CONGREGATION NETIVOT SHALOM ISRAEL TRIP
cosponsored by Bay Area Masorti - operated by ITC Tours
led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor
with Josh Kornbluth
July 13 – 24, 2011
(draft Aug. 23, 2010; subject to change)
"Arise, Travel Throughout the Land (Gen. 13:17)" Martin Buber believed that only dialogue can make possible an adequate picture of what does in fact take place. In this "encounter" reality comes alive: it is transformed from the potential, the abstract, and the unrelated to the actual, concrete, and present immediacy of a personal and even, in a sense, a reciprocal relationship.
This Israel trip will be like no other, based firmly in Buber's approach, led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, guided by master educator Jared Goldfarb, and processed in real-time with Josh Kornbluth, who will convene reflective conversations throughout the journey. Come. Experience Israel. Encounter the spiritual, the political, the real people – and yourself.
Wednesday, 13 July – Israel Bound!
· Depart on overnight flight to Israel
Thursday, 14 July – When You Enter the Land (Deut. 26:1)
· Hotel check-in and welcome dinner
· Gaze upon the Old City of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade, standing where Abraham stood at the dawn of Jewish history; take in the breathtaking view
· Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Friday, 15 July – Jerusalem of Old
· In the Kotel Tunnels, walk alongside the Western Wall's massive foundation stones
· Tour the Southern Wall Excavations and learn about the ancient Temple at the Davidson Center
· Encounter many centuries and faiths as you tour the Jewish, the Christian, and Muslim Quarters
· Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat
· Kabbalat Shabbat at a scenic Jerusalem overlook
· Shabbat dinner at the hotel
· Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Shabbat, 16 July – Shabbat in Jerusalem (Parashat Pinchas)
· Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhoods synagogues (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided)
· Shabbat lunch at the hotel, Shabbat rest, relaxation at the pool
· Havdalah with Rabbi Creditor
· Free evening in Jerusalem
· Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Sunday, 17 July – Those Who Made a Difference
· Visit the Memorial Museum, the Children's Memorial, and the Avenue of the Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem
· Take a sobering walk through the history of the Jewish State at the Har Herzl Military Cemetery
· Stumble across many authentic archeological finds in a hands-on dig through archeological matter from under the Temple Mount
· Free evening in Jerusalem OR Evening program with a Jerusalem Masorti congregation
· Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Monday, 18 July – Into the Desert
· Visit the fascinating Jo Alon Center for Bedouin Culture near Lahav for an in-depth introduction to this desert culture and some Bedouin hospitality
· Visit Ben Gurion's Hut in Sde Boker for personal insight into the life of this outstanding Zionist leader and Israel's first prime minister
· Walk through the beautiful nature reserve at the Ein Avdat Oasis
· Dinner at the field school
· Overnight: Sde Boker Field School
Tuesday, 19 July – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics? (17 Tammuz)
· Early departure for the Dead Sea Region
· Ascend by cable car to Masada. 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 a dip and mud baths at Mineral Beach on the amazing Dead Sea
· Travel north through the Jordan River Valley to the Galilee
· Hotel check-in and dinner
· Overnight: Kibbutz Ma'agan Guest House
Wednesday, 20 July – The Golan Heights
· Travel through the Golan Heights by jeep (Shvilim), off the beaten path, and gaze down over the Galilee as the Syrians once did
· Encounter the community of Kibbutz Avnei Eitan
· Return to the hotel to enjoy a Lake Kinneret swim
· Free evening on the Tiberias promenade
· Overnight: Kibbutz Ma'agan Guest House
Thursday, 21 July – The Northern Mediterranean Coast
· At Agam Hahula (Hula Lake) ride around the lake and learn about the many species of birds that migrate through Israel each year
· Glide down the Jordan River in a kayak
· Tour the synagogues, courtyards, and shops of the mystical city of Tzefat
· Meet with a Tzefat kabbalistic artist in his gallery to explore Jewish mysticism through the prism of his creations
· Hotel check-in
· Dinner in the kibbutz dining room
· Overnight: Kibbutz Hanaton
Friday, 22 July – In the Footsteps of Sages
· Tour Kibbutz Hanaton, learn about this innovative, Masorti/Pluralistic community
· Explore the magnificently excavated ancient city of Tzippori, home to Rabbi Judah the Prince, editor of the Mishna; Discover ancient beauty and evidence of a community in which Jews and Romans coexisted peacefully
· Travel south for the ascent to Jerusalem
· Kabbalat Shabbat at Robinson's Arch
· Shabbat dinner at hotel
· Overnight: Har Tzion Hotel, Jerusalem
Shabbat, 23 July – A Heavenly Shabbat (Parashat Mattot)
· Shabbat services at a choice of neighborhoods synagogues (suggestions, walking instructions to be provided)
· Shabbat lunch at the hotel
· Shabbat rest, relaxation at the pool
· Summary session and farewell dinner at the hotel
· Havdalah overlooking the old city of Jerusalem
· Depart for the airport
Sunday, 24 July – A Temporary Departure
· Arrive in USA
· Begin planning your next Israel trip to Israel!
PRICING (land fees only):
If registering before November 1, 2010: $3065 per participant ($735 single-room supplement)
If registering after November 1, 2010: $3265 per participant ($735 single-room supplement)
*Third person over 18 in triple room: subtract $140
*Child, age 2-18 as third person in a triple room: subtract $525
To receive more information, and to receive registration materials, please email Rachel Schorr in the CNS office at office@netivotshalom.org, so that she can add you to the Trip email list. Please Note: There are only 40 spaces for participants, and the policy will be "first registered/paid, first confirmed."
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Rabbi Menachem Creditor