Visit Israel

Israel with Olam Tikvah and Rabbi Kalender 2008

June 22– July 3, 2008

Sunday, June 22: Departure

We will fly out of Washington in the morning to JFK where we will check in for El AL Flight #32 departing at 2:20 in the afternoon. Dinner will be served on board.

Monday, June 23: Arrival

Arrive Tel Aviv in the morning. We’ll be met by our Israeli guide, Naftali Cohen, and go to Independence Hall, where the State of Israel was declared by David Ben-Gurion in 1948. We’ll then head up north to Tzipori, home to Rabbi Yehuda haNasi and the Mishnah and “The Mona Lisa of the Galilee.” Finally, we’ll reach our home in the Galil – Kibbutz Kinar where we’ll be able to relax and swim. Dinner and Overnight at Kinar.

Tuesday, June 24

We’ll begin our day in Tzfat, home of Jewish Mysticism and the wonderful artisans showing their beautiful work. We’ll stop at Har Bental to gain a unique perspective of the Golan. After seeing it from a distance, we’ll go for a jeep ride in the Heights to develop a greater understanding of the conflict with Syria. Finally, we’ll cool off with kayaking in the Jordan. After freshening up at the hotel, you’ll be able to choose between staying at the kibbutz or head into T’veria (Tiberias) for dinner on your own. Overnight at Kinar.

Wednesday, June 25

Explore the magnificent Roman ruins at Beit Shean. Continue 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). Finally, we’ll head to Jerusalem for a panoramic view, and then gather for an orientation to the city and take a walk to Emek Refaim where Jerusalem’s yummiest restaurants may be found. Inbal Hotel - Overnight Jerusalem.

Thursday, June 26

We start in the Old City with a visit to the Kotel (Western Wall), the Southern Wall and then the Rabbis’ Tunnel under the ancient walls. Stroll through the Jewish Quarter and visit the Herodian Mansions, and the reconstructed Cardo. After lunch we’ll head over to Givat Hatachmoshet (Amunition Hill), a crucial site in the battle to reunify Jerusalem, then walk through Hezikia’s Tunnel, Jerusalem’s water source built about 3,000 years ago. Inbal Hotel - Overnight Jerusalem.

Friday, June 27

Today we will focus on the New City (western side) of Jerusalem. Stop at the Knesset 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. Lunch in Machene Yehuda – the outdoor market in the bustle before Shabbat. In the afternoon, there will be time for relaxing and preparing for Shabbat. Meet before sundown for a ride to the Kotel. Experience the beginning of Shabbat there, then walk through Mishkanot Sheananim (the 1^st neighborhood outside the ancient walls) for a group Shabbat dinner at the Inbal Hotel. Overnight Jerusalem.

Saturday, June 28

Opportunity to visit local synagogues in the morning. Shabbat lunch is provided at the hotel. In the afternoon, there is 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 Sat. night. Overnight Jerusalem.

Sunday, June 29

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 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 visit to Eretz B’reishit to experience the Judean Desert in the time of Abraham. Camel ride and dinner under the tent. Inbal Hotel - Overnight Jerusalem

Monday, June 30

Today we are all archaeologists at a special "Dig for a Day" archaeological experience. The site we will visit is an active dig. The afternoon is for shopping, leisure, museums and exploring. Inbal Hotel - Overnight Jerusalem

Tuesday, July 1

We depart Jerusalem and head toward the Mediterranean Sea. We’ll spend the morning at Neot Kedumim, a Biblical Reserve. We’ll make our way to Tel Aviv and visit Kikar Rabin, where he gave his final and tragic speech. A walking tour and lunch in Neve Tzedek – Tel Aviv’s oldest neighborhood. A visit to see the ancient port of Yafo/Jaffa, then return to Jerusalem in time for dinner. Inbal Hotel – Overnight Jerusalem

Wednesday, July 2

First stop is the new Palmach Museum – a dynamic presentation of the heroes of 1948. Visit the Ayalon Institute near Rehovot, site of a clandestine munitions factory during the War of Independence. Then return to Old Tel Aviv where we will celebrate a farewell dinner at Maganda before transferring to the airport for our flight back home.

Thursday, July 3: Departure

1am departure with return to Washington on 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.

3800 Glenbrook Road · Fairfax, Virginia 22031 · phone 703-425-1880 · fax 703-425-0835 · info@olamtikvah.org