Temple Beth Sholom of Santa Ana (ag)

Temple Beth Sholom of Santa Ana (ag) | Tours to Israel

Sunday. Depart the USA to Israel onboard Continental Airlines flight # 90 departing Los Angeles 12:35PM arriving Tel Aviv at 4:10PM the next day. Your flight includes meals, drinks and in-flight entertainment for your journey.

Monday. Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport. Welcome by our representative and assistance with arrival formalities. Tansfer to Tel Aviv. Drive through Tel Aviv, known as the "city that never sleeps" and pass by centers of culture and recreation such as the Habima Theater, sprawling beaches, Dizengoff Street and Rabin Square. Check into the hotel. Lighting of 1st Chanukah candle. Welcome dinner at the hotel. (D) TEL AVIV

Tuesday. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Independence Hall, site of David Ben Gurion's monumental proclamation of the State of Israel in May 1948. Visit the Ayalon Institute, near Rehovot, for an eye opening tour of a clandestine munitions factory used during the British Mandate. Lunch on your own. Walking tour through the colorful re-gentrified Neve Zedek one of Tel Aviv's cultural centers with many small boutiques and galleries as well as the Suzanne Delal Dance and Theater Center. Visit the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian mall, with its restored buildings and sidewalk artists, and continue onto Shenkin, one of Israel's most avante-garde streets. Visit the Old City of Jaffa and stroll through the renovated artists' colony and the ancient port. Lighting of 2nd Chanukah candle Dinner on your own. (B) TEL AVIV

Wednesday. Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Tel Aviv and drive along the Trans-Israel Highway for a close up view of the 'Security Barrier' along the seamzone between Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Guided visit to Zichron Ya'acov, one of the first communities established by the early Zionist pioneers, including a walk along the colorful Pedestrian Mall and a visit to the Aharonson House to delve into the world of a Jewish spy ring active during the First World War. Visit the Leo Baeck School in Haifa, the Israeli Reform Movement's flagship school, which provides innovative educational opportunities, community center services and is home to the reform congregation, Ohel Avraham. Lunch on your own. Visit the Af Al Pi Chen Ship, part of Israel's Naval Museum, for a window into the illegal immigration into British Mandatory Palestine. Time permitting, visit the innovative Zippori National Park, site of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi's codification of the Mishna and a renowned mosaic collection. Drive north to the Upper Galilee and check into the kibbutz guesthouse. Lighting of 3rd Chanukah candle Dinner at the kibbutz. (B,D) GALILEE

Thursday. Breakfast at the kibbutz guesthouse. Jeep tour climbing to the Golan Heights in the footsteps of IDF soldiers and their battles in the Six Day War, to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and gain an insight into the strategic complexity of the Golan. Visit the Katzrin Talmudic Village and tour the archaeological remains of a reconstructed synagogue and homes from a thriving community dating from the Talmudic era. Lunch on your own in Katzrin, the 'Capital of the Golan'. Explore Safed, a center of Jewish mysticism for hundreds of years, and a contemporary artists' colony, including: Guided visits to the Ari, Caro and Abuhav Synagogues with their great stories and mystical messages. A stroll through the quaint Art Galleries and shop in the artists' colony. Meet with an artist who's work is influenced by the Kabbalah; Lighting of 4th Chanukah candle Return to the kibbutz for dinner. (B,D) Galilee

Friday. Breakfast at the kibbutz guesthouse. Depart the kibbutz. Stop briefly the Kibbutz Naot Mordechai at the Naot/Teva Sandal factory store. Drive to Tiberias, located on the shores of the Kinneret, one of the four holy Jewish cities in Israel and where Rachel the Poetess is buried. Visit the Kinneret Cemetery and hear about the dreams of the early Zionist pioneers. Visit the archaeological excavations at Beit Shean, one of the largest Roman-Byzantine cities uncovered in Israel. Lunch on your own en route. Drive via the Trans-Israel Highway for a close up view of the 'Security Barrier' along the seam zone between Israel and the Palestinian Territories and continue to Kibbutz Gezer and meet with Rabbi Miri Gold and congregants of Birkat Shalom. Lighting of 5th Chanukah candle Kabbalat Shabbat services with Birkat Shalom followed by Shabbat dinner. Drive to Jerusalem and check into the hotel. (B,D) JERUSALEM

