From July 13-24, 2011, I’ll be joining my friend Rabbi Menachem Creditor (of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley) on a trip to Israel — my first ever (and his umpteenth)! And we’d love you to join us! Our goal will be to have authentic encounters (the activity prescribed by the late “I-Thou” philosopher Martin Buber) with a wide range of Israelis, and I fully expect minds to be blown. (Is that why they make yarmulkes?)
Below is a (provisional) itinerary, to give you a sense of the trip’s scope. For more info, please email Vicki at vicki@israeltour.com.
Wednesday, 13 July – Israel Bound!
- Depart on overnight flight to Israel
Thursday, 14 July – When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1)
- Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport (today’s program depends on arrival time)
- Ascent to Jerusalem
- Gaze upon the Old City of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade, standing where Abraham stood at the dawn of Jewish history; take in the breathtaking view
- Hotel check-in and welcome dinner
- Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Friday, 15 July – Jerusalem of Old
- In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall’s massive foundation stones
- Tour the Southern Wall Excavations and learn about the ancient Temple at the Davidson Center
- Travel through many centuries as you tour the Jewish Quarter
- Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat
- Kabbalat Shabbat at a scenic overlook or a choice of local synagogues
- Shabbat dinner at the hotel
- Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Shabbat, 16 July – Shabbat in Jerusalem
Parashat Pinhas
- Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhoods synagogues (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided)
- Shabbat lunch at the hotel
- Shabbat rest, relaxation at the pool
- Havdalah with Rabbi Creditor
- Free evening in Jerusalem
- Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Sunday, 17 July – Those Who Made a Difference
- Visit the Memorial Museum, the Children’s Memorial, and the Avenue of the Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem
- Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery
- Stumble across many authentic archeological finds in a hands-on dig through archeological matter from under the Temple Mount
- Free evening in Jerusalem OR Evening program with a Jerusalem Masorti congregation
- Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Monday, 18 July – Into the Desert
- Visit the fascinating Jo Alon Center for Bedouin Culture near Lahav for an in-depth introduction to this desert culture and some Bedouin hospitality
- Visit Ben Gurion’s Hut in Sde Boker for personal insight into the life of this outstanding Zionist leader and Israel’s first prime minister
- Walk through the beautiful nature reserve at the Ein Avdat Oasis
- Dinner at the field school
- Overnight: Sde Boker Field School
Tuesday, 19 July – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
17 Tammuz
- Early departure for the Dead Sea Region
- Ascend by cable car to Masada. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times
- Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to the waterfall and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul “on site”
- Stop for a dip and mud baths at Mineral Beach on the amazing Dead Sea
- Travel north through the Jordan River Valley to the Galilee
- Hotel check-in and dinner
- Overnight: Kibbutz Ma’agan Guest House
Wednesday, 20 July – The Golan Heights
- Travel through the Golan Heights by jeep (Shvilim), off the beaten path, and gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did
- See how robots are used to milk cows at Kibbutz Avnei Eitan
- Return to the hotel to enjoy a Lake Kinneret swim
- Free evening on the Tiberias promenade
- Overnight: Kibbutz Ma’agan Guest House
Thursday, 21 July – The Northern Mediterranean Coast
- At Agam Hahula (Hula Lake) ride family golf carts around the lake and learn about the many species of birds that migrate through Israel each year
- Glide down the Jordan River in a kayak
- Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat
- Meet with a Tzefat kabbalistic artist in his gallery to explore Jewish mysticism through the prism of his creations
- Hotel check-in
- Dinner in the kibbutz dining room
- Overnight: Kibbutz Hanaton
Friday, 22 July – In the Footsteps of Sages
- Take a tour of Kibbutz Hanaton
- Explore the magnificently excavated ancient city of Tzippori, home to Rabbi Judah the Prince; discover ancient beauty and evidence of a community in which Jews and Romans coexisted peacefully
- Travel south for the ascent to Jerusalem
- Kabbalat Shabbat at Robinson’s Arch
- Shabbat dinner at hotel
- Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Shabbat, 23 July – A Heavenly Shabbat
Parashat Mattot
- Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhoods synagogues (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided)
- Shabbat lunch at the hotel
- Shabbat rest, relaxation at the pool
- Summary session and farewell dinner at the hotel
- Havdalah with Rabbi Creditor
- Depart for the airport
Sunday, 24 July – A Temporary Departure
- Arrive in USA
- Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Creditor!