Chabad of Monterey Israel Experience

WELCOME TO IsraelNation of the Jewish People

• 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.

• 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 evening relaxing, and have Dinner at one of JerusalemThe capital of Israel’s many fine restaurants or the hotel

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

Erev Shavuous

• 9am Reserved After breakfast, 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".

• 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.

• 1pm Reserved Tour the amazing City of King David.

• 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. Kings, SolomonThe Wise King of Israel was anointed king.

• Towards evening…prepare for services to welcome Shavuous.

• Enjoy a festive dinner & spend the evening learning with Rabbi Holtzberg

• Towards sunrise (3am-4am) head toward the Western Wall as thousands of Jerusalemites converge toward the Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World for morning prayers; this is an amazing site to behold!

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

Shavuos

• Enjoy Shavuos lunch in your hotel and get some rest!

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

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

• 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.

• 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 lunch and entrance to a Dead Sea Spa at the Le MeridianWonderful Accomodation at the Shores of the Dead Sea Dead Sea Hotel.

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

• After breakfast, travel to tour the new Yad VashemHolocaust Museum in Jerusalem Complex, was completed in the spring of 2005 a memorial to the six million innocent victims of the Holocaust.

• Continue on to visit the famous and remarkable Israel Museum to visit The Shrine of the BookHome to the Dead Sea Scrolls, where you will be able to view the Dead Sea Scrolls housed in a specially built structure - an architectural masterpiece.

• Also on the museum grounds is a huge outdoor model of JerusalemThe capital of Israel during the second temple period, you don’t want to miss this.

• Spend the afternoon exploring JerusalemThe capital of Israel amazing shops & boutiques and enjoy this wonderful city.

• Enjoy a walk & test your “Israeli bargaining skills” at the Machne YehudaJerusalem's Vibrant Market Shuk (open market).

Day at Leisure

• 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.

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

• 8am (with Passports) After breakfast, visit the Israeli Parliament to observe the KnessetIsrael's Parliament Building sessions from the public gallery on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (individuals may arrive directly with their identity cards or passports).

• 12pm Reserved 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.

• 2pm Reserved Next, we will visit 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!

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

• 9:30am Reserved 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)

• Stop for a moment of reflection and take a small piece of authentic Red String. Although not written about in any Kabbalistic sources, the red string is an old tradition. A thread is wrapped seven times around the Tomb of RachelRachel, beloved wife of Jacob, mother of the Jewish people is buried here., and then cut into little cords. It is then said to give protection from the "Evil Eye" for one who wears it on his or her wrist.

• 2pm Reserved Learn about the history of the struggle for Gush Eztion in a moving multimedia sound a light presentation at Kefar Etzion.

• Onto the holy city of Chevron, visit Ma’arat Hamachpela where our patriarchs and matriarchs are buried: Avraham, Yitzchok, Yaacov and their wives. Walk in their footsteps and those of King David, Ruththe great-grandmother of King David, and the holy Tzadeket Menucha Rochel. Tradition also holds this to be the burial place of ‘Adam & Eve.’

• Meet some of the very special families who live in this special neighborhood & Rabbi Danni Cohen the Chabad Rabbi of Chevron.

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

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and travel north along the Jordan valley to the ancient remains of Beit SheanThe largest and most unique ancient site in Israel – one of the oldest settled sites in the country. This is where, in biblical times, the bodies of King Saul and his sons were nailed to the city walls by the Philistines. The Beit SheanThe largest and most unique ancient site in Israel National Park houses incredible archeological treasures. If the day is too hot, cool off in the Ma’yan Harod Pool or Huga Park.

• Onroute, stop at Beit Alfa to view one if the most beautiful mosaic floors in the country.

• Tour the ancient, magnificently excavated city of Tzippori, home to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasiThe editor of the Mishna. This city did not participate in the rebellion against the Romans, and hence was not destroyed. See an ancient theatre and a villa with a beautiful mosaic floor and other finds from the time of the Mishna.

• Walk through the amazing ancient conduit, which brought water to the city.

• 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. Yehudah HaNasi was buried in the Necropolis, an amazing underground network of tunnels stairways and caves.

• Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi

• After breakfast, travel 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.

• At the Golan Magic Welcome Center in Katzrin to view a dazzling movie in 180 degrees to experience the Golan Heights!

• View a colorful accurate model of the Golan Heights, one of a kind in IsraelNation of the Jewish People. The model uses unique lighting effects that run along the streams, canyons and settlements of the Golan Heights.

• 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 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..

• 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.

• Head to TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities for a sunset cruise on the Sea of Galilee

• Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi

• After breakfast check out of your hotel and head south along the coast.

• 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 flavors and ambience of the famous Dizengoff St., Shenken St. & Rothchilde Ave

• 10:30am 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

• 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.

• 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.