Join Merrick Jewish Center’s Israel Discovery Tour with Rabbi Charles and Betty Klein December 22, 2012 – January 3, 2013

Tour Highlights:
EL-AL Air Line JFK - Tel Aviv - JFK
Carlton Hotel Tel Aviv, Galei Kinneret Hotel Tiberias, Inbal Hotel Jerusalem, All Breakfasts, Shabbat Dinner and Lunch, 5 Week-Day Dinners and Lunch as per itinerary Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach Opening ceremony, Independence Hall, Palmach Museum, Ayalon Institute, Neve Hana, Ancient Casesaria, Israel’s Druze community, Atlit, Galilee Region, Mystical city of Tzefat, Hands-on pottery workshop, Golan Heights, Chocolate factory at Kibbutz Ein Zivan, Kibbutz’s boutique winery, Tiberias promenade, Plant a tree in Israeli soil, Israel’s border with Jordan, Roman city of Beit Shean, Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, Har Herzl Military Cemetery, Machaneh Yehuda, Kabbalat Shabbat, Havdalah with Rabbi Klein, Moshav Nevatim, home to Cochini Jews, Hatzerim Air Force Base where Merrick Jewish Center has built a new recreation room for the soldiers, Jo Alon Museum of Bedouin Culture, Moving B’nai Mitzvah ceremony at the Masorti Kotel, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Jewish Quarter of the Old City, Burnt House, Kotel Tunnels, Meeting with a Masorti congregation, Camel Rides, Abraham’s Tent in the Judean Desert, Masada, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Dead Sea, Jerusalem soup kitchen or Visit Lifeline for the Old, Neot Kedumim, Archeology Dig or Explore ancient Beit Guvrin, ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and lots of fun!

  Itinerary

Motzei Shabbat, December 22 – Departure for Israel
Board late evening flight to Israel

Sunday, December 23 – When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
Late afternoon arrival in Israel, to be met and assisted by your ITC representative at Ben Gurion Airport. Proceed to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv. Welcome dinner at Maganda (Yemenite)
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Monday, December 24 – Foundations of the Modern State
At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion’s moving declaration of the 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) Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute. At the masorti-style children’s home, Neve Hana, in Kiryat Gat, see the tremendously heartwarming work carried out there with children who have no other home; enjoy their petting zoo and gourmet bakery, a work project staffed by students Free evening in Tel Aviv Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Tuesday, December 25 – The Mediterranean Coast
See ancient history come to life at the multi-media center against the backdrop of ancient Casesaria. Excavations include an impressive amphitheatre and aqueduct. Meet members of Israel’s Druze community in Dalyat al Karmel, hear about their fierce patriotism and enjoy their warm hospitality for lunch (vegetarian) 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. Proceed to the Galilee Region Please choose one for the group: Enjoy dinner at Decks (steak) or the Chinese Pagoda. Overnight: Galei Kinneret Hotel, Tiberias

Wednesday, December 26 – The Galilee
Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and art galleries of the mystical city of Tzefat. Free time for shopping and lunch (on one’s own) in Tzefat Take part in a hands-on pottery workshop with a Tzefat artist in her studio; hear how she connects the spiritual to the physical through pottery. Ascend the Golan Heights and stop to gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did; enter former Syrian bunkers and learn how master spy, Eli Cohen, revealed their secrets. Group may split: Enjoy a tour, tasting, and a chocolate-making workshop at the delicious chocolate factory at Kibbutz Ein Zivan, run by immigrants from Argentina OR Tour and tasting at the kibbutz’s boutique winery Free time for dinner (on one’s own) on the Tiberias promenade
Overnight: Galei Kinneret Hotel, Tiberias

Thursday, December 27 – The Jordan River Valley
Bid farewell to the Galilee as we plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one. Travel south along Israel’s border with Jordan. Tour the remarkable excavations of the ancient Roman city of Beit Shean, including a magnificent Cardo, Roman baths, residences, and amphitheatre. Ascent to Jerusalem. Take in a breathtaking view of the Old City from Mount Scopus. Hotel check-in followed by a free evening in Jerusalem (dining suggestions to be provided) Enjoy a family-style Italian dinner at Little Italy (dairy)
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday, December 28 – Those Who Sacrificed
Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 10 and up only) and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem Alternative for those not ready for Yad Vashem: At the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, enjoy meeting the animals that roamed this land during Bible times (accompanied by youth counselor and possibly other adult/s; Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery. Visit colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market as Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat at a synagogue of your choice (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided) Festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, December 29 – Shabbat in Jerusalem (no guide today) Parashat Vayehi
Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues. Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel Havdalah with Rabbi Klein. Free evening in Jerusalem
Overnight: Dan Panoama Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, December 30 – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Ascend Masada by cable car. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times. 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”. Stop for a dip at the amazing Dead Sea.
Overnight:Dan Panoama Hotel, JLM

Monday, December 31 – Jerusalem of Old
Take part in a moving B’nai Mitzvah ceremony at Robinson’s Arch, the “Masorti Kotel”. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and learn more about the ancient Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. Travel through many centuries as you explore the Jewish Quarter of the Old City including entrance to the Burnt House. In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the massive foundation stones of the Western Wall Free evening in Jerusalem OR Evening meeting with a Masorti congregation. Enjoy camel rides and biblical hospitality with a delicious dinner in Abraham’s Tent in the Judean Desert
Overnight: Dan Panoama Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, January 1 – Digging Israel
Please choose one for the group: Spend some time helping those less fortunate as you volunteer helping to prepare lunch at a Jerusalem soup kitchen OR Visit Lifeline for the Old, a moving crafts workshop that employs Jerusalem elderly; enjoy shopping for unique hand-crafted Judaica items in their store (option to volunteer working alongside the elderly, assisting them at their crafts) OR Visit a colorful center for Ethiopian Jewry in Ramle; hear their immigration stories first-hand and learn about the challenges they face and their unique contributions of this community to the Israeli fabric; enjoy a special coffee ceremony. Visit the biblical landscapes park at Neot Kedumim, including such displays as an exhibit of Sukkot, built according to varied descriptions in the Mishnah. Group may split: At the “Dig for a Day” program at Beit Guvrin, have a hands-on experience of archeology as you uncover actual artifacts while taking part in an ongoing archeological dig; “cave crawl” also available for the adventurous OR Explore the impressive excavation of ancient Beit Guvrin, including fascinating burial caves, underground dwellings, and an amphitheatre. Return to Jerusalem for final packing. Farewell dinner at the hotel Depart for the airport

Wednesday, January 2 – A Temporary Departure
Arrive in USA - Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Klein and ITC Tours!

tinerary Subject to Change