Join Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael’s Multi Generational Family Israel Adventure with Rabbi Mark and Genya Mallach December 18, 2012 – January 1, 2013

Tour Highlights:

Round trip Air Newark NJ - TLV - Newark NJ
Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv, Kibbutz Ein Gev Hotel, Lake Kinneret
All Breakfasts, 5 Week-Day Dinners, 2 Shabbat Dinners and 4 Lunches as per itinerary
Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Touring Motor Coach,
Welcome Orientation, Plant a tree in Israeli soil, Ascent to Jerusalem, Ammunition Hill, View the Temple Mount from the Tayelet, Yad Vashem, Herzl Museum, Israel Museum, David’s City, Artist colony, Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel, Shabbat walking tour, Tower of David, Jerusalem’s Old City, Havdalah with Rabbi Mallach, Knesset Menorah, Gush Etzion, Fortress of Herodian,
Hospitality in Tekoa, Jerusalem Masorti congregation, Moving Shaharit service at the “Masorti Kotel
Bar/Bat Mitzvah option available, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels,
Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jewish Quarter, Hurva Synagogue, Night Spectacular,
Sound and light show, Masada, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Kumran, Amazing Dead Sea,
Israel’s border with Jordan, Golan Heights, Golan Brewery, Mystical city of Tzefat,
Glass blowing demonstration, Port city of Haifa, Bahai Gardens, Historic Acco,
Crusader Fortress, British prison, Amazing Tunisian Synagogue, Grottos of Rosh Hanikra,
Atlit, Forester for a Day helping restore the Carmel Forest, Ancient Caesaria, Tel Aviv,
Masorti Center in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood, Archeological dig, Catacombs of Beit Guvrin,
Masorti Youth Village of Neve Hana, Na Laga’at, Palmach Museum, Rabin Center, Independence Hall,
ITC color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun !

  Itinerary

Tuesday, 18 Dec. – USA Departure Early Afternoon flight to Israel

Wednesday, 19 December – When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Morning arrival in Israel to be met and assisted by your ITC representative at Ben Gurion Airport. Put down roots immediately as you plant a tree in Israeli soil at a JNF forest. Ascent to Jerusalem. Walk through Ammunition Hill and see a terrific new audio-video presentation about the fierce Six Day War battle for Jerusalem; enter former Jordanian bunkers. Gaze upon the Temple Mount from the Tayelet, as did Abraham when he prepared to sacrifice Isaac; take in the breathtaking view; recite the sheheyanu blessing Hotel check-in welcome dinner. O/N: Dan Pan Hotel, JLM

Thursday, 20 December – Those Who Sacrificed
Visit the recentlyopened state-of-the art Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem (age 12 and up, only) Visit the Herzl Museum, where the Father of Modern Zionism is “brought to life” before your eyes (if available) At Har Herzl Military Cemetery encounter the “silver platter” on which the Jewish people have acquired – and continue to acquire – our state. Explore the renovated Israel Museum, including the Shrine of the Book; the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem; Judaica, art, and archeology exhibits; children’s wing. Free evening in Jerusalem (dining suggestions to be provided) Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, 21 December – Jerusalem Then and Now
Visit Jerusalem of King David’s time as you walk through recently-excavated sections of David’s City. Visit Jerusalem’s hidden gem of an artist colony, Hutzot Hayotzer, and meet with some of the artists in their studios. Prepare for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel. Shabbat dinner at the Fuchsberg Center, to be joined by a JTS student (studying at Machon Schechter) who will lead a Torah study session over dinner. ON Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 22 December – Shabbat in Jerusalem - Parashat Vayigash
Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided) Shabbat lunch at the hotel. Shabbat walking tour to the Tower of David Museum for a wonderful presentation of the history of the city and a rooftop overview. Continue the walk through the colorful quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City. Havdalah with Rabbi Mallach. O/N Dan Panorama Hotel, JLM

