Temple Israel of the City of New York Back to Israel ISRAEL at 70! Led by Rabbi David & Kathy Gelfand March 15-28, 2018 *First-timers pre-tour March 13-16 - Ayelet Tours - Israel Tours - Jewish Heritage Tours - Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tours

FIRST-TIMERS PRE-TOUR:

Day A: Tuesday, March 13, 2018: PRE-TOUR DEPARTURE

• We depart on an afternoon flight to Israel (or arrive prior) to be ready for noon Wednesday touring!

Day B: Wednesday, March 14, 2018: PRE-TOUR - JERUSALEM OF GOLD

• We arrive in Israel by early a.m. and are met by an Ayelet Tours representative.
• We transfer to Jerusalem, stopping at the Haas Promenade to say a special “Shehecheyanu” as we look out over the City of Gold for the first time.
• Check in to the Inbal Hotel.
• Lunch (on own) in the Old City and spend the afternoon touring Jerusalem, including the ancient Ir David archaeological site to understand the City of King David.
• Next, we visit the Hutzot Hayotzer, Arts & Crafts Lane opposite the Old City, with leading artists and artisans.
• Special briefing on current affairs.
• Wander through the shops on Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall.
• This evening, we enjoy dinner (on own) on our first night in Israel.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day C: Thursday, March 15, 2018: DISCOVERING JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we set out on a walking tour in the Old City, where we visit the Jewish quarter and the Arab market (shuk). We also visit and tour the Burnt House to reach back to Roman times.
• Explore the Western Wall (Kotel) area.
• We tour the Western Wall tunnels, where we discover the archaeological wonders that once remained untouched for centuries.
• Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust, for an eye opening experience. We view the many moving exhibitions, including the Hall of Names and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations.
• We stop at the Supreme Court for a tour (time permitting) and continue to the Knesset to see the famous bronze menorah sculpture.
• Spend the evening at leisure discovering Jerusalem and enjoying dinner on own.

MAIN TOUR:

Day 1: Thursday, March 15, 2018: MAIN TOUR DEPARTURE

• Participants for the Main Tour depart NYC on their overnight flight, arriving Friday afternoon in Israel (or arrive in Israel earlier on their own).

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day D: Friday, March 16, 2018: MASADA & THE DEAD SEA and MAIN TOUR BEGINS

PRE-TOUR PARTICIPANTS:
• Breakfast and check out of our hotel, departing for Masada to see the remains of King Herod's fortress and learn about the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman forces.
• We descend the mountain and head to the beach for an unsinkable float/swim in the healing, salty waters of the Dead Sea.
• Travel to Tel Aviv to meet the group arriving from the USA.

Day 2: Friday March 16, 2018: MAIN TOUR PARTICIPANTS ARRIVE IN ISRAEL

• We arrive in Israel this afternoon and are met by an Ayelet Tours representative.
• We transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv for check in, to meet the pre-tour participants and to refresh.
• As the sun begins to set over Israel, we enjoy Shabbat services at nearby Beit Daniel, the first Progressive congregation of Tel Aviv, followed by Shabbat dinner.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 3: Saturday, March 17, 2018: THE FLOURISHING ARTISTIC SIDE OF TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin with a tour of the newly renovated Museum of the Jewish People, followed by a visit to the acclaimed Tel Aviv Museum of Art for a glimpse into some of the newest and trendiest art in the world today.
• Visit Bialik Street for a walking tour through part of the White City to see the Bauhaus architecture.
• Next, we enjoy a graffiti tour of a changing Tel Aviv neighborhood leading us to then wander the streets of the Neve Tzedek Quarter, a rebuilt neighborhood with amazing cafes, galleries, shops and the Gutman Museum, where one finds lunch (on own).
• Afternoon at leisure discovering Tel Aviv or Jaffa on own, or relaxing on the beautiful Mediterranean beach by the hotel. Try a Segway or bicycle tour (on own).
• This evening, we head out on the town for a slice of culture of a different kind at “Dinner in the Dark”, a tantalizing experience that will trigger all of your senses, followed by a performance of “Not by Bread Alone” at the Nalagaat Center for the Deaf & Blind.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 4: Sunday, March 18, 2018: FROM HI-TECH TO HIGH FASHION

