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A Toast to Israel: Wine, Dine & Celebrate with the Hadassah Associates
October 30 – Nov 10, 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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Included with the Toast to Israel Associates Pre-Tour:

* Hotel stays
* All touring and sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide
* Breakfast daily
* Welcome dinner
* Machane Yehuda chef tour & dinner
* Dinner Dubrovnin
* Shabbat home hospitality
* Dinner Eucalyptus
* 1 kibbutz dinner
* Farewell dinner
* Lunch Abulafia
* Lunch Basher
* Carmel winery lunch
* Ein Kamunim Lunch
* Hostess throughout
* Wine at dinners
* Entrance fees as per itinerary
* Porterage
* Bottled water on the bus

Not included with your tour:

* Roundtrip airfare, departure taxes and fuel surcharges (please contact our airfare department at 800-237-1517 x340)
* Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters ($25 per person, per day; pre-collected)
* Meals not listed above
* Any items of a personal nature
* Travel insurance (Group Policy available)
* Any costs associated with testing or related to proof of COVID/vaccine status

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Sunday, October 30, 2022

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

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Day 2: Monday, October 31, 2022

• We arrive in Israel this morning and are greeted by an Ayelet Tours representative
• We meet in our hotel lobby, store our luggage and begin our tour at 10am.
• Our first stop is at Neot Kedumim, the biblical botanical garden, to learn about grape history from the vines to wine processing during biblical times. After planting a grape shrub to connect us physically to Israel, we sample delicious wine, goat cheeses and fresh vegetables.
• Our next stop is at the Ayalon Institute, where we discover the underground ammunition factory that played a pivotal role in Israel’s pre-statehood days. • We check into our hotel later this afternoon and refresh.
• Welcome dinner, local wines and orientation at a delicious Middle Eastern restaurant.

Overnight at the David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv

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Day 3: Tuesday, November 1, 2022

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day at the ANU: Museum of the Jewish People (formerly the Diaspora Museum) where we enjoy docent-led small group tours through the history of the Jewish People worldwide.
• Next, we set out on a graffiti tour through southern Tel Aviv to view the images created by young Israelis, illegal immigrants and protesters.
• We stop for lunch at Abulafia Bakery in Old Jaffa.
• After lunch, we enjoy a walking tour of Old Jaffa, strolling through the winding streets to view art galleries and take in the views of the sea while learning about this historically important port.
• This evening, a chef leads us through Levinsky Market for a sensual immersion, engaging with the vibrant colors, smells and flavors that are found in this bustling marketplace. We wander through the pyramids of spices, bright-colored exotic vegetables, nuts, olives, and delicious halva creations. Our chef will introduce us to the most characteristic ingredients of the local cuisine and to the Israeli food habits, while we prepare dinner together with our purchases. During dinner, our chef will discuss the art of wine pairing as we experience it.

Overnight at the David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv

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Day 4: Wednesday, November 2, 2022

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we travel north and visit Hadassah’s Meir Shfeya Youth Village, where we interact with the students and staff and visit the village, including its working farm and winery.
• We continue 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. Founded by Baron D. Rothschild in the 19th century, Carmel offers a wonderful tour of their facility.
• We enjoy lunch together.
• We travel north to the Galilee to check into our kibbutz, then take a tour of their herb garden to learn about the uses of the different herbs in Israeli cooking.
• We enjoy dinner together at our kibbutz this evening.

Overnight at Kibbutz Kfar Blum, Galilee

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Day 5: Thursday, November 3, 2022

• Breakfast at our kibbutz.
• This morning we stop at Naot Shoes for a short shopping experience
• We drive along the Israeli Lebanese border, with views into Lebanon, stopping at Kibbutz Malkia. Here, we will meet with an IDF unit on the border and kibbutz security personnel to learn about the steps they take to protect a small frontier community.
• Next, we explore the mystical city of Safed, center of Kabbalah study and practice. Here, we visit the Ha’ari and Caro Synagogues and stroll through the cobblestone streets of the artists quarter to view the galleries and meet local artists.
• This afternoon, we enjoy a delicious lunch, including local cheeses and wines at Ein Kamunim.
• Later this afternoon, we tour the Golan Heights, passing former Syrian bunkers and vineyards where they are picking grapes with a representative of the Golan Winery on the way to the top of Har Bental, where we take in the views reaching far into Syria.
• We visit the Golan Winery for a tour and tasting.
• This evening, we join together for a delicious dinner at Dubrovin Farms.

