Hadassah Israel Tour Through a Legal Lens with Attorneys and Judges Led by Randa Maher July 5 - 16, 2023 - Ayelet Tours - Israel Tours - Jewish Heritage Tours - Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tours

Day 1: Wednesday, July 5, 2023: DEPARTURE

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

Day 2: Thursday, July 6, 2023: WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

• Shalom and Bruchim Habaim—welcome to Israel! Our time in this incredible land has officially begun and our excitement mounts as we set off on the adventure ahead. Just beyond passport control, an Ayelet representative will meet us in the baggage claim area and assist us through customs.
• We visit Neot Kedumim, the Biblical nature reserve, to learn about the connections between the biosphere and Jewish history. Our panorama view allows us to see with our own eyes the width of the country: the Mediterranean to the west and Jerusalem to the east. We plant trees, connecting us physically and spiritually to the land of Israel.
• We ascend to Jerusalem along the biblical route with unique untouched scenery. Along this route, we will have the opportunity to see and discuss border lines and how political agreements on the border have replication on the ground.
• As we enter the holy city of Jerusalem, we stop at the Mount Scopus Overlook to say Shehecheyanu as we look out over the City of Gold.
• We check into our hotel and have time to freshen up before joining for a welcome dinner with Hadassah friends at our hotel.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 3: Friday, July 7, 2023: MEMORY IN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we meet with a Holocaust survivor Rina Quint at her home.
• We visit Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust, to view the many moving exhibitions including the Hall of Names and the Children's Memorial. We also meet with a museum representative to learn about Israel's law on the “Righteous Among the Nations” and have a memorial service.
• Next, we stop at the city entrance to see the 9/11 Living Memorial, the only one of its kind outside the US.
• Joining the people of Jerusalem, we welcome Shabbat at the Kotel.
• Tonight, we experience “Shabbat of a Lifetime,” home hospitality with an Orthodox family in Jerusalem to enjoy a traditional Shabbat dinner.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 4: Saturday, July 8, 2023: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Our morning is at leisure, perhaps for “Shul hopping,” experiencing different Shabbat manners of worship throughout Jerusalem: Italian, Moroccan, Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Reform or Conservative, all within walking distance from each other.
• This afternoon, we visit the Old City of Jerusalem for a walking tour of the different quarters. We begin in the Jewish Quarter, filled with synagogues and history and pass by the ancient Broad Wall. Strolling past colorful and exotic vendors in the Arab Shuk, we continue along Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus was crucified, and through the winding streets of the Christian and Muslim Quarters.
• We return to our hotel for Havdalah, followed by a dialogue with the Jerusalem Post Palestinian Affairs correspondent, Khaled Abu Toameh.
• Dinner on own this evening.
• After dinner, join us for the Tower of David Night Spectacular, a sound and light show that transforms the walls of David's Citadel into the living story of Jerusalem.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 5: Sunday, July 9, 2023: DELVING INTO JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We visit the Mount of Olives and enjoy the amazing panoramic view of Jerusalem before continuing to pay respects at the grave of Henrietta Szold.
• At the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, we tour the campus and meet with members of the Jewish Law department to learn about the impact of traditional Jewish law on the Israeli legal system today.
• We meet with a representative of the law school who will explain the requisite curriculum and internship component of a law degree in Israel as well as highlight the differences between the American and Israeli legal systems.
• This afternoon, we dirty our hands at the Emek Tzurim sifting program that makes spectacular finds working through the construction rubble of the Temple Mount.
• Next, we 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 have time to relax before dinner at a local restaurant with the President of the Israeli Bar Association to learn more about it, including the Mandatory Mediation Committee and the Pro Bono Committee.
• Following dinner this evening, we return to the Old City and head underground to tour 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.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 6: Monday, July 10, 2023: GAZA AND THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we travel south 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.
• In nearby Sderot, we tour the Protected Playground, the police station and the storage depot containing rockets launched from Gaza into Israel.
• 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.”
• We 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. Our visit is completed with lunch.
• Returning to Jerusalem, we hear from a speaker on the bus and engage in a conversation on what the laws are for a country fighting a terror organization.
• We stop at the Barkan Winery to enjoy a tour, dinner and discussion of the rules of Kashrut regarding wine with the person in charge of the Kosher process. We learn why all Kosher wines are acceptable for Passover.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 7: Tuesday, July 11, 2023: BOUNDARIES IN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel with a representative of the IDF's Military Law unit to discuss how the army monitors the actions of the IDF, how they stand with international law and the interaction with the International Criminal Court in the Hague (ICC).
• We visit the Palestinian Authority for a discussion on law, their perspective on the legal framework for the West Bank and Gaza Strip and their reaction to the International Criminal Court in the Hague (ICC).
• This afternoon, we meet with Colonel Miri Eisen (or another former IDF spokesman) for an enlightening journey along the seam line in Jerusalem.
• We proceed to Jerusalem's outdoor market, Machane Yehuda, for a sensual immersion, engaging with the vibrant colors, smells and flavors that will be found in this bustling marketplace. Accompanied by a gourmet chef, we wander through the pyramids of spices, bright-colored exotic vegetables, nuts, olives, and delicious halva creations as our guide introduces us to the most characteristic ingredients of the local cuisine providing insight into Israeli food habits. Our visit culminates in a gourmet chef-prepared dinner in the vicinity of the market.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 8: Wednesday, July 12, 2023: LAW IN ISRAEL

