Temple Israel Stockton Journey to Israel

• Depart to Israel.

• Late afternoon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport.
• Assistance with arrival by Makor representative.
• Stop at the Jaffa Overlook for a welcome ceremony and Shehecheyanu upon arriving in Israel.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Festive welcome dinner at a Tel Aviv restaurant.
• Free time to explore Tel Aviv.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Check out of the hotel.
• Visit ANU: The Museum of the Jewish People, for an immersive experience into the story(ies) of Jewish Peoplehood and our people’s connection to each other and to the Land and State of Israel.
• Depart Tel Aviv along the Coastal Road.
• Lunch on your own, en route.
• Travel northwards towards the Kinneret/the Sea of Galilee.
• Visit the Kinneret Cemetery -Enter the world of the early Zionist pioneers and learn about their hopes and dreams, their trials and tribulations and their ultimate success. Pause at the graves of legendary personalities such as Rachel the Poetess, Zionist philosopher Ber Borochov and songwriter Naomi Shemer.
• Conclude the day with a sunset Boat Ride on the Kinneret.
• Check in to Pastoral Hotel, Kfar Blum.
• Dinner at the hotel.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Depart for the Ramim Ridge for a glimpse into the rebuilding efforts following years of Hezbollah bombardments, with a view into Southern Lebanon. See the new geopolitical reality resulting from the October 7th war; drive through Kiryat Shemona and Metulla.
• Drive to Tzfat, one of Israel’s four “holy cities.”
• Lunch on own in Tzfat.
• Guided walk through the mystical city of Tzfat, including its unique synagogues and alleyways, followed by a visit to the Artist Colony, with free time to shop in the Tzfat Market with its Judaica and unique Jewish art.
• Meet a Kabbalistic Artist.
• Drive to the community of Yesod Hama’alah in the Hula Valley.
• Join well-known Galilean personality Gadi Elias in cooking and eating dinner at his home.
• Return to the hotel.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Guided walk through the Banias Nature Reserves, and tour Tel Dan.
• Visit the Helicopter Tragedy Memorial close to Kibbutz Dafna, honoring 73 Israeli soldiers and aircrew who perished when two IDF helicopters collided close to the Lebanese border in 1997. The accident is the deadliest aviation accident in IDF history.
• Visit the Druze village of Buq’ata for a glimpse into the world of the Golan Druze with lunch in the home of Naseeba Samara.
• Drive to the top of Mount Bental for a short defense briefing on realities along the Israel – Syria border, while looking across into the Syrian Golan.
• End the day with a Jordan River rafting adventure.
• Return to the hotel.
• Dinner at the hotel.

• Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
• Drive to Rosh Hanikra to ride the cable car to the naturally-hewn grottos on the Mediterranean Coast border with Lebanon.
• Drive to Haifa
• Wadi Nissnas tasting and folklore tour.
• Time-permitting, make brief stop to view the Bahai Gardens from the Louis Promenade above the gardens.
• Continue to Caesaria to walk through its expansive ruins and view life as it was for the Romans in the Land of Israel 2,000 years ago.
• Drive to Herzliya and visit the Eli Cohen Museum and hear the unique story of Eli Cohen, the civilian who became a top-tier spy.
• Continue the journey to Jerusalem.
• Stop at Haas Prominade or Mount of Olives (or Mount Scopus) for an overview of the city.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Dinner at Eser restaurant (formerly Anna Ticho).

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Meet with scholar Rachel Korazim: The Memory of the Holocaust in Israeli Society Today.
• 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
• Short Tour of Machane Yehuda Open Air Market, one of the most colorful and famous markets in the Middle East, with the opportunity to witness the special energy as Jerusalemites prepare for Shabbat, with free time and lunch on own.
• Proceed to the hotel for Shabbat preparation.
• Kabbalat Shabbat in Ein Kerem, followed by Shabbat dinner at Brasserie Restaurant in Ein Kerem

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive to and ascend Masada
• Continue the Dead Sea for a float in its salty waters, and for those who wish, enjoy its healing mud.
• Lunch and swim at the Dead Sea hotel, with (time-permitting), an opportunity to experience the spa
• Return to Jerusalem.
• Early Evening Walking Tour with Sarah Tuttle Singer from the Times of Israel, in the Old City.
• Havdallah in the Old City.
• Free time and dinner on own.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Take part in an Active Archeological Dig in the City of David.
• Walk through the Hezekiah’s Tunnel
• Guided visit to the City of David, including the recently discovered Herodian Street, which leads from the Siloam Pool, under the Old City Walls to Robinson’s Arch.
• Visit the Western Wall, which has become the focal point of Jewish prayer since the destruction of the Second Temple, 2000 years ago.
• Lunch on your own in the Old City.
• Guided walk through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.
• Continue to Kol Ha’Ot in the Hutzot Hayotzer Artists’ Colony for a Plastic Arts Workshop at with artists Rabbi Matt Berkowitz and David Moss.
• Return to the hotel.
• Culinary Experience in the Machane Yehuda Market, including tastings and dinner. (The market is a lively and active location in Jerusalem until around 12:00 am.

• Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
• Visit communities and sites that were attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023, such as the Nova Festival area, the Car Graveyard, a Kibbutz. Potential conversations with survivors.
• Lunch on own en route
• Visit S’derot and the site of the police station overrun by Hamas terrorists and which was destroyed in the pursuant battle with IDF and police forces.
• (time-permitting) Continue to the Salad Trail, an agricultural educational farm for a glimpse into Israeli technology for growing fruits and vegetables in arid climates.
• Continue to Tel Aviv.
• Check-in to the hotel.
• Dinner at a Tel Aviv restaurant.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Volunteer opportunity facilitated by Leket, K’far Chabad, or the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
• Walk-through the Carmel Market and Nachalat Binyamim
• Lunch on your own in the Market
• Visit the Ayalon Institute near Rehovot for an eye-opening tour of a clandestine Jewish munitions factory during the British Mandate, an early version of Israel’s start-up mentality.
• (Very) Late afternoon Graffiti Tour in the Florentine Neighbourhood.
• Dinner on own
  • Optional visit to NaLaga’at for dinner at the Blackout Dinner (additional charge)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive to Jaffa
• Shared Society program in Jaffa with Jews and Arabs involved in joint projects.
• Enjoy a Segway Ride in Jaffa to Tel Aviv and back, including the Jaffa Slope Park.
• Lunch on own in Jaffa.
• Visit the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, which promotes peacebuilding between Israel and its neighbors (particularly between Israelis and Palestinians) as well as between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel, and presents the journey from the early days of the State to the Startup Nation of today and beyond.
• Drive to K’far Ma’as, for a delicious dinner and swimming at the home of Ya’akov and Michelle Kuc, long time friends of the Gwasdoff’s.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Depart for the Judean Lowlands.
• Drive to Khirbet Qeiafa, also known as Elah Fortress, the site of an ancient fortress city overlooking the Valley of Elah.
• Stop at Tel Azekah, an archaeological site, mentioned several times in the Tanach, including in the battle of David and Goliath. Enjoy the stunning panoramas of the Jerusalem mountains, and the coastal plain.
• Continue for lunch and wine tasting at the Elah Winery.
• Return to Tel Aviv.
• Remainder of the afternoon free to pack, explore on own and get in last-minute shopping.
• Late check-out.
• Wrap up conversation and Slide Show Presentation.
• Festive Farewell Dinner at a restaurant.
• Depart for Ben Gurion International Airport for return flight home.

“Next Year in Jerusalem!”

All program elements are subject to change, pending confirmations.