<   Back

Congregation B’nai B’rith

Mar 18, 2023 - Mar 31, 2023

ISRAEL AT 75: AN EMERGING VISION
Culture, Food, Shared Society

March 21-31, 2023

Led by Rabbi Daniel Brenner

March 18-21: Israel "Classics" Tour Pre-trip Extension

Including visits to:
-Western Wall/Kotel
-Masada
-Jaffa
-Independence Hall
-Yad Vashem: The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
-Mount Herzl National Cemetery
-And more!


Classics: Day 1
Saturday, March 18, 2023
DEPARTURE
  • Classics:  Departure for Israel.
Overnight: In-flight
Classics: Day 2
Sunday, March 19, 2023
B’RUCHIM HABA’IM-WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

The first day’s itinerary is subject to change depending on the flight arrival.

 

  • Classics Arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, with assistance from a Makor Educational Journeys
  • Proceed to Tel Aviv
  • Check-in to the hotel
  • Introduction to Jaffa-Tel Aviv from the outlook from the Jaffa Slope Park with a view of Tel-Aviv’s shoreline, the Promenade and hotels located along the beach.
  • With a virtual performance that brings past heroes to life, the Visitors Center of Old Jaffa enables its visitors to experience 5,000 years of history in one the most ancient port cities in the world.
  • Opening dinner at a Jaffa restaurant.
Overnight: Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama
Classics: Day 3
Monday, March 20, 2023
CREATING A JEWISH STATE
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Drive to the Ayalon Institute in Rehovot, a clandestine munitions factory from the War of Independence, an example of the imagination and ingenuity needed to form the State of Israel
  • Return to Tel Aviv
  • Guided visit to Beit HaPalmach, the Palmach Museum, which follows the story of the pre-state elite fighting unit and their struggles and triumphs.
  • A guided walking tour begins at the Habima Theater and takes you along Rothschild Boulevard to discover the stories behind this old Tel Aviv neighborhood and its historical sites and buildings, art galleries, coffee houses, and the heart of Tel Aviv’s financial district.
  • Lunch on own “Tel Aviv -style” in an open-air café.
  • Conclude with a visit to Independence House, where the State of Israel was established in 1948 (pending re-opening*)

OR

  • *Visit the Independence House Visitors Center at the Shalom Tower, for a tour and discussion about the Declaration of Independence and its values and the dramatic events surrounding the establishment of the State.
  • Dinner and evening on own.
Overnight: Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama
Classics: Day 4; Emerging Vision: Day 1
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
LAYERED JERUSALEM
  • Breakfast and check-out of hotel
  • Proceed to Jerusalem
  • Stop at the Haas Promenade for an introduction to Jerusalem and an opportunity to say the traditional Shehecheyanu prayer, upon arriving in Jerusalem
  • Enter the Old City through the Jaffa Gate for a guided visit to explore the unique weave of various religious and ethnic groups in the one square kilometer of the Old City.
  • Lunch on own in the suq
  • Guided visit through the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center complex, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including:
    • The Avenue of the Righteous
    • The Holocaust History Museum
    • The Children’s Memorial
  • Walk through the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery, concluding with the Leaders of the Nation section with the graves of Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir and others.
  • Check-in to hotel
  • Dinner on own

“Emerging Vision” DEPARTS UNITED STATES FOR ISRAEL; Overnight In-Flight

Overnight: Classics - Jerusalem, Dan Panorama
Emerging Vision: Day 2
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Classics: THE DEAD SEA BASIN AND MASADA; Emerging Vision: ARRIVAL

Classics:

  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Travel to the Dead Sea Region
  • Ascend Masada via cable car for a guided visit through the site and an exploration of the symbolism and questions that arise from the Masada story and their implications for Jewish life today.
  • Ride the cable car down and continue to Ein Bokek for an opportunity to float in the Dead Sea and swim in the hotel pool, followed by lunch.
  • Hike up to and cool off in the refreshing pools and waterfalls in the Nahal David (David’s Stream) of the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a unique ecosystem of springs, waterfalls and pools surrounded by lush greenery in a desolate desert setting.
  • Return to Jerusalem
  • Dinner on own

Emerging Vision:

  • Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport, with assistance from a Makor Educational Journeys
  • Proceed to Jerusalem
  • Stop at the Haas Promenade for an introduction to Jerusalem and an opportunity to say the traditional Shehecheyanu prayer, upon arriving in Jerusalem (Daylight permitting)
  • Check-in hotel
  • Welcome dinner
Overnight: Jerusalem, Dan Panorama
Day 3
Thursday, March 23, 2023 Rosh Hodesh Nisan
JERUSALEM ENCAPSULATED

Both groups proceed together

  • Early breakfast at the hotel
  • (Optional) Rosh Hodesh services at the Western Wall with Women of the Wall
  • Jerusalem- The Venice of God: Walking tour through the Old City combining site explanations and the poetry of Yehuda Amichai for an individual and personal look into the heart of Jerusalem.
  • Lunch meeting with David Mendelson or Jeremy Leigh Issues in Israel Today
  • During a hilltop tour of Jerusalem, view some of the civilian neighborhoods that after the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 became part of the “security belt,” as well as the Jerusalem Envelope Seam Zone Barrier for a discussion of Jerusalem geopolitics.
  • The Boundaries and Borders, Bridges and Connections of Jerusalem: ride the light rail through the northern Jewish and Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem, with their Arab, Haredi, national religious and secular populations, getting off at specific stops to meet individuals who represent the mosaic of Jerusalem.
  • Dinner on own
Overnight: Jerusalem, Dan Panorama
Day 4
Friday, March 24, 2023
SHABBAT IS IN THE AIR
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • The Women of Ein Kerem: Walk through the quaint village suburb of Ein Kerem which boasts fascinating stories about a variety of women, Jews and non-Jews, who domiciled there through history. Stops may include Maria’s Spring:  the fountain that was named after the Virgin Mary who -during her visit to Ein Kerem- frequented the spring and drank from its water; Church of the Visitation:  The elderly childless Elisheva (Elizabeth) received the revelation from an angel that she was to receive a gift of a son from God who became known as John the Baptist.  Meet with modern-day women artisans, storytellers, culinary wizards and poetesses.
  • Lunch on own in Ein Kerem.
  • Feel the sense that Shabbat is in the air in the Machane Yehuda open-air market where one can see Jerusalem’s human tapestry as people of all nationalities, religions and ages crowd the market’s streets.
  • Afternoon at leisure
  • Kabbalat Shabbat (on own, at the Kotel/Azrat Yisrael/, with Nava Tehila or with a Reform Jerusalem synagogue)
  • Shabbat dinner: A Sabbath “Fusion Meal” – culinary traditions from the Jewish East and West in a private setting.
Overnight: Jerusalem, Dan Panorama
Day 5
Shabbat, March 25, 2023
A TASTE OF HEAVEN
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Morning at leisure in Jerusalem or (optional) walk on the Old City ramparts with Rabbi Daniel
  • Check-out of the hotel
  • Proceed north by way of the Jordan Rift Valley
  • Participate in an EcoPeace project in the Jordan Valley.
  • Lunch at the Auja Rooftop Restaurant that serves local, seasonal Palestinian food from the Jordan Valley and from Auja’s organic gardens. The dishes are made by women from the Auja village and reflect the landscape and traditions of this place but are one of the first restaurants in Palestine to use solar cookers. (pending confirmation)
  • Proceed to Moshava Kinneret
  • The date tree (tamar) has long been a symbol of prosperity, fertility, spirituality and even victory. At Tamar BaKfar, one can celebrate (and buy) Galilean produce and products. Enjoy samplings of local date products, olive oil, wines and natural cosmetics, and learn about the intricacies of date farming.
  • Check-in to the hotel
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Havdalah on the shores of the Kinneret.
  • Night-out in Tiberias
Overnight: Kibbutz Ha'on, Daria Kinneret Hotel
Day 6
Sunday, March 26, 2023
NORTHERN EXPOSURES
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Explore Safed: stroll through the narrow alleyways; peek into old synagogues and hear the stories of the 16th-century rabbis of Safed, who breathed new life into the Jewish people after the expulsion from Spain in 1492 and who are credited by many with igniting the first flames of passion for a return to the land of Israel. Participate in a special Lecha Dodi exploration.
    • Leisure time for shopping and self-exploration.
  • Participate in an authentic Druze cooking workshop /lunch that affords a hands-on, true to life cultural immersion that’s not just about good eating but rather about exploring foreign cultures through taste smell and experience.
  • Proceed to Kibbutz Amiad
  • Wine and fruit liqueur tasting at the Amiad Winery
  • Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Kibbutz Ha'on, Daria Kinneret Hotel
Day 7
Monday, March 27, 2023
SHARED SOCIETY
  • Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
  • Tour BioBee at the religious kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, to learn about its cutting-edge ecological business in biologically-based integrated pest management and natural pollination. Biobee endeavors to foster good relations and spread ecological awareness around the world, including to Jordanians and Palestinian Arabs.
  • Visit the Bat Shlomo Winery and meet with founder and serial entrepreneur Eli Wurtman, who combines his love of wine with a special project, Regavim, that helps youth at risk.
  • Proceed to Tel Aviv
  • Ethnic Art: Visit Kuchinate, a collective of African asylum-seeking women in vulnerable situations—who design and create crocheted products for the home, and enjoy a traditional Eritrean/Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
  • (time permitting) Guided tour in the Florentine neighborhood, Tel Aviv’s most bohemian and upbeat neighborhood and learn about contemporary Israeli culture through urban art: writing on the wall, graffiti, bumper stickers and even painted garbage bins.
  • Check-in to hotel
  • Dinner at a “chef” restaurant in Tel Aviv
Overnight: Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama
Day 8
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
THE NEGEV: DREAMS AND REALITY
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Depart hotel to Sde Boker.
  • At the Sde Boker Campus, visit the Cyndi and Max Mintzberg Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism Building and the Ben-Gurion Archives and meet with Adi Portughies, Head, Infrastructure Information Systems.
  • Continue to the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR), Sde Boker. Visit the Wine to Bottle Laboratory and the Experiential Vineyard with Aaron Fait, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research.
  • Visit the David and Paula Ben-Gurion Memorial Site
  • Continue to the Marcus Family Campus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva. Lunch with Sarab Abu-Rabia Queder, Vice-President for Diversity and Inclusion
  • Overview of the BGU innovation ecosystem.
  • Depart for Tel Aviv.  On the way, stop for a panoramic view of the city of Beer Sheva, the Hebron mountains and Mount Negev atop the Palmach Negev Brigade Memorial -which commemorates members of the Brigade who fell in the War of Independence- discuss of the place and future of the Negev in Israeli society.
  • Stop at an overlook point into Gaza and view the construction of the new and highly classified underground barrier, which utilizes Israeli innovation and the topography to create a protective strategy against Hamas tunneling.
  • Dinner on own in Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama
Day 9
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
IDENTITY THROUGH THE ARTS
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Tel Aviv as a Jewish City, Tel Aviv as an Israeli City, Tel Aviv as a City of the World, with scholar Rachel Korazim
  • State of the Art: With installation artist and art educator, Shirel Horowitz, tour the Israeli Art collection of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art for an opportunity to dive into artworks that open doors to questions of Israeli identity, spirituality, connection to the land to religion and more.
  • Lunch at a Tel Aviv restaurant
  • Ethnic Art: Visit Kuchinate, a collective of African asylum-seeking women in vulnerable situations—who design and create crocheted products for the home, to partake in a traditional Eritrean/Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
  • Guided tour in the Florentine neighborhood, Tel Aviv’s most bohemian and upbeat neighborhood and learn about contemporary Israeli culture thorough urban art: writing on the wall, graffiti, bumper stickers and even painted garbage bins.
  • Dinner and evening on own.
Overnight: Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama
Day 10
Thursday, March 30, 2023
THE BIG ORANGE
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Hesed project with a “food security” NGO, e.g. Leket.
  • From Shuq to Chic: Traditionally based in working-class neighborhoods, Tel Aviv’s markets marry regional produce with the traditions of the city’s many immigrant communities. Guided touring, tastings, and shopping in two very different Tel Aviv markets as examples of how Tel Aviv has developed. Lunch on own in the markets.
    • Levinsky Balkan Spice Market specializes in spices and delicatessen products andregional delights from Balkan ad Mediterranean countries.
    • Sarona was a flourishing 19th century Christian Templar agricultural settlement in the midst of the isolated plains north of Jaffa. Today, the up-scale, elegant Sarona Farmer’s Market is an indoor shopping and restaurant space that displays and sells the best of gourmet Israeli foods while preserving the character of the old  Sarona neighborhood.
  • Afternoon at leisure.
  • Proceed to Neot Kedumim
  • Interactive ecological tour at Ne’ot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve, a living museum of Israel’s “green archaeology” illustrating Jewish heritage tied to the Land and People Israel. Special emphasis on water issues and creative solutions, both ancient and modern, including an opportunity to draw water from a 2000-year-old cistern.
  • Farewell dinner at Ne’ot Kedumim
  • Drive to Ben Gurion International Airport for the departure flight.
Overnight: In-flight
Day 11
Friday, March 31, 2023
ARRIVAL TO UNITED STATES
4,290*
"An Emerging Vision" Tour, per person in Double Occupancy
1,160*
"An Emerging Vision" Tour, Single-occupancy supplement

*Price is based on a minimum of 30 paying participants. Prices do not include flights.

 

Hotels:
3 Nights: Jerusalem, Dan Panorama
2 Nights: Kibbutz Ha’on, Daria Kinneret
3 Nights: Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama

Land Price Includes: 

  • Assistance upon arrival for both groups at Ben Gurion Airport, and for departure from Ben Gurion Airport for one group
  • One Transfer from and one transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for each group
  • Licensed Israeli Government Tour Educator and trained by Makor – 9 days 
  • All group Transportation in Israel on a private luxury bus – 9 days
  • Hotel Accommodations per above, or similar, pending final confirmations
  • All Site Admissions and programs as per the itinerary
  • Meals:
    Breakfast daily
    5 Lunches
    5 Dinners
  • Source Materials, Hat, Bag, Map
  • Water on bus daily
  • Porterage at hotels
  • Credit card fees

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Tips for Guide, Hostess and Drivers
    • Recommended: $8 per day per person for the guide and $4 per person per day for the driver
  • Meals on own and out of pocket expenses
  • Travel and Medical Insurance

Potential costs stemming from Covid-19-related regulations at the time of travel (ex. PCR or serological tests).

PAYMENT AND REFUND SCHEDULE

Payment Schedule:

Upon Registration — $500 Deposit per participant

January 15, 2023 — 50% of Total Payment

February 15, 2023 — Full Payment

Refund Schedule:

Cancel before January 15, 2023 — Full Refund

Cancel between January 15, 2023 and February 15, 2023 — 50% Refund

Cancel after February 15, 2023 — No Refund

–>Cancellations due to the Covid-19 epidemic will be fully refundable, except for a $150 per person processing fee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Rabbi Daniel Brenner, [email protected]
Rabbi Misha Zinkow [email protected]; 833-GoMakor (Eastern Time Zone)

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE INFORMATION

We urge you to purchase cancellation insurance & supplemental medical coverage (which covers pre-existing conditions). This is a smart way to safeguard against life’s surprises.
We have made arrangements with SMS-Travel Insurance Center (Israel) of Omaha, Nebraska. SMS has over 25 years of experience as worldwide insurance brokers and can help you choose the policy that best meets your needs. Yonah Engel is our contact person.

Please note:

  • most insurance policies require purchase within 21 days of your first payment in order to receive maximum coverage (pre-existing conditions, bankruptcy insurance, etc).
  • even if you do not yet know the final trip cost (e.g. flights), write down the amount you do know – and then at a later date, the insurance premium can be amended.
  • trip dates are for the entire period away from home
  • trip costs are all pre-paid expenses (e.g. airfare + land costs)
Phone number: 1-402-404-5205
Mention promo code: IGT-MAKOR

There are no pre-arranged group flights planned for this journey; kindly make your own flight plans. We suggest one of the itineraries below that have arrival and departure times close to one another. Makor will meet everyone who arrives on one of these arrival flights at the Tel Aviv Airport to begin the journey together, on March 19 and March 22. If you choose another carrier that arrives within an hour before or after these flights, Makor will meet you as well. All others will be responsible for your own transportation to meet the group at the beginning of the trip. Makor will bring the group to the Tel Aviv Airport at the conclusion of the trip.

1,660**
Per person in Double Occupancy
525**
Single-occupancy Supplement

 

**Price is based on a minimum of 15 participants

Prices do not include flights

Hotels:
2 Nights: Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama
1 Night: Jerusalem, Dan Panorama

Land Price Includes: 

  • Assistance upon arrival for both groups at Ben Gurion Airport, and for departure from Ben Gurion Airport for one group
  • One Transfer from and one transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for each group
  • Licensed Israeli Government Tour Educator and trained by Makor – 3 days 
  • All group Transportation in Israel on a private luxury bus – 3 days
  • Hotel Accommodations per above, or similar, pending final confirmations
  • All Site Admissions and programs as per the itinerary
  • Meals:
    Breakfast daily
    1 Lunch
    1 Dinner
  • Source Materials, Hat, Bag, Map
  • Water on bus daily
  • Porterage at hotels
  • Credit card fees

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Tips for Guide, Hostess and Drivers
    • Recommended: $8 per day per person for the guide and $4 per person per day for the driver
  • Meals on own and out of pocket expenses
  • Travel and Medical Insurance

Potential costs stemming from Covid-19-related regulations at the time of travel (ex. PCR or serological tests).