July 06, 2008   3 Tamuz 5768

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Experience Israel!  

EXPERIENCE ISRAEL is an active immersion adventure! with:

Rabbi David Fine, Director, URJ-Pacific Northwest Council

and

Dr. Jerome (Jerry) Waldbaum, President, URJ-Pacific Northwest Council

 October 26 - November 7, 2008

Air (from Seattle) & Land Package - $3800 (per person, Double occupancy, includes many gratuities, supplies)*

Space limited – reservations on “first-come” basis.
Download the Registration Form at the bottom of this page.



Northern Negev, Masada, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve & Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Kidron Valley Archaeological Excavation, Northern Galillee  - Zippori & Safed, Golan Heights, Interactions with Israelis(Members of Reform congregations, Ethiopian immigrants, IDF soldiers…)

 More information?   www.urj.org/pnwc  206-374-9393

*Fee varies for Land only, Single occupancy, 3rd Adult in room.  Petra/Eilat – 1 or 2-day tour add-on packages available (please inquire)

CONTACT: Kayla Ship, Director of Programming, Kayla@keshetisrael.co.il, Tel: 011-972-2-671-3518, Fax: 011-972-2-671-3624

Keshet: The Center for Educational Tourism in Israel
Itinerary  

10/26 - Departure from Seattle on Delta Flight 1120 at 1:15pm.  Transfer in Atlanta to Delta 152

10/27 - Arrival at Ben Gurion airport at 4:25pm. Check-in and welcome dinner in Tel Aviv’s Yemenite Quarter.  Opening Program at Rabin Square. Welcome Dinner at Maganda. Overnight:  Renaissance, Tel Aviv

10/28 - See where David ben Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel at Independence Hall. (or visit the Palmach Museum). Visit the Ayalon Institute, a secret underground bullet factory from the Mandate Period. Lunch-on own in Rechovot. Continue to the northern Negev.  Program on Ben Gurion’s vision by his grave on Kibbutz Sdeh Boker overlooking the Wilderness of Zin. Check-in and dinner at Pundak Ramon hotel on the edge of Maktesh Ramon (Ramon Crater). Evening star gazing over Mt. Gamal.  Ponder why the Torah was given in the desert and what Elijah meant by a Still, Small Voice.

10/29 - Shacharit services overlooking Maktesh Ramon followed by breakfast and check-out. Exciting jeep ride into the Maktesh itself to learn more about this unique geological wonder. Meet modern day idealists continuing Ben Gurion’s vision for the Negev on the social action front in the development town of Yerucham.  Enjoy an authentic Moroccan Yerucham lunch prepared by residents in their homes. Continue to Kfar Hanokdim Camel Ranch to ride camels and enjoy a Bedouin “hafla” dinner. Continue to Inbar Hotel, Arad for check-in and overnight.

10/30 - Early morning ascent of Herod’s mountain fortress of Masada by the Roman Ramp in time for sunrise.  Shacharit services (sefer Torah provided).  Explore why the Jewish rebels chose to live here after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.  Descend by cable car.  Breakfast at the Masada guest house. Hike to the Nahal David waterfall at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. Lunch-on own at Ein Gedi. Float in the Dead Sea at Mineral Beach. En route to Jerusalem, meet Ethiopian families who crossed the desert to Sudan to wait for months in refugee camps before being airlifted to Israel by the Mossad. Check-in at Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem. Dinner on own in Jerusalem. Say Shehechiyanu from atop Mt. Scopus overlooking the Old City followed by nocturnal Kotel visit.

10/31 - Begin the day with a spectacular outlook over Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade.  Torah study-Did Abraham pass the test? Descend to the City of David to see the brand new excavations and discuss Jewish Political Morality using the text of David and Bathsheeba. Lunch-on own in the Jewish Quarter and shopping time in the Cardo. Return to hotel to prepare for Shabbat.  Kabbalat Shabbat at Kol Haneshama or Har El followed by festive Shabbat dinner at the Mt. Zion Hotel.

 

11/1 - Shabbat morning services at Hebrew Union College followed by kiddush with members and tour of the campus. Meeting with Anat Hoffman or Uri Regev.  Enjoy Shabbat lunch at Bet Shmuel. Afternoon free.  Shabbat dinner and Group Havdalah at Mt. Zion Hotel, followed by free evening.

11/2 - Dig up history with your hands at an archaeological excavation in the Kidron Valley with renowned archaeologist Dr. Gabi Barkai. Political Seminar including meetings with representatives from the Israeli Left and Right.  Survey the separation fence. Lunch-on own  Field trip to Gush Etzion to meet with residents. Dinner-on own. Evening:  Free, return to Mt. Zion Hotel.

11/3 - We learn and remember at Yad Vashem, including visits to the historical museum and Childrens’ Memorial. Depart for the North. Lunch-on own  Visit the Atlit Clandestine Immigration Camp (or the First Aliyah Museum in Zichron Yaakov). Dinner and program with the local Reform community of Sulam Yaakov in Zichron Yaakov. Overnight at Nir Etzion Kibbutz Hotel.

11/4 - Explore the Crusader Knights Hall in the ancient port city of Acco.  Program on Kiddush Hashem. Visit Peki’in to meet Savta Jimalya, a Druze woman whose designer soap company now employees 40 Jewish, Christian, and Muslim women. Lunch-on own en rout. Meet the residents of the Reform community of Har Halutz. Bring goodie packages to IDF soldiers serving on the Lebanese Border.  Survey the northern border and discuss the security issues vis a vis Lebanon and Syria. Dinner at Kibbutz Gonen, overnight at Nofei Gonen.

11/5 - Ascend the Golan Heights.  Outlook over Kuneitra from Mt. Bental. Visit the Talmudic city of Katzrin, including the movie about Elisha ben Abuya and religious tolerance. Lunch-on own at Katzrin. Explore they synagogues of the mystics in the Jewish Quarter. Art & Kabbalah program with local artist. Shopping time. Enjoy a gourmet dinner in the artist colony. Overnight at Nofei Gonen.

11/6 - Outlook over the Kinneret and Tiberias. Visit the Talmudic city of Zippori, where Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi compiled the Mishnah and site of some of the most beautiful mosaics in the Middle East. Lunch-on own in Zefat. Continue to the Neot Kedumim Biblical Nature Reserve.  Tree planting ceremony and summary discussion followed by a farewell dinner. Transfer to airport for departing flight.

11/7 - Departure on Delta 87 at 12:40am.  Arrival in Seattle at 10:53am.
Registration Form  
Document Registration Form (PDF 141.01 KB)
Download and print this form to reserve your place on the Experience Israel trip. Send completed form and deposit as soon as possible, but no later than May 7.

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