Congregation Ner Tamid's Adventure in Israel
Led by Rabbi Sanford Akselrad & Cantor Jessica Hutchings
June 5 - 17, 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:

Download a PDF version:

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.

OUR AMAZING JOURNEY INCLUDES:
  • Celebrate our B’nai Mitzvah in the fortress of Masada, turning the Zealot’s fateful stand into a site of life and tradition.
  • Discover the charm, delight and complexity of Jerusalem’s Old City, including the Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter and a spectacular rooftop vista.
  • Descend below ground and back in time at the Dig for a Day - a real, live archaeological expedition! Discover the ancient past, transforming their trash into modern treasure.
  • Repair the world with tikkun olam and give back to the community at Pantry Packers, packing food supplies and serving the needy in Israel.
  • AND SO MUCH MORE!

    INCLUDED:
  • All touring and sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an expert English-speaking guide
  • Breakfast daily
  • 2 Lunches (Shabbat lunch, Dead Sea celebration lunch and swim at Hod hotel Dead Sea)
  • 5 Dinners (Welcome dinner, Shabbat dinner home hospitality, 2 dinners at Safed hotel, Farewell dinner)
  • Anat Hoffman (or another IRAC, WOW speaker)
  • Visit to Taglit Innovation Center
  • Archaeological dig at Beit Guvrin
  • Volunteering at Project Leket
  • Jeep tour through the Golan
  • Kayaking on the Jordan River
  • Hike at the Tel Dan Nature Reserve
  • Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David
  • Volunteering at Pantry Packers
  • Airport Transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group
  • Entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Porterage
  • Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day on the bus)


INCLUDED IN EILAT/PETRA EXTENSION:
  • Breakfast daily
  • Shabbat dinner in Eilat
  • Round trip internal flights from Tel Aviv to Eilat
  • Day tour to Petra, Jordan
  • Visa Fee for Jordan
  • Transfers in Eilat and Tel Aviv


NOT INCLUDED:
  • Roundtrip airfare, departure taxes and fuel surcharges (contact Ayelet Tours for flights)
  • Border taxes or visa fees (Jordan visa fee is included above – border tax for Jordan of approx. $65 payable in USD at the border)
  • Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters ($20 per person, per day; pre-collected) (For more information on Ayelet’s tipping policies, click here)
  • Any meals not listed above
  • Any items of a personal nature
  • Any costs associated with testing or related to proof of Covid/vaccine status - Currently proof of traveler health insurance and vaccination are required to enter Israel.
  • Travel insurance (recommend group policy is available - click here for policy info)

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Sunday, June 5, 2022: BEGIN OUR JOURNEY

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

Day 2: Monday, June 6, 2022: WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

• We arrive in Israel this evening and are met by an Ayelet Tours representative.
• We transfer to our hotel for check in and enjoy a welcome dinner together this evening.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 3: Tuesday, June 7, 2022: DIGGING ISRAEL

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we travel to Beit Guvrin, where we participate in a hands-on archaeological dig, allowing us the opportunity to unearth remnants from Israel's ancient past.
• We visit the settlement of Netiv HaAsara, located on the Gaza border, to see the Peace Wall and meet with local residents to better understand their experience living here.
• Next, we tour the Ayalon Institute, the underground manufacturer of bullets that saved the State of Israel during the War of Independence.
• Later this afternoon, we visit Nachalat Binyamin, where entertainers, artists, and craftspeople bring the streets of Tel Aviv to life.
• Evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 4: Wednesday, June 8, 2022: TRAVELING NORTH

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we start our day by taking part in tikkun olam at Project Leket, where we will collect leftover fruits and vegetables for those in need, fulfilling the mitzvah of gleaning the fields.
• Next, we drive north along the Mediterranean coast to 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 as a concert venue.
• We travel to Akko, where we explore the Crusader-era fortifications and British prison as we learn about this historically important port.
• We continue with a visit to Rosh Hanikra, where we view the amazing chalk cliff grottoes that have been carved out by the Mediterranean waters over time.
• We travel to Safed to check into our hotel and enjoy dinner together this evening.

Overnight in Safed

Day 5: Thursday, June 9, 2022: MYSTICISM AND THE GOLAN

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we tour the mystical city of Safed, where we view the beautiful ancient synagogues and stroll through the artist's quarter.
• Next, we take a short hike through Tel Dan Nature Reserve.
• We set out on an exciting jeep tour of the Golan Heights, passing by old Syrian bunkers along the way to the top of Har Bental, where we take in the views stretching far into Syria.
• This afternoon we enjoy a special kayaking trip down the Jordan River.
• We return to our hotel this evening for dinner together.

