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