Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - On our way!
Depart North Shore for Israel

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - Welcome Home Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and meet your Tour Educator Shalom and welcome home Enjoy light refreshments at the airport upon arrival Ascend to Jerusalem and pause at the Haas Promenade overlooking the city to say Shehehianu. Visit the Time elevator for an introduction to Jerusalem's 3000 years of history Enjoy a spiritual visit to the Western Wall Welcome home dinner and Bus Groups: Ice breakers and Getting to Know You" Activities Overnight: Jerusalem area

Thursday, July 10, 2008 - Urban origins and rural sustenance Start the day with an opening session - the message, by Momo Lifshitz Continue to the Israel Museum to see the model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period and the Dead Sea Scrolls, housed in the dramatic Shrine of the Book. Walk the old city wall promenade 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, where it all began. Enjoy a wet walk through Hezekiah Tunnel After dinner, enjoy a lively evening Israeli dance instructions Overnight: Jerusalem area

Friday, July 11, 2008 - Jerusalem United Start the day with a view of the Old City from atop Mount Scopus. Learn the story of the Hebrew University and Hadassah Hospital, an Israeli enclave within Jordan. Enter the Jewish Quarter and take in some highlights of the Jewish Quarter such as the Cardo and the Broad Wall (First Temple period). At the Burnt House see the movie on “Sinat Hinam” (hatred) and then explore the Southern Wall excavations, the Davidson Center and reflect on the centrality of the Temple in Jewish life. See Jerusalem prepare for Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat at the Hotel followed by Shabbat dinner Enjoy a night walk to the Kotel Overnight: Jerusalem area

Saturday, July 12, 2008 - Shabbat Shalom in Modern Jerusalem Neighborhoods Shabbat Services at different synagogues After the synagogue visit 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 Torah portion Havdallah After dinner, enjoy a unique Jerusalem by night tour including Ben Yehuda Street Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday, July 13, 2008 - "Digging" Israel and Israelis! Camels and More Depart Jerusalem via Tel Azeka, where David fought Goliath. Meet your Israeli peers, engage in ice-breaking activities and head south to Tel Maresha for a "hands on" experience unearthing the past as you participate in an Archeological Dig. Explore the Bell Caves in Beit Guvrin Proceed south into the Negev desert for a camel ride followed by a Bedouin Hafla (feast). In the evening join the Drummers' Circle and more fun! Overnight: Spend the night in a Bedouin tent in the desert.

Monday, July 14, 2008 - Desert delights-Manmade and natural 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. Head south along the Arava Valley to the Red Sea resort town of Eilat Overnight: Eilat

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - Wet and Wild at the Red Sea Enjoy a full day in Eilat including the Underwater Observatory where the fish watch you! Snorkel along the spectacular reefs, soak up the sun, stroll the promenade, do a little duty-free shopping. In the evening, board a disco boat for a cruise down the Gulf of Eilat, dance the night away. Overnight: Eilat

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - Canyons and Craters Depart Eilat early morning enjoy a hike through the Red Canyon and see the layers of amazing multi-colored sand. Continue to the Ramon Crater, a unique geological formation that exists only in Israel Enjoy an afternoon hike through Ein Avdat Desert Oasis and to the Nabateans city of Avdat. Visit Sde Boker and Ben Gurion's Grave where you will discuss Ben Gurion's vision of turning the desert green. Drive to your Israeli Peers home town and enjoy a relaxing evening and dinner at their homes Overnight: Tel Aviv area

Thursday, July 17, 2008 - Defense, Immigration and Food Start the day with a visit to Machon Ayalon, a secret Hagana munitions plant. Head to Neot Kedumim, the biblical reserve for a program. After freshening up at the hotel, take a short hike up the Carmel Mountain following the route the prisoners took after being freed by the Palmach. End at the pre-historic "Ha-Etzba" Cave. Drive north along the Mediterranean coast to Atlit, the British detention camp where "illegal" Jewish immigrants were held. Visit the Druze Village of Ossafia for early dinner and home hospitality. Participate in a re-enactment of the thrilling escape of the prisoners by playing the roles of immigrants, Palmachniks and British soldiers. Late return back to the hotel Overnight: Tel Aviv area

Friday, July 18, 2008 - Creating the State In the morning, "join" a Palmach unit at the fabulous multi-media Palmach Museum (Beit Hapalmach) 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 Drive north to a Kibbutz in the Galilee for Kabbalat Shabbat Overnight: Kibbutz in the Galilee

Saturday, July 19, 2008 - Shabbat Shalom and Le'hitraot Enjoy a relaxing Shabbat at the Sea of Galilee beach Afternoon Shabbat program: Jewish Roots of Christianity and Islam As the Shabbat sets out enjoy farewell party with your Israeli peers. Shalom and Le'hitraot to your Israeli peers as they return to their homes. Overnight: Kibbutz in the Galilee

Sunday, July 20, 2008 - Archaeology and Mosaics, Kangaroos and Kayaking Depart for Beit Shean the reconstructed ancient Roman town of Scytopolis. Beit Shean contains some Israel's most spectacular archaeological finds. See the colonnaded streets, ritual baths, basilica and Roman temple. End the day with a Kayaking adventure down the Jordan River. Splash into the river at the end of a zip-line! Have a small group discussions on the meaning of the Mifgash In the evening, head to Israel's most exciting water park by the shores of Sea of Galilee. and small group discussions on the meaning of the Mifgash Overnight: Kibbutz in the Galilee

Monday, July 21, 2008 - Onward and Upward to the Golan Ascend the Golan Heights Drive to the Mount Bental viewpoint and view deep into Syria and the Ghost Town of Kuneitra. Hike one of the Jordan River tributaries, Dan, Snir or Hermon, see Israel green, and wet-even in the summer. Head to Kibbutz Manara and ascend the cliff by cable car and take in the magnificent view. Then enjoy a rappelling adventure on your way down Return to the Kibbutz for dinner and evening swim Overnight: Kibbutz in the Galilee

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Mountains and Mysticisms Continue to Tzfat, city of mystical Judaism (Kabbalah). Explore the narrow alleyways lined with ancient synagogues and artists' galleries Drive to Mini-Israel where you will recap your visit to Israel Ascend to Jerusalem In the evening meet Doron Kornbluth for a discussion on Jewish identity and dating and marrying Jewish Tour the Western Wall Tunnels Overnight: Jerusalem area

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Remembrance Return and Farewell until next time 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, Yitzchak Rabin and other Zionist luminaries as well as the graves of fallen Israeli soldiers. Return to the old city for a farewell visit to the Western Wall Closing session - the message with Momo Lifshitz Closing session - individual groups After dinner drive to Ben Gurion Airport for your return flight

Thursday, July 24, 2008 - Leaving on a Jet Plane
Depart for the US
Shalom U'lehitraot!

* Program is subject to change