Congregation Etz Chaim

WELCOME TO IsraelNation of the Jewish People

• Touchdown at Ben Gurion International AirportIsrael's only international gateway. (morning or afternoon landing)

• After clearing passport control a VIPIsraelDont Just See It... VIP It! representatives will be waiting to welcome you. They will facilitate luggage identification and handling; & escort you through customs.

• Ascend to JerusalemThe capital of Israel.

• Upon your first view of the eternal Holy City, stop for a moment of reflection and davening. Make the “shehehianu” prayer as you gaze upon the Temple MountThe Location of the Temple at Jerusalem from the Has PromenadeProvides a tremendous view of Jerusalem and beyond..

• Check into your hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing.

• Enjoy a Welcome dinner at your hotel with orientation from your guide, and a visit from a representative from the Ministry of Tourism.

Overnight: Prima Kings HotelWonderful Hotel at the Heart of Jerusalem Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

JerusalemThe capital of Israel Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World

• After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of the archaeological discoveries excavated in the Western Wall Tunnelslabyrinth of passageways at the Temple Mount. Inside, a most interesting model shows the different dwelling periods and history of the inhabitants of JerusalemThe capital of Israel. Stand on the site believed to be the nearest spot to the "Holy of HoliesThe room in the Jewish Temple where the Ark of the Covenant stood".

• Enjoy a visit to the Davidson CenterThe Jerusalem Archaeological Park – the newly opened visitors’ center, located at the JerusalemThe capital of Israel Archaeological Park.

• Tour the Southern Wallone of the most important archeological projects in recent history Excavations where some of the most important archaeological discoveries have been unearthed, proving this to be one of the key areas of JerusalemThe capital of Israel. Amongst these remains is a complex of royal palaces dating back to the 7th century.

• Take a Guided tour of the Jewish Quarter that was reconstructed after the city was unified at the conclusion of the Six-Day War in 1967. A special point of interest in the restored Jewish Quarter is the "CardoThe heart of Jerusalem's Old City Jewish quarter", meaning the "heart" of this ancient Byzantine City. View the unearthed main Roman thoroughfare and ancient marketplace lined with columns. Nearby see the four Sephardic synagogues.

• Visit the excavated ruins of a “Burnt House” that was part of JerusalemThe capital of Israel during the Second Temple period. These burned ruins remained undisturbed until they were uncovered in the 1970’s.

• On to the excavations of the Herodian Mansions, located beneath the present-day Jewish quarter, showing how the high priests and wealthy Jerusalemites of old lived.

• Visit the Tomb of King David. A solemn tomb which also contains the Torahthe central and most important document of Judaism ‘crowns’ from communities destroyed in the Holocaust.

• Enjoy dinner at

Overnight: Prima Kings HotelWonderful Hotel at the Heart of Jerusalem, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

MasadaAncient Fort on the shores of the Dead Sea/ Dead Sea

• After breakfast depart to the Dead Sea area traveling south through the Judean Wilderness.

• Arrive at Massada - Ascend the cliff top fortress by cable car, or for the more daring, ascend the snake path just as the Jews did thousands of years ago.

• Explore the ancient remains of the fortifications, King HerodA notorious king, ruled in the time of the second temple's palace, storerooms and baths. Discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times with your guide

• Descend by cable car. It is possible to descend on foot via the old Roman RampWall erected by the Romans in 72 CE, or again via the snake path.

• Take in the beauty of the natural Ein Gedi WaterfallJust north of Masada, a desert oasis of hiking trails, waterfalls and lush greenery, take a light hike along a waterfall oasis, whose beauty exudes vibrant hues of green, red, blue and yellow, a small slice of heaven.

• Continue along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and a rich source of minerals for export. Take a swim or ‘float’ & let the buoyant waters support you as you relax on your back and think of nothing else but the sea and the salt all around you!

• Enjoy a desert dinner at ‘Eretz Beresheit’ / Genesis Land.

• Late night return to JerusalemThe capital of Israel

Overnight: Prima Kings HotelWonderful Hotel at the Heart of Jerusalem, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

• Our next stop will be at the Ayalon InstituteSecret Underground Ammunitions Factory Museum, situated north of the city of Rehovot. This was the first clandestine bullet production factory operated by members of the Hatzofim Aleph, Palmachthe elite striking force of the Haganah, and Habonim pioneer groups during the British Mandate rule. After viewing an audio-visual presentation we will discover the secret entrance to the underground bullet factory, which was so successfully disguised from the British!

