Hadassah Keepers of the Gate
Tour of Israel
Led by Roz Kantor and Linda Freedman Block
November 7-14, 2021


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.

Super Early Bird Discount:
Save $300 per person if registered by August 31, 2021!
(Discount applied after clicking "book" above)

Group flights coming soon.


Tour Overview:

INCLUDED:

2 nights Dan Hotel , Tel Aviv
3 nights Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
All touring and sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an expert English-speaking guide
Breakfast daily
3 dinners, including Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem
2 lunches
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Transfer included if arriving/departing with the main group
Porterage
Bottled water on the bus
Whisper headsets


Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Sunday, November 7, 2021: DEPARTURE

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

Day 2: Monday, November 8, 2021: WELCOME HOME!

• We arrive in Israel and are met by an Ayelet Tours representative. (Arrange for transportation and early check-in at hotel upon availability).
• Enjoy the day at leisure OR enjoy an optional tour:
o Walking tour along the Independence Trail and through the Ahuzat Bayit neighborhood, where Tel Aviv was originally developed.
o Tour the cutting-edge Taglit Innovation Center, where we catch a glimpse into Israel's high-tech advances in the fields of science, medicine, security and space in the interactive exhibition, followed by a meeting with one of Israel's up and coming entrepreneurs.
• Early this evening, we join together for a tour of Beit Hatfutsot (the Diaspora Museum), followed by a welcome dinner.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 3: Tuesday, November 9, 2021: THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin the day at Hadassah's Meir Shfeya Youth Village, where we interact with the students and staff, including music classes, and visit the village with the option to work alongside the youth on their working farm and winery. Lunch is included with our visit!
• This afternoon, we visit Atlit, a former detention compound for Jewish immigrants who arrived in Israel illegally during the British Mandate period.
• We return to Tel Aviv with time to freshen up.
• This evening, we enjoy a gala dinner at the Peres Peace Center in Jaffa, including a speaker!

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 4: Wednesday, November 10, 2021: MODERN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we ascend to Jerusalem and stop atop Mt. Scopus to say “Shehecheyanu” as we look out over the City of Gold for the first time together.
• We visit the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, where we meet a member of the Knesset for political insight, followed by a guided tour.
• Following lunch on own, we explore the Mt. of Olives and pay our respects at the gravesite of Henrietta Szold, a great Zionist leader and founder of Hadassah.
• We complete our day at Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) at Mount Scopus, including greetings, a VIP update and tour of the new units.
• Later this afternoon, we check into our hotel.
• Evening and dinner on own (host to pre-book reservations).

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 5: Thursday, November 11, 2021: THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we visit Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) at Ein Kerem to experience dynamic education and inspiration! Our VIP encounter will include meetings with medical staff and leadership, a visit to the Keepers Pillar and a reception in Panama Hall. We'll also tour the Round Building, the Center of Covid-19 treatment, and hear about plans for future expansion/renovation.
• We enjoy lunch with guests at HMO.
While here, we also visit the Abbell Synagogue with Barbara “BG” Goldstein, featuring the famed Chagall windows.
• This afternoon, we meet with a municipality representative on the String Bridge at the entrance to Jerusalem (design of the bridge is similar to our keeper's pin).
• Evening and dinner on own (host will pre-book reservations).
• Optional: We walk to the Tower of David to watch the spectacular Sound and Light show.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 6: Friday, November 12, 2021: JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we meet at our hotel with artist and speaker Rachel Gera for a discussion on her amazing art and what motivates and inspires her!
• Next, we break into one of two tracks:
o Geopolitical Track: We drive along the surrounding areas of North and East Jerusalem and stop at Nebi Samuel for a spectacular overview of the Jerusalem seamline and to delve into the geopolitical complexities surrounding Israel's capital.
o Archaeological Track: We enjoy a tour of Ir David, the City of David, where the stories of the Biblical King David come to life through the palace excavations, underground passageways and monumental fortifications. For the fearless, descend with a flashlight into Hezekiah's Tunnel, a 2,700-year-old pitch-black water-filled tunnel, a marvel of engineering, that brought water into the ancient city.
• We have time for shopping and lunch on own.
• We continue to the famed Machane Yehuda marketplace, once more filled with colorful produce, spices, meats, cheeses and delicious treats.
• We return to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat.
• This evening, we welcome Shabbat at the Western Wall, followed by a private Shabbat dinner with guests from Young Judaea Year Course and Hadassah friends.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 7: Saturday, November 13: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning is at leisure to explore on our own or to attend services at one of the local synagogues.
• This afternoon, we enter the Old City and stop at the Western Wall with time for personal reflection.
• We continue with a walking tour of the Old City including the Jewish Quarter, Arab market (shuk), the Christian quarter and stroll along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
• We check out of our hotel and enjoy an early farewell dinner with a special guest speaker.
• We transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our overnight flights back to the United States, landing tomorrow morning.


OR JOIN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING EXTENSIONS!
The Magic of the Desert
November 14-17, 2021

• We stay for a dessert and wine tasting later this evening!

