Congregation Beth Torah
Face to Face Journey through Israel
Led by Rabbi Elana Zelony
April 25 - May 6, 2022


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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Traveling together in Israel is an opportunity to connect - with the many faces and history of Israel, with the land itself, and with each other. As a community, we will bond through our shared experiences and enhance our understanding of history, archaeology, and people as we delve in-depth into Israel's millennia-old cultural and historical legacy.

OUR 9 NIGHT JOURNEY INCLUDES:
  • Enjoy an in-depth exploration of the Israel's history, recounting the desperate struggle to protect Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter during the War of Independence.
  • Explore the Israel highlights including; Yad v'Shem, Dead Sea, Mount Herzl, Salad Trail, Sefad, Golan Heights, Kotel, and Masada.
  • Celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) as an Israeli in Tel Aviv as we enjoy the traditional IDF air and sea show.
  • Celebrate Ramadan with the local community in an Iftar Dinner and hear of the meaning of the holiday to the local Palestinian community.
  • Meet with local communities including; soldiers, Ethiopians, Druze, Palestinians and much more.
  • Taste the delicacies of different Jewish traditions as we enjoy dinner with "Women Cook".
  • Repair the world with tikkun olam and give back to the community at the Y'ad L'Kashish home.

INCLUDED:

  • 5 nights Prima Kings, Jerusalem, Israel
  • 2 nights Kibbutz Hagoshrim Guesthouse, Galilee, Israel
  • 2 nights Metropolitan Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon itinerary in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an expert English-speaking guide
  • Breakfast daily
  • 4 Lunches (Shabbat Lunch in Jerusalem, Lunch at the Salad Trail, Druze Lunch, Yom Ha'azmaut Lunch)
  • 6 Dinners (Welcome Dinner in Jerusalem, Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem, Iftar Dinner, 2 Galilee hotel dinners, Farewell dinner with "Women Who Cook")
  • Jeep Tour in the North
  • Face to Face Eexperiences
  • Neot Kedumim Experience
  • Meeting with Eshkol Resident
  • Kibbutz Malkia
  • Water daily (2 bottles per person) available and included on the bus
  • Airport transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group
  • Entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Porterage

    INCLUDED (Eilat/Petra Extension):

    • 1 night Metropolitan Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel
    • 3 nights Queen of Sheba, Eilat, Israel
    • All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon itinerary in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an expert English-speaking guide 
    • Breakfast daily
    • Petra day tour 
    • Round trip flight from Eilat to Tel Aviv
    • Transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group

    NOT INCLUDED:

    • Roundtrip airfare, departure taxes and fuel surcharges (available to book 11 months prior)
    • Jordan Visa, and any additional visas or border taxes
    • Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters ($20.00 per person, per day-pre-collected)
    • Any meals not listed above
    • Any items of a personal nature
    • Any costs associated with testing or related to proof of Covid/vaccine status.
    • Travel insurance (highly recommended)

  • Tour Itinerary:

    Israel is a land of connections and reconnections. It is a place that both holds nostalgia and awaits rediscovery. Over the decades, so much in Israel has changed dramatically, yet the essence that draws us remains the same. Traveling together as a community, we will bond through our shared experiences and enhance our understanding of culture and archaeology, religion and politics, the ancient and the modern, as we delve in-depth into Israel's millennia-old legacy as heart of the Jewish People.

    Day 1: Monday, April 25, 2022: DEPARTURE

    • We depart the United States on our overnight flight to Israel.

    Day 2: Tuesday, April 26, 2022: WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

    • Shalom and Bruchim Habaim—welcome to Israel! Upon arrival, we are met by an Ayelet Tours representative and begin our adventure.
    • Ascend into the Judean Mountains and stop at Natan Rapoport's Scroll of Fire sculpture in the Forest of the Martyrs. This dramatic sculpture commemorates Jewish history from the Holocaust through the founding of Israel through dramatic scenes of destruction and rebirth.
    • Upon entering Jerusalem, we stop at the Haas Promenade to say Shehecheyanu as we look out over the City of Gold.
    • We check into our hotel and join for a welcome dinner this evening.

