Temple Menorah

• Departure from the United States.

• Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport, with assistance by a Makor Educational Journeys representative.
• Travel to Tel Aviv.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Festive Welcome Dinner at Maganda, followed by a program orientation led by Rabbi Lewis and your tour educator.

• Breakfast at the hotel, welcome to your first famous “Israeli breakfast buffet.”
• Jaffa, Bride of the Sea: The Visitor’s Center of Old Jaffa presents its visitors with 4,000 years of history in one the most ancient port cities in the world with a virtual performance that brings past heroes to life.
• From Hebrew City to Hebrew State: Walk along the Independence Trail and embark on a remarkable journey that begins with the founding of Tel Aviv in 1909 and ends with the establishment of Israel in 1948.
• Browse your way through Nachalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv’s arts and crafts market
• Lunch on own in or around Nachalat Binyamin
• Rabin Square, Tel Aviv’s central square and site of the assasination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and now a focal point for memory and tolerance.
• Return to the hotel and prepare for Shabbat.
• Kabbalat Shabbat services with Beit Tefilah Israeli. As the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea, join Israelis from diverse backgrounds welcoming Shabbat through prayer, song, and joy.
• Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Unprogrammed time for individual or group prayer, a beach walk, or morning bike ride along the Mediterranean
• Late morning: Urban Art: Join an expert on Tel Aviv’s alternative scene for an urban adventure and graffiti tour. Explore the latest street art and find out what it reveals about life, ideas, and ideology in Israel’s cultural capital.
• Enjoy lunch at the Sarona Market. Through the smells, flavors, and tastes of this renovated historical Templars town, explore the range of cuisine – from local street food to fine dining by world-renowned Israeli chefs.
• Proceed to Rehovot
• The Beginnings of Israeli Ingenuity: Visit the Ayalon Institute and uncover its role in the establishment of the State of Israel. This secret ammunition factory produced millions of bullets for Jewish forces fighting for a Jewish state and the end of British rule over Palestine*
• Return to Tel Aviv
• Return to the hotel and enjoy free time by the beach and at the hotel’s swimming pool.
• At nightfall, mark the end of your first Shabbat with Havdalah overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
• Enjoy Tel Aviv’s hot night life, with its boardwalk and cafés, bars, clubs, shows – and more.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Check out of the hotel.
• Travel along the Mediterranean coast on the Trans-Israel Highway with a geopolitical orientation to the Seamline Zone that separates the West Bank and Israel and the current state of affairs between Israel and the Palestinians.
• Battling for the Holy Land: Encounter the Christian Crusaders and their Muslim rivals at Akko (Acre). This UNESCO Heritage Site was a stronghold of Crusader power in the Holy Land but was also an important center of Muslim Ottoman rule. Today, it exemplifies the multi-culturalism of northern Israel.
• Lunch on own in Akko
• From the Sky to the Sea: At Rosh Hanikra, the steepest cable car ride in the world descends to beautiful sea grottos (sea caves) formed by countless waves hitting the soft chalk rock.
• Continue to Safed, one of Israel’s Four Holy Cities and home to the rebirth of Jewish mysticism in the 16^th Walk through the cobbled streets and alleyways to the Artists’ Colony with its galleries, shops, and studios. Visit the Ari synagogue to learn the stories of Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Holy Ari) and his fellow mystics.
• Enjoy a visit with artist Sheva Chaya in her Safed studio for an interactive window into the world of Kabbalah, glass blowing, and questions of identity and Judaism.
• Check into the hotel
• Dinner at the hotel

