Join TEMPLE EMANU-EL Israel Family Tour with Rabbi Benjamin Zeidman and Saul Kaiserman December 23, 2012 – January 3, 2013

Tour Highlights:

Round trip Air Newark NJ - TLV - Newark NJ
Inbal Hotel Jerusalem, Ramon Inn Isrotel, Mitzpe Ramon, Lavi Guest House, All Breakfasts, 5 Week-Day Dinners, Shabbat Dinner and Lunch as per itinerary, Touring with one of ITC's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Touring Motor Coach, Galilee Region, Ancient city of Tzippori, Golan Heights, Gamla the “Masada of the North,” Golan Antiquities Museum, Dona Gracia House, Mystical city of Tzefat, Mystical story-telling workshop, Crafts activity, Lunch with Israeli soldiers, Negev Desert, Ramon Crater, Israel’s Air Force Museum, Meet Cochini Jews, Family Desert Archery, Go Rappelling at the crater’s edge, Ben Gurion’s Hut, Nature reserve at the Ein Avdat Oasis, Time to Swim, Biblical agriculture workshop at Neot Kedumim, Old City of Jerusalem, Services with the Reform congregation in Mevasseret Tzion, Home hospitality for Shabbat dinner with Mevasseret Tzion families, Shabbat afternoon walking tour, Jerusalem neighborhood, Israel Museum, Havdalah with Rabbi Zeidman, Night Spectacular, Tower of David Museum, Kotel Tunnels, Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Jewish Quarter, David’s City, Camel rides, Yad Vashem, Herzl Exhibit, Archeological dig, Masada, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Dead Sea, Independence Hall, Hebrew city of Tel Aviv, Palmach Museum, Mitzvah of "leket," ITC full color Israel source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun !

Trip price is based on 25 paying participants - * air port tax and Fuel surcharge $580, Subject to change*
For information and applications call Rabbi Ben Zeidman at (212) 744-1400
or e-mail Rabbi at bzeidman@emanuelnyc.org

  Itinerary

Sunday, 23 December – USA Departure
Departure on overnight flight to Israel

Monday, 24 December – When You Come Into the Land (Deut.
26:1)
Morning arrival (ideally) in Israel, to be met and assisted by your ITC representative at Ben Gurion Airport (today’s program depends on arrival time) Proceed to the Galilee Region. 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. Hotel check-in, rest and welcome dinner
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Tiberias

Tuesday, 25 December – The Galilee and 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. Learn about the history of the Golan Heights and the valiant story of Gamla, called the “Masada of the North,” at the lovely Golan Antiquities Museum. 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. Free evening on the Tiberias promenade
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Tiberias

Wednesday, 26 December – The Jordan River Valley
Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat. Take part in a mystical story-telling workshop, including a crafts activity that emerges from the stories. Enjoy lunch with Israeli soldiers at the Israel General Steak Restaurant (if available) Travel south along Israel’s newest highway to the Negev Desert. Continue south to Mitzpeh Ramon, home of the Ramon Crater. Hotel check-in and dinner
Overnight: Ramon Inn, Mitzpeh Ramon

Thursday, 27 December – The Negev Desert
Gaze into the otherworldly Ramon Crater and learn about its formation from your guide. Please choose 4 site visits for today. Visit Israel’s Air Force Museum near Beersheva to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force. At Moshav Nevatim, home to Cochini Jews, see their impressive synagogue, brought over from India, and learn about their culture. Enjoy a wonderful family desert archery activity at the Ramon Crater, with mosaics and other crafts available as well. Go rappelling at the crater’s edge. Learn about David Ben Gurion’s dream of making the desert bloom at Ben Gurion’s Hut in Sde Boker for personal insight into the life of this outstanding Zionist leader and Israel’s first prime minister; gaze out over a breathtaking Negev Desert landscape from the site of Ben Gurion’s grave. Walk through the beautiful nature reserve at the Ein Avdat oasis. Return to the hotel to swim, relax. Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Ramon Inn, Mitzpeh Ramon

Friday, 28 December – Back to the Bible
Travel north to Israel’s center. Experience a biblical agriculture workshop at Neot Kedumim, including such possible hands-on activities as goat-herding, making olive oil, planting a vine, etc. Ascent to Jerusalem. Gaze upon the Old City of Jerusalem from the Tayelet, as did Abraham when he prepared to sacrifice Isaac; take in the breathtaking view. Hotel check-in to prepare for Shabbat . Friday night services with the Reform congregation in Mevasseret Tzion. Home hospitality for Shabbat dinner withMevasseret Tzion families.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Shabbat, 29 December – Shabbat in Jerusalem
Shabbat morning services at a synagogue of your choice (suggestions, directions to be provided) Shabbat afternoon walking tour through a fascinating Jerusalem neighborhood. Visit the renovated Israel Museum, including the Shrine of the Book; the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem; Judaica, art, and archeology exhibits; children’s wing. Havdalah with Rabbi Zeidman. Evening: Attend The Night Spectacular, the fabulous new sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum, followed by free
time for dinner O/N: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, 30 December – Jerusalem of Old
In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the massive foundation stones of the Western Wall. Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and learn more about the ancient Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. Free time for shopping and lunch (on one’s own) in the Jewish Quarter. Tour David’s City, the most ancient section of Jerusalem, built by King David Evening: Enjoy camel rides, a delicious dinner, and the hospitality of Abraham in a biblical tent (if available)
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, 31 December – Those Who Made a Difference
Visit the new Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 10 and up only) and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem (alternatives for younger children: Jerusalem Biblical Zoo or Jerusalem Bird Observatory; Take in a special multi-media presentation about the life of the Father of Modern Zionism at the new Herzl Exhibit (if available) Stumble across many archeological finds as you take part in a hands-on dig through archeological matter that has been removed, amid controversy, from under the Temple Mount. Free evening in Jerusalem
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Tuesday, 1 January – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
Early departure for the Dead Sea Region, the lowest place on earth. 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 and mud baths at the amazing Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem for a free evening.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Wednesday, 2 January – Foundations of the Modern State
At Independence Hall, relive David Ben Gurion’s moving declaration of the State. Visit to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv. Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum (if available; age 5 and up only) Take part in the mitzvah of "leket," as you volunteer harvesting crops to be distributed to the poor. Return to Jerusalem for final packing at our hotel Farewell dinner at an ITC restaurant
Depart for the airport

Thursday, 3 January – A Temporary Departure
Arrive in USA
Begin planning your next Israel

Itinerary is Subject to Change