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Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El's
Celebration Tour to Israel
Featuring Rabbi Neil and Lori Cooper’s Favorite Places
in Eretz Yisrael!
March 22 - April 3, 2022

Tour Rates & Dates:

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*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.
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(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.
Please note: This Trip is open to TBH-BE Members Only. All participants must show proof of vaccination.

PAST PARTICIPANT PROMOTION!
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Tour Overview:

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Israel is a land of connections and reconnections, a place of memory and 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 celebrate the rabbinate of Rabbi Neil Cooper through visits to some of Rabbi and Lori’s favorite sites and memories in Israel as well as new and exciting encounters. As we share these experiences, we enhance our understanding of culture and archaeology, religion and politics, the ancient and the modern and Israel’s millennia-old legacy as heart of the Jewish People.

OUR AMAZING JOURNEY INCLUDES:
  • Engaging encounters - Meet thought leaders, artists, pioneers and visionaries throughout Israel.
  • Culinary delights - Including wine tasting in the desert and a lunch time tasting tour of Tel Aviv’s Levinsky Market
  • Opportunities to connect with the land – Hike Tel DanNature Reserve, enjoy a jeep ride in the Golan, and float in the Dead Sea.

  • 4 nights Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
  • 2 nights Beresheet Resort and Spa, Mitzpe Ramon
  • 3 nights Dan Eilat Hotel, Eilat
  • 2 nights plus late check-out David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv
  • All touring and sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an expert English-speaking guide
  • Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters (For more information on Ayelet’s tipping policies, click here)
  • Breakfast daily
  • Dead Sea lunch and swim at a Dead Sea resort
  • Lunch tasting tour through the Levinsky Market Tel Aviv
  • Seudat Shlisheet at the Inbal
  • 7 Dinners: Welcome dinner in Jerusalem, 2 dinners at Beresheet resort, Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem, Shabbat dinner in Tel Aviv, and Farewell dinner in Tel Aviv
  • Separation barrier experience with Col Miri Eisen
  • Ilana Kurshan program on Shabbat afternoon
  • Tower of David Sound & Light show
  • Stargazing program in the Negev
  • Sunrise Jeep tour at the Ramon crater
  • Nana Farm Winery tour and tasting
  • Neot Smadar artists colony program
  • Bedouin women empowerment encounter with Amal Abualkom
  • Rachel Korazim learning program
  • Graffiti Tour in Tel Aviv
  • Airport Transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group
  • Entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Porterage
  • Bottled water on the bus

NOT INCLUDED:
  • Roundtrip airfare, departure taxes and fuel surcharges (contact Ayelet Tours for flights)
  • Optional Petra tour including lunch - $350/person base rate includes visa fee. Note: Additional $60 border tax for Jordan payable in USD at the border
  • 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 travelers health insurance and vaccination are required to enter Israel.
  • Travel insurance (group policy available)

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Tuesday, March 22, 2022: DEPARTURE

• We depart on our overnight flight to Israel.

Day 2: Wednesday, March 23, 2022: WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

• Shalom and Bruchim Habaim—welcome to Israel! Our time in this incredible land has officially started 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 ascend to Jerusalem, stopping at the Haas Promenade to say Shehecheyanu as we together enjoy our first glimpse of the City of Gold.
• After checking in to our hotel, we have time to refresh before departing for a welcome dinner at Eucalyptus, one of Jerusalem's finest restaurants.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 3: Thursday, March 24, 2022: THE FLAVORS OF JERUSALEM

