jcc family trip to israel

Robert E. Loup JCC Denver

Family trip to Israel

December 21st 2014-‐January 2nd 2015

*Program is subject to change *Certain meals indicated in the program are at participants expense

JCC Robert E Loup JCC Denver | Denver Families| Draft #3 |30 January 2014 | page 2

Shalom! We welcome you and your family to Israel to explore, discover and experience this incredible country. Our time together will be devoted to not only getting to know this land, but to many interpersonal encounters that will tie us to its unique communities. We will spend time with both our own families and become a welcome part of the larger Israeli family as well. Please note: Some meals or items indicated in the program are at the participant’s expense. The program is subject to change. Day 1 – Depart USA for Israel Sunday, December 21st , 2014 Day 2 – Arrive in Israel, 7th night of Hannuka! Monday, December 22nd , 2014 Welcome to Israel! After safely landing at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, we will collect our luggage and head together as a group by bus to the Negev Desert. A festive opening dinner awaits us en route along with our first candle lighting in Israel. Chag Sameach! AFTERNOON Arrival in Israel at Ben Gurion International Airport where you will be

met by your tour educator and JCC Association staff member Drive to Negev Desert, stopping for a festive dinner en route. Within

the view of the Northern Negev we will recite together Shechyanu, a communal blessing of gratitude to officially open our journey. We light the seventh candle of Hannuka tonight and eat some sufganiyot.

EVENING Continue driving to Negev, where we will check into Mashabi Sade

Guest house at Kibbutz Mashabim, located in the heart of the Negev ideally allowing us to explore the desert’s unique environment.

For more information about the accommodations go to: http://english.mashabim.co.il/ Overnight – Mashabim Guest House, Kibbutz Mashabi Sade


Day 3 – Exploring the Desert-‐ 8th night of Hannukah! Tuesday, December 23rd , 2014 Our journey begins in the place where great chapters of Jewish History were written-‐ the desert. We will absorb the Negev with our eyes, our feet, and our appetite, as we traverse its terrain and hear the human stories that have molded its landscape. We will have an encounter with local families from our Partnership region, Ramat HaNegev, working together in social action and getting to know the innovations and organizations that make the desert a vibrant place to live. MORNING 8:30 am Eat Breakfast at hotel 9:15 am Visit the graves of David and Paula Ben Gurion at Sde Boker to learn

the vision of Israel’s first Prime Minister for the development of the Negev

10:00 am Take a short hike to Ein Ovdat.

This is an easy route to a natural desert oasis allowing us to discover the beauty of the desert landscape.

AFTERNOON Drive to P2G region Ramat HaNegev 12:00 pm Lunch in P2G region Our activities will be determined by P2G partner

• possible joint social action project • See the agricultural technologies of Israel in the 21st century • Holiday related activity-‐ Heroes, Legends, and olive oil, what is

Hannuka all about? EVENING

Enjoy hospitality with local families as we dine and light candles together for the last night of Hannuka

Overnight – Mashabim Guest House, Kibbutz Mashabi Sade


Day 4 – Desert Legends Wednesday, December 24th , 2014 We depart from the Negev and head towards the Judean Desert, as we learn today of the legendary story of the Masada fortress and the role it has played in Modern Israel. The colorful landscape of the Dead Sea will be the backdrop of our day before we ascend to the capital-‐ Jerusalem. MORNING 7:45 am Breakfast at hotel 8:15 Check out and depart for Masada

Climb up the Roman Ramp to the fortress and hear the story of Herod’s palace and last zealot stronghold 2,000 years ago

AFTERNOON 12:00 pm Lunch at Masada restaurant in visitor ‘s center or box lunches at Dead

Sea 1:30 pm Rest, relax, and rejuvenate in the Dead Sea-‐ the lowest place on Earth.

Here you can enjoy the natural minerals of the local environs-‐basking in some mud, and floating in the water. • Beach offers mud, sulfur pools • Special treatments (massages etc.) at participant’s expense

3:30 pm Drive to Eretz Beresheet desert hospitality experience

• Enjoy camel riding, the desert landscape at sunset, and desert dinner

EVENING Drive to Jerusalem

Check into Prima Kings hotel Jerusalem, located close enough to the center of town, but also serene Free time Dinner on your own

