Rabbi Hanoka & Chabad of Pasedena Mini-Mission

WELCOME TO IsraelNation of the Jewish People

• Touchdown at Ben Gurion International AirportIsrael's only international gateway.

• After clearing passport control a VIPIsraelDont Just See It... VIP It! representative will be waiting to welcome you. He 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., as did Abraham when he prepared to sacrifice Isaac; take in the breathtaking view.

• Check into the hotel

• Spend the afternoon relaxing, you may like to take a walk down Ben Yehuda StreetJerusalem's Outdoor Pedestrian Mall. On Saturday nights, Ben Yehuda StreetJerusalem's Outdoor Pedestrian Mall is one of the favorite gathering places for many young Jerusalemites. There are many artists displaying their jewelry and crafts, as well as many wonderful sidewalk cafes.

• Enjoy a Welcome Dinner at one of JerusalemThe capital of Israel’s many fine restaurants or your hotel

Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

JerusalemThe capital of Israel’s 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.

• Stop over at the Tzemach Tzedek ShulChabbad Shul in Jerusalem, established by the Chasidim of the Tzemach TzedekChabbad Shul in Jerusalem. The only Shull that survived the war in ’48.

• 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.

• Then visit the remarkable JerusalemThe capital of Israel Museum, (David’s Tower Museum) located in the impeccably restored ancient Citadel.

• Enjoy Dinner at the Red Heifer Steakhouselocated in the heart of Jerusalem in a charming Arab period house, JerusalemThe capital of Israel finest.

Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

Galilee

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

• On route, tour the ancient, magnificently excavated city of Tzippori, home to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasiThe editor of the Mishna, and see beautiful mosaics and other finds from the time of the Mishna.

• Visit a 4,500 seat Roman theatre, the Nile Mosaic building, and the giant underground waterworks.

• Nearby Beit ShearimBeit_Shearim houses catacombs from over 1700 years ago, the times of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi. These eerie caverns and chambers are fun for the adventurous child.

• 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.

• Arrive to Kibbutz Lavi to relax for the evening, and enjoy a gourmet dinner in the hotel.

Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi

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, and are the first line of defense against Lebanese and Syrian rocket attacks. During your visit, meet and talk with soldiers and officers stationed there.

• Rabbi Shlomie Foldfarb, Chief Rabbi of Kfar Vradin, and who is in charge of a special army unit will guide you and explain exactly what these communities experiences while under attack from Hezbullah.

• Onward further north 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.

• Drive to a shooting range, a place where some of the secret forces of IsraelNation of the Jewish People are trained and we will practice shooting from an automatic UziIsraeli submachine gun gun, an AK47 (Kalashnikov). This is an exclusive and amazing experience.

• Enjoy wine tasting at the Golan Heights winery.

• Return to TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities in time for a sunset cruise on the Sea of Galilee and dinner at Deck’s restaurant, overlooking the water.

Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head south toward JerusalemThe capital of Israel.

• After arrival in JerusalemThe capital of Israel, check into your hotel.

• Enjoy a walk & test your “Israeli bargaining skills” at the Machne YehudaJerusalem's Vibrant Market Shuk (open market) and experience how a typical Yerushalmi prepares for Shabbat.

WELCOME SHABBAT AT THE KotelHoliest place on Earth (WESTERN WALL)

As the sun sets preparations will be made for welcoming the Shabbat

• Upon reaching the steps leading down to the KotelHoliest place on Earth, look around and notice people from all corners of the world converging together with one purpose in mind; to welcome the Shabbat at the holiest place on earth for JudaismThe religion of the Jewish people. Singing and dancing with true Chabad spirit.

• Enjoy Shabbat Dinner with a true Chabad spirit at hotel, L’Chaim!

Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

• (No official ‘starting times’ today, enjoy!)

• After a light breakfast, walk to The Tzemach TzedekChabbad Shul in Jerusalem Shull for Davening (or to a synagogue of your choice. A list of nearby synagogues will be provided.)

• Return to your hotel for a Chabad spirited Shabbat lunch, L’Chaim!

• 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: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

• After breakfast, experience a very powerful tour of the new Yad VashemHolocaust Museum in Jerusalem, the memorial to the six million innocent victims of the Holocaust.

• 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.

• Continue on to visit the famous and remarkable Israel Museum.

• On the premises, housed in a specially built structure - an architectural masterpiece, The Shrine of the BookHome to the Dead Sea Scrolls, where you will be able to view the Dead Sea Scrolls.

• Spend the evening relaxing in JerusalemThe capital of Israel absorbing in this special city.

• Enjoy dinner at Yoja Japanese RestaurantYoJa - wonderful Japanese restaurant in Jerusalem, in JerusalemThe capital of Israel’s German Colony

Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and say goodbye to JerusalemThe capital of Israel.

• Drive to Kfar ChabadLubavitch Village in Israel – visit with Children of Chernobyl, tour an etrog plantation, be inspired by the Israeli replica of “770Chabad-Lubavitch Movement World Headquarters”, see the “RebbeRabbi Menachem Schneerson the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s’ village (the largest and most active educational village in IsraelNation of the Jewish People).

• Learn about the ‘Victims of Terror’ program which assists families who lost loved ones in terror attacks against Israeli citizens.

• 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.

• Browse the shops and experience the unique flavor of the famous Dizengoff St.

• Notice the amazing old and new architecture as Bauhaus design mixes with modern skyscrapers.

• Continue to Visit "HaCarmel" market –the open air shuk (market) for the fresh fruit and vegetable of Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center.

• In nearby JaffaAn ancient port city near Tel Aviv is a flourishing flea market (shuk hapishpeshimFlea Market) where you can test your bargaining power and pick up a few souvenirs and presents from the array of old, new, antique and odd objects on sale. These range from furniture, pottery, brassware, rugs and clothing.

• Visit Old JaffaWorld Heritage Site port that was the most important port at the ancient times. Through this port the cedars from Lebanon were imported in order to build SolomonThe Wise King of Israel's Temple in JerusalemThe capital of Israel.

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

• Transfer to Ben GurionFirst Prime Minister of Israel, Declared State Independence in 1948 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