Day 1: Wednesday, October 11, 2023: DEPARTURE

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

Day 2: Thursday, October 12, 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. (Group will meet at airport at 10:00am to start the tour).
• As we enter the holy city of Jerusalem, we drive by the memorial to the victims of the Hadassah medical convoy massacre in 1948 along our way to Mount Scopus. Here, we officially begin our tour together with a traditional Shehecheyanu ceremony as we stop for a panoramic view of the City of Gold for the first time together.
• Next, we visit Hadassah Hospital's Mount Scopus campus for a tour and insider's look into the facility, followed by a VIP meeting with hospital leadership.
• We enter the Old City via the Zion Gate and set out for free time and lunch on own.
• Later, we meet again and enjoy a walking tour of the Jewish quarter with time for personal reflection at the Western Wall.
• This evening, we check into our hotel and freshen up before our welcome dinner at a local restaurant with Hadassah friends and staff.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 3: Friday, October 13, 2023: HISTORY IN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we return to the Old City and head underground into the Western Wall tunnels for an opportunity to touch biblical history and discover the archaeological wonders that remained untouched for centuries.
• Back above ground, we return to the Jewish quarter and stroll through the ancient Cardo market, where we stop briefly to enjoy free time for shopping.
• We are escorted by a gourmet chef at Machane Yehuda on a sensual immersion, engaging with the vibrant colors, smells and flavors. We wander through the pyramids of spices, bright-colored exotic vegetables, nuts, olives and delicious halva creations, while we are introduced to the most characteristic ingredients of the local cuisine and provided insight into Israeli food habits.
• Lunch on own in and around the market area.
• We stop at the city entrance to see the 9/11 Memorial, the only one of its kind outside the US.
• We return to our hotel for time to relax and refresh.
• As the sun begins to set, we come together for Kabbalat Shabbat with candle lighting at our hotel, followed by a festive Shabbat dinner in a private room.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 4: Saturday, October 14, 2023: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Spend the morning at leisure attending Shabbat services or just relaxing.
• In the afternoon, we return to the Old City once again. We begin in the Arab shuk, then continue along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter.
• Back at our hotel, we participate in an enlightening dialogue with Jerusalem Post Palestinian Affairs correspondent, Khaled Abu Toameh.
• As evening rolls around, we join together for Havdallah, then set out for dinner and exploration on own as Jerusalem comes back to life after Shabbat.
• Tonight, we watch 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, October 15, 2023: THE NEGEV & ESHKOL

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we travel south to Moshav Netiv Ha'Asara 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.
• We continue to Sderot and meet with the children and community leaders in the Western Negev.
• We stop for a panoramic view into Gaza, then visit the police station and view the rocket collection followed by a visit to the Protected Playground in the Eshkol Region.
• Our journey continues at the "Salad Trail", where we participate in a unique hands-on agricultural tour and witness how Israeli innovation is literally making the desert bloom with crops grown out of some of the most inhospitable sands imaginable. We will pick and taste fruits and vegetables from the kibbutz's self-picking farm, encounter flying strawberries, tiny orange orchards, racing pigeons and herbal gardens. We complete our visit with a delicious lunch.
• Time permitting, our final stop today is at the workshop of artist Yaron Bob. Struck by the terror of shell attacks, Yaron decided to transform something horrible into something beautiful, and so began his artwork known as “Rockets to Roses”.
• We return to Jerusalem for dinner on own this evening.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 6: Monday, October 16, 2023: JERUSALEM AND HADASSAH

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we visit Yad Vashem, the national memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Here, we explore some of the newly found materials relating to places, people and events connected to the Holocaust, including:
o Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations
o Children's memorial
o The Holocaust Museum
• Our time at Yad Vashem culminates in a group memorial service at the Valley of the Lost Communities.
• After lunch on own, we visit Hadassah Hospital's Ein Kerem Campus for a tour of the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower and the iconic Round Building, featuring the most modern hospital facilities in the region. We meet with staff and patients and take an in-depth look at this cutting-edge medical facility and how it has adapted to ever-changing needs. We end our visit at the Abbell Synagogue, home of the famed Chagall windows.
• This afternoon, we experience the ultimate adventure at Caliber 3, including the chance to learn some of the Israeli methods for shooting and combat. We learn from the experts about weapons handling, counter-terrorism tactics and the values that guide the Israeli Defense Forces.
• Free evening in Jerusalem and dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 7: Tuesday, October 17, 2023: THE DEAD SEA BASIN

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We depart early and travel south to Eretz Beresheet for an authentic Bedouin experience, including a camel ride and traditional tea ceremony.
• We continue to the Dead Sea basin and ascend Masada by cable car to view the remains of King Herod's fortress, including the synagogue, walls and bathhouses, as we learn about the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman forces.
• We descend the mountain and head to the beach for 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.
• Lunch on own.
• Later this afternoon, we drive along the Jordan Valley to our kibbutz in the Galilee and check in.
• After time to freshen up, we join again for dinner tonight.