    Overnight in Jerusalem

    Day 3: Wednesday, April 27, 2022: THE ROOTS OF OUR PAST

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: We meet with scholar and educator Rachel Korazim, specializing in Holocaust and modern Israeli poetry and literature. Rachel will present on the topic “From Shoah to 75 Years of Independence,” opening a window into Israeli society and helping us engage with Israel and its history in new and meaningful ways.
    • We tour Yad v'Shem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust, to view the many moving exhibitions, including the Hall of Names, the Children's Memorial and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations.
    • We continue to the famed Machane Yehuda, where we take in the sights, smells and sounds of the marketplace and try some of Israel's delicacies.
    • A stop at Mount Herzl, Israel's national cemetery, allows us to pay our respects by the gravesites of some of Israel's most prominent leaders, including Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, and Shimon Peres, in addition to hearing about the many lesser-known heroes of Israel's wars buried here.
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: Tonight, we join locals in Zikaron Basalon, where we will hear the story of a survivor along with Israelis.
    • We return to our hotel in the atmosphere of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

    Overnight in Jerusalem

    Day 4: Thursday, April 28, 2022: YOM HASHOAH - CHALLENGES AND REMEMBERANCE

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • This morning we observe Yom HaShoah, including the 10:00 siren that sounds throughout Israel, bringing the country to a standstill for two minutes.
    • We travel to Moshav Nativ HaAsara and learn about the Path to Peace, a community-created mosaic along the border wall separating Israel from the Gaza Strip. We have an opportunity to add a piece to the mosaic and put our own imprint on this project of hope.
    • Eat our way through the Salad Trail on a very hands-and-mouths-on agricultural tour of this innovative farm, growing delicacies in the desert sand. We will pick and taste fruits and vegetables in the hothouses, dodge hanging strawberries (in season), release homing pigeons and sample herbs in their gardens.
    • In the Eshkol Regional Council, near the Gaza Strip, we meet with artist Yaron Bob at his workshop. Living in a community that has suffered numerous terror attacks, Yaron works to transform shrapnel into beautiful sculpture in a project he calls “Rockets to Roses.”
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: While in Eshkol, we are hosted at the home of a local resident for an opportunity to hear about life up-close to the Gaza Border, the challenges faced by the residents and their hope and resilience in the face of danger.
    • Time for dinner (on own) nearby.
    • We join the Yom HaShoah closing ceremony on Kibbutz Yad Mordechai this evening at 7:00pm before returning to our hotel in Jerusalem.

    Overnight in Jerusalem

    Day 5: Friday, April 29, 2022: DIGGING INTO JERUSALEM

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • We visit Yad L'Kashish, the Lifeline for the Aged, an inspiring artisan workshop which empowers and supports hundreds of elderly and disabled Jerusalem residents.
    • We enter the Old City of Jerusalem for a walking tour, ascending to the rooftops where the beauty and complexity of Jerusalem become apparent from this incredible vantage point. We continue into the Jewish Quarter, filled with synagogues, shops and history, stopping at the Cardo Market and passing by the ancient Broad Wall.
    • It is time for a stop at the Kotel, or Western Wall, built 2,000 years ago by King Herod to dignify and support the Second Temple. At this silent monument, a witness to triumph and tragedy, to hope and despair throughout the generations, we take time to reflect and pray, perhaps wedging a sacred note into a stone crevice and enveloping ourselves in the sense of holiness pervading the plaza.
    • We head underground to the Western Wall Tunnels. This is an opportunity to discover the many layers of Jerusalem's history, passing through grand building projects spanning the centuries from ancient Rome through the modern day.
    • Visit Ir David, the City of David, where the stories of King David come to life through the palace excavations, underground passageways, and monumental fortifications.
    • We meet for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat at HaTachana the rejuvenated Jerusalem Train Station, an urban meeting place where all walks of life come together to mark the beginning of Shabbat.
    • We enjoy Shabbat dinner together at our hotel.

