THE TEMPLE ADULT ISRAEL TRIP 10 – 22 June 2015 (draft May 28, 2014; subject to change) Thursday, 11 June Afternoon arrival in Israel to be met and assisted at the airport by your ITC representative (today’s program depends on arrival time) Shehecheyanu blessing overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem Hotel check-in Welcome dinner at Herzl Restaurant (Mamilla Blvd.) Overnight: Jerusalem Friday, 12 June 7:00 Early morning “Boker Tov” jog with Rabbi Spinrad or power walk with Cantor Hartman Explore David’s City to encounter King David’s Jerusalem with a walk through Hezekiah’s water tunnel (bring flashlights and water shoes!) Free time for lunch (on one’s own) in the Old City In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Kotel’s massive foundation stones and tour of the Old CityJewish Quarter Shabbat services at Har El Congregation Shabbat dinner at the hotel Overnight: Jerusalem Shabbat, 13 June Begin the morning with a unique experience of Shabbat prayer led by led by Diane Bloomfield of TorahYoga Walk on the Walls of the Old City for a birds-eye, rooftop view into its varied neighborhoods, including touring the Armenian and Christian quarters Lunch on one’s own Shabbat workout in Independence Park or Shabbat afternoon rest Free time for dinner (on one’s own) and shopping on the Midrachov, Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall or visit the newly renovated Old Train Station with café’s restaurants and nightlife Overnight: Jerusalem 1 Sunday, 14 June Visit and tour Hadassah Hospital and see the beautiful Chagall Windows, up close and personal with Hospital doctors and/or administrators sharing the newest medical innovations developed in Israel. Visit the state-of the art Memorial Museum, Children’s Memorial, and Valley of the Communities at Yad Vashem; lunch on one’s own in the cafeteria Afternoon departure for the Dead Sea Region, the lowest place on earth Hotel check-in to float in the Dead Sea and enjoy the hotel pool Dinner at the hotel A spiritual desert hike under the stars with Rabbi Spinrad and Cantor Hartman Overnight: Dead Sea Monday, 15 June Early morning departure for Masada. Hike up the Snake Path or ascend Masada by cable car to tour this magnificent excavation; tour the site and discuss the harrowing dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times Return to our Dead Sea hotel to relax after an active morning and enjoy its spa facilities (advance spa reservations suggested) and pool Lunch on one’s own at the hotel Proceed to Tel Aviv for hotel check-in Explore Tel Aviv and enjoy dinner on one’s own (healthy and farm fresh restaurant suggestions to be provided) Optional cultural event for the group (reservations only, not included in tour price) Overnight: Tel Aviv Tuesday, 16 June Early Morning run on the Taylelet with Rabbi Spinrad, or power walk with Cantor Hartman Visit to Israel Sports Center for The Disabled and work with athletes, visiting the Disabled Children’s Sports and Empowerment Institute Lunch with Rabbi Miri Gold, the first non-Orthodox Rabbi to have her salary paid by the Israeli Government Browse through unique craft items in Nahalat Binyamin’s colorful, open-air market and enjoy seeing modern Tel Aviv in action; lunch (on one’s own) Enjoy dinner Gourmet dinner at Lilliot, a special teaching restaurant staffed by young people at risk Overnight: Tel Aviv 2 Wednesday, 17 June Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute Experience Israeli innovation as you tour a high-tech facility In our Partnership 2000 community of Yokneam, take part in a short mitzvah project and a visit to Yemin Orde Lunch on one’s own Home hospitality for dinner with Yokneam families Proceed to the mystical city of Tzefat for hotel check-in Evening program “Mysticism and The Body” study session with Rabbi Spinrad Overnight: Tzefat Thursday, 18 June Plant a tree in Israeli soil in honor or in memory of a loved one Ascend the Golan Heights and stop to gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did Lunch on one’s own in Katzrin, the capital of the Golan Put on your water shoes and hike the cascading river in the Banias nature reserve Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Kinneret followed by a lakeshore dinner at Decks Overnight: Tzefat Friday, 19 June Men and women separate this morning to learn about and explore a special mikvah experience in Safed, with the option to personally dip in the mikvah Free time for shopping and lunch on one’s own in Tzefat Travel south for the ascent to Jerusalem Hotel check-in Shabbat services with all three Temple groups at Hebrew Union College Shabbat dinner with all three Temple groups at Dan Panorama Hotel Staff led late night walk back to the Kotel for private reflection Overnight: Jerusalem 3 Shabbat, 20 June Early morning Shabbat workout with Rabbi Spinrad and Cantor Hartman Enjoy a walking tour through the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City OR Yemin Moshe, one of the earliest neighborhoods in the New City of Jerusalem Lunch at YMCA (reservation only, not included in tour price) Visit the renovated Israel Museum, including the Shrine of the Book; the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem; Judaica, art, and archeology exhibits Attend B’nei Mitzvah celebration and dinner at Beit Shmuel Attend The Night Spectacular, the new sound and light show at the Tower of David Museum Overnight: Jerusalem Sunday, 21 June Visit Lifeline for the Old, a moving crafts workshop that employs Jerusalem elderly. Enjoy shopping for unique hand-crafted Judaica items in their store Tour the neighborhoods of Jerusalem by Segway or by bicycle Enjoy a special multi-media presentation about the life, dreams, and accomplishments of the Father of Modern Zionism at the Herzl Exhibit Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery Lunch on one’s own Free time this afternoon for final shopping, packing Farewell dinner at Anna Ticho’s outdoor courtyard restaurant Depart for Ben Gurion Airport 4