Overnight in the Galilee

Day 8: Wednesday, October 18, 2023: MYSTICAL SAFED/SECURITY IN THE GOLAN

• Breakfast at our kibbutz.
• Our day begins at Kibbutz Malkia, where we will meet with Eitan, graduate from Meir Shfeya, our youth Aliyah village. Together, we will visit an IDF army unit on the Lebanese border to learn about the steps they take to protect a small frontier community.
• Next, we travel to the mystical city of Safed, one of four holy cities in Israel and the center of Kabbalistic practice. We stroll through the cobblestone streets to view the beautiful ancient synagogues and shop in the artist's quarter.
• Lunch on own.
• This afternoon, 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 panoramic views of Syria and learn about the current geopolitical situation.
• We return to our kibbutz for dinner together this evening.

Overnight in the Galilee

Day 9: Thursday, October 19, 2023: YOUTH ALIYAH AND THE ROAD TO TEL AVIV

• Breakfast and check out of our kibbutz.
• This morning, we travel west to the Crusader port of Akko and tour the massive Hospitaller Fortress and Knight's Hall that stood here as we learn about this historically important port.
• We drive to the top of Mt. Carmel in Haifa and bask in the breathtaking views of the beautiful Bahai Gardens below, then stop for a delicious falafel lunch on own.
• We continue to Hadassah's Meir Shfeya Youth Village, where we interact with the students and staff while enjoying an insider's tour of the village, their working farm and the winery.
• We travel south to Tel Aviv, where we are treated to a tour of the newly designed ANU: Museum of the Jewish People, which dynamically tells the 4,000-year-old story of the Jewish people.
• After checking into our hotel, we set out to explore and enjoy dinner on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 10: Friday, October 20, 2023: TOURING TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day with a tour of the Ayalon Institute, where we discover the underground ammunition factory that played a pivotal role in Israel's fight for independence.
• Next, we visit the Peres Center for Peace and learn about its founder, President Shimon Peres. Here, we get a glimpse into Israel's high-tech advances in the fields of science, medicine, security, and space at their interactive exhibition.
• We continue with a walking tour in the ancient port city of Jaffa. Filled with storied history, we wander through the cobblestone alleyways and admire the artist galleries, all framed by views of the sea.
• As evening falls, we come together to enjoy Shabbat dinner at our hotel.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 11: Saturday, October 21, 2023: CULTURAL TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Enjoy the morning at leisure relaxing along the Mediterranean beach front.
• This afternoon, we set out on a walking tour with our guide, strolling 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.
• Next, we follow the Independence Trail for a walking tour through the Ahuzat Bayit neighborhood, from which the city originally developed.
• Our time together comes to an end at our festive farewell dinner, where we recall all we have experienced on our journey through Israel.
• After dinner, those departing will check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for their flights back to the United States, landing tomorrow morning.

Overnight flight or Overnight in Tel Aviv

OR JOIN OUR EXTENSION TO
EILAT & PETRA, JORDAN

Day 12: Sunday, October 22, 2023: TO EILAT

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Eilat.
• Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure relaxing by the pool or on the shores of the Red Sea.
• Dinner on own tonight.

Overnight in Eilat

Day 13: Monday, October 23, 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. We explore the Nabatean City (as seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), then walk through the Siq and view the ancient temples. We also discover the famous Treasury, the Roman Theater, and more at this Eighth Wonder of the World.
• On our way back to the border, we pass Wadi Rum, a desert wilderness with sandstone mountains and natural arches.
• Dinner on own tonight.

Overnight Eilat

Day 14: Tuesday, October 24, 2023: LEISURE/DEPARTURE

•Breakfast at our hotel.
• Enjoy the day at leisure relaxing at the pool, on the beach or exploring on own at the Underwater Aquarium.
• Early this evening, we check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for our flight back to Tel Aviv, connecting with our flight back to the United States.

Day 15: Wednesday, October 25, 2023: WELCOME HOME!

• We arrive back in the United States this morning.