MODEL TOUR #1 - Winter, 9 nights
"Arise, Walk About the Land " (Ber. 13:17)
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Sunday - USA Departure |
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Monday - Roots in the Land
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Arrive in Israel midday and meet your ITC guide at Ben Gurion airport
Visit Kfar Chabad and take pride in the wonderful work done there
with the Children of Chernobyl, rescued from that contaminated Russian city;
tour a matzah factory and an etrog farm; be inspired by the Israeli replica
of "770"
Ascent to Jerusalem. Gaze upon Har Moriah at the Tayelet, as did Avraham Avinu as he prepared
for Akedat Yitzhak; review the story from the humash
Check-in and orientation at the hotel
Group dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem |
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Tuesday - Jerusalem of Old and New
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Time for prayer and reflection at the Kotel. In the Kotel Tunnels, stand opposite the place where the kodesh hakodeshim
once stood.
Tour the Southern Wall Excavations and experience a multi-media,
virtual tour of the Beit Hamikdash at the Davidson Center
Free time for lunch and shopping in the Jewish Quarter. Daven mincha at the Tzemach Tzedek Shul. See how the holy objects of the Beit Hamikdash actually look at the Temple
Institute. Free for dinner in Jerusalem (a list of suggested restaurants will be provided)
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
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Wednesday - Into the Desert
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Daven shaharit at President Katzav's home. Breakfast at the hotel
Visit Lifeline for the Elderly, a moving crafts workshop for Jerusalem's
elderly
Travel into the Judean desert, stopping at P'til Techelet to learn
about the special blue dye used to color strings of the tzitzit. Enjoy a biblical lunch in Abraham's tent at Eretz Bereshit. Hotel check-in
Dead Sea swim and spa.
Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Dead Sea |
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Thursday - Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
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Ride the cable car to the top of Masada for a moving tour
Descend Masada by the Roman Ramp.
Stop at Tel Arad to see a fascinating excavation of a site of ancient
Jewish worship, modeled after the Beit Mamikdosh
Travel to Beersheva. Free time for lunch in Beersheva
Meet with Ben Gurion University professor of medical ethics, Velvel Green;
hear about the dilemmas of his profession and his personal journey
Visit the Air and Space Museum to learn the proud story of Israel's
Air Force
Return to Jerusalem.
Group dinner at Norman's Steak House
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem |
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| Friday - B'Chol Dor Vador
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Visit Shaarei Tzedek Hospital to learn about how they treat terror
victims
Tour the Memorial Museum, Children's Memorial, and Valley of the Communities
at Yad Vashem. After lunch, plant a tree in Jerusalem soil, in honor or in memory
of a loved one.
Prepare for Shabbat.
Ride into the Old City to light Shabbat candles in one of its courtyards.
Kabbalat Shabbat and dancing at the Kotel
Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Walk to Meah Shearim for a special rebbe's tish
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem |
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Shabbat - Shabbat in the Holy City
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Shabbat services at the synagogue of your choice.
Kiddush and parasha study at the hotel.
Shabbat lunch at the hotel
Shabbat rest.
Optional walking tour. Havdala
Free evening in Jerusalem
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem |
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Sunday - Foundations of the Modern
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Experience a biblical agriculture workshop at Neot Kedumim
Learn of the bravery and ingenuity of pre-state freedom fighters at Ayalon
Institute
At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurion's declaration of the State
Travel north.
Hotel check-in and dinner
Evening session with kibbutz members: "Life on a Religious Kibbutz"
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi |
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Monday - Layers of Galilee History
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Tour the ancient, excavated city of Tzippori and see a beautiful
mosaic from the time of the mishna.
Make your own pita, have a donkey ride at Kfar Kedem
Stop at Amuka, where Jewish women pray for the blessing of children
Tour the mystical city of Tzefat, including free time for lunch
Enjoy klezmer music over dinner in Tzefat
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi |
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Tuesday - Israel Issues
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Travel to the Golan Heights and gaze down over the Galilee from
Gadot lookout
Hear about life on the Golan from Rabbi Haber
Free time for lunch in Katzrin. Take pride in Israel's soldiers at a Golan army base
Taste the fruits of the Golan at the Golan Winery
Travel back to Jerusalem. Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem |
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Wednesday - The Struggle for Our Land
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Understand how Israeli soldiers cope with ethical dilemmas at
Har Gilo
Learn about the moving history of the defense of Gush Etzion in a
multi-media presentation.
Free time for lunch and shopping at the Judaica Center
Enjoy home hospitality in the community of Tekoa and meet with the
family of a terror victim.
Final packing and hotel check-out
Farewell dinner at Red Heifer restaurant
Depart for the airport |
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