B'nai Vail Congregation
Led by Rabbi Joel Newman
October 19-31, 2022
Day 1 - Wednesday, October 19 - ARRIVAL IN ISRAEL – Arrive safely at Ben Gurion International Airport. Welcome by our representative, assistance with arrival formalities and after claiming luggage transfer to Tel Aviv. Check into the hotel, enjoy dinner on own and hopefully get a good night's sleep. Overnight: Dan Tel Aviv.
DAY 2 – Thursday, October 20 – DISCOVERING the DESERT – Following breakfast and check out depart the city and drive south to Be'er Sheva, an ancient city dating from Biblical times and the capital of Israel's Negev region. Stop at Tel Beer Sheba which offers archaeological remnants of the ancient city and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll meet with faculty of Ben Gurion University, one of Israel’s leading research universities and among the world leaders in many fields. Drive to Mitzpe Ramon and check into the hotel. After dinner enjoy stargazing in the desert, the perfect spot to take in the wide expanse of sky above us. Dinner & Overnight: Beresheet Hotel, Negev.
DAY 3 – Friday, October 21 – ANCIENT CULTURES AND ADVENTURE – After breakfast enjoy a jeep tour through the Ramon Crater, the biggest crater of its kind in the world, where we go back some 220 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. We'll learn about the formation of this phenomena, taste unique desert plants, trace wild animal tracks and listen to the roaring hum of silence. Explore the Mitzpe Ramon Visitors' Center dedicated to the memory of the Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon; the center offers an amazing view of the crater's beauty and treasures. As we drive view Avdat, the Nabatean ghost town and learn about the culture of this ancient trading people. Continue to Carmey Avdat, one of the new farms in the Negev, for wine tasting and to discuss the new pioneer ideology. Dinner & Overnight: Beresheet Hotel, Negev.
DAY 4 – Shabbat, October 22 – FROM THE GAZA STRIP UP TO TEL AVIV – After breakfast check out of the hotel and begin the drive to Tel Aviv. Stop on the way to visit Sde Boker where Ben Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister, dreamed of settling the Negev. Continue to the small town of Sderot that's been the Hamas' main target of rockets originating in the Gaza Strip; stop at the Black Arrow, looking out to where you can see Gaza and try to better understand the challenges faced by Israel on its southern border. Drive via Rehovot to Ayalon Institute, the underground ammunitions factory built by the Haganah and used to make bullets, without the British Mandate leaders' knowledge. Return to Tel Aviv and check into the hotel. Dinner on own. Overnight: Dan Tel Aviv.
DAY 5 – Sunday, October 23 – PAST TRIUMPHS AND FUTURE PROMISES – After breakfast drive through the city and pass by the National Bima Theater, the Opera House and the beautiful Rothschild Boulevard where you can see examples of the unique Bauhaus architecture and renowned Dizengoff Street. Then proceed to the Palmach Museum to hear the story of the young women who made up the fledgling country's pre-State militia and fought the War of Independence. Experience a tasting tour combined with a graffiti tour in one of Tel Aviv's famous neighborhoods; discover a combination of foods and hear the unique stories of the local proprietors, explore street art and discuss the differences between graffiti and other types of art as you learn about the real cultural DNA of the city and leave your own graffiti mark on the walls of Tel Aviv. Continue to Jaffa, the ancient port city out of which Tel Aviv has now grown and walk through the narrow passageways and ancient buildings in Jaffa's Old City. Stop at Rabin Square, where Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995 but which is also the hub of Tel Aviv's political and cultural scene. After dinner on own account those who wish can enjoy an evening of jazz at one of Tel Aviv's trendy clubs. Overnight: Dan Tel Aviv.
DAY 6 – Monday, October 24 – ADVENTURES ON THE WAY NORTH – After breakfast and check out depart Tel Aviv and drive north along the Mediterranean, stopping at Caesarea, the city built by King Herod the Great, the largest man-made port of his time and a main source to his wealth. Stop at a Druze village to learn about the culture of this important minority group and enjoy an authentic lunch with some explanations about Druze faith. Drive north to the Galilee and visit Safed, a picturesque city of spiritual people and artist, wrapped in mysticism and mystery, and steeped in sacred atmosphere. Participate in a fascinating activity at the Kabbala Center. Check into the Mitzpe Hayamim Spa Hotel overlooking the magnificent Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee, wrapped in tranquility and surrounded by forests and flowing gardens. Dinner with an Israeli family, fifth generation pioneers in the Galilee.
