Rabbi Stone Summer Experience

WELCOME TO IsraelNation of the Jewish People

• 3:30pm Touchdown at Ben Gurion International AirportIsrael's only international gateway.

• Before clearing passport control a VIPIsraelDont Just See It... VIP It! representative will be waiting to welcome you at the door of your plane as you exit the plane. You will be transported quickly through the airport, pass immigration at the flight crew counter where passport control is efficiently expedited and continue to facilitate luggage identification and handling; & escort you through customs.

• Ascend to JerusalemThe capital of Israel & Check into your hotel to freshen up and relax.

• Spend the afternoon relaxing, enjoy dinner and then head to the KotelHoliest place on Earth.

• 8:30pm Reserved Descend to 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".

• Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel (Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World Rooms)

• After breakfast, tour the amazing City of King David.

• 10am Reserved Begin with a breathtaking observation overlooking Biblical JerusalemThe capital of Israel and observe 3,800 years of history dating back in time to the days of Abraham, when the first foundations of the city were laid.

• The journey quickly heads underground to some of the newest archaeological excavations at the site. Here, while exploring the recently excavated fortresses and passageways, you will relive King David's conquest of the Jebusite city as described in the 2nd Book of Samuelan important leader of ancient Israel..

• Enter the Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World walls and start at 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.

• Nearby see the Four Sephardic synagogues founded in 1588, the oldest of of the four known as the “Eliyahu HaNavi’ Sysnagogue- supposedly, according to tradition, Eliyahu the Prophet appeared during Yom Kippur to be the 10th member of a minyan.

• See the Herodian Mansions at The Wohl Archaeological Museum preserves the extraordinary discoveries made during excavations carried out between 1969 and 1983, that revealed remains of magnificent buildings from the time of the Herodian dynasty period 37 B.C.E. till 70 C.E.

• See the Temple Institute which houses a collection of artifacts from the First and Second Temple Periods.

• Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel (Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World Rooms)

• 7:30am After breakfast depart to the Dead Sea area traveling south through the Judean Wilderness.

• 9:15am Arrive at MasadaAncient Fort on the shores of the Dead Sea - 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.

• 1pm 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.

• 3:00pm 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!

• 5pm Reserved Toward the afternoon, visit ‘Eretz Beresheit’ / Genesis Land; to enjoy camel tour & traditional desert dinner.

• Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel (Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World Rooms)

• 9am Reserved After breakfast, depart in an armored vehicle and then stop for TehillimBook of chants composed mainly by King David and supplication at the very special site of Rachel’s Tomb. (Pending military approval)

• 10am Reserved Learn about the history of the struggle for Gush Eztion in a moving multimedia sound a light presentation at Kefar Etzion.

• We head next to Herodion, one of the most fascinating structures from the ancient world. This fortress was built by King HerodA notorious king, ruled in the time of the second temple, who commanded an artificial hill by having earth to be piled up around the walls. At the time of the Bar KochvaLeader of the Jewish revolt against Rome Revolt, the Jewish fighters dug tunnels into the mountain and hid out there. The tunnels were dug in secret and were used as the base for guerilla warfare against the Roman enemy.

• Onto the holy city of Chevron, visit Ma’arat Hamachpela where our patriarchs and matriarchs are buried: Avraham, Yitzchok, Yaacov and their wives. Tradition also holds this to be the burial place of ‘Adam & Eve.’

• Return to JerusalemThe capital of Israel & enjoy a walk & test your “Israeli bargaining skills” at the Machne YehudaJerusalem's Vibrant Market Market and Meah Shaarim to see how Jerusalemites prepare last minute before 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.

• Overnight: Sheraton PlazaExcellent hotel afew minutes distance from the Old City Hotel, JerusalemThe capital of Israel (Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World Rooms)

• After a light breakfast, walk to The Mayanot shulJewish House of Worship or the Great Synagogue for davening or to a synagogue of your choice.

• 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.

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head north along IsraelNation of the Jewish People’s coast.

• 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.

• 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 & Mansion, and the Roman AqueductsAncient Roman Structures.

• Next visit Rosh Hanikrah, the northernmost point on the Mediterranean shore of IsraelNation of the Jewish People, where a chalk mountain range meets the sea.

• Ride from the mountain top down to sea level via cable car to explore the Grotto’s formed over thousands of years-truly a wonder of creation.

• 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 years old.

• Walk on the city walls & Ramparts 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 and next explore 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.

• Visit a Tunisian synagogue to view the most amazing mosaics you’ve ever seen.

• Arrive in TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities to check into your hotel and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Sea of Galilee and dinner at Deck’s Restaurant overlooking the water.

• Overnight: Galei KinneretSea of Galilee Hotel, TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities.

• IDF Base location TBA After breakfast, check out of your hotel and ascend the Golan Heights, where you will have the very special privilege of being the guest of an Armored Brigade at their IDF base. This is an exclusive VIP experience!

• Your next stop is the observation point on Mount Bental, overlooking the Mount Hermonthe highest mountain in Israel area and the entire Golan Heights. From here you can see the mountains of the Galilee and Lebanon, and eastward into Syria. A dormant Volcano, Mount Bental is also an eye-opening lesson in how this part of “Eretz Yisroel” was physically created.

• 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.

• 3:30pm Reserved 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.

• See the unique synagogues such as the Ari Sephardi, Ari Ashkenazi, Ari Beit Midrash, Caro Synagogue, Abuhav synagogue (built in 1490) and many more of the local ChassidimJewish Mystics and take a dip in the famous Mikveh of the Ari z"l in the mystical city.

• 10pm Arrival to Ben Giurion 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.