Beis Shmuel Israel Experience

WELCOME TO IsraelNation of the Jewish People

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

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

• Overnight: David Citadel Hotel Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World View Rooms

• After breakfast, 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.

• 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.

• 1pm 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.

• 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. Ever since a chair has been reserved specifically for his next appearance.

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

• Overnight: David Citadel Hotel Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World View Rooms

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

• 8am 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.

• Daven sachris on top of MasadaAncient Fort on the shores of the Dead Sea at the ancient synagogue and then explore the ancient remains of the fortifications, King HerodA notorious king, ruled in the time of the second temple's palace, storerooms and baths.

• Continue along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and a rich source of minerals for export.

• Head back to JerusalemThe capital of Israel to 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 in 1967 became a symbol to the bravery of the Israeli soldiers in the battle for JerusalemThe capital of Israel.

• Overnight: David Citadel Hotel Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World View Rooms

• After breakfast, depart in an armored vehicle for Kfar Etzion to learn about the history of the struggle for Gush Eztion in a moving multimedia sound a light presentation.

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

• Return to Jeruaslem & test your “Israeli bargaining skills” at the Machne YehudaJerusalem's Vibrant Market Shuk (open market).

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.

• Enjoy Shabbat Dinner & Chassidic Farbrengen at the Tzemach Tzedek ShulChabbad Shul in Jerusalem.

• Overnight: David Citadel Hotel Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World View Rooms

• After breakfast, head over to the Mayanot shulJewish House of Worship for morning davening.

• At noon when prayers are finished…

• We will join the Mayanot shulJewish House of Worship with a community Kiddush with plenty of chulent to go around! Enjoy food singing and l’chaims with this amazingly warm & welcoming community.

• Enjoy Shabbat Lunch at your hotel

• Rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

• Overnight: David Citadel Hotel Deluxe Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World View Rooms

• 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.

• Next, in true Biblical fashion, we adorn traditional garb at Kfar KedemRecreated Ancient VIllage in Galilee (Ancient Village) and take a short donkey ride in the scenic hills of the Galilee. From our donkeys back we will be able to admire IsraelNation of the Jewish People’s countryside, which has hardly changed since days of old.

• Arrive in TiberiusOne of Israel's 4 Holy Cities and visit the resting places of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess, Rabbi Akivaone of the most central contributors to the early Oral Torah & Rambam.

• 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.

• Overnight: Ruththe great-grandmother of King David Rimonim Hotelone of the picturesque hotels of the world, TzfatOne of the 4 Holy Cities

• For morning prayers, visit Mount Meron, the resting place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochaione of the great Tannaitic sages who lived during the era of Roman persecution, author of the Zohar, a fundamental kabbalisitic work.

• 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.

• Here likes the Visit the Valley of Tears, where one of the bloodiest battles of the Yom Kippur WarIsrael defends itself in 1973 was fought. A great lookout to see the Heights, and especially the Syrian side of the border, is from the now abandoned Israeli bunker 4,000 feet (1,200 m.) above sea level on Mount Bental.

• 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.

• 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.

• Enjoy wine tasting at the Golan Heights winery.

• Transfer to Ben GurionFirst Prime Minister of Israel Airport for a late night departure (1am)