Overnight: Mitzpe Hayamim, Galilee.
DAY 7– Tuesday, October 25 – ISRAEL'S NORTHERN BORDER – Following breakfast drive up the Golan Heights and visit Oz 77, site of a major tank battle from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Look from Mt. Bental over the border into Syria and try to better understand the issues faced by Israel's on its northern borders. Visit one of Israel's finest boutique wineries and enjoy wine-tasting and then take a short hike at one of the northern nature reserves, such as the Banias or at Tel Dan Nature. Drive back to Mitzpe Hayamim and free time to enjoy the hotel's facilities.
Dinner & Overnight: Mitzpe Hayamim, Galilee.
DAY 8 – Wednesday, October 26 – JEWISH MYSTICISM and CRUSADERS – After breakfast and check out drive to the Western Galilee to visit the gleaming white cliffs of Rosh Hanikra, rising above the beautiful stretch of beach below, and descend via cable car to the "blue" grottos. Continue to Akko (Acre), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and unique city which is a meeting place for East and West, new and old, beauty and ruins, all adding to its uniqueness. Ascend to Jerusalem along the Mediterranean coast. Upon entering the city stop atop of the Mt. of Olives for magnificent city in front of us as we will recite the Shehechyanu blessing. Check into your hotel, freshen up and in the late afternoon take part in a cooking workshop, offering you the chance to learn about Israeli cuisine (including dinner). Afterwards perhaps stick around to enjoy Machane Yehuda's night-life scene - when night falls, something magical happens at the shuk - bars, pubs and restaurants appear on every corner and the entire place turns into one enormous party.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 9 – Thursday, October 27 - THE FOUNDATIONS OF JERUSALEM - Following breakfast visit the City of David, the core of ancient Jerusalem; view the Gihon Spring and then walk through the Second Temple-period tunnel which brings you up into past the Old City walls. Take the bus up the hill and reenter the city via Jaffa Gate, walking to the Jewish Quarter for lunch. Afterwards visit to the Davidson Center at the Jerusalem Archaeological Park where you'll view Robinson's Arch, the remains of the bridge between the Temple Mount and the "Upper City" where the high priests resided, the Davidson Center and the Southern Wall Steps. Stop at the Western Wall with a chance to leave a message in between the ancient stones and then walk through the famous Western Wall Tunnels. Walk out of the Old City via the Arab Bazaar and the Christian Quarter and return to the hotel. Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 10– Friday, October 28 – SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM - After breakfast explore the renovated Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, home of several exceptional archaeological finds: The Dead Sea Scrolls and other rare ancient manuscripts. Take a short drive out of town to the south to visit Herodian, the monumental grave King Herod built for himself and which was found only few years ago. Return to Jerusalem and the Old City and walk through the Hurva Square, the main square of the Jewish Quarter, where you can visit the beautifully restored Hurva Synagogue. End the day viewing preparations for Shabbat at the Western Wall and enjoy Jerusalem's special pre-Shabbat atmosphere. Enjoy Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 11 – Shabbat, October 29 – THE LOWEST PLACE ON EARTH – After breakfast drive to the Dead Sea Basin, passing by Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Continue to Ein Gedi, the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea; Ein Gedi served as one of the main places of refuge for David as he fled from Saul and where many of the Psalms were written (if we are fortunate we may see an Ibex or two!). Ascend to Masada, the site of the Zealots' last stand against the Romans Legionnaires. Masada was originally built as a magnificent palace for Herod the Great and you can view the bathhouse, storage rooms, the mosaics and the Byzantine Church. We'll then enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing by the Dead Sea and enjoying the spa and facilities of a Dead Sea resort. Drive to back to Jerusalem.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 12 – Sunday, October 30 – FROM HOLOCAUST to REBIRTH – After breakfast and check out visit Yad Vashem, Israel's main Holocaust Remembrance and Education Center; there will be "tracks" for both first-timers and returning visitors to allow all to draw meaning from their time in Yad Vashem which, in addition to remembering those victimized by the Holocaust, also testifies to the millions of lives reclaimed in Israel after World War II. Drive via Israel's Parliament - the Knesset and the Supreme Court and back to the Machne Yehuda open-air market – very different during the day than at night and enjoy some Israeli street food. We'll than take a political tour around various sites on the border lines of Jerusalem, including the security wall dividing Israel from the Palestinian Territories. Enjoy a delicious farewell dinner.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 13 – Monday, October 31 – BACK HOME – TBD transfer to the airport for a safe trip home with unforgettable memories!
