OT in Israel 2007

Wednesday, June 20. And they're off!
Friday, June 22. The Old City, Jerusalem
Monday, June 25. Midbar Yehuda, the Judean Desert, including Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, and camel rides. This was a very busy day for our travelers, though it does seem to have some relaxing moments.
Floating in the Dead Sea
Splashing in the waterfall at Ein Gedi
Riding camels in the desert. Rumor has it that camel rides are free; you only have to pay to get OFF the camel! The OT travelers make riding the camels look like fun!
Neot Kedumim, a Biblical Reserve.  Pressing olives and grinding spices.
Dig for a Day. Our amateur archaeologists are hard at work.
Yemin Orde Wingate Youth Village, home to more than 500 disadvantaged and immigrant youth from 22 countries (one of Rabbi Kalender's favorite places in Israel). Our friends stopped here on July 28, though the photo was sent on July 2. Rabbi Kalender presents a gift to Yemin Orde on behalf of a bar mitzvah project .
A piece of cake. In case you can't read the inscription (in Hebrew), it says, "Happy Birthday Joshua."
Travels to the North. The photos, all sent on July 2, are from our travelers as they journey through the north: kayaking at Kfar Blum, overlooking the Kinneret from Har Ben-Tal on the Golan Heights.

Wednesday, June 20, Departure. Depart for New York JFK. Pay careful attention to your tickets. Some will fly from National and some from Dulles!!! El Al #002 leaves at 7:55pm for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.

Thursday, June 21, Arrival. Arrive at Ben-Gurion International Airport at 1:15pm. We will be met by our guides and waiting buses. Our first stop will be at Independence Hall in Tel Aviv to celebrate the formation of the State. Travel to Jerusalem (about an hour) and stop at the Tayelet to recite the She'hechianu while overlooking the majestic panorama of the city. Check in to our hotels, the Inbal and the Dan Panorama. After unpacking, gather for an orientation to the city and take a walk to Emek Refaim where Jerusalem's yummiest restaurants may be found. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Friday, June 22, Ancient Jerusalem. We start in the Old City with a visit to the Kotel (Western Wall), the Southern Wall and its Visitors Center, the Ophel, and then the Rabbis’ Tunnel under the ancient walls. Stroll through the Jewish Quarter and visit the Herodian Mansions, and the reconstructed Cardo. Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Meet before sundown for a ride to the Kotel. Experience the beginning of Shabbat there, then walk through Mishkanot Sheananim (the first neighborhood outside the ancient walls) for a group Shabbat dinner at the Inbal Hotel. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Saturday, June 23, Shabbat in Jerusalem. Opportunity to visit local synagogues in the morning. Shabbat lunch at the Fuchsberg Center. In the afternoon, time for swimming at the hotel, or visiting with family/friends. Some museums, including the world renowned Israel Museum, are open on Shabbat and tickets can be purchased before Shabbat. We'll gather for havdallah and you'll have a free night in Jerusalem. Don't worry, people eat dinner quite late on Saturday night. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Sunday, June 24, Modern Israel. Today we will focus on the New City (western side) of Jerusalem. Stop at the Knesset, and drive past new Supreme Court Building and continue on to Yad Vashem the brand new memorial dedicated to the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Then a visit to Mt. Herzl and the Military Cemetery to see the graves of Israel's fallen heroes and statesmen. There will then be an optional (physical) visit to Ammunition Hill and Hezzikia's Tunnel. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Monday, June 25, Midbar Yehuda - Judean Desert. This will be our EARLY day as we descend 2,000 feet from Jerusalem. Drive along the shore of the Dead Sea to reach Masada. Ascend by cable car or climb the snake path by foot, and tour the famous mountain fortress. As a group, we’ll daven Shacharit together. We descend by cable car and make our way to the springs at Ein Gedi to enjoy the cool waters and note where David met King Saul. Head to the Dead Sea to enjoy a float in the mineral rich waters along with the mud (followed by a good shower). Finally, a camel ride, ancient Hebrew hospitality and dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Tuesday, June 26, The North: Yesterday and Today. We depart Jerusalem and head toward the Mediterranean Sea. Stop at Neot Kedumim, a Biblical Reserve. Drive along the coast highway to Caesarea. Visit the Roman theater, which still hosts concerts today, and the ancient sea port and aqueduct. Continue north to Haifa and view the unique picturesque panorama and the breathtaking Bahai Gardens. From here it is a short ride to Zippori, the site of the codification of the Mishna, with a beautiful mosaic called "The Mona Lisa of the Galilee." Continue on to Kibbutz Nof Ginosar for a tour and dinner. Overnight: Kibbutz Nof Ginosar.

