Join Oak Park Temple Bnai Abraham Zion Israel Tour with Rabbi Max Weiss

December 25, 2013 - January 5, 2014

Optional Eilat - Petra Extension available

Tour Highlights:
Round Trip air NY Area to Tel Aviv and return
Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv, All Breakfasts, Shabbat Lunch, Two Shabbat Dinners and 3 weekday Dinners as per itinerary: Touring with one of Israel's Top Tour Guide Educators in Deluxe Motor Coach Opening ceremony, Ethiopian Jewry in Ramle, Modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv, Palmach Museum, Ayalon Institute, Independence Hall, Nahalat Binyamin, Welcome Shabbat at Kehilat Raanan, Special walking tours of Old Jaffa, Neve Tzedek, Havdalah overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with Rabbi Weiss Archeological Dig, Salad Trail, Gaza Strip Overlook, Caf Kapish, Na Lagaat, Mediterranean Coast, Atlit, Ancient Casesaria. Excavated city of Tzippori, Visit our sister congregation, Maalot Tivon, Bahai Gardens, Mystical city of Tzefat, Glass blowing demonstration with a Tzefat artist, Golan Heights, Peak of Har Bental, Moving Bnai Mitzvah service, Israels border with Jordan, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem Bird Conservatory, Herzl Exhibit, Tower of David Museum, Har Herzl Military Cemetery, Machaneh Yehuda, Night Spectacular, Explore the Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels, Christian Quarter, Scavenger hunt in the Jewish Quarter, Ben Yehuda/Jaffa Road Pedestrian Mall, Masada, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Amazing Dead Sea, Israel Museum, Walking tour in Jerusalem, ITC full color source book, A fantastic tour filled with meaningful experiences and fun! Land Only $2995 - Air* and Land Package $4595 - Single room Supplement: $975 Third person over 18 in triple room: subtract $430
Child, age 2-12 as third person in a triple room: subtract $685 Bar/Bat Mitzvah, age 12-13 as third person in a triple room: subtract $630 Child, 14-18 as third person in a triple room: subtract $530 Added to cost pre collected: Tips for Guide, Driver and Restaurants $165 per person
Land Price Based on 15 paying tour participant: 20 paying deduct $110, 25 deduct $220, 30 deduct $240 per person

Included in air price - airport tax and fuel surcharge $690 * Fuel and Tax surcharge are subject to change

For information, Itinerary and Application call Rabbi Weiss at 708.386.3937 or e-mail Rabbi at rabbi@oakpartktemple.com Tour information can be viewed and downloaded at www.israeltour.com/rweiss2013.php Tour operated by ITC Tours llc - 800 237 7235 info@israeltour.com

Wednesday, 25 December USA Departure O/N flight to Israel Thursday, 26 December When You Come Into the Land (Deut. 26:1) Arrive in Israel to be met and assisted by your ITC representative at Ben Gurion Airport. Visit a colorful center for Ethiopian Jewry in Ramle; hear their immigration stories first-hand and learn about the challenges they face and the unique contributions of this community to the Israeli fabric; take part in a traditional coffee ceremony. Proceed to the modern Hebrew city of Tel Aviv for hotel check-in, rest. Welcome dinner at Maganda Overnight Dan Panorama Hotel Tel Aviv Friday, 27 December Foundations of the Modern State Enjoy an impressive presentation of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the multi-media Palmach Museum (if available; age 5 and up only) OR Climb down into the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Haganah under the noses of the British at the Ayalon Institute. At Independence Hall, relive Ben Gurions moving declaration of the State. Meet the artists as you browse through unique craft items in Nahalat Binyamins colorful, open-air market. Friday night services at Kehilat Raanan in Raanana followed by home hospitality for Shabbat dinner with Kehilat Raanan families. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv Shabbat, 28 December Shabbat in Tel Aviv Please choose one for the group: Take part in a choice of special walking tours of Old Jaffa, conducted by Beit Daniel: CoExistence, which is led by both Arab and Jewish guides working together OR Bread and Butter, which focuses on multiculturalism through the role of bread in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Explore modern Tel Avivs first neighborhood, Neve Tzedek with your guide. Havdalah overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with Rabbi Weiss. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv Sunday, 29 December Digging Israel At the Dig for a Day program at Beit Guvrin, have a hands-on experience of archeology as you uncover actual artifacts while taking part in an ongoing archeological dig; cave crawl also available for the adventurous. Follow the Salad Trail, and meet modern-day pioneers, as you tour and taste in hi-tech greenhouses featuring the best of Israeli ingenuity in battling desert conditions to produce delicious vegetables and herbs; take in a Gaza Strip overlook and learn about the heroic Independence War battle fought here. Evening dinner theater: Enjoy dinner at Caf Kapish, served by deaf waiters who will teach you sign language during your meal OR at Blackout, served by blind waiters who will teach you how to negotiate a completely dark world during your meal followed by Na Lagaat, a unique play performed by actors who are both deaf and blind. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv Monday, 30 December The Mediterranean Coast Travel north along the Mediterranean Coast. In Atlit walk through the detention camp that held Holocaust refugees denied entry into Eretz Yisrael by the British; see the incredible, new illegal immigration boat with its wonderful high-tech laser presentation about heroic pre-State immigration. Please choose one for the group: See ancient history come to life at the multi-media center against the backdrop of ancient Casesaria. Excavations include an impressive amphitheatre and aqueduct OR Visit the magnificently excavated city of Tzippori; discover ancient beauty and evidence of a community in which Jews and Romans coexisted peacefully Visit our sister congregation, Maalot Tivon, in Kiryat Tivon; meet with their rabbi and some members. Proceed to the sparkling coastal city of Haifa for hotel check-in O/N: Dan Panorama Hotel, Haifa Tuesday, 31 December In the Footsteps of Mystics and Pioneers.

