ITINERARY

Itinerary

The Jewish Journey - Educational Tourism

Beth Jacob Oakland Learns Together Community Trip June 2012

(Note: Itinerary subject to modification)

Monday, June 18th 2012

Topic of the Day: Arrival

Afternoon arrival

Visit to Mini Israel (a bird's-eye view of Israel; scale models of all major sites)

Kotel (the Western Wall of the Temple)

Dinner at restaurant in Jerusalem

Overnight - Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Topic of the day: Sefer Yehoshua (Book of Joshua)

Visit Shiloh.
Travel out to the Gilgal where Benei Israel crossed the Jordan into the land. The border with Jordan about 5 feet away from where we stood on the Israeli bank.

ATV ride in the Judean Desert - stop at ancient cistern.

Visit, wine tasting & lunch at a winery in Benyamin.

Overnight - Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem.

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Topic of the Day: Sefer Shoftim (Book of Judges, focus on Shimshon/Samson)

Tel Beit Shemesh & lookout of Tsora from Tel Shemesh (Shimson, Aron, Preparation for King David)

Tel Azeka (introduction to Kind David; an ancient Israelite city near Beit Guvrin, the "Tel" overlooks the valley of Ella where David fought Goliath)

The Philistine Road

Ashkelon National Park

Overnight - Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

Topic of the Day: Shmuel/Samuel

Masada (several options to get to the top of this ancient fortress, including walking paths and cable car)

Ein Gedi (springs near Masada, an area where David hid from King Saul) Swimming in 2 of the 4 pools & under the waterfalls

Dead Sea

Lunch at a kibbutz

Overnight - Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Topic of the Day: Modern City of Jerusalem

Segway tour on the promenade (age 18 and up) or visit to Yad vaShem/Holocaust Memorial

Manchaneh Yehudah outdoor Market/shuk

Candle lighting

Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel/Western Wall (welcoming Shabbat at the Wall)

Dinner at hotel

Oneg Shabbat (time to relax and snack and learn and share with one another)

Overnight - Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem

Shabbat, June 23rd, 2012

Tfilla - morning services

Kiddush

Learning session

Lunch

Rest

Afternoon walking tour in Jerusalem

Mincha

Seuda shlishit (3^rd meal)

Ma'ariv

Havdala

Relaxed evening

Overnight - Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Topic of the Day: Yerushalaim/Jerusalem - (David)

City of David

Old City tour

Kotel/Western wall tunnels

Dinner at hotel

Overnight - Prima Kings Hotel Jerusalem

Monday, June 25th, 2012

Topic of the Day: Melachim/Kings

Mt. Carmel and Mukraka (site of Eliyahu/Elijah's showdown with the prophets of Ba'al)

Kerem Navot (Navot's vineyard, site of a key story with King Achav and his wife, Jezebel)

Dinner at Lavi

Overnight - hotel in Teveria (Tiberias)

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Topic of the Day: Tzfat and Kabala

Tour of the old city of Tzfat (Safed)

Kabbalist synagogues

Visit to Meron and the grave of Kabbalist and Rabbi of the Mishneh Rabbi, Shimon Bar Yochai

Evening cruise on Kinneret (Sea of Galilee)

Dinner in Tveria

Overnight - hotel in Teveria (Tiberias)

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

Topic of the Day: The Roman Era

Caesarea (Herodian sea port from Roman times; amphitheatre, audio/visual show)

Bar Kochba caves (climb through places that Bar Kochba's army hid from the Romans during the Great Rebellion)

Parting Dinner at restaurant

Transfer to airport

Those continuing on can use the bus to return to Jerusalem, depending on times.

Late night departure