IKAR Trip to Israel

July 2-13, 2015

Broad Strokes Itinerary

(NOTE: itinerary is still in formation and subject to change)

 

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Arrival in Israel – ברוכים הבאים

5:30 p.m.      Meet in the Lobby of the Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

• Welcome BBQ Dinner with the traditional Shehechianu prayer upon arrival in Jerusalem, at a Jerusalem park

Overnight: Jerusalem (Dan Panorama or Mamilla)

 

Friday, July 3, 2015

The Layers of Jerusalem

• Guided visit through the Old City, including the Jewish Quarter and Rooftops of the Arab Market

• Adults: Visit the new Pluralistic Kotel (Azarat Yisrael) with a representative  of the Israel Religious Action Center

• Children and Youth: The Israel Lens I (photography project)

• All:  Machane Yehudah Open Air Market as residents prepare for Shabbat - LUNCH ON OWN

• Kabbalat Shabbat at the Train Station with the Nava Tehila community

• Shabbat Dinner at the Khan Courtyard.

• Oneg Shabbat or walk to the Kotel

Overnight: Jerusalem (Dan Panorama or Mamilla)

 

Shabbat, July 4, 2015

Shabbat in Jerusalem

• Shabbat tefillot with Kehilat Zion, followed by Shabbat lunch

• Afternoon options:

  • Christian Quarter, Hinnom Valley and the Old City Ramparts, The Israel Museum

  • Youth: Scavenger Hunt in Yemin Moshe

• Bnai Mitzvah Service, followed by Seudah Shlishit and Havdallah overlooking the Old City and Bnai Mitzvah Celebration at the Tor Sinai Farm

Overnight: Jerusalem (Dan Panorama or Mamilla)

 

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Memories for the Future

• Adults: Dialogue with Holocaust Scholar, Rachel Korazim

• Youth: The Israel Lens II (photography project)

• Yad Vashem with programming for Adults, Youth (and separate activity for younger children)

• LUNCH ON OWN

• Mount Herzl or the City of David

• DINNER ON OWN and free time in Jerusalem

• Special program at the Shalom Hartman Institute

Overnight: Jerusalem (Dan Panorama or Mamilla)

 

 

Monday, July 6, 2015

Hesed and Mutual Responsibility

• All: Leket (field gleaning project) in Rehovot

• Visit an Israel Defence Forces base

• Adults: Geopolitical tour around Jerusalem

• Youth: Ayalon Institute (hidden pre-state munitions factory)

• Meet with a representative of Tag Meir- an  NIF grantee

• All: Free time in Jerusalem, followed by DINNER ON OWN 

Overnight: Jerusalem (Dan Panorama or Mamilla)

 

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Living with the Other

Option I

• Adults: Full day program with Encounter in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Option II

• Participate in an active dig and caving in the Tel Maresha

• LUNCH ON OWN

• isit the Bedouin town of Lakia for a special program with Bedouin families.

• All: Desert experience at Kfar HaNokdim in the Judean Desert, beginning with sunset meditation or desert animal tracking

Overnight: Kfar HaNokdim, the Cana’im Valley, Judean Desert

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Strategies for Survival: Yesterday and Today

• Option I -- Masada & Dead Sea

  • Masada and the Dead Sea

  • Nature walk at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve

  • Jordan Valley to the Kinneret cemetery and swimming the Kinneret

Option II – Sustainability and Co-existence

• Visit “Friends of the Earth” Middle East Eco project

• Visit Israeli-Jordanian Jordan River Project

• Visit the New Generation Technology Israeli Arab incubator in Nazareth

• All: Check in to the Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel.

• Free time for swimming, spa and relaxation

• Dinner and free time

Overnight: Pastoral Hotel, Kfar Blum
 

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Nature and Security in Israel’s North

• Outdoor activities

  • Walk in water in the Hazbani River, Nature walk through the Tel Dan Nature Reserve and Tel, nature walk through the Banias Nature Reserve

  • Mountain biking at the Manara Cliff or around the Hula Lake

  • Rafting down the Jordan River (penhding water level)

• Adults: Security Tour of the Golan Heights, follwed by Wine Tasting and lunc

• Youth: OrienteOption I -- Safedering at the Waset Volcanic Park; Chocolate Workshop

Afternoon Options

Option I -- Safed

• Guided visit through Safed with with mystical stories,  Kabbalistic Artists and shopping

Option 2 -- Rafting

• Rafting down the Jordan River

Option 3 -- Return to the hotel

• All: Performance by the Galilee Jewish Arab Circus

• Dinner at the hotel followed by Adult and Youth Programming (TBD)

Overnight: Pastoral Hotel, Kfar Blum

 

Friday, July 10, 2015

A Mosaic of Israel

• Visit the Umm el Fahem Art Gallery,  with a special programs for adults and youth.

• Drive to Tel Aviv.

• Visit Independence Hall where Israel’s Declaration of Independence was signed

• LUNCH ON OWN

• Explore markets of Tel Aviv

• Kabbalat Shabbat at the Tel Aviv Port with Beit Tfilah Yisraeli

• Shabbat dinner

Overnight: Tel Aviv, Carlton Tel Aviv

 

Shabbat, July 11, 2015

Shabbat in Tel Aviv

• Shabbat tefilot with Beit Tfilah Yisraeli

• Kiddush Lunch with Beit Tfilah Yisraeli

Afternoon Options

• Guided walk through Neve Zedek, walking tour along the Tel Aviv Promenade to Jaffa, visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Walking Tour to Bialik Street, for a guided visit through part of the White City – UNESCO Heritage Bauhaus collection

• Youth: Mifgash (meet-up) with Noam Youth (Israeli youth group)

• Seudah Shlishit light dinner followed by Havdallah on the beach

• DINNER ON OWN and free time in Tel Aviv

Overnight: Tel Aviv, Carlton Tel Aviv

 

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Conclusion

• A dialogue with author Etgar Keret

• Meeting with Israeli television executives

• Youth: Israel Lens final project

• LUNCH ON OWN

• Visit the Yitzhak Rabin Center (pending confirmation)

• Free time in Tel Aviv

• Farewell dinner and departure for Ben Gurion Airport.

Overnight: Flight