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 1: Sunday, November 14, 2021: DISCOVERING ESHKOL

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we drive to Netiv HaAsara, located next to the Gaza Strip, where an electric fence and concrete walls were built for protection from Palestinian incursion. We visit the Peace Wall and hear how some residents choose to deal with this challenging situation.
• We visit Eshkol's protected elementary school, an amazing fortified campus and educational center.
• Our next stop is at the “Salad Trail”, where we will 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 straight from the kibbutz's self-picking farm, and encounter “flying strawberries”, tiny orange orchards, racing pigeons and herbal gardens. We enjoy a delicious lunch with the fruits and vegetables grown on the farm!
• Our final stop is at the workshop of 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 continue to our resort in Mitzpe Ramon for check in and dinner together.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 2: Monday, November 15, 2021: EXPLORING THE NEGEV

• We set out on a sunrise jeep tour into the breathtaking Ramon Crater 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 how it was created and about its tremendous history.
• We return to our resort for breakfast.
• We continue to the 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.
• Next, we head North to Sde Boker, home and burial site of Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben Gurion. We will hear the story of Ben Gurion and his extraodinary vision of this beautiful place in the Negev.
• We return to our hotel to relax and enjoy the pool for the afternoon or go on a city shopping adventure
• This evening, we enjoy dinner together at our resort.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 3: Tuesday, November 16, 2021: COEXISTENCE IN THE DESERT

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning is free to enjoy the spa services at our resort!
• This afternoon, we travel to Segev Shalom and visit with inspiring Bedouin woman Amal Abualkom to hear her story and experience Bedouin hospitality. Amal is leading the movement for women's empowerment in the Negev region of Be'er Sheva.
• Next, we visit the Soda Stream Factory in the Negev, a company dedicated to employing Jews, Palestinians, and Bedouins.
• We continue to Tel Aviv and enjoy a light dinner on own in the Sarona Market.
• We transfer to the airport for our overnight flights back to the United States, landing tomorrow morning.

Art, Architecture, Food and Spirits
November 14-17, 2021

• We stay for a dessert and wine tasting later this evening!

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 1: Sunday, November 14, 2021: DISCOVERING THE COAST

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we depart Jerusalem and head towards the coast where we stop for a panoramic view in Haifa atop Mt. Carmel, overlooking the beautiful Bahai Temple. We also have time to walk through and explore the beautiful Persian gardens!
• Next, we explore Wadi Nisnas. A symbol of coexistence between Arab and Jewish residents, this small, yet colorful market has been a sensory celebration for decades. It's flooded with bakeries, delis, coffee shops, fresh seafood, falafel stands, restaurants, fruits and vegetables.
• We continue south to the European style village of Zichron Yaakov to visit the Carmel Winery, the largest winery in Israel producing more than 15 million bottles a year. They have wineries and vineyards all over the country from north to south. While here, we enjoy a tour and tasting.
• This afternoon, we visit Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region, to see the excavations of the crusaders' city, the aqueduct, and the ancient theater that has been restored.
• We continue to Tel Aviv for check-in and a chance to refresh.
• The remainder of the evening is free to stroll and enjoy the shopping in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood with time for dinner on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 2: Monday, November 15, 2021: EXPLORING THE WHITE CITY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we enjoy a stroll through Tel Aviv's White City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to see one of the largest concentrations of Bauhaus-style architecture in the world, followed by 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 split into tracks:
o Fashion Track: Tel Aviv is globally recognized as a dynamic and thriving fashion center brimming with passion and creative energy. Israeli designers are creating bold new statements in shared spaces and ‘apartments-turned- studios' off the beaten-path of Tel Aviv's bustling streets. Together we visit one of the leading designers in their studio.
o Contemporary Art Track: Take an in-depth look into Tel Aviv's contemporary art scene. We will visit important galleries, artists' studios, unique art spaces and meet with an artist!
• Free time for lunch on own.
• This afternoon, we explore the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, followed by a graffiti tour through southern Tel Aviv to view the images created by young Israelis, illegal immigrants and protesters.
• This evening, our guide leads us through the ancient port city of Old Jaffa. Filled with storied history, we wander through the cobblestone alleyways and admire the artist galleries all framed by views of the sea.
• We enjoy dinner together in Jaffa.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 3: Tuesday, November 16, 2021: WINE AND DESIGN IN TEL AVIV

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel. Your luggage will be stored.
• Today, we visit the Design Museum Holon, which opened in March 2010, and has quickly established itself as one of the world's leading museums of design. We will visit the main exhibits and learn from one of the directors of the museum about the new design innovations coming out of Israel today.
• Free time for lunch on own.
• This afternoon, we participate in a cocktail making workshop at the Milk and Honey Distillery!
• Next, we enjoy a visit to the amazing Agam Museum to view the abstract artworks described as a “visual symphony” of images based on Jewish-Kabbalistic iconography, followed by a farewell cocktail reception.
• We transfer to the airport for our overnight flights back to the United States.

Day 4: Wednesday, November 17, 2021: WELCOME BACK!

• We arrive back in the United States this morning.


THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!!
*itinerary subject to change