by various signs, such as an increase in size of the afflicted area after a seven-day quarantine, the Kohen pronounces it tameh (impure) or tahor (pure). A person afflicted with tzaraat must dwell alone outside of the camp (or city) until he is healed. The afflicted area in a garment or home must be removed; if the tzaraat recurs, the entire garment or home must be destroyed. When the metzora ("leper") heals, he or she is purified by the Kohen with a special procedure involving two birds, spring water in an earthen vessel, a piece of cedar wood, a scarlet thread and a bundle of hyssop. Ritual impurity is also engendered through a seminal or other discharge in a man, and menstruation or other discharge of blood in a woman, necessitating purification through immersion in a mikvah. Enjoy a Shabbat Scavenger Hunt in Mishkanot Sha'ananim Havdalah In the evening stroll the pedestrian street of Ben Yehudah. Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, April 18, 2010 - Erev Yom Ha'Zicharon Drive to visit Neot Kedumim Biblical Reserve for a tour of this unique park based on plants and activities mentioned in the Bible. Drive to Haifa for a view of the largest harbor in Israel and of the Bahai Gardens. Early check in the hotel, relax and change cloths for the evening ceremony Visit the Druze village of Ossafiyah for early dinner and learn about this minority whose members are very loyal to the State of Israel. This visit to the Druze community (who are religiously different from the Muslim community) provides insight to understanding this people who live in Israel alongside the Jews. Participate in the Yom Ha'Zicharon ceremony at the Naval Training Base in Haifa Overnight: Carmel Mountatin Hotel, Haifa

Monday, April 19, 2010 - Yom Ha'Zicharon, Erev Yom Ha'atzmaut Atlit - Visit the British detention camp where Jewish Immigrants during the Aliyah Bet The Etzba (finger) ridge - Hike up the ridge and follow the footsteps of Immigrants escaping the Atlit camp and ascending the mountain trail to reach the Kibbutzim on its other side. Visit Caesarea to see the Roman Theatre and the Crusader Fortress with its unique dry moat. Head to Tel Aviv In the evening join all Israelis for Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations Overnight: Marina Hotel, Tel Aviv

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - Yom Ha'atzmaut Start the day where the State of Israel was born in 1948 - Independence Hall. Enjoy short city tour of Tel Aviv, pause at Rabin Square to remember and speak of peace. Relax on the marvelous beach In the evening head to Old Jaffa to hear about Jonah and the Whale, Greek mythology's Andromeda, Napoleon and others who are part of Jaffa's history. Overnight: Marina Hotel, Tel Aviv

Wednesday April 21, 2010 - Jewish Brains and Dig those Camels! Participate in a Tikun Olam program with Table to Table - pick fruit and vegetables from harvested fields that will be given to those who need. Drive to Rehovot's Weitzman Institute for a hands-on tour of its Clore Garden of Science. Continue the day with a "hands on" experience with the past as you participate in an archeological dig. Explore the unique Bell Caves in Beit Guvrin, including the Columbarium—all carved from stone. Drive further south into the desert for a camel trek followed by a Bedouin Hafla (feast). Overnight: "Kfar Hanokdim" Bedouin Tent

Thursday, April 22, 2010 - Massada Rocks! Ascend Massada via the Roman Ramp to see the sunrise Tour the site, to hear tales of Herod and of the Zealots who chose death over slavery at the hands of the Romans. Descend via the cable car or Snake Path. Swim (float) in the Dead Sea. Head to Ein Gedi desert oasis, for a hike to the waterfalls. Travel by Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Ascend to Jerusalem via the Judean Desert. Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem (Not Finalized)

Friday, April 23, 2010 - City of King David Walk the Old City Ramparts from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate. Continue to the top of Mount Zion; visit Tomb of King David - founder of the City of Peace. Enter the Old City via Zion Gate and explore the Jewish Quarter including the Roman Cardo, an ancient shopping street still active today; view the Broad Wall (First Temple Period city wall indicating the expansion of the city at that time). Descend the Western Hill to visit the newly excavated City of David and get wet while walking through Hezekiah Tunnel, built to bring water into the city Kabbalat Shabbat at the Center for Conservative Judaism and Festive Shabbat Dinner Shabbat programs Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem (Not Finalized)

Saturday, April 24, 2010 - Shabbat Jerusalem Style Shabbat Services and programming Parashat Acharei-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27) Following the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, G-d warns against unauthorized entry "into the holy." Only one person, the Kohen Gadol ("high priest"), may, but once a year, on Yom Kippur, enter the innermost chamber in the Sanctuary to offer the sacred ketoret to G-d. Another feature of the Day of Atonement service is the casting of lots over two goats to determine which should be offered to G-d and which should be dispatched to carry off the sins of Israel to the wilderness. The Parshah of Acharei also warns against bringing korbanot (animal or meal offerings) anywhere but in the Holy Temple, forbids the consumption of blood, and details the laws prohibiting incest and other deviant sexual relations. The Parshah of Kedoshim begins with the statement: "You shall be holy, for I, the L-rd your G-d, am holy" followed by dozens of mitzvot (Divine commandments) through which the Jew sanctifies him or herself and relates to the holiness of G-d. These include: the prohibition against idolatry, the mitzvah of charity, the principle of equality before the law, Shabbat, sexual morality, honesty in business, honor and awe of one's parents, the sacredness of life. Also in Kedoshim is the dictum which the great sage Rabbi Akiva called a cardinal principle of Torah -- Love your fellow as yourself. Explore the Christian Quarter to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on top of the Rock called Golgotha, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried. Havdallah Evening excursion, see Jerusalem at night and explore the new Mammilla Pedestrian Mall Closing Sessions and farewell dinner

Sunday, April 25, 2010 - Shalom U'lehitraot
Depart for the US
LY027, TLV/LAX, 00:20 - 05:00

* Program is subject to change