CONGREGATION B'NAI ISRAEL'S
ISRAEL TOUR 2012
JULY 15-27
Lead by Rabbi Jordan Goldson
Sunday, July 15 Depart from New Orleans and fly to Israel non-stop via a major U.S. hub.
Monday, July 16 Behold the Land of Israel from your aircraft window as you approach from the Mediterranean Sea arriving at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. After passing through Passport Control, meet your tour guide and hosts who will assist you with your luggage. You will then transfer by private air-conditioned bus to the Renaissance Hotel located on the beach in Tel Aviv. After we unpack, we will join for a Welcome to Israel dinner.
Tuesday, July 17 Enjoy your morning on the Tel Aviv beaches just outside our hotel. In the late morning, we will head to Independence Hall for a dramatic re-enactment of David Ben Gurion declaring the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948. We will have lunch on our own at the Nahalat Binyamin Street Crafts Market. Then we will drive to the Palmach Museum, dedicated to this elite force of the Haganah. Later, we will ascend to Jerusalem entering as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have over the past 25 centuries to visit the shrines holy to religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. We will stop at the Haas Promenade to celebrate our arrival to the city that King David established as the capital of the People of Israel 3000 years ago. Check into the Dan Panorama Hotel. The evening and dinner will be on our own.
Wednesday, July 18 We will begin our day with a visit to the archeological dig and museum at the City of David, the original city of Jerusalem. We will splash our way through Hezekiah's Tunnel, an ancient tunnel used 2,700 years ago to provide Jerusalem's water supply. Afterwards, we will explore the mysteries of Mt. Zion and enter the Old City for lunch and some shopping on the Cardo. We will stroll through the restored Jewish Quarter and admire the renovations of one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. We will have time for a visit and some private prayer at the Kotel (Western Wall). The evening and dinner will be on our own.
Thursday, July 19 Following an early breakfast at the hotel, we will make our way to the southwest corner of the Temple Mount (Robinson's Arch) for a morning service at which we will celebrate the B'nai Mitzvah of Ian and Sierra Sager. We will then travel back in time 2,000 years to the days of the Second Temple as we explore the archeological finds at the Davidson Visitor's Center and walk through the Kotel Tunnels. After lunch and some shopping time, we will walk through the Christian Quarter and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to learn about the Christian presence and traditions in Jerusalem. Later, we will head to the suburb of Maaleh Adumim to visit with Ethiopian Jewish Immigrants to hear remarkable stories of their long journey from Africa to Israel. Evening and dinner will be on our own.
Friday, July 20 Visit Yad Vashem, memorial to the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. Afterwards, we will experience the vibrancy of Jewish life in Israel as the city of Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat. We will have lunch and shop in the famous open-air Machane Yehuda market. In the early afternoon, we will return to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Shabbat Services will be held just after sundown at Kehilat Kol HaNeshama. After services, we will return to the hotel for a festive Shabbat dinner.
Saturday, July 21 Enjoy the special atmosphere of Shabbat in Jerusalem by participating in Shabbat services at the reform movement's rabbinical seminary, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. Or take the opportunity to rest or explore the city on your own. Shabbat Lunch will be at the hotel followed by time for some rest and swimming. In the late afternoon, take a stroll with Rabbi Jordan through the nearby neighborhood of Yemin Moshe, to enjoy the spectacular architecture, gardens and views. We will join together for Havdalah as we conclude Shabbat, and then go to Ben Yehuda Street for dinner and evening entertainment.
Sunday, July 22 We will begin our morning with a briefing on current issues facing Israeli society by a representative of the Israel Religious Action Center. Then, we will visit Yad L'Kashish, the Lifeline for the Elderly to visit their unique workshops and gift shop. In the afternoon, we will head to the Judean Hills for an archeological adventure at Tel Beit Guvrin where you will have the experience of digging up the past in a "Hasmonean cave”. Then we will head south to Kfar HaNokdim Bedouin Ranch for a camel trek, Bedouin hospitality and dinner. After dinner, we will drive to the city of Arad for a few hours of sleep at the Inbar hotel before our sunrise ascent to Masada.
Monday, July 23 "Rise and shine” for a pre-sunrise climb up the short Roman Ramp of the fortress of Masada, famous in history for being the last stand of the Jewish zealots against the Roman Legions. Witness the magnificent view of the surrounding desolate terrain and see excavations performed by Dr. Yigal Yadin including the synagogue, Herod's palace, water cisterns and bath houses. Descend by cable car or the Snake Path to a simple breakfast at the Masada Guest House. Then, cool off at the natural pools and waterfalls of Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. We will have lunch and a Dead Sea "float” at the Ein Gedi Pool and Beach. Later, we will head north through the Jordan River Valley to Nof Ginnosar, our Kibbutz guest house on the shore of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). Dinner will be on the Kibbutz.
Tuesday, July 24 We begin our day with a nature hike at the headwaters of the Jordan River in the beautiful Tel Dan Nature Reserve. See the biblical City of Dan and learn about the complex security and water issues on the Golan Heights. After lunch on our own, we will head to the De Karina hand-made chocolate factory at nearby Kibbutz Ein Zivan for a chocolate making workshop and tasting. With renewed energy, we will visit Israel's border with Syria at the bunkers of Mt. Bental. We will visit and stand in solidarity with the IDF soldiers guarding Israel's northern border. In the evening, we will visit Har Halutz, a community settlement in the Galilee associated with Reform Judaism. Enjoy home hospitality and an evening program with the residents.
Wednesday, July 25 Let's go on a rafting adventure down the Jordan River. We will then visit a special Yeshivah in Kiryat Shemonah where young men combine military service and Torah study. We will continue on to Capernaum which was a Jewish village in the Second Temple Period and served as the base of Jesus' ministry 2000 years ago. In the evening, we will head to the seaside town of Tiberias for a cruise on the Kineret (Sea of Galilee) and a sumptuous feast on the board walk.
Thursday, July 26 Ascend to the town of Sefat, one of the highest cities in the country which once served as the center of Jewish mysticism. Visit the famous Joseph Karo Synagogue and then stroll through the artist's quarter. Take time to shop and have lunch on your own. We will continue to the ancient Galilean capital of Tzipori with its magnificent synagogue and mosaics and examine the complicated relationship between Jewish and pagan civilizations. Later, we will take a tour of the Carmel Winery and do some wine tasting prior to returning to Tel Aviv for our farewell dinner. Our return flight will leave late in the evening, arriving back in Baton Rouge on Friday, July 27th.
Final pricing will be available this Fall once the airlines post their prices.
If you are interested, contact Rabbi Jordan for more information
