It’s already less than one week to go before we leave for Israel!!!  I cannot believe how quickly May 27th got here.  For the last couple weeks, we [staff and participants alike] have devoted a lot of time to pre-trip orientations, packing lists, flight booking to/from NYC,  figuring out where to meet up at the airport, etc.  So with our final pre-trip event happening tonight at Next Dor, it is FINALLY time to look forward to what we will actually be doing while we are in Israel next week :).

Below is a brief itinerary with all of the different places we are going to get to see:

Monday, May 27
Depart JFK Int’l Airport at 7:00PM

Tuesday, May 28
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport at 12:25PM
Travel to Caesarea for introductions and ice breakers with Israeli participants

Wednesday, May 29
Nahal Amud – Canyon hike in the Galilee
Tzfat – Birthplace of Jewish mysticism

Thursday, May 30
Gadot Lookout – Observation point
Nahal Zavitan – Canyon hike in the Golan Heights
Mount Bental – Observation point and former Syrian bunkers
Jordan River Rafting
Depart for Jerusalem

Friday, May 31
Haas Promenade – Panoramic view of Jerusalem
City of David – Ancient tunnels and caves
Jewish Quarter – Old City walking tour
The Kotel – Reflections at the Western Wall
Mahane Yehuda – Colorful Jerusalem marketplace

Saturday, June 1
Walking Tour of Jerusalem Neighborhoods
Political Seminar with Neil Lazarus – The Situation Today in Israel

Sunday, June 2
Yad Vashem – Holocaust Memorial & Museum
Har Herzl – National Memorial
Depart for the Negev

Monday, June 3
Masada – Ancient mountaintop fortress
Descend Masada – Via the Snake Path
Nahal David – Desert waterfalls trek in Ein Gedi Reserve
Dead Sea – Floating at Ein Bokek Beach
Depart for Eilat

Tuesday, June 4
Mt. Zephachot – Negev Hike/Red Sea Overlook
Snorkeling in the Red Sea
Ramon Crater
Bedouin hospitality and bonfire

Wednesday, June 5
Nahal Chaverim – Canyon hike
Sde Boker – Desert outpost & grave of Ben Gurion
Shvil HaSalat & Bodedim Farm
Depart for Tel Aviv

Thursday, June 6
Rabin Square – Memorial to Yitzhak Rabin
Independence Hall – Declaration of the modern State of Israel
Shenkin Street – Market & street festival
Tel Aviv Beaches – Relax along Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean Coast
Jaffa – Ancient seaport & artist colony

Friday, June 7
Depart Ben Gurion Airport at 1:00AM
Arrive at JFK Int’l Airport at 5:40AM