Marlboro Jewish Center Returns to Israel With Allan and Joyce Sugarman October 10 – 22, 2012

Tour Highlights:

Tour Highlights:
Round Trip Air EWR - Tel Aviv - EWR
Mamila Hotel Jerusalem, Kibbutz Nof Ginossar, Carlton Hotel Tel Aviv
All Breakfasts, 2 Shabbat Dinners, 3 Lunches, 3 Week-Day Dinners, Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach Opening orientation,Plant a tree in Israeli soil, Gaze upon the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives Enjoy free time for shopping, Yad Vashem or King David’s Jerusalem in David’s City, Hezekiah’s water tunnel, Bethlehem, Kabbalat Shabbat in Jerusalem. Meet with Rabbi Andy Sacks to learn about the important work of the Masorti Movement in fostering Jewish pluralism in Israel, Jerusalem nightlife on Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall or Emek Refaim, Ascend Masada, Dead Sea resort hotel enjoying its spa facilities, lunch, Amazing Dead Sea, Moving Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony the “Masorti Kotel”, Kotel Tunnels, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Arab Market, Hurva Synagogue, Israel’s border with Jordan, Agam Hahula (Hula Lake), Golan Heights, Golan Winery, Ancient city of Tzippori, Mystical city of Tzefat, New Bellagio-style Water Sound and Light Show on the Tiberias Boardwalk, Historic Acco, a UNESCO Heritage City, Underground Crusader Fortress, Turkish Baths, Beautiful Mosque of Jazzar, British prison, Amazing Tunisian Synagogue, Palmach Museum, Neve Tzedek neighborhood, Nahalat Binyamin, Mediterranean swim, Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach with Allan, Explore Old Jaffa,Negev community of S’derot, Independence Hall, Optional Game of golf at Israel’s best golf course ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun!

For information, Itinerary and Application Please call Rabbi Warmflash 516-599-2634 or e-mail Rabbi Warmflash at rabbiw@herjc.org

  Itinerary

Wednesday, 10 October – USA Departure

Thursday, 11 October – When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Arrive in Israel (morning, ideally) at Ben Gurion Airport, to be met and assisted by your ITC representative. Put down roots as you plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one. Ascent to Jerusalem. Gaze upon the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. Enjoy free time for shopping in the ultra-orthodox Meah Shearim neighborhood. Hotel check-in, rest. Welcome dinner at Ima’s (Middle Eastern)
Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, 12 October – Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Group may split: Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 10 and up only) and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem OR Go way back in time to King David’s Jerusalem in David’s City and enjoy sloshing through Hezekiah’s water tunnel – local guide (strap-on water shoes and flashlights needed; dry tunnel option also available) Visit the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, including the Church of the Nativity; meet there with a resident who will speak to the group about life in Bethlehem. Kabbalat Shabbat at a scenic overlook or a synagogue of your choice (suggestions, directions to be provided) Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
O/N Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 13 October – Shabbat in Jerusalem. Parashat Bereishit
Dawn stroll through Jerusalem neighborhoods. Optional Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues. Meet with Rabbi Andy Sacks to learn about the important work of the Masorti Movement in fostering Jewish pluralism in Israel; Rabbi Sacks will join our group for lunch and continued informal dialogue Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Evening: Enjoy Jerusalem nightlife on Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall or Emek Refaim.
Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 14 October – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Depart 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. Spend the remainder of the day at a Dead Sea resort hotel enjoying its spa facilities, lunch, and the amazing Dead Sea (Dead Sea mud available at participants’ expense) Two day rooms available for group today at Dead Sea hotel. Free evening in Jerusalem.
O/N: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 15 October – Jerusalem of Old
Take part in a moving Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony at Robinson’s Arch, the “Masorti Kotel” . Group may split: In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the massive foundation stones of the Western Wall OR Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and take a virtual, computerized “walk” through the ancient Temple Mount at the Davidson Center. Free time for lunch (on one’s own) and browsing in the Cardo and/or Arab Market. Take part in a fascinating tour of the recently rebuilt Hurva Synagogue, once the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem. Free evening in Jerusalem.
O/N: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, 16 October – The Galilee and the Golan Heights
Early departure to travel north along Israel’s border with Jordan. At Agam Hahula (Hula Lake) ride family golf carts around the lake and learn about the many species of birds that migrate through Israel each year. Enjoy a group lunch at Dag Al-Hadan. Ascend the Golan Heights and stop to gaze down on the Galilee as the Syrians once did. Take a tour and taste the fruits of the region in the form of award-winning wines at the Golan Winery. Hotel check-in. Dinner at hotel.
O/N: Kibbutz Ginnosar, Lake Kinneret

Wednesday, 17 October – In the Footsteps of Sages and Mystics.
Explore the magnificently excavated ancient city of Tzippori, home to Rabbi Judah the Prince; discover ancient beauty and evidence of a community in which Jews and Romans coexisted peacefully. Enjoy a wonderful country lunch at Ein Kamonim; savor homemade goat cheeses made from the restaurant’s herds, fresh breads and salads, and local wines, all in a rustic setting (at particpants’ expense) Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and art galleries of the mystical city of Tzefat. Free time for dinner (on one’s own) on the Tiberias Promenade. Evening: See the new Bellagio-style Water Sound and Light Show on the Tiberias Boardwalk Overnight: Kibbutz Ginnosar Guest House, Lake Kinneret

Thursday, 18 October – The Mediterranean Coast
Visit historic Acco, a UNESCO Heritage City, including the vast underground Crusader Fortress; the new exhibit about Muslim history in the city at the adjacent Turkish Baths; the beautiful Mosque of Jazzar; 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 (number of stops depends on time available) 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 a/v presentation about heroic pre-State immigration. Make a brief stop in the charming resort city of Netanya (time permitting) Travel south to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv for hotel check-in, rest, swim. Free evening
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Friday, 19 October – Foundations of the Modern State
Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum (if available; age 5 and up only) Walk though Tel Aviv’s historic Neve Tzedek neighborhood, a UNESCO Heritage site and enjoy its funky shops AND/OR Browse through unique craft items in Nahalat Binyamin’s colorful, open-air market and enjoy seeing modern Tel Aviv in action. Take a Mediterranean swim. Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach with Allan. Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Carlton
Hotel, Tel Aviv

Shabbat, 20 October – Shabbat in Tel Aviv - Parashat Lekh-
Lekha
Free time to explore Old Jaffa, once the gateway to Eretz Yisrael (on one’s own) Optional: Enjoy an early morning game of golf at Israel’s only golf course in Caesaria (not included in tour price; transportation on one’s own) Enjoy Shabbat at leisure in Tel Aviv to relax on the beach, walk along the boardwalk, or try free Israeli dancing on the boardwalk; most art galleries are open today. Carlton Hotel, TLV

Sunday, 21 October – Those Who Sacrifice - Visit the Negev
community of S’derot and meet with community leaders to discuss peace, security, and social issues; take on overview in Gaza. 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. Return to the hotel for final packing. Farewell dinner at Maganda (Yemenite) Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Monday, 22 October – A Temporary Departure
Depart for the airport -Return to the USA - Begin planning your next Israel trip with Allan Sugarman and ITC Tours!

Itinerary is Subject to Change