    Overnight in Jerusalem

    Day 6: Shabbat, April 30, 2022: SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • Free time to attend Shabbat services or explore the city.
    • We enjoy Shabbat lunch together at our hotel.
    • This afternoon, we set out on a walking tour of charming Yemin Moshe, one of Jerusalem's historic neighborhoods established in the late 1800s outside the Old City.
    • We gather together to enjoy a special Havdalah overlooking the Old City, marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week.
    • Dinner on own tonight.
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: As Ramadan comes to a close, tonight we join the Muslim community for an Iftar Dinner closing the fast for the day. We will learn directly from the locals of the unique traditions.

    Overnight in Jerusalem

    Day 7: Sunday, May 1, 2022 MASADA & THE DEAD SEA

    • Breakfast and checkout of our hotel.
    • We depart this morning and travel south to the Dead Sea basin. Upon arrival, we ascend the imposing mountain of Masada by cable car to view the remains of King Herod's fortress, including the synagogue, walls, and bathhouse, as we learn about the Jewish Zealots' fateful last stand against the Roman forces.
    • We descend the the mountain and head to the beach an unsinkable swim in the luxuriating, salty and mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, where we can cover ourselves in silky, healing mud and float at the lowest place on Earth.
    • We begin our drive north along the Jordan rift.
    • We complete our day with dinner at our kibbutz.

    Overnight in the Galilee

    Day 8: Monday, May 2, 2022: CHALLENGES IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS

    • Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
    • Ascend to the top of Mount Bental, a former Israeli bunker overlooking the ruins of Quneitra and the Valley of Tears. As the full vista comes into view, we reach a deeper understanding of both the past and present complexities facing Israel in a hostile Middle East, especially regarding the Syrian civil war.
    • Next, we set out on an exciting jeep tour through the Golan Heights, passing former Syrian bunkers on the way to the top of Har Bental, where we take in the views reaching into Syria.
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: We travel to the Druze village of Buq'ata in the Golan Heights and meet with Nasiba, a tradition-breaking entrepreneurial woman who single-handedly changed the face of her village and the status of Druze women in the Golan. Enjoy a delicious meal and hear Nasiba's story of overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
    • Stop at Kibbutz Malkia, located on Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Learn about the kibbutz's history and present challenges as a front-line village opposite the forces of Hizbollah.
    ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: Meet with soldiers from an IDF unit based in the area to hear first-hand how they work to defend Israel from the numerous threats facing the country.
    • After check-in to our hotel, we enjoy dinner together.

    Overnight in the Galilee

    Day 9: Tuesday, May 3, 2022: FROM SAFED TO CAESAREA

    • Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
    • We travel to the mystical city of Safed, birthplace of Kabbalah and home to legends, myths, and miracles. We will wander the cobblestone alleys, visit the ancient Caro or Ha'ari synagogues, hear stories of the great mystics and stroll through the enchanting artists' quarter.
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: We continue toward the Galilee and stop at the ice cream parlor owned by an Israeli and Arab doe in Maalot Tarshicah, defining the ways to co-exist peacfully.
    • Travel along the Mediterranean coast to the Caesarea National Park, the Roman regional capital. Here, we view the ancient theater, stroll through the hippodrome, and stand in awe at Herod's palace and harbor. We have time for lunch on own.
    o OR
    • We travel to Akko, where we explore the Crusader-era fortifications and British prison as we learn about this historically important port. While here, we visit the El Jazzar Mosque, Israel's holiest mosque outside of Jerusalem, and the largest one among the mosques built in Israel during the Turkish period.
    • We drive south to Tel Aviv and check into our hotel.
    • This evening we join Israel in remembering its dead with the beginning of Yom Hazikaron. ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: Optional: join the Israelis at Rabin square for the Sharim Bakikar memorial (singing in the square), in this event mainstream artist sing songs written by the fallen.