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we visit the Taglit Innovation Center for a glimpse into Israel's hi-tech advances in the fields of science, medicine, security and space. We visit the interactive exhibition and continue with a meeting with one of Israel's leading entrepreneurs.
• Our next stop is at the Sarona Market, a newly renovated complex with buildings dating back over 140 years to the German templars. The story of the complex and its renovation is quite fascinating.
• We have time for lunch on own here, followed by a wine tasting at The Tasting Room inside.
• We step into a world of creativity at The World of Michal Negrin. Here, we view a film and take a guided tour through the famous jeweler's studio. Then we are off to the fashionable shops of Mika and other designers for shopping or a café, or return to the hotel or beach.
• Dinner on own or head to the hip and happening Old Port of Tel Aviv.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 5: Monday, March 19, 2018: ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE & DIVERSITY

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• Today, we travel to nearby Herzliya for a high-level briefing at the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Center, dedicated to the memory of the fallen in the Israeli intelligence community.
• We travel north to Haifa for a tour of Beit Hagefen Arab Jewish Center, to gain an insider's look into the diverse community, as well as the various projects that are in place to bring Jews and Arabs together.
• We continue to Akko, the dramatic Crusader city, to see the tunnels and the famous British prison that housed Jewish terrorists and freedom fighters, the Irgun & Stern gang.
• We continue to our bucolic hillside resort at Mitzpe Hayamim, with spectacular views of the Golan, to refresh, followed by dinner together.

Overnight in Mitzpe Hayamim

Day 6: Tuesday, March 20, 2018: KIBBUTZ MALKIA & THE HULA VALLEY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Our day begins with a drive along the Lebanese border, stopping at Kibbutz Malkia, a strategic overlook. Here, we meet with the IDF military unit on the border and kibbutz security personnel to learn how they protect frontier communities.
• We continue on our journey to the Hula Valley Nature Reserve, to see thousands of migrating and native birds, and take a surrey ride through the park.
• We return to Mitzpe Hayamim for a relaxing afternoon at leisure, with the option to enjoy the spa and pool.
• Relaxing dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight in Mitzpe Hayamim

Day 7: Wednesday, March 21, 2018: THE SOUTHERN EDGE

• Light breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we travel to the southern frontier region. Our first stop is in Sderot in the Negev, for a guided drive with security personnel and get a briefing and a view into the Gaza Strip (security conditions permitting).
• Following our briefing, we enjoy lunch with Mevashlot Sderot, a group of women who prepare traditional ethnic Jewish culinary treats.
• We visit Saroka Medical Center, for a tour and a chance to perform a mitzvah of bikur cholim (visiting the sick), and learn about how this hospital handles war related trauma issues.
• We continue to the natural drama Mitzpe Ramon to check into Beresheet Hotel & Resort, sitting right on the edge of the machtesh, Israel's Grand Canyon.
• This evening, we enjoy dinner together at our resort.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 8: Thursday, March 22, 2018: DESERT ADVENTURES

• We rise for a beautiful special sunrise service along the edge of the Ramon Crater, where we see this natural wonder basking in the first light of day.
• Return to our resort for breakfast.
• We head out after breakfast for an easy hike in a national park, through the magnificent Ein Avdat Canyon.
• We continue to the Shirat Midbar Spice Farm for an experience at a unique organic farm with medicinal herbs and spices, Moroccan Argon trees, grapes and a colorful orchard, including lunch.
• Free time to rest, relax by the pool or visit the world class spa at Beresheet.
• This evening, we enjoy dinner at our resort.
• Following dinner, we experience star gazing with a naturalist, marveling at radiant sparks of light in the black night sky.
• We return to our resort later this evening.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 9: Friday, March 23, 2018: ROAD TO JERUSALEM / EXPLORING NEIGHBORHOODS