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Take a short nature walk along the Banias River and the Hanging Bridge over the Banias Canyon
• Continue by jeep to view the Great Juba, a crater in the basalt terrain, formed by a volcanic eruption followed by a collapse of the basalt cover following erosion of underlying chalk stratum
• Stop at the paleomagnetic site, to encounter the puzzling phenomenon of rocks that incorporate extraordinary magnetic fields. A glance at a compass there will reveal that north and south seem to have traded places.
• Ascend to Mount Bental, a dormant volcano from whose vantage point one has magnificent views of Mount Hermon, the Syrian side of the Golan Heights and the mountains of southern Lebanon. View remnants of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and gain a first-hand understanding of Israel’s geopolitical and security situation in the wake of the Syrian civil war.
• Lunch on own in Ein Zivan
• Adults: From Little Things, Great Things Grow:  The Golan Heights is wine country. Sample some of its best at the Pelter Winery. Nir and Tal Pelter used to run this winery out of the backyard of their family farm. The brothers have proven their expertise since then, but the winery remains a boutique family affair. We’re doing the driving, so you’re welcome to treat yourself to Pelter’s Israeli gin along with the grapes.
• Youth: Comfort You Can Eat: Enjoy the culinary delights of a chocolate workshop at the De Karina Chocolate Factory on Kibbutz Ein Zivan. Chocolatier Karina Chepelinski continues her family’s tradition of creating handmade premium chocolate. During this tour and workshop, taste various chocolates and learn what makes it so delicious. Then, experiment with quality ingredients to create your own chocolate masterpiece.
• Cool Off Down the Jordan River: With the hot weather, it’s time to take to the water with rafting or kayaking down the Jordan River. This is the parched Middle East rather than the Rockies, so the current is mainly calm and suitable for ages five and up. Nonetheless, water shoes are recommended.
• Return to the hotel
• Dinner at the hotel.
• Israeli Society Through Dance – Rokdim Israel: Participate in an invigorating and fun dance session with Dance Israel, a unique initiative that offers exciting educational encounters and multi-faceted experiences through Jewish and Israeli folk dance.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Check out of the hotel and proceed south
• The Druze of Israel – Visit a village on Mount Carmel for a glimpse into the lives of Israel’s Druze community. Meet with a member of this minority group to explore its background and beliefs. Then we’ll enjoy the tastes of the Druze kitchen with home hospitality.
• Drive along the coast and back in time to Caesarea, one of the Land of Israel’s most important cities during the Roman Period. Explore life 2,000 years ago with its amphitheaters, palaces, and bathhouses.
• Lunch on own in Caesarea and beach time.
• Ascend to Jerusalem
• A First Look at the Holy City: Over the centuries, many have been moved and awed by their first sight of Jerusalem. Stop at the Haas or Goldman Promenade for a stunning overview of the city and celebrate with a special ceremony and the traditional “Shehecheyanu” blessing of thanksgiving.
• Check into the hotel.
• A conversation with renowned educator Paul Liptz on “Jews, Judaism and the Jewish State.”
• High Times in the Holy City: Jerusalem at night provides a very different vision of the Holy City. Enjoy a free evening and explore one of Jerusalem’s destinations: the Mamilla Mall, the First Station, Ben Yehuda and Nachalat Shiva Pedestrian Malls.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• The Art of Tikkun Olam: Meet elderly immigrants who find a sense of purpose by creating beautiful artwork at Yad LaKashish (Lifeline for the Elderly). We’ll hear personal stories and see the aging artisans in action and talk with those running this inspirational organization.
• Take a walking tour through Jerusalem’s Old City and the Jewish Quarter and experience the center of Jewish life, history, and holiness. Among the highlights will be:
• A walk along the rooftops that will provide an extraordinary scene of multi-faith Jerusalem. From this one spot, view the domes of three great religious landmarks: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (marking where Jesus is believed to have been crucified); the Jewish Quarter’s Hurva synagogue; and the Dome of the Rock, one of Islam’s most sacred and beautiful sites.
• The Cardo, the main street of Roman-controlled Jerusalem and its spectacular Byzantine-era columns.
• King Hezekiah’s “Broad Wall”, a massive wall built to protect Jerusalem from invasion 2,700 years ago.
• Hurva Square, the center of modern-day life in the Jewish Quarter.
• Lunch on own in the Jewish Quarter.
• At the Heart of It All: At the bottom of the City of David, the core of ancient Jerusalem is the Gihon Spring, the source of Jerusalem’s water, which was integral to its survival and religious ceremonies during the time of the Temple.
• Wade through the 2,700-year-old water tunnels, an architectural wonder of King Hezekiah.
• Educating for Peace & Coexistence: Dialogue with Kids4Peace Founded in Jerusalem in 2002, Kids4Peace is a global movement of Jewish, Christian and Muslim youth, dedicated to ending conflict and inspiring hope in divided societies around the world.
• Dinner on own
• Lights! Action! Jerusalem! Watch the Night Spectacular at the Tower of David Museum. The walls of the Citadel serve as the stage for this cinematic celebration of sight and sound depicting the story of Jerusalem.

• 6:00 Early breakfast* at the hotel (*pending confirmation)
• 7:00 am, Together at the Wall: Celebrate Rosh Chodesh (the New Moon) with a prayer service at the Kotel (Western Wall). We’ll join Women of the Wall, leaders in the struggle for religious pluralism and egalitarianism in Israel to welcome the new month with a service of joy and togetherness.
• 7:30 am A special celebration in a special location: Celebrate with pride and togetherness a B’nai Mitzvah ceremony in a beautiful, historic Israeli location in the Old City. Mazal tov!
• Return to hotel to change clothes
• Return to the Old City and explore the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Kotel, and examine important archaeological discoveries that are revising our understanding of daily life in ancient Jerusalem.
• Walk through the alleyways of the Old City and continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, at the end of the Via Delarosa where Jesus is believed to have been crucified. This is one of Christianity’s great pilgrimage sites and a testament to the remarkable diversity of the Christian world.
• Lunch on own in the souq (open-air market)
• Diggin’ for Roots: Get in touch with the land and history of Israel. Take part in an archaeological dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves. Get your hands dirty uncovering pottery from the Hellenistic period, 2300  years  ago, and then crawl through the Maresha Cave Labyrinth (non-crawling options are available) in this  UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Return to Jerusalem.
• Dinner and evening on own

• Breakfast at hotel
• Depart hotel
• Visit Yad Vashem, the national memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, an essential emotional and educational experience. Your guided tour will include:
• The Avenue of the Righteous, where trees symbolic of the renewal of life have been planted along with plaques honoring brave non-Jews who saved Jews during the Shoah.
• The Historical Museum, a state-of-the-art interactive display reflecting decades of research and educational expertise. The story of the Holocaust, with an emphasis on individual victims, is told through survivor testimonies, original artifacts, and personal possessions saved from the ghettos and camps.
• The Children’s Memorial, commemorating the 1.5 million children lost during the Holocaust.
• A unique ceremony in the Valley of the Communities to pay tribute to those who were lost. It will include the opportunity to talk about family members and loved ones who died during the Shoah.
• Experience the sights, smells, and tastes of Jerusalem while walking through the Mahane Yehuda open- air market. (don’t forget to pick up a bottle of wine for your hosting family).
• Return to the hotel and prepare for Shabbat.
• Drive to the community of Mevasseret Zion and join Reform Congregation Kamatz for Kabbalat Shabbat followed by home hospitality dinner.

Return to Jerusalem.

• Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before setting out to explore the Dead Sea region.
• As Low as It Goes: We’ll drive to the Dead Sea Basin, 1412 feet below sea level and the lowest place on earth. The desert, the landscape, and the views are breathtaking.
• The Last Stand: take the cable car to the top of Masada with its extraordinary views and fascinating archaeological remains. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where Jewish rebels are believed to have made their final attempt to resist Roman invaders (c 74 CE). We’ll learn about Masada’s importance as a symbol of Jewish defense and discuss its influence on modern Israel.
• The Sea of Salt: Float into happiness at the Dead Sea. Not much can live or swim in what is the saltiest water in the world, nine times saltier than the ocean, but the weightless feeling of floating is great fun.
• Return to Jerusalem for some free time. Late check out of the hotel.
• At nightfall, mark the end of Shabbat with Havdalah overlooking the Old City.
• Farewell dinner at Naurah. Located in Abu Ghosh’s pastoral wadi, enjoy warm Middle Eastern hospitality and Israeli-Arab cuisine
• Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your return flight to the USA.

*Program is subject to change, pending confirmations.