Overnight –Prima Kings hotel, Jerusalem


Day 5 – Jerusalem: Ancient and Contemporary Thursday, December 25th , 2014 Today we head to the heart and soul of Jerusalem, the old city. We will learn of its quarters and visit its holy sites, learning some Jewish history in an engaging way. We’ll enjoy another side of Jerusalem this afternoon before relaxing and preparing for our Shabbat together. MORNING 8:30 am Breakfast at hotel 9:15 am Discover the old city of Jerusalem through a family scavenger hunt

with “Israel Scaventures”. We will visit the kotel-‐ Western Wall as well as other sites in the Jewish Quarter such as the Southern Wall excavations

AFTERNOON 12:30 pm Eat lunch on your own in the Jewish Quarter 2:00 pm Participate in social action project in Jerusalem with youth EVENING 5:30 pm Dinner at Mahane Yehuda fruit and vegetable market with “Shuk

Bites” tasting game o An opportunity to taste the best of what the shuk has to offer-‐ spices, wine, treats, and hearty eats, and hear the colorful stories behind the shops and stands that make up this Jerusalem landmark.

Enjoy Free time Overnight –Prima Kings, Jerusalem


Day 6 – Contemporary Jerusalem and Social Contributions Friday, December 26th , 2014 We devote today to learning and giving as we visit Yad V’Shem and take part in a social action project. We’ll enjoy another side of Jerusalem this afternoon before relaxing and preparing for our Shabbat together. MORNING 8:30 am Breakfast at hotel 9:00 am Adult track: Preparatory session with Rachel Korazim: “The changing

place of the Holocaust in Israeli identity” 10:00 am Adult track: Depart for guided tour of Yad V’Shem Holocaust Museum

and Memorial 1:00 pm Adult track: Lunch on your own near Yad V’Shem 9:00 am Children’s track: Depart Jerusalem to take part in Project Leket at

Kvuztat Schiller. • Project Leket is an initiative that sends thousands of volunteers

into Israeli fields and orchards to gather produce donated or left unpicked by farmers and donate them to non-‐profits helping Israel’s needy families.

12:30 pm Children’s track: Lunch on your own at Rehovot Science Park AFTERNOON Adults and children meet in Jerusalem

Free time to enjoy the city, return to hotel to rest, and prepare for Shabbat

EVENING Kabbalat Shabbat at either local synagogue or at the kotel Dinner at hotel (private room) Evening Shabbat activity Overnight –Prima Kings, Jerusalem


Day 7 – Shabbat in Jerusalem Saturday, December 27th , 2014 The pace of Shabbat is slower but no less exciting. With a full day of leisure ahead, there are opportunities to explore the city and observe the distinctly different atmosphere-‐-‐either traditionally, or with the best contemporary Jerusalem has to offer. From synagogue attendance to family picnics, soccer games or sitting at cafes, Jerusalem offers a pluralistic array for this day of rest. MORNING

Optional attendance of synagogue services or a slow morning Optional visit to the Israel Museum AFTERNOON Lunch at the hotel Walking tour of the pastoral Yemin Moshe

neighborhood/Intergenerational discussion 5:00 pm Children’s track: Shabbat Activity-‐ run by youth counselor

Adult track: Israel Current Events update EVENING Havdallah Dinner on your own Optional visit to the Tower of David Sound and Light Show Overnight –Prima Kings, Jerusalem


Day 8 – Communities at a crossroads Sunday, December 28th , 2014 Today we explore communities both Ancient and Modern along with the themes of preservation, sustainability, and communal responsibility. We will get our hands dirty with history, as well as hear about the present developments in the town of Lod. MORNING 8:00 am Breakfast at hotel 8:45 am Check out of hotel and depart for Beit Guvrin National Park 9:30 am Participate in Archeological Seminars “Dig for a Day” at Beit Guvrin

National Park. • We will sift through the ancient treasures of an active

archaeological dig and learn of this community’s life from 2,000 years ago.

12:30 pm Drive to Lod AFTERNOON 1:15 pm Eat Lunch in Lod with local community-‐ Activities to be determined by

P2G (possible social action project) Drive North EVENING Overnight – Maagan Eden, Kibbutz Maagan


Day 9 – Security, water, and sustainability Monday, December 29th, 2014 We depart from Jerusalem and head Northwards along Israel’s Eastern border. After a restful stop at one of Israel’s most beautiful parks we ascend to the Golan Heights to explore this terrain see first hand its importance to Israel’s security. Tonight we enjoy the views of the Sea of Galilee. MORNING 8:00 am Breakfast at hotel and check out 8:30 am Drive to Hula Valley Nature Reserve 9:30 am Participate in bike ride around Hula Valley bird sanctuary