Overnight at Kibbutz Kfar Blum, Galilee

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Day 6: Friday November 4, 2022

• Breakfast and check out of our kibbutz.
• This morning, we visit Shadmot Dvora and learn about the honey industry in Israel.
• Our next stop is at the Mt Tabor Winery for a tour and wine tasting.
• We ascend to Jerusalem. Upon arrival, we stop atop Mt. Scopus to recite a special “Shehecheyanu” blessing overlooking the City of Gold.
• We check into our hotel and refresh.
• This afternoon, we enter the Old City for a tour of the Jewish quarter, including the Cardo.
• Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure exploring Jerusalem on own.
• As the sun sets, we join together for a special Home hospitality Shabbat dinner prepared by “Women Cooking” 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.

Overnight at the David Citadel, Jerusalem

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Day 7: Saturday, November 5, 2022

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Free morning in Jerusalem to attend Shabbat services or relax.
• We return to the Old City for a chance to tour in the Arab market (shuk).
• As evening sets in, we join together for Havdalah
• Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore Jerusalem and have dinner on own.
• Optional: We visit the Tower of David for the spectacular Sound and Light show tonight.

Overnight in the David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

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Day 8: Sunday, November 6, 2022

• Breakfast at our hotel joined by a speaker on the significance of wine in the Bible.
• Today, we visit the Tzuba Winery for a taste of their local varietals.
• We continue to the lively Machane Yehuda, where we take in the sights, smells and sounds of the market and enjoy a taste of kosher cheese and wine.
• Later this afternoon, we take part in a special VIP wine themed tour of the Israel Museum.
• Tonight, we enjoy a delicious “slow food” dinner at Eucalyptus with Chef Moshe Basson.

Overnight at the David Citadel, Jerusalem

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Day 9: Monday, November 7, 2022

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we visit Latrun’s silent monastery and learn about their wine making and the history of the winery.
• Our next stop is to see the new excavations at Tel Qeiyafa and learn about the connection to King David.
• This afternoon, we visit the Ella Valley Winery that reopened in 1998 and brought back the biblical heritage of wine making in the area.
• Later this afternoon, we stop at the family owned Sternbach Winery and learn the process of their wine making.
• We complete our day at Beit Jibrin, where we take part in an archaeological dig.
• Dinner on own this evening.

Overnight in the David Citadel, Jerusalem

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Day 10: Tuesday, November 8, 2022

• Breakfast at our hotel. • Today, we experience dynamic education and inspiration with a visit to Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) at Ein Kerem. While there, we enjoy VIP meetings with the medical staff and leadership. We visit the Round Building, the center of Covid-19 treatment and hear about plans for future expansion/renovation

• Next, we see Yad Vashem in a completely new light, as we view the moving exhibitions focusing on children’s drawings and art created during the Holocaust. We complete our visit with a memorial ceremony at the Valley of the Lost Communities. • At Mt. Herzl, we visit the new Remembrance Hall built to honor those who gave their lives fighting for Israel. We also take a walk through the military cemetery, where we pay our respects and hear important stories about the life and work of Israel’s past leaders, such as Theodor Herzl, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, as well as stories of lesser-known heroes who are buried here.
• We participate in a briefing by leaders at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• We complete our day with a jeep tour to our Jordanian dessert cheeses and wine reception overlooking a monastery, followed by dinner on own.

Overnight at the David Citadel, Jerusalem

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Day 11: Wednesday, November 9, 2022

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we visit Hebron to see the Cave of Machpelah and the Hadassah house.
• Next, we travel to Gush Etzion to learn about the history of the villages in 1948 and 1967 and visit the winery.
• We return to Jerusalem for time at leisure.
• This evening, we check out of our hotel and join together for a festive farewell dinner at the Barkan Winery
• We transfer to the airport for our overnight flights back to the United States, landing tomorrow.
• OR Join the SMD tour and Hadassah convention!