• Cross the Ayalon ValleyAncient Israel Battleground, a major battlefield throughout history. The Latrun Police StationAn old British police station and prison. located here was the scene of much bloodshed during the War of LiberationThe 1948 Arab-Israeli War in 1948 and was liberated from Jordanian rule in 1967.

• Visit the Memorial Wall and view a short, moving audio-visual documentary offering a more in-depth explanation of the battles fought here.

• Tour the Armored Brigade MuseumExhibitions of the Armored Corps Legacy housing an impressive exhibit of armored vehicles.

• Tour the brand new “Mini-IsraelNation of the Jewish People,” where you can see over 350 detailed, miniature crafted exact replica models of historical, religious, archeological and modern sites throughout IsraelNation of the Jewish People – those you have just seen during this trip and those you will want to see next time!

• Return to JerusalemThe capital of Israel and enjoy dinner at Red Heifer Steakhouselocated in the heart of Jerusalem in a charming Arab period house, JerusalemThe capital of Israel.

Overnight: Prima Kings HotelWonderful Hotel at the Heart of Jerusalem, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

• New JerusalemThe capital of Israel

• After breakfast, visit the famous and remarkable Israel Museum where you will be met and addressed by one of the Curators of masterpiece, The Shrine of the BookHome to the Dead Sea Scrolls, where you will be able to view the Dead Sea Scrolls

• Tour Mt. Herzl's new Museum dedicated to the life of Theodore HerzlThe founder of modern political Zionism, the father of the Zionist Movement.

• At Mt. Herzl, visit the gravesites of Prime Minister Golda Meir, Theodore HerzlThe founder of modern political Zionism, Prime Minister Yitzhak RabinThe Assassinated Prime Minister [1922 -1995] & others.

• Learn about the Heroism of the 1967 battle for JerusalemThe capital of Israel at the Ammunition HillOne of bloodiest battles of the Six-Day War, once a Jordanian army camp, which in the time of the Six Day War1967 Arab-Israeli War became a symbol to the bravery of the Israeli soldiers in the battle in JerusalemThe capital of Israel.

• Tour of the new Yad VashemHolocaust Museum in Jerusalem, the memorial to the six million innocent victims of the Holocaust. Walk through the Museum escorted by a holocaust survivor who will share his personal story with us as we walk through the exhibitions.

Towards evening.....WELCOME SHABBAT AT THE KotelHoliest place on Earth

• As the sun sets preparations will be made for welcoming the Shabbat with prayers and dancing at the KotelHoliest place on Earth. As you enter the Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World, look around you and notice how people from all corners of the world enter through the various Gates with one purpose in mind, to welcome the Shabbat Bride at the holiest place on earth.

• Enjoy a spirited Shabbat Dinner led by Rabbi Bloom at your hotel dining room.

Overnight: Prima Kings HotelWonderful Hotel at the Heart of Jerusalem, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

• Shabbat services at the Great Synagogue, Fuchsburg Center, or a synagogue of your Enjoy a Shabbat Buffet at your hotel with your group.

• Enjoy a guided Shabbat afternoon walking tour in local neighborhoods of Meah Shearim, NachlaotJerusalem's Central Most Neighborhood, RechaviaQuaint Jerusalem neighborhood, Yemin Moshe, The German Colony to see JerusalemThe capital of Israel’s oldest & most unique neighborhoods.

• As Shabbat expires, participate in a moving Havdallah service with your Rabbi in the hotel

• After Shabbat, enjoy shopping and dinner at JerusalemThe capital of Israel’s Ben Yehuda Outdoor MallJerusalem's Outdoor Pedestrian Mall, where the young JerusalemThe capital of Israel comes to life.

Overnight: Prima Kings HotelWonderful Hotel at the Heart of Jerusalem, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

DESCRIPTION FOR DAY 6

Coastal Tour

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and travel up the coast to visit the ancient city of Caesarea, built by HerodA notorious king, ruled in the time of the second temple the Great and once the seat of Roman rule.

• Visit the Caesarea Harbor Project where a fascinating cinematic exhibition will take you on an enchanted voyage through the history of Caesarea. Along the route, you will be exposed to the various civilizations which ruled the city, including the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Crusaders.

