CONGREGATION BETH YESHURUN - JUNE 17 - 29, 2023 - LED BY: RABBI BRIAN & LISA STRAUSS
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ISRAEL JUNE 17 – 29, 2023 CONGREGATION BETH YESHURUN LED BY: RABBI BRIAN & LISA STRAUSS CANTOR RACHEL GOLDMAN & CHRIS RUIZ
Day 1 ~ Saturday, June 17, 2023 USA/Enroute Depart the United States flying overnight to Israel. Day 2 ~ Sunday, June 18, 2023 Tel Aviv Welcome to Israel! Arrive Ben Gurion Airport. Individual transfers to Tel Aviv, Israel’s most cosmopolitan city located on the Mediterranean Sea. Gather together for a welcome dinner this evening. Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv (D) Day 3 ~ Monday, June 19, 2023 Tel Aviv/Jaffa Begin the Israel experience with a special visit to The Anu Musuem of the Jewish People. For over four decades, The Museum of the Jewish People has been playing an integral role in strengthening Jewish identity and perpetuating Jewish heritage worldwide. Experience their cutting-edge exhibits and the Jewish cultural center, whose relevance and reputation for excellence will be unrivaled. Next, explore Old Jaffa, walk on the Tel Aviv Promenade, and visit one of the city’s beaches. Enjoy a group lunch together at a local Mediterranean Grill. This afternoon, enjoy a graffiti tour in Tel Aviv, examining the local street art and learning to decipher the “writing on the walls”. Dinner together this evening. Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv (B,L,D) Day 4 ~ Tuesday, June 20, 2023 Tel Aviv/Galilee Morning visit to The Palmach Museum, an experiential museum covering the Palmach legacy, through the interactive stories of the brave warriors, many of whom died fighting for establishment of the state of Israel. Continue on to explore Tel Aviv’s vibrant Carmel Market and Nahalaat Binyamin, with time for lunch at the popular Sarona Indoor Market. Depart Tel Aviv, stopping enroute atop Mt. Carmel, to view the Bahai Gardens and Haifa Bay. Continue the drive north to the Galilee in time for dinner at the Kibbutz. Overnight: Pastoral Hotel Kfar Blum, Galilee (B,D) Day 5 ~ Wednesday, June 21, 2023 Galilee This morning, drive to the Golan Heights, jumping into jeeps for an exciting Northern Israel strategic tour. Continue to the summit of the extinct volcano-turned-bunker of Mount Bental, for great views over the entire Golan and deep into Syria. Continue the excitement with a river rafting trip on the Jordan River. Conclude the day with a short cruise on the Sea of Galilee with music & dancing followed by a Galilee grill dinner. Overnight: Pastoral Hotel Kfar Blum, Galilee (B,D) Day 6 ~ Thursday, June 22, 2023 Galilee/Jerusalem The morning is spent in the very special city of Safed, center of Jewish mysticism with historic synagogues and modern artist quarter. Next, drive to Kfar Kedem Biblical Village, a recreated ancient Galilean village that enables you to "touch the past". Experience being a shepherd, herd the sheep into their pens for shearing and milking. Make goat cheese in the ancient Galilean fashion. Plow your fields and bring in the harvest to the village threshing floor. Then grind the flour and bake your own pita bread. Join a donkey caravan heading to the Galilean hills for a feast lunch in the shepherd's tent. Continue up to Jerusalem, reciting a special “Shehechiyanu” upon reaching the city. Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem (B,L,D) Itinerary subject to change
Day 7 ~ Friday, June 23, 2023 Jerusalem Following breakfast, visit the Israel Museum with the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and the Scale Model of ancient Jerusalem. Walk on the Ramparts atop the Old City walls. Stroll along the restored Jewish quarter and visit the Roman Cardo. Gather on the Southern Wall Steps for a special Kabbalat Shabbat and service with Rabbi Strauss and Cantor Goldman, honoring our first Shabbat in Jerusalem. Continue on to the Kotel, before walking back to the hotel for Shabbat dinner together. Oneg Shabbat with guest, American-Israeli Comedian Joel Chasnoff, following dinner. Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem (B,D) Day 8 ~ Saturday, June 24, 2023 Jerusalem Shabbat Shalom! Shabbat at leisure. This morning, option to attend an exciting Shabbat morning service at a vibrant Jerusalem synagogue with Rabbi Strauss and Cantor Goldman. Late afternoon, gather with Rabbi Strauss for Havdallah, followed by a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels. Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem (B,D) Day 9 ~ Sunday, June 25, 2023 Rehovot/Jerusalem Drive to Rehovot for a visit to the Ayalon Institute, once a secret ammunition factory, disguised as part of a kibbutz to fool the British in the 1940s. The factory was used in the efforts to fight for the independent state of Israel, and between 1945 and 1948, the Ayalon Institute produced more than 2 million bullets. Next, become an archeologist and discover ancient antiquities while on an archeological dig at Beit Guvrin and Tel Maresha. Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem (B,D) Day 10 ~ Monday, June 26, 2023 Judean Desert/Jerusalem Early departure for a full day of sightseeing in the Judean Desert. Drive to the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth almost 1,300 feet below sea level, for a swim and lunch. Continue on to Masada, climb or ascend the east side, to marvel at King Herod’s desert fortress – Palace and last stronghold of the Jewish zealots against the Roman domination in 73 CE. Celebrate B’nai Mitzvah service atop Masada. Desend walking down the western ramp, and this afternoon, participate in a Camel caravan at the Bedouin village of Kfar Hanokdim. Learn about Bedouin life, and enjoy a hafla dinner in a Bedouin tent. Return to Jerusalem after the day’s adventure. Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem (B,L,D) Day 11 ~ Tuesday, June 27, 2023 Jerusalem The day begins at Ir David, the City of David, exploring through the Pilgrim Road excavations. Spend time at the Kotel before departing the Old City. Onto Machne Yehudah Market to experience the sights and smells of this bustling shuk. End the day with a visit to Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. Dedicated to providing transformative care for individuals with disabilities, empowering their families, and promoting social inclusion, through developed transformative programs to fill needs that were previously neglected. The success of these programs has received government and cultural recognition, inspiring grassroots changes in public policy and social inclusion. Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem (B,D) Itinerary subject to change
Day 12 ~ Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Jerusalem Morning visit to the unforgettable Holocaust Memorial Museum at Yad Vashem, with a special memorial service led by Rabbi Strauss and Cantor Goldman. Continue to Mount Herzl to pay respect to Israel’s military heroes and see the burial place of several Israeli figures. Remainder of the day at leisure. This evening, gather together for a farewell dinner with guest speaker. Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem (B,D) Day 13 ~ Thursday, June 29, 2023 Jerusalem/USA Independent departures to the airport. Arrive Houston later today. (B) Itinerary subject to change
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