Jewish Heritage & Educational Tour

Day 1 – Tel Aviv, Jaffa & coastal check-in

• Arrive at the airport (morning)

• Check in at a hotel in Netanya

• Take guided tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa, the ancient port—the starting point of the prophet Jonah’s journey

• Lodging & Dinner: Netanya or Tel Aviv

Day 2 – Haifa, Safed, Tiberias & Caesarea

• Visit Haifa: Cave of the Prophet Elijah, Bahá’í Gardens, German Colony

• Explore Safed: city of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah; historic synagogues

• Tour Tiberias

• Visit graves of Rambam (Maimonides), Rabbi Akiva, and Ramchal

• Explore Caesarea: medieval fortress, Second Temple city, hippodrome, site of Bar Kokhba revolt leaders’ execution

• Lodging & Dinner: Netanya or Tel Aviv

Day 3 – Jerusalem overview & welcoming Shabbat

• Take bus tour of Jerusalem

• Check in at a hotel in Jerusalem

• Welcome the Sabbath: candle lighting in the hotel lobby; walk to the Great Synagogue (excursion/prayer)

• Enjoy great Shabbat dinner at the hotel

• Attend evening lecture-seminar (Modern Judaism and its role in Israeli society)

• Lodging & Dinner: Jerusalem

Day 4 – Jerusalem Old City walking day (Shabbat)

• Seminar (daytime)

• Walk Jaffa Gate, Jewish Quarter, Hurva Synagogue, Menorah, Western Wall (Kotel), City of David, Yemin Moshe, King David Hotel history

• Dinner

• Lodging & Dinner: Jerusalem (Full board on Saturday)

Day 5 – Samaria: heritage, vistas & tastings

• Take Samaria excursion: Samaritan settlement; Jewish community on Mount Gerizim (Har Bracha)

• Enjoy panoramic view of ancient Shechem and Joseph’s Tomb

• Wine tasting at a local boutique winery

• Visit Itamar: synagogue in memory of the Fogel family; dairy farm; Ariel

• Lodging & Dinner: Jerusalem

Day 6 – Jerusalem neighborhoods & Dead Sea relaxation

• Explore Shimon HaTzadik district, Giv’at Binyamin, Maavar Bachurim, and Jewish history of Hizme

• Visit Beit Hogla: first encampment after crossing the Jordan with Joshua

• Relax at the Dead Sea (Mineral Beach); visit Ahava Dead Sea cosmetics factory

• Lodging & Dinner: Jerusalem

Day 7 – Hebron & Gush Etzion

• Visit Hebron: Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron Museum, Jewish Quarter, Avraham Avinu Synagogue, Beit Hadassah and Beit Romano, Tel Hebron (Tel Rumeida), ancient mikveh

• Explore Gush Etzion: Alon Shvut, Kfar Etzion, winery visit

• Lodging & Dinner: Jerusalem

Day 8 – Jerusalem free time & departure

• Enjoy free time in Jerusalem

• Depart (airport transfer)