• Breakfast and check out of our resort.
• Our day begins with a visit to the Soreq caves to see the stalactite and stalagmite formations.
• Continue with a jeep tour along the Burma Road, as our guide narrates the struggle for Jerusalem in 1948 and the biblical stories brought to mind by the views of famous biblical sites along the way.
• We arrive in Jerusalem, and check in to the Inbal Hotel and have time to relax and refresh.
• As the sun begins to set, we participate in Shabbat services at a Reform Progressive congregation. Later this evening, we enjoy dinner hosted by some of the member families.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 10: Saturday, March 24, 2018: SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Optional Shabbat services at Hebrew Union College (HUC), the center of Progressive Judaism in Jerusalem, followed by a short tour of the campus.
• We enjoy a walking tour and political discussion in the Old City with Professor Paul Liptz of HUC, entitled “The Interaction of War and Politics: 1948 to Present”. We stop along the way for lunch (on own) in the Christian quarter.
• Mid-afternoon free time to enjoy the hotel's amenities.
• As Shabbat comes to an end, we join together for a short Havdallah service, led by Rabbi Gelfand, overlooking the walls of the Old City at the Montefiore Windmill.
• Spend the evening at leisure and enjoy dinner on own at the nearby newly resorted train station (Tachana).

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 11: Sunday, March 25, 2018: YEARNING FOR PEACE

• Breakfast and discussion with Alec Isaacs, who shares his story and his project, Siach Shalom, a possible game-changer in the endless struggle for peace.
• Next, we visit Yad B'yad, a cutting-edge, unique Jewish-Arab school, meeting faculty and students and tour their campus.
• Drive to Gush Etzion to meet Ali Abu Awwad and Shaul Yudelman, the founders of a grassroots project and dialogue called Roots/Shorashim that is working to bring together Palestinian and Jewish settlers.
?? Lunch at the Harutzim Café in Talpiot, run by Shekel, providing community services for 8,000 people with special needs from every sector of Israeli society, including Jews, Arabs and Christians, whether religious or secular.
• Return to the Old City for The Three Faiths Tour of Jerusalem with Hannah Bendkowsky, seeing the incredible patchwork of religious life in one of the most interesting and complex cities in the world. Our tour includes visits to Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Stations of the Cross, the Dome of the Rock, and the Kotel (Western Wall). At St. Georges Cathedral, we meet Rector Hosam Elisas Noam and Sheik Issam Najar.
• Dinner on own.
• OPTIONAL: Evening cultural performance (TBD - based on schedule as we get closer to departure with additional cost).

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 12: Monday, March 26, 2018: REACHING OUT - FROM PAST TO PRESENT

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Our day begins with tikkun olam with an unforgettable 90-minute hands-on experience at Pantry Packers, packing food staples included in monthly food baskets and delivered to Israel's neediest families.
• Next, we visit Mt. Herzl, Israel's national military cemetery, view the new, strikingly moving Remembrance Hall, which commemorates the lives of more than 23,000 fallen soldiers killed defending the State of Israel.
• We'll enjoy an illuminating briefing on-site by Retired Colonel Miri Eisin, former official spokesperson in charge of explaining Israel's stance on the ongoing Israel-Arab conflict.
• Optional guided afternoon hike through the Judean Hills, outside Jerusalem, amidst beautiful natural settings, or return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure, shopping or relaxing at the pool.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 13: Tuesday, March 27, 2018: A FAREWELL TASTE OF JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Guided tour of Machane Yehuda, Jerusalem's outdoor marketplace, filled with foods of every variety. Together we'll learn about Middle Eastern spices and taste various foods as we participate in the “shuk bites” tasting experience.
• Visit an unusual Hasidic synagogue in nearby Mea Shearim.
• We continue with a walking tour of the Nachlaot neighborhood, considered by many to be Jerusalem's most pluralistic neighborhood, mixing the various streams of Orthodox Judaism with secular residents.
• Free time for last minute shopping or exploration on own.
• This evening, we check out of our hotel and enjoy a festive farewell dinner, as we recall all that we have experienced together on this journey.
• We transfer to the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for our overnight flight back to New York.

(EXTENSION: If you wish to extend your trip into the weekend and the beginning of Passover, Ayelet Tours will gladly be of help).

Day 14: Wednesday, March 28, 2018: WELCOME HOME!

• We arrive back in New York this morning. Welcome home!

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!
*itinerary subject to change

BOOK THIS TOUR

Temple Israel of the City of New York
Back to Israel
ISRAEL at 70!
Led by Rabbi David & Kathy Gelfand
March 15-28, 2018
*First-timers pre-tour March 13-16

Tour Rates & Dates:

Tour Overview:

Download a PDF version:

Tour Itinerary: