Temple Emanuel Newton

• Departure from the U.S. to Israel.

• Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport, with assistance from a Makor Educational Journeys representative.
• Drive to Tel Aviv.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Shabbat and Chanukkah candle lighting.
• Kabbalat Shabbat at the Shechter Center in Neve Zedek, with Rabbi Roberto Arbiv.
• Festive Shabbat Dinner at the hotel.
• Optional Friday night walk along the Tel Aviv Promenade.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Shabbat Morning Tfilot options:
  • Shechter Center in Neve Zedek
  • Kehilat Sinai on Bogroshov St.
  • The Tel Aviv Chavura
• Shabbat lunch at the hotel.
• Shabbat afternoon options:
  • Teen Track – Bike Ride along the Promenade
  • Walking Tour through Neve Zedek
  • Graffiti Tour in Florentine
  • Free time in Tel Aviv
• Havdallah and Chanukkah Candle Lighting in Jaffa.
  • Family Track Free evening in Tel Aviv with dinner on own with recommendations be given for dinner options
  • Teen Track Night out with youth councilor, including a group dinner.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Begin the day with a visit to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation for a guided visit through the multi-sensory experience which traces the life, times and legacy of Israel’s ninth president, Shimon Peres.
• Continue to the Carmel Market  for a Food Tasting Lunch Expedition,  with separate Family Track & Teen Track
• Afternoon options:

Family Track & Teen Track

• • Drive to Beit Guvrin in the Judean Lowlands.
  • Take part in an active dig in Tel Maresha, excavating remains from the days of the Greeks 2,300 years ago and the Hasmonean Maccabees who came after them, followed by an opportunity for spelunking through the caves. (alternate large cave visit possible for those who prefer)

Family Track

• • Drive to Holon
  • Visit to the Holon Children’s Museum and Dialogue in the Dark, where guides lead the visitors through dark but designed spaces: nature, a noisy pedestrian crossing, a port, a market, and a pub, in ofreder to give participants a sense of the world of those who cannot see.
• Return to the hotel.
• Zot Chanukkah, Festive Chanukah dinner at the Maganda Restaurant, with Chanukkah candle lighting.
• Teen Track Night out with youth counselor.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Check out of the hotel.
• Visit Rabin Square, Tel Aviv’s central square and the site of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, for a conversation about the significance of the moment to Israel and the Jewish People with Rabbi Robinson.
• Visit the Palmach Museum, which follows the daily life of a pre-state Palmach fighting units’ experiences, in their attempt to help create the State of Israel in 1948.
• Lunch en route.
• Drive along the coast to Caesarea
• Family Track When Jerusalem was Strong Caesarea was Weak and When Caesarea was strong, Jerusalem was Weak, guided visit through the impressive archaeological remains in Caesarea, exploring the relationship between Jerusalem and Caesarea during the days of the Temple, with a Biblio-Drama program presented by the teens.
• Teen Track Guided visit through Caesarea, including Biblio Drama presentation. 
• Visit the Tulip Winery and Petting Zoo, located in Kfar Tikva, an inclusive kibbutz-like community and Home for Life for over 220 adults with cognitive, developmental and emotional disabilities.
• Drive to Kibbutz Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee.
• Check in to the guesthouse.
• Dinner at the guesthouse.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive into the Galilean Hills to Safed.
• Teens & Families in two different groups Guided visit through Safed using Jewish mysticism, poetry and photography as a guide (Youth and Adults in two different groups) including a Challa Workshop in the Beit Hakhel ancient stone oven bakery and a visit with a Kabalistic Artist.
• Lunch on your own in Safed or Katzrin.
• Drive through the Hula Valley to the Golan Heights.
• Family Track Drive to the edge of the Golan and board Jeeps for a ride along the border with Syria to explore some of the Geo Political realities on the Israel – Syrian border, with an up-to -date briefing.
• Teen Track Drive to the edge of the Golan and board Jeeps a challenging off-road experience on the Golan Plateau, with Orienteering Program.
• Return to the guesthouse.
• Dinner at the guesthouse.
• Boat Ride on the Kinneret, with Star Gazing from the Sea for those interested. Teen Friendly Experience

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Visit the Jordan River Village for a special Channukah program with the village residents.
• Zedek Project in Haifa in conjunction with the Boston-Haifa partnership
• Family Track Visit the Zippori National Park, with some of Israel’s most well preserved mosaics and the site where the Jewish lawbook the Mishha was codified – take part in a mosaic workshop or pottery repair workshop, as well as Text in Context, an interactive discussion relating the Mishna to the site and to contemporary Jewish life.
• Teen Track Guided visit through Zippori, focusing on connections between the Mishna and modern life,  followed by a mosaic or pottery repair workshop.
• Lunch on your own en route in Pundak Alonim, Ramat Yishai or Kiryat Tivon.
• Drive to Jerusalem.
• Stop at the Haas Promenade for an opportunity to recite the traditional Shehechianu blessing on seeing Jerusalem and an overview of the city.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Dinner on your own on the Mamilla Mall, the First Station or the Ben Yehudah Pedestrian Mall.
• Separate Family Track & Teen Track Guided visit through the Western Wall Tunnels, concluding with a short visit to the Kotel (Western Wall).

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea Basin.
• Ascend Masada via Cable Car or the Snake Path.
• Separate Family Track & Teen Track Guided visit through Masada, a fortress and later a stronghold of Jewish Zealots who fought the Romans 2000 years ago, for an exploration of its meaning in modern Israel, as well as some of the outstanding efforts in recent years to renew the Roman mosaics and frescos, with a historo-drama by the youth.
• Descend Masada and drive to Ein Bokek for an opportunity to float in the Dead Sea and use the spa facilities, with lunch.
• On the way back to Jerusalem, stop at Eretz Beresheet (Genesis Land),with the mountains of Jordan as the backdrop, and be invited into Abraham’s tent followed by a Camel Ride followed by a Biblical Desert Feast.
• Free evening in Jerusalem.
• Optional visit to the Machane Yehudah Market, for a guided walk through while viewing Jewish history and some of the worlds most famous personalities, through the graffiti art of Solomon Souza, or the Ben Yehudah Pedestrian Mall.
• Teen Track Optional night program.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Depart for Yad Vashem
  • Family Track Visit Yad Vashem, the national memorial to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust, including the Avenue of the Righteous, with parallel programming for adults and youth, as well as an opportunity for return visitors to visit the Archives, Art Museum, Room of Great Questions and Not Child’s Play.
  • Teen oriented visit through the Yad Vashem complex, or join in with parents.
  • Younger Children: Special program at the Israel Museum Youth Wing or the Biblical Zoo nearby.
• Lunch on own at the Yad Vashem cafeteria.
• Visit the Kraft Stadium in Jerusalem, which has added a whole new realm to Israeli sports through the introduction of American football to Jerusalem.
• Free time, with an opportunity to go to the Ben Yehudah Pedestrian Mall the Machane Yehudah Market, the Mamilla Mall or at the hotel.
• Shabbat Candle Lighting.
• Kabbalat Shabbat at one of Jerusalem’s pluralistic/egalitarian synagogues.
• Festive Shabbat Dinner at the hotel.
• Teen Track Optional Night Walk for teens, with youth councilor.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Shacharit at various synagogues.
• Teen Track Optional Group Tfilah
• Shabbat lunch. at the hotel.
• Guided walk into the Old City of Jerusalem, beginning on the Old City Ramparts and continuing through the alleyways of the Jewish Quarte for a behind the scenes glimpse at the people and stories of the Old City, from yesterday and today.
• Return to the hotel
• Havdallah overlooking the Old City.
• Celebrate New Years Eve with a free evening in the Machane Yehudah Market area, with optional guided graffiti tour through the market, with dinner on your own.
• Family Track Special New Year’s Eve Lechaim at the hotel @ Midnight.
• Teen Track New Years Eve Moment at the hotel.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Free morning for personal exploration and shopping with lunch on own
• Depart for the Judean Lowlands.
• Look back at 1948 and then look toward Israel’s 75^th birthday: Beginning with the armored corps memorial and museum at Latrun and memories of the battle for Jerusalem and continuing to one of the earliest innovation startups in Israel, the Ayalon Institute, a clandestine bullet factory from the War of Independence.
• Continue to Tel Aviv for free time in the Carmel Market or Rothschild Blvd.
• Festive farewell dinner at the Goshen restaurant.
• Depart for Ben Gurion Airport for return flight to the United States.

*Program is subject to change, pending confirmations.