Less than 10 days to go until we leave for the Holy Land.  If you have been following the weather in Israel, you know that Jerusalem was blanketed with snow and that some roads are just now opening up after being closed for a couple of days.  Because of that, the itinerary may change a little bit, but if you check back while we are in Israel, you will get daily updates of where we go and how everyone is being impacted by the sights and sounds they see and hear!

Wednesday, December 25 – Departure

Depart LaGuardia Int’l airport at 11:30 AM

Thursday, December 26 – Arrival & The Negev

Landing at Ben Gurion Airport at 11:15 AM
Welcome & icebreakers with Israeli peers (“Mifgash”)
Beit Govrin – National Park
Depart for the Negev
Program introductions & ice breakers
Overnight: Margoa Hotel, Arad / Tel: 972-8-995-1222

Friday, December 27 – The Negev & Eilat
Ascend Masada – Via the Roman Ramp
Masada – Ancient mountaintop fortress
Descend Masada – Via the Snake Path
Dead Sea – Floating at Ein Bokek Beach
Start of Shabbat – Candle lighting ceremony
Festive Shabbat dinner
Oneg Shabbat – Celebrating Shabbat
Overnight: Ein Gedi Field School / Tel: 972-8-658-4288

Saturday, December 28 – The Negev & Eilat
Nahal David – Desert waterfalls trek in Ein Gedi Reserve
Havdallah Ceremony – Conclusion of Shabbat
Group Night Out in Eilat
Overnight: Americana Hotel, Eilat/Tel: 972-8-630-3777

Sunday, December 29 – Eilat & The Negev
Mount Tzfahot – Canyon Hike
Snorkeling in the Red Sea
Ramon Crater Lookout
Bedouin hospitality & overnight
Overnight: Chan Shayarot, Bedouin Tent, Negev Desert / Tel: 972-8-653-5777

Monday, December 30 – The Negev & Tel Aviv
Nachal Chavarim – Canyon hike
Camel trekking – Travel the Negev desert in style!
Sde Boker – Desert outpost & grave of Ben Gurion
Jaffa – Ancient seaport & artist colony
Overnight: Blue Bay Hotel, Netanya / Tel: 972-9-860-0123

Tuesday, December 31 – The North
Tzfat – Birthplace of Jewish mysticism
Cultural Activity – Kabbalah artist David Friedman
Hamat Gader –  Relax in natural hot springs
Overnight: Golan Guest House, Golan / Tel: 972-4-696-1234

Wednesday, January 1 – The North & Jerusalem
Nahal Zavitan – Canyon Hike in the Golan
Partner Community Activity with a Kibbutz in the Yoknea-Megiddo region
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem/ Tel: 972-2-658-8824

Thursday, January 2 – Jerusalem
Yad Vashem – Holocaust Memorial & Museum
Har Herzl – National Memorial
Political Seminar with Sheldon Shulman– The Situation Today in Israel
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem/ Tel: 972-2-658-8824

Friday, January 3 – Jerusalem
Haas Promenade – Panoramic view of Jerusalem
Jewish Quarter – Old city walking tour
The Kotel – Reflections at the Western Wall
Mahane Yehuda – Colorful Jerusalem marketplace
Start of Shabbat – Candle lighting ceremony
Festive Shabbat dinner
Oneg Shabbat – Comedy Show with Benji Lovitt
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem/ Tel: 972-2-658-8824

Saturday, January 4 – Jerusalem & Tel Aviv
Havdallah Ceremony – Conclusion of Shabbat
Depart for Tel Aviv
Group Night Out
Overnight: Blue Bay Hotel, Netanya / Tel: 972-9-860-0123

Sunday, January 5 – Tel Aviv
Rabin Square – Memorial to Yitzhak Rabin
Independence Hall – Declaration of the modern State of Israel
Shenkin Street
Neve Tzedek – Walking tour of the historic neighborhood
Overnight: Blue Bay Hotel, Netanya / Tel: 972-9-860-0123

Monday, January 6 – Departure & Arrival
Wrap up session
Depart Ben Gurion Airport at 12:45 PM
Arrive at LaGuardia Int’l Airport at 9:57 PM

Author: Sam March