Sunday, 23 December – Layers of History
Stop at the Knesset Menorah for a “Kodak moment” and a view of Israel’s center of government. Learn about the history of the defense of Gush Etzion in a moving multi-media presentation at Kibbutz Kfar Etzion. Enjoy lunch at the lovely Gavna Restaurant in the Judean Hills; take in the magnificent views. Visit the site of the ancient fortress of Herodian, built by Herod and used by Jewish fighting forces throughout the ages; also the site of an ancient synagogue and King Herod’s newly discovered tomb. Enjoy a tour of the special community of Tekoa and home hospitality for coffee and cake with a Tekoa family. Please choose one for the group: Free evening in Jerusalem OR Evening program at a Jerusalem Masorti congregation. ON Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 24 December – Jerusalem of Old
Take part in a moving shaharit service at Robinson’s Arch, the “Masorti Kotel;” Bar/Bat Mitzvah option available. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and learn more about the Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. Option A – first timers: In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall’s massive foundation stones (on-site guide) Option B – repeat visitors; Walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher with our guide. Travel through many centuries as you explore the Jewish Quarter including a tour of the beautiful recently rebuilt Hurva Synagogue. Evening: Attend the Night Spectacular, the fabulous sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum, followed by free time for dinner (on one’s own) Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, 25 December – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Early departure for the Dead Sea Region. Ascend Masada by cable car. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times. Please choose one for the group: Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul that took place there “on site” OR Visit the excavation of Kumran, home of the mysterious ancient sect that authored the Dead Sea Scrolls. Stop for a dip in the amazing Dead Sea. Travel north along Israel’s border with Jordan. Hotel check-in and dinner. ON: Kibbutz Ein Gev Hotel

Wednesday, 26 December – In the Footsteps of Mystics, Sages, and
Today’s Pioneers
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. Meet with the brew-master and enjoy lunch and a tour at the Golan Brewery. Tour the synagogues courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat, including free time for shopping. Take in a glass blowing demonstration with a Tzefat artist in her studio; hear how she connects the spiritual to the physical through her art. Hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Haifa

Thursday, 27 December – The Northern Mediterranean Coast
Take a panoramic bus tour of the sparkling port city of Haifa, including views of the spectacular Bahai Gardens. Visit historic Acco, a UNESCO Heritage City, including the vast underground Crusader Fortress; the British prison, where Jewish freedom fighters were incarcerated; the amazing Tunisian Synagogue, which is completely decorated with mosaics depicting stories from Jewish history and traditional texts. Take the cable car to the mesmerizing ocean grottos of Rosh Hanikra, at Israel’s border with Lebanon. Free evening in Haifa. Overnight:Dan Panorama Hotel, Haifa

Friday, 28 December – The Mediterranean Coast
Travel south along the Mediterranean Coast. In Atlit walk through the detention camp that held Holocaust refugees denied entry into Eretz Yisrael by the British; see the incredible, newly arrived “illegal immigration” boat with its wonderful hightech laser presentation about heroic pre-State immigration. Take part in “Forester for a Day” as you spend some time helping restore the Carmel Forest after its devastating fire. See ancient history come to life at the newly-opened multi-media center against the backdrop of ancient Caesaria. Continue to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv for hotel check-in. Kabbalat Shabbat overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with Rabbi Mallach. Shabbat dinner at hotel ON: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Shabbat, 29 December – Shabbat in Tel Aviv
Parashat Vayehi - Shabbat services at the new Masorti Center in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood. Remainder of the day at leisure to relax at the beach and explore Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa on one’s own Shabbat lunch at the hotel. Havdala with Rabbi Mallach. Free evening to enjoy Tel Aviv nightlife. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Sunday, 30 December – Digging Israel
Enjoy a panoramic bus tour of Tel Aviv. Option A (Group may split) At the “Dig for a Day” program at Beit Guvrin, uncover actual artifacts as you participate in an ongoing archeological dig. Spelunking also available for the adventurous (on-site guide) Option B Tour the caves and catacombs of Beit Guvrin with our guide for special insight into the history of the region. Visit the Masorti Youth Village of Neve Hana in Kiryat Gat; see the tremendously heartwarming work carried out there with children who have no other home. Evening: Enjoy dinner at Café Kapish, served by deaf waiters who will teach you sign language during your meal, followed by Na Laga’at, a unique play performed by actors who are both deaf and blind ON: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Monday, 31 December – The Modern Hebrew City
Option A – first timers; Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the new multi-media Palmach Museum (if available; on-site guide) Option B – repeat visitors. Visit the new Rabin Center for a hightech presentation on the history of the State of Israel and the life of this special leader. At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion’s moving declaration of the State discuss whether it seems that the vision of Israel’s founding fathers – articulated in the Scroll of Independence – have come to fruition Farewell dinner at Maganda (Yemenite)Depart for the airport

Tuesday, 1 January – A Temporary Departure Arrive in USA
Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Mallach and ITC Tours!

Itinerary is Subject to Change