Temple Israel of Memphis | Shavuot 2009 (May 24th - June 4th) | Tours to Israel
Sunday. Depart the U.S.A. onboard Continental Airlines flight #2929 from MEM at 1:30P, arriving to Newark Airport at 5:35P, with connecting service onboard CO flight #90 at 10:50P, arriving to Tel Aviv at 4:15P the following day. Your international flight includes meals, drinks and in-flight entertainment for your journey. FLIGHT
Monday. Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport.
Welcome by our representative and assistance with arrival formalities.
Drive through Tel Aviv, known as the "city that never sleeps," and pass by centers of culture and recreation, from the Mann and Habima Theaters to sprawling beaches and Dizengoff Street.
Check into the hotel.
Welcome dinner and orientation.
Visit the Old City of Jaffa and stroll through the renovated artists' colony and the ancient port. (D) TEL AVIV
Tuesday. Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out of 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.
Walking tour through the trendy area where the colorful Carmel Market and Shenkin Street meet in downtown Tel Aviv, with lunch on your own.
The Tel Aviv Experience: View a film about Tel Aviv and ascend the Azrielli Tower for a bird's eye view of this amazing metropolis.
Visit the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian mall, with its restored buildings and sidewalk artists.
Dinner at leisure.
Evening: pre-Shavuot program at Beit Daniel. (B,D) 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 seam zone between Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Visit the innovative Zippori National Park, site of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi's codification of the Mishna and a renowned mosaic collection with a special mosaic-making program for children and youth.
Lunch at leisure.
Explore Safed, a center of Jewish mysticism for hundreds of years, and a contemporary artists' colony, including:
Guided visits to the Ari and Abuhav Synagogues with their great stories and mystical messages.
A stroll through the quaint Art Galleries and shop in the artists' colony.
A visit to the Safed Candle Factory.
LaDa'at Families in Safed - Using stories and synagogues, mystics and alleyways, take part in a family exploration of Safed, where yesterday becomes tomorrow and the treasure's never too far away.
Take a jeep tour through the Birya forest, ending up at the Bat Yaar Ranch for a barbeque dinner.
Drive to the Upper Galilee.
Check into your kibbutz guesthouse.
Dinner at the guesthouse. (B,D) GALILEE
Thursday. Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart the Upper Galilee and drive south to visit the Hula Nature Reserve and the Ophoria Interactive Experience, connecting birds, water and the Zionist endeavor.
Drive through Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Visit the Kinneret Cemetery and hear about the dreams of the early Zionist pioneers.
Visit the Beit Shean National Park, one of the largest archaeological sites in Israel with its Biblical Tel and ongoing excavations exposing the vast Roman-Byzantine City.
Lunch on your own.
Drive through the Jordan Rift Valley.
Stop at Mount Scopus to say the traditional "shehechiyanu" blessing, recited upon entering Jerusalem.
The Hills around Jerusalem - Drive around Jerusalem while viewing the city from many of its overlooks and promenades.
Check into the hotel and time to relax.
Holiday dinner at the hotel.
Leil Shimorim with one of the local congregations. (B,D) JERUSALEM
Friday. Breakfast at the hotel.
Shavuot services with Congregation Birkat Rachel at Kibbutz Gezer followed by a visit to Pinat Shorashim for an interactive Jewish Exploration Experience, using all of the senses and much more.
Light lunch at Pinat Shorashim.
Visit the Ayalon Institute, near Rehovot, for an eye opening tour of a clandestine munitions factory used during the British Mandate.
Return to Jerusalem and proceed to the Old City.
Walk along the Ramparts of the Old City and visit the Kotel.
Kabbalat Shabbat at the Southern Wall near Robinson's Arch.
Festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D) JERUSALEM
Saturday. Breakfast at the hotel.
B'nei mitzvah services on the HUC rooftop.
The rest of Shabbat at leisure 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)
Ben Kodesh Lechol Havdallah overlooking the Old City.
Free Evening in Jerusalem on Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall or on Emek Refaim street in the German Colony. (B) JERUSALEM
Sunday. Breakfast at the hotel.
Adults: '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.
Youth: Tour Yemin Moshe with the guide.
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 Art Museum
The Learning Center
The Valley of the Communities
A concluding Memorial Service
LaDa'at Yad Vashem for Kids - Special children/youth program at the Yad Vashem complex the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, including guided visits to the Holocaust Toy Exhibit, the Children's Memorial and the Sculpture Garden, using interactive programming, arts & crafts and children's stories and diaries from the time of the Holocaust.
LaDa'at Machaneh Yehuda - ?? ???? Explore the colorful and ethnically rich Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem while participating in an experiential family scavenger hunt..
Visit to the Mevasseret Absorption Center, who's afternoon program is sponsored by the Memphis Federation.
Dinner on your own at the Har El Mall in Mevasseret. (B) JERUSALEM
Monday. 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:
Walk along the Rooftops of the Old City for a behind the scenes look at the various communities in Jerusalem and how they live together.
The Cardo, a Byzantine street that is now the world's oldest shopping arcade.
The Hurva Square, the central square of the Jewish Quarter.
Guided visit through the 2,000-year old Herodian Mansions
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.
Visit the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Western Wall along the Temple Mount.
Guided visit through the City of David's new excavations, which have redefined the origins of Jerusalem and wade through the 2,600 year old Hezekiah's Water Tunnel in the Kidron Valley.
Dinner at leisure.(B) JERUSALEM
Tuesday. Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to the Dead Sea.
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 the cable car or walk up the snake path to Masada, Herod's mountain palace and site of the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman Legionnaires. Discuss Masada's role as a symbol of Jewish defence and its current significance in modern Israel.
Lunch at leisure.
Bathe in the relaxing and healthy sulphur springs at a Dead Sea Resort Hotel and float in the Dead Sea.
Return to Jerusalem, stopping first for a camel ride along the way in the Judean Desert.
Dinner at leisure. (B) JERUSALEM
Wednesday. Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to a project run by Table to Table and "harvest" gleanings from fields for the purpose of distributing to disadvantaged families throughout Israel.
Picnic lunch en route.
Return to Jerusalem and rest of the afternoon at leisure to relax, pack and shop.
Late check out from the hotel.
Farewell dinner at a restaurant.
Transfer to the airport.
Depart onboard CO flight #91 at 11:50P. (B,L,D) FLIGHT
Thursday. Arrive to Newark International Airport at 4:45A, with connecting service onboard CO flight #2943 at 9:00A, arriving to Memphis at 11:05A.
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