Overnight in Safed

Day 6: Friday, June 10, 2022: THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we drive south, stopping at Beit Shean and Beit Alpha to view the ancient ruins and intricate mosaics.
• We ascend to Jerusalem and stop at the Haas Promenade for a special “Shehecheyanu” blessing with challah and wine as we look out over the City of Gold.
• We check into our hotel and have time to refresh.
• This evening, we gather for Shabbat services at Kol Haneshama, followed by home hospitality Shabbat dinner with members of the congregation.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 7: Saturday, June 11, 2022: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Join us for optional Shabbat services this morning.
• We enjoy Shabbat lunch together at Beit Shmuel.
• This afternoon, we set out on a walking tour beginning at the Tower of David Museum and continuing through history in the Old City, exploring the Jewish quarter, followed by a stroll along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian quarter. We exit through the Jaffa Gate.
• Enjoy dinner on own as Jerusalem returns to life after the calm of Shabbat. We suggest a visit to the Mamilla Pedestrian mall with its varied assortment of cafes and restaurants.
• Later this evening, we walk together to the Tower of David, where we enjoy the spectacular Sound and Light show!

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 8: Sunday, June 12, 2022: HISTORY OF JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Possible meeting with a speaker from the Israel Religious Action Center (TBD).
• This morning, we visit the military cemetery of Mt. Herzl, where our guide shares personal reflections of Israel's military history and beloved leaders Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, who are all buried here.
• Next, we stop for an in-depth exploration of Yad Vashem's Holocaust memorial including a headset guided tour by a site guide through the museum.
• Enjoy the afternoon and evening to explore Jerusalem and have dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 9: Monday, June 13, 2022: B'NAI MITZVAH AT MASADA & THE DEAD SEA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we travel south to the Dead Sea basin.
• Upon arrival, we ascend Masada by cable car, where we view the remains of King Herod's palace and hear the story of the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman forces.
• We descend the mountain and stop at the Dead Sea at the Hod Hotel, where we have lunch, enjoy the mud baths and an unsinkable swim in the healing, salty waters.
• We pass the Qumran caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, as we return to Jerusalem later this evening.
• Dinner on own tonight.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 10: Tuesday, June 14, 2022: ANCIENT AND MODERN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we tour the Western Wall Tunnels, where we discover the archaeological wonders that once remained untouched for centuries.
• Next, we drive by Israel's parliament, the Knesset, where we have a photo opportunity by the outdoor bronze menorah sculpture.
• We continue to the nearby Supreme Court, where we see the ancient mosaics, recovered from the synagogue at Hamat Gadar.
• This afternoon, we visit Hadassah Hospital to view the amazing Chagall windows.
• Next, we tour the renovated Israel Museum. The galleries range from pop and modern art, back through the Renaissance and Classical periods, with a strong emphasis on Jewish and Israeli archeological history with evidence going back thousands of years. We walk through the iconic Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and see the impressive miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period.
• Enjoy the evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 11: Wednesday, June 15, 2022: THE ORIGINS OF A MODERN NATION

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We return to Tel Aviv to discover the origins of a modern nation.
• This morning, we tour the Israeli Innovation Center at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, founded by the late President Shimon Peres. The center is a non-political, non-governmental organization focused on building a more prosperous Israel and a more peaceful Middle East, through innovation, technology and cutting-edge coexistence programs.
• Tour ANU: Museum of the Jewish People (formerly the Diaspora Museum), recently renovated and featuring engaging interactive audio-visual exhibits that bring life and color to the vibrant history of the Jewish people outside the land of Israel following the destruction of the Second Temple.
• We continue to Beit Daniel, the Progressive congregation in Tel Aviv, for a discussion about Reform Judaism in Israel.
• We return to Jerusalem for an evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 12: Thursday, June 16, 2022: FAREWELL

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we engage in an unforgettable hands-on experience of packing food staples included in monthly food baskets delivered to Israel's neediest families at Pantry Packers.
• We enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore this beautiful city and do last-minute shopping.
• Tonight, we check out of our hotel and enjoy a special farewell dinner, recalling all that we have experienced together on this journey.
• We transfer to the airport for our overnight flight back to the United States, arriving tomorrow morning.

Overnight in Jerusalem for those continuing to Jordan

OR
CONTINUE ON AN EXTENSION TO
PETRA & AQABA, JORDAN

Day 13: Friday, June 17, 2022: TO PETRA

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we transfer to the Allenby border to cross over to Jordan.
• Upon arrival, we drive south to the Movenpick Petra to our hotel to check in.
• Enjoy an evening among the red canyons, including dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight in Petra

Day 14: Saturday, June 18, 2022: PETRA - THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we begin our full day tour of Petra, the Red Rose City. Along the way, we explore the Nabatean City (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.
• Later this afternoon, we travel to Aqaba and enjoy dinner together overlooking the Red Sea.

Overnight in Aqaba

Day 15: Sunday, June 19, 2022: AQABA/DEPART

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Enjoy the day at leisure in Aqaba. Optional on own activity suggestions include visiting the Underwater Aquarium, enjoying a barbecue lunch and snorkeling cruise on the Red Sea or just relaxing poolside or seaside. (at own cost).
• We check out of our hotel at 11:30 and transfer through the Arava border to the Ramon airport for our evening flight to Tel Aviv to connect with our overnight flight back to the United States.

Day 16: Monday, June 20, 2022: ARRIVE HOME

• We arrive back in the United States this morning.



THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!!
*Itinerary subject to change