Congregation Beth David?s ?Touring and Torah Israel? Tour for Adults Led by Rabbis Daniel Pressman and Philip Ohriner June 17 ? 27, 2012

Tour Highlights:
SFO - Tel Aviv - SFO Round trip flights
Har Tzion Hotel Jerusalem, Kibbutz Hagoshrim,
All Breakfasts, Shabbat Dinner and Lunch, 5 Week-Day Dinners as per itinerary
Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach
Welcome orientation, Old City of Jerusalem, Haas Promenade, Torah study session at Machon Schechter, Four colorful quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City, Hurva Synagogue, Kotel Tunnels, Night Spectacular, Tower of David Museum, Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem, Har Herzl Military Cemetery, Ammunition Hill, Masorti congregation Moreshet Avraham, Tel Aviv Tour, Bina Center, Torah study session, New Masorti Center in Neve Tzedek, Palmach Museum or Rabin Center, Dead Sea resort and spa, Masada, Ein Gedi Welcome Shabbat in the Old City of Jerusalem, Torah study session at the Fuchsberg Center, Seudah shishleet picnic in the park, Havdalah with Rabbi Pressman and Rabbi Ohriner, Israel’s border with Jordan, Belvoir Castle, Dona Gracia House, Hula Valley Nature Reserve, Ophoria Multi-Media Experience, Golan Heights, Har Bental, Gamla, Golan Antiquities Museum, Golan Winery, Talmudic Feast in Katzrin’s Talmudic Village, Mystical city of Tzefat, Glass blowing, Study mystical texts (kabbalah) by candle-light, Full color ITC source Israel source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun!

  Itinerary

Sunday, 17 June–Depart USA Depart on overnight flight to Israel

Monday, 18 June – When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Late afternoon arrival in Israel, to be met and assisted at Ben Gurion Airport by your ITC representative Ascent to Jerusalem Gaze upon the Old City of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade, standing where Abraham stood at the dawn of Jewish history; take in the breathtaking view. Hotel check-in and welcome dinner Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, 19 June – Jerusalem of Old
Participate in a Torah study session at Machon Schechter Enter the Old City of Jerusalem. Enjoy a walking tour through the four colorful quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City with free time for lunch (on one’s own) and shopping in the Jewish Quarter. Take part in a fascinating tour of the recently rebuilt Hurva Synagogue, once the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem. Late afternoon option: In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall’s massive foundation stones. Evening: Attend The Night Spectacular, the fabulous new sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum, with free time for dinner (on one’s own)
Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem

Wednesday, 20 June – Those Who Sacrificed
Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem. Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery. At Ammunition Hill, see a terrific new audio-video presentation about the fierce Six Day War battle for Jerusalem; enter former Jordanian bunkers. Evening program with Masorti congregation Moreshet Avraham including a catered dinner, to be joined by synagogue members. Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem

Thursday, 21 June – The Modern Hebrew City
Travel to Tel Aviv, the first modern Hebrew city Take a special Tel Aviv tour with a professor of architecture At the Bina Center, take part in a Torah study session Visit the new Masorti Center in Neve Tzedek. Group may split: Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum (if available) OR Visit the new Rabin Center for a high-tech presentation on the history of the State of Israel and the life of this special leader (if available) Return to Jerusalem for a free evening; purchase goodies for Shabbat’s seudah shlisheet picnic Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, 22 June – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Depart for the Dead Sea Region. Spend today in at a Dead Sea resort hotel enjoying its spa facilities, pool, and the amazing Dead Sea. Optional morning excursion: Ascend Masada by cable car. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times Optional afternoon excursion: Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to the waterfall and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul “on site”. Return to Jerusalem to prepare for Shabbat. Welcome Shabbat at a scenic overlook or a synagogue of your choice. Group Shabbat dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 23 June – Shabbat in Jerusalem
Shabbat morning services at a synagogue of your choice (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided) Tour and Torah study session at the Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism following kiddush. Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel Early evening walking tour through fascinating neighborhoods near our hotel. Seudah shishleet picnic in the park Havdalah with Rabbi Pressman and Rabbi Ohrniner
Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 24 June – The Jordan River Valley
Travel north along Israel’s border with Jordan Explore Belvoir Castle, a beautifully restored Crusader fortress; hear the amazing story of its conquest by Saladin; take in a magnificent view of the Jordanian Gilead Mountains In Tiberias, visit Dona Gracia House to become acquainted with the fascinating life of this 16th century Jewish heroine and Tiberias financial leader via dramatic story-telling and an opportunity to pose for photos in period clothing. Walk through the Hula Valley Nature Reserve, through which millions of migratory birds pass and other species roam; experience the Ophoria Multi-Media Experience, connecting birds, water, and the Israeli landscape Hotel check-in and dinner at the hotel O/N: Kibbutz Hagoshrim

Monday, 25 June – The Golan Heights - Ascend the Golan Heights
and gaze down over the Galilee, as the Syrians once did; enter former Syrian bunkers and learn how master spy, Eli Cohen, revealed their secrets. Ascend to the peak of Har Bental, where you can enter army bunkers and take in a panoramic view at the crossroads of three countries; discuss the significance of the Golan Height in today’s geo-political reality. Visit Gamla, called the “Masada of the North,” and/or learn more about its valiant story at the Golan Antiquities Museum. Take a tour and taste the fruits of the region in the form of award-winning wines at the Golan Winery. Take part in a special tour and Talmudic Feast in Katzrin’s Talmudic Village, including ethnic dancing and period entertainment. Overnight: Kibbutz Hagoshrim

Tuesday, 26 June – In the Footsteps of Mystics
Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and art galleries of the mystical city of Tzefat. Enjoy a glass blowing demonstration with a Tzefat artist in her studio; hear how she connects the spiritual to the physical through her art. Study mystical texts (kabbalah) by candle- light in the Idra Cave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai and his students. Return to our hotel for a swim, final packing Late check-out from the hotel. Lake Kinneret boat ride followed by a delicious lakeshore farewell dinner at Decks. Depart for the
airport.

Wednesday, 27 June – A Temporary Departure
Arrive in USA

Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbis Pressman and Ohriner and ITC Tours!

SHALOM UL’HITRA’OT!!!

Itinerary Subject to Change