Saturday. Breakfast at the hotel. Optional Shabbat Services. Free Shabbat in Jerusalem with optional visits to: The Museum of the History of Jerusalem at David's Citadel, for a walk through the history of Jerusalem from the time of Abraham 4,000 years ago to the end of the British Mandate over Palestine. The Israel Museum, one of the most creative and innovative museums in the world with a wide and eclectic collection, ranging from Judaica and archaeology to Renaissance and contemporary Israeli art, concluding with a visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Shrine of the Book and the newly restored Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem. The Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, a beautifully landscaped habitat with a special focus on preserving Biblical fauna, geared to children of all ages (2-80) The Old City Ramparts for a walk along the ancient walls of the city. Ben Kodesh Lechol Havdallah overlooking the Old City. Lighting of 6th Chanukah candle Stroll through the Ben Yehuda and Nachalat Shiva Pedestrian Mall, joining the many Israelis out on the town. Dinner on your own.(B) JERUSALEM

Sunday. Breakfast at the hotel. Walking tour through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, for guided visits to some of the sites excavated over the past 30 years, including: The Cardo, a Byzantine street that is now the world's oldest shopping arcade. The Hurva Square, the central square of the Jewish Quarter. The Burnt House, a remnant of a Jewish community from 2,000 years ago. Guided visit to the Davidson Archaeological Park with a special visit to the Davidson Center, to view the new three-dimensional computer generated presentation of Life During the Time of the Temple, followed by a guided visit to the Southern Wall Excavations. The Kotel (Western Wall). Visit the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Western Wall along the Temple Mount. LaDa'at Exploring the Bible: City of David - Using biblical texts relive the stories of Abraham and Malkizedek, David and Batsheva, King Solomon and others, while exploring one of the most exciting biblical sites in Israel today. The Reform Jewish World A glimpse at the critical role the Reform Movement is playing in countries around the world with representatives of the Reform Movement at Merkaz Shimshon. Lighting of 7th Chanukah candle Dinner on your own.(B) JERUSALEM

Monday. Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Dead Sea Basin. Short hike to Nahal David the freshwater spring at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a lush oasis in the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. Ascend Masada by cable car to visit Masada, Herod's mountain palace and site of the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman Legionnaires. Explore the many archaeological remains from the Roman and Byzantine Eras. Lunch on your own. Bathe in the relaxing and healthy sulphur springs at the Mineral Beach and float in the Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem and dinner on your own. Lighting of 8th Chanukah candle. (B) JERUSALEM

Tuesday. Breakfast at the hotel. Guided visit through the newly renovated Yad Vashem complex, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including: The Avenue of the Righteous The new Historical Museum The Children's Memorial The Holocaust Toy Exhibit The Valley of the Communities A concluding Memorial Service Lunch on your own. Visit Mt. Herzl, including the new center dedicated to the life and achievements of the founder of Political Zionism, Theodore Herzl, followed by a visit to his grave and the graves of Yitzhak Rabin and other leaders of the nation. Free time or Hike in the Jerusalem Forest to the Sataf Spring. Dinner on your own.(B) JERISALEM

Wednesday. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Yad LaKashish Project, a multifaceted workshop for senior adults and people with special needs, or participate in the a hand's on tzaddakah project at the Yad Eliezer food packing volunteer center. Take part in an active dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves and prepare to get your hands dirty as you uncover pottery from the Hellenistic period, 2,300 years ago, followed by a crawl through the Maresha Cave Labyrinth. Lunch on your own en route. Return to Jerusalem and rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and evening at leisure (optional dinner to celebrate New Year's Eve). (B) JERUSALEM

Thursday. Breakfast at the hotel. Check out of the hotel, 4 rooms will be available with a Late Check-out, Free day at leisure to explore Jerusalem on your own, with optional visits to: Visit the Israel Museum, one of the most creative and innovative museums in the world with a wide and eclectic collection, ranging from Judaica and archaeology to Renaissance and contemporary Israeli art, concluding with a visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Shrine of the Book and the newly restored Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem. Guided visit through the new interactive Begin Museum, devoted to the life and achievements of Israel's former Prime Minister, Menahem Begin. Guided visit to the Museum of the History of Jerusalem at David's Citadel, for a walk through the history of Jerusalem from the time of Abraham 4,000 years ago to the end of the British Mandate over Palestine. Visit the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, a beautifully landscaped habitat with a special focus on preserving Biblical fauna, geared to children of all ages (2-80). Farewell dinner. Transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport. Depart onboard CO flight #91 at 11:40P. (B,D) FLIGHT

Friday. Arrive Newark Airport at 4:45AM. Connect to Contnental Airlines flight # 1002 departing at 6:50AM arriving Los Angeles at 9:38AM.