• A loop trail which allows observation of the millions of birds who stop here for a rest in their migration from Europe to Africa

12:00 pm Enjoy an early picnic lunch and beautiful hike at Tel Dan National Park

• Hear the beautiful story of this ancient community • Walk through the archeological ruins, and enjoy the natural

landscape AFTERNOON 2:00 pm Visit a former IDF outpost on Mount Ben Tal, an inactive volcano in

the Northern Golan • Here we will hear of the dramatic Yom Kippur war battles in the

Golan • Observation point into Syria to hear about current situation

3:30 pm Participate in chocolate workshop at Kibbutz Ein Zivan OR

Visit to wind turbines in Northern Golan 5:00 pm Tie-‐in with tour educator EVENING

6:00 pm Home hospitality dinner at Korazim with Noam’s family Check into Kibbutz hotel at Kibbutz Ma’agan http://www.maagan.com/english/HTMLs/Home.aspx Overnight – Ma’agan Eden, Kibbutz Ma’agan

Choose one

activity


Day 10 – Tradition and Tikkun Olam Tuesday, December 30th , 2014 We spend another day in Northern Israel discovering the city of Jewish Mysticism on all her attributes, art, tradition, and social action. The beauty of the Galilee mountains and Sea will escort us all day long in this magical region in Israel. MORNING 8:30 am Breakfast at hotel 9:15 am Drive to Tzfat, home to Jewish Mysticism

• In our time in Tzfat we will learn of its central role in the development of Kaballah by walking through its picturesque alleyways and visiting its diverse synagogues

11:30 am Get acquainted with the world of Hebrew letters, and the craft of the

Jewish scribe at “Otzar HaStam” • Enjoy an engaging workshop that sheds light on Hebrew writing

and mysticism AFTERNOON 1:00 pm Lunch on your own in Tzfat 2:00 pm Participate in a community social action project with Livnot uLehvanot

in Tzfat. 5:30 pm Visit IDF army base and meet Israeli soldiers

• We will discuss service with the young men and women of Israel EVENING 7:00 pm Dinner together at Decks Restaurant in Tiberias overlooking the

Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) 8:30 pm Nightly boat ride on the Kinneret Overnight – Kibbutz Ma’agan


Day 11 – A tale of two cities-‐ Ancient and Modern Wednesday, December 31st , 2014 As we had towards the center of Israel we will stop at Tzippori to get a better glimpse of how Jews of the ancient world thrived in the Galilee. Upon arrival to Tel Aviv we will take time to soak in the atmosphere of the first Hebrew city, and tonight we learn of a fascinating endeavor to help the special needs community of artists. MORNING 8:30 am Breakfast at hotel 9:00 am Drive to Tzippori National Park 9:45 am Guided tour of Tzippori

• This ancient city not only boasts of great Roman relics, it is full of the most beautiful mosaics in Israel, and was the former seat of Jewish leadership in antiquity

• We will tour and discuss how a Jewish minority thrived in this city AFTERNOON 12:30 pm Lunch on your own en route to Tel Aviv 2:30 pm Arrive in Tel Aviv-‐ the first modern Hebrew city, and check into hotel http://www.danhotels.com/TelAvivHotels/DanPanoramaTelAvivHotel/ 3:30 pm Enjoy free time to relax in Tel Aviv EVENING 6:30 pm Dinner together at Na Laga’at, Black out Café in the Dark.

Cultural Event-‐ Either the Performance “Not on Bread Alone” at Na LaGa’at or Mayumana

Overnight –City Hotel, Tel Aviv


Day 12 – Taking it Home Thursday, January 1st , 2015 Our final day together will be devoted to hearing about another form of service here in Israel as well as summarizing our incredible experience. MORNING 8:30 am Breakfast at hotel 9:30 am Visit historic Independence Hall

• We will hear the dramatic story of how the State of Israel was declared in mid-‐war at the home of former Mayor Meir Dizengoff

11:00 am Final Social Action project:

Pack food parcels with the Jaffa Institute which are delivered to needy families http://www.jaffainstitute.org/our-work/food-security-programs/food-distribution-center/

AFTERNOON 1:00 pm Eat Lunch on your own in Tel Aviv Free time for last minute shopping EVENING Check out of hotel and enjoy celebratory departure dinner Ride to airport or trip extension Program developed and implemented by the JCC Association Israel Center together with Routes

jcc family trip to israel

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