Tuesday, December 22 – USA Departure

 Wednesday, December 23 – When You Come Into the Land (Deut 26:1)

• Afternoon arrival in Israel, to be met and assisted by your ITC representative at Ben Gurion airport
• Ascent to Jerusalem
• Take in a breathtaking view of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Tayelet
• Hotel check-in
• Welcome dinner at the hotel
• Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem (deluxe rooms) 

Thursday, December 24 – Those Who Made a Difference

• Visit the newly-opened state-of-the art Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem; new alternative interactive tour for younger children available on site
• Enjoy the multi-media Herzl Exhibit, where the Father of Modern Zionism and his untiring quest are “brought to life” before your eyes (if available)
• At Har Herzl Military Cemetery encounter the “silver platter” on which the Jewish people have acquired – and continue to acquire – our state
• Plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one
• Visit the Mevasseret Tzion Mall to enjoy supper at the kosher McDonalds
• Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem 

Friday, December 25 – Digging Israel

• Stumble across many archeological finds as you take part in a hands-on dig through archeological matter that has been dumped into Emek Tzurim from under the Temple Mount
• Take a camel trek through the desert and enjoy a delicious lunch and biblical hospitality in Avraham’s tent at Eretz Bereshit
• Visit the colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market, as Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat
• Kabbalat Shabbat at Congregation Moreshet Yisrael or a synagogue of your choice
• Shabbat dinner at the hotel or at the Fuchsburg Center
• Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem 

Shabbat, December 26 – Shabbat in Jerusalem
Parashat Vayigash

• Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided)
• Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel
• Shabbat walking tour of fascinating Jerusalem neighborhoods near the hotel
• Havdala with Rabbi Rank
• Evening out on Ben Yehuda, Emek Refaim, or the new Mamilla Mall (on one’s own)
• Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday, December 27 (two vehicles/guides needed today)

Option A – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?

• Depart for the Dead Sea region
• Ascend Masada by cable car; tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times; descend Masada by the Roman Ramp
• Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi Nature Reserve (Nahal David=shorter trail, dry with waterfall) and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul “on site” OR Hike through Nahal Arugot (longer trail through a stream with waterfall) in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
• Stop for a dip in the amazing Dead Sea

Option B – The Negev Desert

• Visit Ben Gurion’s Hut in Sde Boker for personal insight into the life and dreams for the Negev of this outstanding Zionist leader and Israel’s first prime minister
• Gaze out over a breathtaking Negev Desert landscape from the site of Ben Gurion’s grave
• Walk through the beautiful nature reserve at the Ein Avdat oasis, taking shorter flat trail or the longer, uphill trail
• At Moshav Nevatim, home to Cochini Jews from India, visit their impressive synagogue, brought over from India, and their small ethnic museum (time permitting)
• Free evening in Jerusalem
• Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem 

Monday, December 28 – Jerusalem of Old

• Optional: Take part in a moving Bar/Bat Mitzvah service at Robinson’s Arch, the “Conservative Kotel”
• Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and take a virtual, computerized “walk” through the Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center
• Stop to visit the traditional site of the Western Wall
• In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall’s massive foundation stones
• Take in a rooftop view of the Old City’s four colorful quarters and walk through the Jewish Quarter, followed by free time for shopping in the Cardo
• Free evening in Jerusalem
• Overnight: King Solomon Hotel, Jerusalem

 Tuesday, December 29 – Back to the Bible

Please choose three of the following five:

• Experience the biblical landscapes park at Neot Kedumim, including such displays as an exhibit of Sukkot, built according to varied descriptions in the Mishnah
• Meet members of Israel’s Druze community; hear about their fierce patriotism, and enjoy their warm hospitality
• Visit the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum in Haifa and learn of the struggle for the right to live in Israel and the history of the Israeli Navy
• In historic Acco, enjoy a multi-media exhibit about the years of Muslim rule of the city at the adjacent Turkish Baths, the British prison, where Jewish freedom fighters were incarcerated; the amazing Tunisian Synagogue, which is completely decorated with mosaics depicting stories from Jewish history and traditional texts (number of stops depends on time available)
• Take the cable car to the mesmerizing ocean grottos of Rosh Hanikra, at Israel’s border with Lebanon
• Hotel check-in and dinner
• Evening: Tour the kibbutz and meet with one of its members
• Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Tiberias

 Wednesday, December 30 – The Golan Heights

• Travel through the Golan Heights by jeep (Shvilim), off the beaten path, and stop to gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did
• Take a nature walk through the scenic Saluki Springs and see ruins of both a Hasmonean village and a Syrian army encampment
• Group may split: Learn about the history of the Golan Heights and the valiant story of Gamla, called the “Masada of the North,” at the lovely Golan Antiquities Museum (museum’s guide) OR Travel back in time as you visit the excavated Talmudic Village in Katzrin
• Group may split: Enjoy a tour and wine-tasting at the Golan Winery OR Ascend to the peak of Har Bental, where you can enter army bunkers and take in a panoramic view at the crossroads of three countries
• Enjoy dinner at the lovely Suzanne Bistro on Moshav Aniam
• Evening: Enjoy a Kinneret boat ride from Kibbutz Ein Gev
• Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Tiberias  

Thursday, December 31 – In the Footsteps of Mystics and Pioneers

• Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat
• See ancient history come to life at the newly-opened multi-media center against the backdrop of ancient Caesaria. Excavations include an impressive amphitheatre and aqueduct
• Stop at Kibbutz S’dot Yam to focus on the story of Hannah Senesh
• Continue to Tel Aviv for hotel check-in
• Free evening in Tel Aviv
• Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Friday, January 1 – Foundations of the Modern State

• Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum (if available) OR Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute
• Browse through unique craft items in Nachalat Binyamin’s colorful, open-air market, and see modern Tel Aviv in action
• Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach or at the hotel with Rabbi Rank
• Delicious Shabbat dinner at the hotel
• Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Shabbat, January 2 – Shabbat in Tel Aviv

Parashat Vayehi

• Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues (suggestions, walking directions to be provided)
• Sumptuous Shabbat lunch buffet at the hotel
• Special Tel Aviv walking tour featuring the poetry, paintings and dreams, and spicy stories of the founders of the first modern Hebrew city
• Havdalah followed by farewell dinner at a Yemenite Restaurant (time permitting) or at the hotel
• Depart for the airport for overnight flight to USA

Sunday, January 3 – A Temporary Departure

• Arrival in USA
• Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Rank, Dina Hochbaum, and ITC Tours!

PRICES FOR THE ABOVE TOUR

“Land Only” Packages, based on number of travelers

15-19      20-24           25-29       30-34        35-39      40-44         45-49              single             

                                                                                                                                    supplement            

$2995    2795            2695         2655          2595       2555           2535                 990      

Third person over 18 in triple room: subtract $225

Child, age 2-12 as third person in a triple room: subtract $810

Bar/Bat Mitzvah, age 12-13 as third person in a triple room: subtract $925

Child, 14-18 as third person in a triple room: subtract $795

Flights (NB: Airline prices can change at any time up until purchase of tickets; tour companies have only very limited control over group seating on flights.)

Roundtrip on Delta Airlines from JFK: $1650 including tax and fuel surcharge

Please book directly with Donny in ITC’s NJ office: 1-800-2-ISRAEL