• Visit the Caesarea National Park contains an impressive Roman Ampitheatre, the Hippodrome, a horse-racing arena that could seat 20,000; also a giant headless statue on Byzantine StreetAncient Street of Shops, and the Roman AqueductsAncient Roman Structures.

• Further along the coastline, visit the ancient city of AccoAncient Northern Israel Port City (Acre) 14 miles above HaifaIsrael's third largest city, once known as the Crusaders capital of the north. This city is almost 4,000 yars old.

• Walk on the city walls to the harbor, then through the colorful markets to visit the huge, cool yet spooky Subterranean Crusader Halls. Explore gates, towers, tunnels, and secret passageways!

• Situated above these halls is the notorious Acco PrisonAncient Crusader Prison that was built by the Turks and later used by the British to imprison Jewish underground fighters during their struggle against British rule. See a model of a mass escape of over 200 prisoners in May 1947, later made famous by the movie Exodus.

• Head inland to reach TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities and check into your hotel.

• Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Sea of Galilee and dinner at Deck’s Restaurant.

Overnight: Golden Tulip Hotel, TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities

Golan Heights

• Ascend the Golan Heights, where you will have the very special privilege of being the guest of an Armored Brigade at their base. The Brigade stopped the advance of the Syrian army during the Yom Kippur WarIsrael defends itself in 1973. During your visit, meet and talk with soldiers and officers stationed there as you join them for an army-style lunch.

• Ascend the new cable cars up the mountain towards Kibbutz ManaraIsrael's most northern kibbutz, the northern most Kibbutz in IsraelNation of the Jewish People. Halfway up the mountain stop to be adventurous as we try our hand at Cliff Rappelling, and other activities.

• Onward to Katzrin, which was established in 1977 and was one of the first urban settlements in the Golan. While in Katzrin, see a fascinating audio-visual presentation

• describing the history of the Golan throughout the ages. Tour the ancient reconstructed Talmudic Village and a partially restored 1,500-year-old synagogue.

• Enjoy wine tasting at the Golan Heights winery.

• Onward to TzfatOne of the 4 Holy Cities to absorb the special ambience of this town of contrasts, where ancient sites such as The ArizalRabbi Isaac Luria; Jewish Scholar and Mystic’s synagogue and the ancient burial site of Shlomo HaLevi (author of Lechah Dodi) exist side by side with today’s modern art galleries.

• Visit TzfatOne of the 4 Holy Cities's restored Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World including the artists' colony. TzfatOne of the 4 Holy Cities has much to offer in the way of art galleries, gift-shops and restaurants found tucked away amongst the winding, cobblestone streets.

• As you wander through the narrow, winding alleys, visit some of the beautiful synagogues and browse through the artists’ workshops and galleries found in the flourishing artists' quarter, and take a dip in the famous Mikveh of the Ari z"l in the mystical city.

• Stop by TzfatOne of the 4 Holy Cities’s famous candle shop and visit art and sculpture galleries.

• We will then enjoy dinner and join a discussion on Kabbalah with Rabbi LeiterDirector of Ascent, director of ‘Ascent of TzfatOne of the 4 Holy Cities’, the center for Jewish Mysticism in TzfatOne of the 4 Holy Cities and the Galilee. You will enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in the enclosed courtyards, shaded by canopies of grape vines and take in a fantastic view from the roof overlooking Mount Meron and the Galillean Hills.

• Late night return to TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities

Overnight: Golden Tulip Hotel, TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities

Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head south.

• On to view the White City of Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center, whose outstanding architecture blends the various trends of the Modern Movement and town planning in the early part of the 20th century.

• Learn about the History of the modern state at the Hall of Independence where Ben GurionFirst Prime Minister of Israel Declared Independence in 1948 .

• Visit the spectacular “Palmach MuseumA museum which gives a sense of the period that led to the founding of the state”. Through a modern multi-media presentation, view the history of the Palmachthe elite striking force of the Haganah from 1941 to the War of Independence and the establishment of the State of IsraelNation of the Jewish People

• Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center is the business and the cultural center of IsraelNation of the Jewish People. Visit the Diaspora Museum at University of Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center. The museum illustrates the life of the Jews in different communities around the world during 2000 years of exile.

• Farewell Dinner at China Lee Restaurant, Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center.

• Transfer to Ben GurionFirst Prime Minister of Israel Airport for the departure flight home where you will be met by a VIPIsraelDont Just See It... VIP It! representative will be waiting to assist you in your temporary departure from IsraelNation of the Jewish People.