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We visit Israel's seat of government, the Knesset, to meet with members of the Judiciary committee on the Law of Return and immigration law.
• We visit the Hadassah Medical Organization's Ein Kerem Campus to learn about Israel's health care system.
• Lunch on own at the Hadassah Mall.
• This afternoon, we visit Israel's Supreme Court for a tour and meet with one of the judges.
• We continue to the National Library of Israel, a magnificent new building that holds over 4 million items which reflect the many faces of Israeli and Jewish culture through the ages. There is a large selection of legal books, manuscripts, rare prints, photographs, historical posters, personal and institutional archives.
• Dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 9: Thursday, July 13, 2023: SHFEYAH YOUTH VILAGE &I SRAEL: A JEWISH DEMOCRACY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We depart early this morning to visit Hadassah's Meir Shfeyah Youth Village to meet with students and staff. We will sit in on a music class and visit the winery.
• At the Buchman Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University, we tour the campus and meet with members of the Minerva Center for Human Rights to learn about the legal battle of human rights researchers and activists contend with to defend Israel's values as a democracy.
• We drive to Tel Aviv to tour the newly designed ANU: Museum of the Jewish People, which tells the 4,000-year-old story of the Jewish people.
• Dinner on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 10: Friday, July 14, 2023: TOURING TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day at the Peres Center for Peace and learn about its founder, President Shimon Peres. We get a glimpse into Israel's high-tech advances in the fields of science, medicine, security, and space at their interactive exhibition.
• This morning, we take a walking tour through South Tel Aviv to examine the complex dilemmas surrounding Sudanese and Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers who have made their homes here.
• We continue to stroll through Neve Tzedek to see the artistic graffiti painted on the walls and buildings and learn how it is an important form of expression in the community.
• This evening, we enjoy a festive Shabbat dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 11: Saturday, July 15, 2023: ISRAEL'S INDEPENDENCE

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we stroll along 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. (Independence Hall is currently closed for renovations.)
• We visit Jaffa for a walking tour and discussion about the challenges and successes of co-existence in this mixed Jewish-Arab neighborhood.
• We spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
• As the sun sets, we join together for Havdalah with an engaging speaker to discuss Israel's Declaration of Independence: Could it be considered Israel's Constitution?
• We enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and a chance to reminisce about our in-depth journey through Israel.
• Following dinner, we transfer to the airport for our overnight flight back to the United States, arriving tomorrow morning.

Overnight in Tel Aviv for those continuing to the Negev, Eilat/Petra, Jordan Extension or extending on their own

OR
CONTINUE ON A
NEGEV, EILAT/PETRA, JORDAN EXTENSION
Minimum 15 people

Day 12: Sunday, July 16, 2023: DISCOVERING THE NEGEV DESERT

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• We travel south to Be'er Sheva, the capital of the Negev, and visit Tel Be'er Sheva, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous as a stopping point for the Prophet Abraham. In addition to the replica of the horned altar, we will explore the city gates, well, storerooms and impressive water system that make this site worthy of its designation.
• We continue to Sde Boker, the burial monument to Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion. We will see how his vision of making the desert bloom is becoming a reality and learn why his gravesite has become a site of modern pilgrimage for Israelis. We also visit the interactive exhibit at Tzrif Ben Gurion, the desert home of Israel's first Prime Minister, where the story of Ben Gurion is brought to life, and where we wrestle with the challenges he faced as a visionary and mover of history.
• Next, we set out on a hike in the Ein Avdat Nature Reserve, once inhabited by Nabateans and Catholic monks. We enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and hike up into the mountain to the dry riverbed at its top.
• We continue to Mitzpe Ramon and check into our hotel, then enjoy dinner together tonight.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 13: Monday, July 17, 2023: RELAXATION IN THE DESERT

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We enjoy a free day at the hotel to relax and luxuriate at the spa.
• Optional walking tour: Visit the nearby Mitzpe Ramon Visitor's Center for an audio-visual exploration of its geology, flora and fauna and to learn about the connection to the Israeli hero and astronaut, Ilan Ramon.
• We come together this evening for dinner at our hotel.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 14: Tuesday, July 18, 2023: DESERT BEAUTY

• Set out on a sunrise jeep tour into Machtesh Ramon, watching from a majestic overlook as the sun rises and bathes the primordial landscape in light. We continue our journey through the hills and valleys of the machtesh, learning about its creation and history.
• We return to our hotel for breakfast and check out.
• Traveling south, we stop at the Hai Bar Nature Reserve, a desert breeding and reclamation center for endangered and locally extinct animals. Driving through the site, we may view rare animals such as oryx, leopards and caracal that the center is trying to reintroduce to the wild.
• We visit Park Timna, a desert valley combining majestic scenery with history and antiquities. Surrounded by steep cliffs, Timna holds the world's earliest copper mining operation, in addition to spectacular geologic formations, a temple to the Egyptian goddess Hathor and ancient cave carvings.
• We arrive in Eilat and check into our hotel with dinner on own.

Overnight in Eilat

Day 15: Wednesday, July 19, 2023: PETRA - THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we cross the border into Jordan and begin our full day tour of Petra, the Red Rose City. Along the way, we explore the Nabatean Necropolis (as seen in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade). We walk through the Siq and view the ancient temple, then discover the famous Treasury, the Roman theater and more in this Eighth Wonder of the World.
• Returning to Israel, we have late check out from our hotel before transferring to the Eilat airport to connect to our international flight.

Day 16: Thursday, July 20, 2023: WELCOME HOME

• We arrive back in the United States this morning.

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!!
*Itinerary subject to change

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Hadassah Israel Tour Through a Legal Lens
with Attorneys and Judges
Led by Randa Maher
July 5 - 16, 2023

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