    Overnight in Tel Aviv

    Day 10: Wednesday, May 4, 2022: FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: We begin the day with a drive to Lod where we join the morning ceremony for Yom Hazikaron and enjoy a snapshot of triumphs and challenges, with well-known TV news personality, Brahano Tagania, followed by a visit to Tech Career in Lod, a program designed to help bring young Ethiopian Israelis into the Tech workforce
    • We continue to Rishon to explore the newly opened Agam Museum in Rishon LeZion, showcasing six decades of the groundbreaking artist's kinetic art and sculpture.
    • We return to Tel Aviv to walk the Independence Trail through the Rothschild District and discover the architectural, cultural and intellectual foundations of this great city, including a stop by the famed site of Israel's Independence Hall.
    • Tonight, we have dinner on own and set out to celebrate Yom Haazmaut, Israel's Independence Day, perhaps on lively streets of Tel Aviv.

    Overnight in Tel Aviv

    Day 11: Thursday, May 5, 2022: YOM HA'AZMAUT

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • This morning, we visit Jaffa for a walking tour and discussion about the challenges and successes of co-existence in this mixed Jewish-Arab neighborhood.
    • Along the Mediterranean Sea, we enjoy a “front-row” seat for the IDF's traditional air and sea show marking Yom Haatzma'ut.
    • In Israel's traditional holiday style, we enjoy a BBQ lunch.
    • We spend the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the festive holiday atmosphere.
    • We return to our hotel and checkout.
    • ENGAGING ENCOUNTER: We enjoy a festive farewell dinner, prepared by “Women Cook” who come from different culinary traditions; Moroccan, Tunisian, Ethiopian and many more. This initiative was created to empower women and give them an opportunity to be economically independent and preserve their rich cultural traditions.
    • We transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our overnight flight back to the United States (arriving tomorrow morning).

    OR…
    JOIN US ON AN EILAT/PETRA EXTENSION!


    • We return to our hotel and have the evening leisure.

    Overnight in Tel Aviv

    Day 12: Friday, May 6, 2022: TRAVELING SOUTH

    • Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
    • We transfer to the Ben Gurion Airport for our flight to Eilat.
    • Upon arrival, we check in to our hotel.

    Overnight Eilat

    Day 13: Shabbat, May 7, 2022: RELAXING IN EILAT

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • We spend the day at leisure, relaxing at the hotel pool or walking along the boardwalk.
    • Dinner on own.

    Overnight Eilat

    Day 14: Sunday, May 8, 2022: PETRA, THE ROSE CITY

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • This morning, we cross the border into Jordan for our day tour of Petra, the Red Rose City and Eighth Wonder of the World.
    • We explore the Nabatean City (as seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and walk through the Siq, view the ancient temple, the famous Treasury, the Roman theater and more.
    • As we return to the border, we view Wadi Rum, a protected desert wilderness with sandstone mountains and natural arches.
    • Lunch is included in Jordan.
    • We return to our hotel for a relaxing evening and dinner on own.

    Overnight Eilat

    Day 15: Monday, May 9, 2022: LEISURE IN EILAT/DEPARTURE

    • Breakfast at our hotel.
    • Enjoy the day at leisure in Eilat. Optional on own activity suggestions include:
    o Visit the Underwater Aquarium
    o Barbeque lunch and snorkeling cruise on the Red Sea
    o Swimming with the dolphins
    o Scuba diving
    • We check out of our hotel later this afternoon and transfer to the airport for our short flight back to Tel Aviv to connect with our overnight flight back to the United States.

    Day 16: Tuesday, May 10, 2022: WELCOME HOME!

    • We arrive back in the United States this morning.

    THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!!
    *itinerary subject to change