DAY ONE - USA/TEL AVIV
Overnight flight to Israel.
DAY TWO – TEL AVIV – JERUSALEM
Upon arrival, meet your guide and driver and transfer to Jerusalem, the Holy City. Visit Rappaport’s sculpture of the “Scrolls of Fire,” located on the way to Jerusalem.
Upon entering Jerusalem, honor your religious heritage reciting
the “Shehechayanu” blessing.
Get together dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
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Jerusalem The Old City |
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DAY THREE – JERUSALEM |
Bar/Bat Mitzvah rehearsal with Rabbi at hotel.
From the top of Mount Scopus, enjoy your first panoramic overview of Jerusalem.
Enter the Old City via the Zion Gate, walk through the restored Jewish Quarter, passing the excavated Roman Cardo.
Visit the Herodian mansions and the Burnt House en route to the Western Wall.
On to the Rabbinical Tunnel. Reboard your motorcoach outside the Dung Gate and drive to Ein Karem to view Chagall’s famed stained glass windows at the synagogue of the Hadassah Hospital.
Visit the Time Elevator and journey through the rich 3000 year history of Jerusalem.
Overnight stay in Jerusalem.
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Jerusalem Jewish Quarter
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DAY FOUR – THURSDAY – JERUSALEM – MASSADA – DEAD SEA – JERUSALEM |
Begin your special Bar/Bat Mitzvah day descending through the Judean Wilderness and along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada.
Ascend by cable car to view the excavations of the Herodian palace, storerooms, bathhouse and waterworks.
At the remains of ancient Masada, witness the joy of your child’s coming of age!
You are our guest for lunch at one of the hotels at the Dead Sea where you will have an opportunity to experience the unique sensation of a “float” in the unsinkable Dead Sea.
Continue your Dead Sea adventure with a visit to Ein Gedi, the oasis of the Judean desert. Enjoy a short hike to the water falls.
On the way back to Jerusalem, pass the caves of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and have an opportunity to ride a camel.
Dinner out together. Overnight stay in Jerusalem.
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Dead Sea |
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DAY FIVE – FRIDAY – JERUSALEM |
Visit the Menorah, located next to the Knesset. On to the Israel Museum; visit the Shrine of the Book, housing the Dead Sea Scrolls, and stroll through the magnificent Billy Rose Sculpture Garden. Take time to view the inner dynamics of this unique location.
Visit the Scale Model of Jerusalem in its new location and see the replica of Jerusalem during the 2nd Temple period.
Continue to Mahane Yehuda, Jerusalem’s marketplace, to share in the spirit of preparation for Shabbat and to enjoy the best falafel in the country! After dressing for Shabbat, visit the Western Wall to welcome the Shabbat.
Shabbat dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem.
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Western Wall |
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DAY SIX – SATURDAY – JERUSALEM |
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Begin the day walking via the Italian Synagogue, a unique building dating from the 16th century that was transported from Florence to the Holy City.
The tour enters via the Jaffa Gate and winds through the narrow cobblestone alleys of the Christian, Moslem and Armenian Quarters.
See part of the Via Dolorosa, the “way of sorrows,” on to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
End the walk at the Tower of David, where the Museum of the History of Jerusalem beautifully explains the 3000-year story of the city.
Overnight stay in Jerusalem.
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DAY SEVEN – SUNDAY – JERUSALEM – TEL MARESHA – LATRUN – JERUSALEM |
Knesset |
Travel to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial, for a Yizkor service and visit to the majestic Children’s Pavilion and the brand new Museum. We’ll end our visit at the Valley of Destroyed Communities.
Stop at Mount Herzl, Israel’s military cemetery, to pay respects at the tomb of Yitzhak Rabin. Visit the Herzl Museum. Next, time to get “down and dirty,” as you participate in the archeological dig at Tel Maresha. Become a part of this land by planting your own tree in the ITAS Forest. On to Latrun, the famous War of Independence staging area. Tour its Armored Corps Museum.
Visit the Menorah, symbol of Israel, located
next to the Knesset.
Overnight stay in Jerusalem.
