Rabbi Rappaport 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.

• Head north along the IsraelNation of the Jewish People coast until you reach Kibbutz Lavi for check in and a welcome dinner.

• Overnight & Dinner: Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee

• After breakfast, 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!

• Tel DanAncient Canaanite Remains could be found at this location Nature Reserve is a nature reserve at the foot of Mount Hermonthe highest mountain in Israel which includes archeological remains from the ancient town of Dan- the City of Laish, which members of the tribe Dan captured for their homeland. Important remains were discovered in a Mycenaean grave from the late Canaanite period.

The tribe of Dan found it difficult to deal with the pressures brought by the Philistines, and therefore decided to go north and ultimately settled here in this amazing natural wonderland.

• 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

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

• Overnight & Dinner: Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee

• 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.

• At the Golan Magic Welcome Center in Katzrin, 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. The visitor center complex also house the Golan Heights Brewery, & Mei Eden Spring Water Visitors Center.

• 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..

• 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.

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

• Overnight & Dinner: Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head toward the coast.

• 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.

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

• 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)

• 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.’

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

• Return to JerusalemThe capital of Israel and enjoy a walk & 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. Singing and dancing with true Chabad spirit.

• Enjoy Shabbat Dinner & Chassidic Farbrengen at the Tzemach Tzedek ShulChabbad Shul in Jerusalem in JerusalemThe capital of Israel’s Old CityThe Holiest Center in the World; this is a VIP exclusive experience.

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

• 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, you may like to take a walk down Ben Yehuda StreetJerusalem's Outdoor Pedestrian Mall. 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

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

• 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. 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Next view the excavated ruins of a “Burnt House,” home to Kathros, High Priest mentioned in the Talmud from the Second Temple period. These burned ruins remained undisturbed until they were uncovered in the 1970’s.

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

• After breakfast, checj out of your hotel and depart toward Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center

• 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

• Browse the shops and experience the unique flavors and ambience of the famous Dizengoff St., Shenken St. & Rothchilde Ave

• The Carmel Market is imbued with oriental flavor, on of the few places in the city that reminds visitors of Tel AvivIsrael's largest city and biggest commercial center’s Middle Eastern location. Tour the aromatic and enticing stalls of fresh fruits and vegetables, hot breads and spices.

• 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.