• Enjoy our first sumptuous Israeli Breakfast at our hotel.
• Discover the Old City of Jerusalem on a walking tour of the different quarters. We enter the Ottoman walls via the Jaffa Gate and ascend to the rooftops of the Old City where the beauty and complexity of Jerusalem become apparent from this incredible vantage point. We continue into the Jewish Quarter, filled with synagogues, shops and history, stopping at the Cardo Market and passing by the ancient Broad Wall. Our path takes through the bustling Arab shuk, through the bustling alleys of Via Dolorosa and into the shops of the Muslim Quarter.
• It is time for a stop at the Kotel, or Western Wall, built 2,000 years ago by King Herod to dignify and support the Second Temple. At this silent monument, a witness to triumph and tragedy, to hope and despair throughout the generations, we take time to reflect and pray, perhaps wedging a sacred note into a stone crevice and enveloping ourselves in the sense of holiness pervading the plaza.
• We step back in time 2,000 years to the glory of King Herod's Second Temple and its majestic supporting structures at the Southern Wall Excavations. We will stand on the Southern Steps, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims ascended to the Holy Temple every year, walk under the remains of the enormous Robinson's Arch and visit the egalitarian Wall beneath Robinson's Arch. Walk along the Herodian Market Street, where enormous fallen ashlars attest to the immense destruction wrought by the Romans in 70 CE.
• Time to refresh at our hotel. Free evening for dinner on own.
• Late night extra: We follow the delicious scent of challah baking in late-night preparation for Shabbat, through the ultra-Orthodox Geula neighborhood of Jerusalem for a glimpse into their unique way of life, intimately depicted in the television series Shtisel.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 4: Friday, March 25, 2022: STEPPING INTO THE PAST, EXPLORING THE PRESENT

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• 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. For those with a spirit for adventure, 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.
• Delve in-depth into the successes, challenges and complexities of Israel's relationship with the Palestinians as we tour the Separation Barrier with Col. (res.) Miri Eisen.
• Free time along the Mamila Mall, filled with shops and restaurants before we return to our hotel to refresh for the coming Shabbat.
• We enjoy a musical Kabbalat Shabbat at HaTachana, the rejuvenated Jerusalem Train Station, an urban meeting place where Israelis and visitors from around the world come together to mark the beginning of Shabbat.
• Tonight, we have a traditional Shabbat dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 5: Saturday, March 26, 2022: SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Join Rabbi & Lori Cooper this morning for Shabbat t'fillah (optional)
• Spend the afternoon at leisure, resting or exploring the Shabbat atmosphere in Jerusalem.
—OR—
• Travel (on own) to the Israel Museum, Israel's premier cultural institution, featuring ancient archaeology, modern Israeli art and everything in between. We suggest spending time in the Modern Israeli Art wing and afterward, discovering some of the many temporary exhibitions.
• Later this afternoon, we meet at our hotel with Talmud scholar and author Ilana Kurshan, and enjoy a delicious Seudah Shlesheet.
• Take in 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 6: Sunday, March 27, 2022: TO THE SOUTH

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• We travel to the Dead Sea basin and enjoy a short hike to the hidden waterfalls in the desert oasis of Ein Gedi, where the up-and-coming David hid from King Saul.
• Enjoy lunch at a local hotel. After lunch, select among the following optional activities: an unsinkable swim in the luxuriating, salty and mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, or visit Masada, or remain at the hotel for a little relaxation.
• Continue into the Negev to Mitzpe Ramon.
• Hotel check in and time to refresh before dinner at our hotel.
• This evening, we enjoy a guided stargazing experience, marveling at the desert night sky.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 7: Monday, March 28, 2022: THE DESERT EXPERIENCE

• 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.
• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Spend the day at leisure, enjoying the hotel spa facilities (treatments on own) and infinity pool.
• This afternoon, we visit Nana Farm winery to learn about desert winemaking, take a tour and sample some of their delicious wines.
• We continue with a nature walk into the beautiful desert surrounding the Machtesh to enjoy the evening air as day turns to dusk.
• We return for dinner at our hotel.

Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 8: Tuesday, March 29, 2022: INVITING LANDSCAPES

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• Visit at the Mitzpe Ramon Visitor's Center for an audio-visual exploration of its geology, flora and fauna and to learn about its connection to the Israeli hero and astronaut, Ilan Ramon.
• We set out on our journey south to Eilat, stopping at the unique Neot Smadar artists colony nestled in the lower Negev. Here, we will meet with an artist and have time to browse the fascinating wares.
• We travel to Timna Park, 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 in to our hotel before an evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Eilat

Day 9: Wednesday, March 30, 2022: EILAT, OR PETRA - WONDER OF THE WORLD

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Spend the day at leisure in Eilat, perhaps snorkeling at the famed Coral Reef, hiking into the stunning mountains overlooking the Red Sea or strolling along the lively seaside boardwalk, or…
—OPTIONAL TOUR TO PETRA, JORDAN— * Supplemental Fee Applies
• We cross the border into Jordan and begin our full day tour of Petra, the Red Rose City.
• Explore the Nabatean City (as seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade).
• Walk through the Siq and view the ancient temples.
• Discover the famous Treasury, Roman theater, and more at the Eighth Wonder of the World.
• Pass Wadi Rum, a protected desert wilderness with sandstone mountains and natural arches on our way back to the border.
(Note, border taxes are due in USD at the border crossing - currently $65 per person.)

Overnight in Eilat

Day 10: Thursday, March 31, 2022: RELAXING ON THE RED SEA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Spend the day at leisure in Eilat, visiting one of the many museums, relaxing on the beach or partaking in water sports on the Red Sea.
• This afternoon, visit Eilat's Underwater Observatory, a unique aquarium with oceanic exhibits unique to the Red Sea.
• We return to our hotel and have the evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Eilat

Day 11: Friday, April 1, 2022: VISIONS OF TOMORROW

• Early breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• We travel north through the Negev Desert 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.
• Travel to Segev Shalom and visit Amal Abu Alkom, an inspirational Bedouin woman. We will hear about her struggle to empower Bedouin women in a traditional, patriarchal society and learn how women are transforming the landscape of Be'er Sheva.
• Arriving in Be'er Sheva, Capital of the Negev, we visit the JNF sponsored River Park and learn about the role JNF is playing in improving quality of life for those in the region.
• We continue to Tel Aviv and check in to our hotel.
• After time to refresh, we join together for Kabbalat Shabbat either at the hotel or on the beach nearby, weather permitting.
• Tonight, we will have a special Shabbat dinner at our hotel honoring Rabbi Neil & Lori Cooper.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 12: Saturday, April 2, 2022: SHABBAT IN TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We spend this Shabbat at rest. You may join Rabbi and Lori for Shabbat t'fillah at a local congregation, and later, explore the city or stroll along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline.
• You may choose to visit (on own) the Tel Aviv Museum of Art focusing on Israeli Art. The museum, Israel's first art museum, has a stunning collection of Israeli and world modern art and works to stimulate cultural and artistic dialogue between the past and the present.
• Dinner on own and an evening at leisure.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 13: Sunday, April 3, 2022: MODERN FOUNDATIONS/DEPARTURE

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Study with noted scholar and educator Rachel Korazim, specializing in Holocaust and modern Israeli poetry and literature. Together, we will open a window into Israeli society as we engage with Israel and its history in new and meaningful ways.
• Stroll through the beautiful alleyways of Old Jaffa.
• Walk along Independence Trail through the Rothschild District to 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.)
• Walk the Levinsky Spice Market and enjoy a lunch-time tasting tour! This colorful market features a variety of vendors selling produce, spices, nuts and sweets, inspired by Israel's diverse ethnic communities.
• We enjoy a stroll through Tel Aviv's White City, a UNESCO Heritage Site, to see one of the largest concentrations of Bauhaus-style architecture in the world, followed by a graffiti tour in Neve Tzedek with our guide. This is one of Tel Aviv's oldest neighborhoods, where the colorful and edgy street art brings the fringe into the forefront.
• Check out of our hotel (late check out included today).
• We enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant before our transfer to the Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home.

Day 14: Monday, April 4, 2022: ARRIVAL HOME

• We arrive back in the United States this morning.

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!
(Itinerary subject to change)