Wednesday, June 27, Spirituality and Security. We travel through the hills of the Galil to Tzfat, Israel’s mystic city. Visit the artist colony and the ancient synagogues. Then go off-road in the Golan Heights for a jeep ride climbing the heights and appreciate the importance of the Heights. Experience the panoramic view from Har Bental, then a quick stop at the Neot Factory. For those interested in an active option, there will be an opportunity for kayaking in the Jordan River. Return to Nof Ginosar for a swim in the Kinneret. Drive to T'veria (Tiberias), walk around the waterfront, and enjoy one of restaurants there. Overnight: Kibbutz Nof Ginosar.

Thursday, June 28, From the Galil to Jerusalem. Explore the magnificent Roman ruins at Beit Shean or an adventurous hike at Belvoir. Continue on to Beit Alpha and visit the ancient synagogue with a mysterious 1500 year old mosaic floor. Next a stop at Yemin Orde Wingate Youth Village, home to more than 500 disadvantaged and immigrant youth from 22 countries (one of Rabbi Kalender's favorite places in Israel). Then travel through Emek Yizrael (Jezriel Valley) and head back to Jerusalem. Check in to the hotel to relax or head to the stores. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Friday, June 29, Back in Time. Today we are all archaeologists at a special "Dig for a Day" archaeological experience. The site we will visit is an active dig. In the afternoon, there will time for relaxing, swimming, shopping and simply enjoying Jerusalem. Gather for services at Shira Chadasha, a unique modern Carlbach shul. Shabbat dinner at the Inbal Hotel and overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday, June 30, Shabbat in Jerusalem. Opportunity to visit local shuls in the morning. Shabbat lunch at the Inbal Hotel. Free afternoon and Havdallah to end our final Shabbat. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Sunday, July 1, The Ingathering of the People. An orientation tour of Tel Aviv, including Rabin Square, where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Then on to visit the Palmach Museum, a new multimedia center that helps us understand the War for Independence. Visit the Ayalon Institute near Rehovot, site of a clandestine munitions factory during the War of Independence. In the evening, say goodbye with a farewell dinner at Maganda. Transfer to the airport for the flight home.

Monday, July 2, Departure. Depart on our 1:00am flight to the U.S. We arrive home the same day.

Top 10 Surprises in Israel

by Joel Miller

I have composed a top-10 list of things that surprised me in Israel a la David Letterman. I think this is a different way of viewing my Israeli experience. Some of the things may seem obvious to you but they nevertheless made an impression on me.

10) The traffic in Israel is almost as bad as here. I expected more of a third-world feel to transportation. Not so. The vehicles are modern and the traffic is heavy. In fact, most taxis are Mercedes.

9) The Judean Desert is rocky and not at all sandy. No Lawrence of Arabia there.

8) There is a large windmill in Jerusalem. Who would have thought that? It was imported from Holland as an experiment to produce electricity. One minor problem: There is not enough wind to turn the blades.

7) Rabbi Kalender is such a good sport. He climbed the Snake Trail up to Masada, went swimming in the Dead Sea, walked through Hezekiah’s tunnel, and kayaked down the Jordan River. This is in marked contrast to the rabbi of my childhood who was from Europe and was very formal. One could never imagine him in shorts and interacting the way Rabbi Kalender does.

6) Jerusalem is such a beautiful city. I knew that it has major importance religiously, archeologically and historically but I did not realize how beautiful the Old City and the surrounding suburbs are. The view from a scenic overlook was breath taking.

5) The food was good. I had been led to believe that Israel has the worst food anywhere. I would rate the food from adequate to quite good. In fact, the food and service at the Inbal Hotel (which is 5-star) was excellent.

4) The juxtaposition of a very large mezzuza and bullet holes at the Zion Gate to the old city of Jerusalem. Here we have Judaism’s symbol of redemption and man’s inhumanity to man within inches of each other. What a contrast.

3) The large number of Arab patients in Mt. Scopus Hadassah Hospital. We had to make an unscheduled visit there and I am pleased to report that the care was excellent. I am also proud to report that I saw absolutely no sign of any prejudice towards the Arab patients.

2) The emotional impact of the tour. I fully expected to be emotional at the Kotel but everyday there was another moving experience. When you go to Israel be sure to take Kleenex.

... And my number 1 Top Ten Surprise...

1) How safe we felt. We walked to restaurants in Jerusalem at night, rode in taxis to museums and participated in numerous other activities and never once felt scared or threatened.