Monday, May 2
Departure Flight
Tuesday, May 3
Opening Program in Old Jaffa followed by welcome dinner at Kapiche Cafe and check-in.
Wednesday, May 4
Begin the day at Independence Hall to reenact the moving moment when the State of Israel was declared by David Ben Gurion
“Dialogue Through the Darkness” at the Holon Museum.
Visit the Neot Kedumim Biblical Nature Reserve. Enjoy sheep herding and other activities. Stroll through Old Jaffa or the “Namal”.
Thursday, May 5
Learn about the young Jewish heroine, Hanah Senesh, at Kibbutz Sdot Yam. Travel north along the Mediterranean. Stroll through the Druze market in Daliat-al-Carmel followed by Druze hospitality lunch. Continue to northern Galil. Kayak adventure on the Jordan River. Dinner in Zefat.
Friday, May 6
Ascend the Golan Heights. Meet Elaine Hoter, who wrote a childrens’ book after her son was killed by terrorists. Hands-on chocolate workshop at the De Karina Boutique Chocolate factory on Kibbutz Ein Zivan. Visit the bunkers overlooking Syria at Mt. Bental. Return to Zefat to prepare for Shabbat.
Kabbalat Shabbat at Beirav Carlebach minyan or the Women’s minyan.
Home Hospitality Festive Shabbat dinner.
Shabbat, May 7
Shabbat morning tefilot at local synagogue followed by walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. Shabbat lunch and rest time. Meeting with Kabbalistic artist, David Friedman. Seudah Shlishit with host families. Group Havdalah. Night tour of Zefat’s cemetery and alleyways. Pizza and ice cream party.
Sunday, May 8
Yom Hazikaron Walking tour of the synagogues of the mystics, like Rabbi Yosef Caro and Ha’Ari z”l. Shopping time at the candle factory and Jewish quarter. Chessed program in the pediatric ward of Zefat’s Zieff hospital.
Travel to the development town of Yerucham in the Negev.
Monday, May 9
Yom Hazikaron Attend the community wide memorial tekes with local students. Bike ride in the area of Sdeh Boker and the Wilderness of Zin, where the Children of Israel wandered in the desert. Visit the grave of David Ben Gurion at Kibbutz Sdeh Boker. Home Hospitality Morrocan dinner in home of Yerucham residents.
Tuesday, May 10
Yom Ha’atzmaut Colored Sands in Maktesh Hakatan. Visit the Hatzerim Airforce Base near Beersheva. View the special Independence Day “fly over” of different Israeli Air force Planes. Camel Ride in Mamshit. Ein Avdat hike. “Erev Bishul”-make your own BBQ Dinner and camping.
Wednesday, May 11
Dawn hike at Nahal Havarin. Breakfast. Visit Kibbutz Ein Gedi (Dani). Nahal David hike in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. Float in the Dead Sea.
Meet Ethiopian women who crossed the desert to Sudan to wait for months in refugee camps before being airlifted to Israel by the Mossad.
Thursday, May 12
Begin the day with a spectacular outlook over Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus. Text study on “Lecha, Lecha” and Abraham. Descend to the City of David. Walk through Hezekiah’s water tunnel, built 2700 years ago to protect Jerusalem’s water supply from invading armies. Jewish Quarter Scavenger Hunt and cash lunch.
Kotel Letters Activity and private time at the Kotel. Kotel Tunnel Tour.
Friday, May 13
Participate hands-on in a unique rescue dig, sifting through remains from the Temple Mount. Stand in Solidarity with the family of Gilad Shalit by stopping by the protest tent in downtown Jerusalem. Journal Time. “Jerusalem Prepares for Shabbat” activity in the Machaneh Yehuda shuk. Prepare for Shabbat.
Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel followed by festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Shabbat, May 14
Shabbat morning services at local synagogue, Kiddush and lunch at hotel. Rest time. Afternoon walking tour of Nachlaot or Yemin Moshe. Seudah Shlishit picnic in nearby park. Havdalah followed by free time and cash dinner on Ben Yehuda Street or Mamilla Mall. Shabbat Lunch at hotel Seudah Shlishit picnic
Sunday, May 15
Learn and remember at the Yad Vashem Memorial Complex, including the Children’s Memorial and Sculpture Garden. Program on Israeli heroes at Mt. Herzl, including the graves of Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir, Hanah Senesh, and Yoni Netanyahu.
Visit the Knesset Menorah.
Monday, May 16
Visit Yad L’Kashish-Lifeline of the Elderly, where shopping is a true mitzvah! Volunteer at Hazon Yeshayahu. Reenact the fierce battle for the reunification of Jerusalem during the Six Day War at Ammunition Hill. Last minute shopping time and Kotel visit. Summary discussion and farewell dinner.
Tuesday, May 17
Return to SF