View the spectacular Bahai Gardens and learn a bit about the Bahai faith and its unique utopian vision. Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and art galleries of the mystical city of Tzefat including time for shopping and visiting the candle factory. Take in a glass blowing demonstration with a Tzefat artist in her studio; hear how she connects the spiritual to the physical through her art. Ascend the Golan Heights and gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did. Ascend to the peak of Har Bental, where you can enter army bunkers and take in a panoramic view at the crossroads of three countries. Travel south along Israels border with Jordan. Ascent to Jerusalem. Hotel check-in followed by a free evening in Jerusalem (dining suggestions to be provided) Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem Wednesday, 1 January Those Who Made a Difference Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (age 10 and up only) and the Childrens Memorial at Yad Vashem. Alternative for younger children: At Jerusalem Bird Conservatory, At Jerusalem Bird Conservatory, take part in an ecology workshop and see birds ringed to be tracked by conservationists. Enjoy a special multi-media presentation about the life, dreams, and accomplishments of the Father of Modern Zionism at the Herzl Exhibit (if available) OR Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery. Walk through colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda open-air market am yisrael chai! Evening: Attend The Night Spectacular, the new sound and light show about Jerusalem history at the Tower of David Museum, with free time for dinner (on ones own) O/N: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem Thursday, 2 January Jerusalem of Old - Take part in a moving Bnai Mitzvah service at Robinsons Arch or at Mercaz Shimshon or HUC synagogue. (latter two not included in the tour price) Explore the Southern Wall Excavations and learn more about the ancient Jerusalem Temple at the Davidson Center. Group may split: In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the massive foundation stones of the Western Wall (local guide) OR Take a Christian Jerusalem walking tour including the Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Coptic Village, Armenian Quarter. Free time for lunch (on ones own) and shopping in the Jewish Quarter. Group may split: Take part in an enjoyable scavenger hunt, guided by high-tech signals, as you learn about the history of the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem OR Take Jewish Quarter walking tour including the recently rebuilt Hurva Synagogue, once the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem. Free evening on the Ben Yehuda/Jaffa Road Pedestrian Mall to mingle with Jerusalemites as they bring in the week-end. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem Friday, 3 January Freedom Fighters or Fanatics? Ascend Masada by cable car or Snake Path. Tour this impressive excavation and discuss the terrible dilemma faced by its Jewish population during Roman times. Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to the waterfall and review the biblical story of kings David and Saul on site Stop for an unsinkable dip and mud baths at the amazing Dead Sea. Friday night services at a choice of neighborhood synagogues. Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem Shabbat, 4 January Shabbat in Jerusalem - Visit the renovated Israel Museum, including the Shrine of the Book; the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem; Judaica, art, and archeology exhibits; childrens wing. Take a walking tour through a choice of historic neighborhoods in the Old or New City. Farewell dinner at Olive

and Fish Depart for the airport Sunday, 5 January A Temporary Departure. Arrive in USA Begin planning your next Israel trip with Rabbi Weiss and ITC

Itinerary subject to change