English

Rabbi Avram Ettedgui
Sharei Chesed of Minnetonka, MN
Exploring Israel in Depth
Oct/Nov 2016

Tour Rates & Dates:

There are no Departure Dates available for this Package.
*Please note that all rates displayed are based on standard room double occupancy.
All rates above are in US Dollars, and are based on full payment by credit card unless otherwise noted.
If check payment discount is available for this tour, it can be selected after clicking "BOOK" above.
(Deposit can still be paid by credit card). Upgraded room categories may be available to book later in the booking process.
If Land & Air price is displayed, the air portion includes tax and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change until ticketed.

Tour Overview:

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This In-Depth Tour Includes:

2 nights David Intercontinental, Tel Aviv, Israel
2 nights Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee, Israel
5 nights Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon itinerary in a deluxe
air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking guide
Breakfast daily
Welcome dinner in Tel Aviv
2 Kibbutz dinners
Lunch & swim at the Dead Sea
Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem
Meeting with Gil Hoffman
Farewell dinner in Jerusalem
Transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Porterage

NOT INCLUDED - These prices do not include:

Roundtrip airfare departure taxes and fuel surcharges
(please contact Ayelet Tours for assistance)
Any border taxes or visas
Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters
($15.00 per person, per day-pre-collected)
Any items of a personal nature
Travel Insurance
(Highly recommended)

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1, Sunday, October 30, 2016: BEGIN OUR JOURNEY

• Depart the United States on our overnight flight to Israel.

Day 2, Monday, October 31, 2016: WELCOME TO ISRAEL

• Afternoon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, with assistance by an Ayelet representative.
• Transfer to Tel Aviv, where we will check in and have time to walk the area and orient ourselves with the city.
• Welcome dinner together this evening at a local restaurant.

O/N Tel Aviv

Day 3, Tuesday, November 1, 2016: TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin with a visit to Independence Hall, where David Ben Gurion declared Independence for the state of Israel in 1948.
• We walk through the Neve Tzedek neighborhood, one of the first neighborhoods of modern Tel Aviv, now home to many artist studios and galleries.
• Lunch (on own) at Nachalat Binyamin.
• Next we visit the Palmach Museum, where we “join up” with the paramilitary fighting forces from Israel's pre-statehood days.
• Later, we enjoy a walk through Old Jaffa, an 8,000-year-old port city.
• Dinner (on own) this evening.

O/N Tel Aviv

Day 4, Wednesday, November 2, 2016: THE NORTHERN COAST

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Check out of our hotel.
• Drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. We see the ancient Roman Theatre and aqueduct along the Mediterranean Sea.
• Continue on to Zichron Yaakov, a quaint European style village. He we learn the story of the Nili spies.
• Continue north to Haifa for a panoramic view from Mt. Carmel, including the Bahai Temple and Persian Gardens.
• Travel to Akko, where we explore the Crusader-era fortifications and British Prison as we learn about this historically important port.
• Continue to our kibbutz in the Galilee.
• Dinner at our kibbutz.

O/N in the Galilee

Day 5, Thursday, November 3, 2016: THE MYSTICAL NORTH

• Breakfast with representatives from the kibbutz, as we hear about the history and modern development of kibbutz living.
• Continue with a visit to the mystical city of Safed, where we view the beautiful ancient synagogues, walk through the Artists Quarter and meet a local artisan (Leon Azoulay pending confirmation). Enjoy time to browse and shop among the many local galleries.
• We ascend up to the Golan Heights, arriving at Katzrin, the ancient Talmudic village, where we tour the area.
• Take in the views stretching far into Syria from atop Har Bental.
• Dinner at our kibbutz.

O/N in the Galilee

Day 6, Friday, November 4, 2016: THE GOLAN & THE JORDAN VALLEY

• Breakfast at our kibbutz.
• Check out of our kibbutz.
• Drive south through the Jordan Valley Rift to Jerusalem.
• We stop and see Tel Hai before visiting the archeological sites of Beit Shean and Beit Alpha, where we view the beautiful mosaic floors and ruins of an ancient synagogue.
• Upon arrival in Jerusalem, we stop atop Mt. Scopus to recite a special “Sh'hekiyanu!” blessing overlooking the City of Gold.
• Walk through the outdoor market at Machane Yehuda to take in the sights and sounds of Jerusalemites busily shopping in preparation for Shabbat.
• Check into our hotel with time to refresh.
• We greet Shabbat with the people of Jerusalem at the Western Wall.
• Shabbat dinner at our hotel together this evening.

O/N Jerusalem

Day 7, Saturday, November 5, 2016: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Free morning to enjoy Shabbat services at one of the many local synagogues (on own).
• Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure - options (on own) to visit the Israel Museum, which recently completed a $100 Million renovation, and is world class in every way or enjoy a stroll along Ben Yehuda Street or Emek Refaim.

O/N Jerusalem

Day 8, Sunday, November 6, 2016: THE OLD CITY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we meet Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post for an update on the current state of affairs in Israeli politics at the Knesset.
• We continue to the Davidson Center where we see the 3-d Model of the 2nd Temple in action, revealed through extensive archaeological excavations during the last few decades.
• Continue with a fascinating visit through the famed Western Wall Tunnels.
• Afternoon walking tour through history into the Old City, exploring the Jewish Quarter, Arab market, the Christian Quarter, the Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

O/N Jerusalem

Day 9, Monday, November 7, 2016: MASADA & THE DEAD SEA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Early morning departure to King Herod's fortresses and castle atop Masada, ascending by cable car or snake path. Visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, and the bathhouses, learning about the Jewish Zealots last stand against the Roman forces.
• Take a short hike to the hidden waterfalls in the desert oasis of Ein Gedi.
• Enjoy lunch and an unsinkable swim in the healing salty waters of the Dead Sea.
• Return to Jerusalem passing the Qumran Caves, site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

O/N Jerusalem

Day 10, Tuesday, November 8, 2016: THE NEW CITY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day with a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust, where we view the many moving exhibitions, including the Hall of Names and the Avenue of the Righteous among the Nations.
• We continue with a visit to the Herzl Museum, where we learn about the life and work of the great Zionist visionary.
• Continue to the Mt. Herzl's military cemetery (Israel's Arlington National Cemetery) to visit the gravesites of Golda Meir, Theodore Herzl, Yitzhak Rabin, and many who have died in defense of Israel. Hear stories of Israel's path to foundation from our guide.
• Explore the bunkers at Ammunition Hill, the official museum symbolizing the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem.
• Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

O/N Jerusalem

Day 11, Wednesday, November 9, 2016: EXPLORING JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning we visit the Hadassah Hospital to view the amazing Chagall windows and meet with some of the medical professionals dedicated to providing outstanding care to all.
• Depart Jerusalem on our way to Tel Aviv
• Stop at Latrun, Israel's outdoor armed corps museum, where we explore the tanks and artillery used by the Israeli Defense Force throughout the country's history.
• Arrive in Tel Aviv, where we enjoy free time for last minute shopping.
• Farewell dinner together this evening as we recount all we have experienced together!
• Transfer to the airport for our flight back to the United States.

Day 12, Thursday, November 10, 2016: ARRIVE HOME!

• Arrive back in the United States.

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!!!

*Itinerary subject to change