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DAY EIGHT – MONDAY – JERUSALEM – BEIT SHE’AN – BEIT ALPHA – TIBERIAS
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Morning drive along the Jordan Valley to the city of Beit She’an. Tour the extensive ongoing archaeological excavations in this Roman Decapolis city built next to ancient remains which figured prominently during the reign of King Saul.
On to Beit Alpha; see an exquisite mosaic floor in an ancient synagogue set in a pomegranate orchard.
Visit Gan Hashlosha Park Reserve; swim or simply relax enjoying the beautiful lush surroundings.
In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride on Lake Kenneret. End the day with a special Kibbutz home hospitality, sharing conversation and dinner with the Kibbutz members.
Overnight stay in Tiberias.
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Galillee |
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DAY NINE – TUESDAY – TIBERIAS – GOLAN HEIGHTS – KUNEITRA – SAFED – TIBERIAS |
Safed
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This morning explore the geo-politically vital Golan Heights by jeep! Continue by motorcoach to Mt. Bental for an observation over Kuneitra and Syria.
This site will give us a wonderful perspective of the important significance of the Golan Heights. This afternoon is for fun as you river raft on the mighty Jordan. Drive to Safed, home to the Kabala. This charming town, filled with cobblestone streets, lined with ancient synagogues and artist galleries, offers breathtaking views of the entire upper Galilee.
Drive back along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, Israel’s sole source of fresh water, and one of Israel’s favorite vacation spots, to Tiberias, once a rabbinical scholar center.
Dinner and overnight stay in Tiberias.
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DAY TEN – WEDNESDAY – TIBERIAS – HAIFA – CAESAREA – TEL AVIV
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Depart Tiberias and drive to Haifa; ascend Mount Carmel to appreciate the spectacular view of the coastline and the magnificent terraced gardens of the Baha’i World Center.
Continue to Caesarea to view the famous Roman Amphitheater and Aqueduct. End the day in Tel Aviv.
Overnight stay in Tel Aviv.
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Akko Panorama |
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DAY ELEVEN – THURSDAY – TEL AVIV – LATRUN – JAFFA – TEL AVIV |
Jaffa
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Visit ancient Jaffa where Jonah began his adventure with the whale. Take a short walk along the restored town.
Enjoy an overview of Tel Aviv and its narrow byways filled with artist galleries and cosmopolitan shops. Visit Independence Hall where the state of Israel was declared by David Ben Gurion in May 1948.
Drive to Rehovot and visit the Ayalon Institute (the Bullet Factory where the manufacturing of military ammunition was concealed by a Kibbutz laundry).
Tonight enjoy a special evening as you celebrate your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah together with our Farewell Dinner as we say “goodbye” to those leaving back to the US. Overnight stay in Tel Aviv for those who are continuing on to Eilat.
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DAY TWELVE – FRIDAY – TEL AVIV/EILAT |
This morning affords the opportunity for an aerial view of Israel’s terrain as you fly from Tel Aviv to the Red Sea resort city Eilat.
Upon arrival, drive to the Arava border crossing shared by Israel and Jordan. End your morning tour at the Underwater Observatory where you have the chance to see the unique sea life of the Red Sea.
Time this afternoon to enjoy your hotel’s surroundings and sparkling waters. Enjoy Shabbat dinner at your hotel. Overnight stay in Eilat.
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DAY THIRTEEN – SATURDAY – EILAT |
Full day of leisure to enjoy the amenities of the hotel and beach. Or enjoy a Yacht Cruise with lunch included. Overnight stay in Eilat.
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People in Eilat |
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DAY FOURTEEN – SUNDAY – EILAT/TEL AVIV |
Red Sea |
Enjoy a morning of leisure.
Late check-out from hotel.
Transfer to Eilat Airport for your flight to Tel Aviv.
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DAY FIFTEEN – MONDAY – TEL AVIV/NY
Your flight back to the states departs after midnight. Return home filled with a treasury of family-shared memories for a lifetime! Arrive in the USA the same day.
Please note: The above itinerary may be subject to change. *Please note: All the pictures on this page are courtesy of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, and the artists Albatross Ltd. and Itamar Grinberg Photography Ltd.
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