Israel Trip Itinerary

Hello readers, thanks for visiting. Below you will find the tentative itinerary for my trip to Israel. Expect me to begin blogging the first of January. Time pending, I will recap my experiences in the first 10 days of the trip Dates to remember: 1. From Dec 21-1 = organized trip 2. 1-4= Staying in Herzliya with my friend Dana Fellner 3. 4th-9th...We shall see! Sunday, Dec 21- Departure, Arrival Depart EWR at 5:45 PM Arrive at the airport four hours early Monday, Dec 22 – Tel Aviv Landing at Ben Gurion Airport at 2:25 PM Check-in to hotel Chanukah candle lighting night 2 Evening: Introductions & ice breaker Overnight: Yaffo I.Y.H.A. / Tel: 972-3-6827700 Tuesday, Dec 23 – Jerusalem Haas Promenade - Panoramic Jerusalem intro Jewish Quarter – Old City walking tour The Kotel - Reflection at the Western Wall Camel trekking - Travel the Judean desert in style! Chanukah candle lighting night 3 Overnight: Tzel Harim Hotel, Judean Desert / Tel: 972-8-6688102 Wednesday, Dec 24 – Negev and Dead Sea Ascend Masada - Via the Roman Ramp Masada - Ancient mountain - top fortress Descend Masada - Via the Snake Path Ein Gedi - Nature walk to the desert waterfalls Dead Sea - Floating at Ein Bokek Beach Travel southwards towards Eilat Chanukah candle lighting night 4 Free evening in Eilat Overnight: Harei Edom, Eilat / 972-8-6363222 Thrusday, Dec 25 – Eilat Mt. Zephachot – Hike to Red Sea overlook Red Sea – Relax along the beaches of Eilat Drive to camping site Chanukah candle lighting night 5 Overnight: Gvanim camping site Friday, Dec 26 – Jerusalem Hike Parsat Nekarot Drive to Jerusalem Mahane Yehuda - Colorful Jerusalem marketplace Welcome Mifgash with Israeli Soldiers Return to hotel & prepare for Shabbat Jewish text study discussion Oneg Shabbat program Chanukah candle lighting night 6 Overnight: Reich Hotel, Jerusalem/Tel: 972-2-652-3121 Saturday, Dec 27 – Jerusalem Walking tour of area Shabbat group activity Havdalla ceremony - Welcome a new week Chanukah candle lighting night 7 Movie night at Ma’ale school of television and arts Overnight: Reich Hotel, Jerusalem/Tel: 972-2-652-3121 Sunday, Dec 28 – Jerusalem Preparation for visit to Yad Vashem Yad Vashem - Holocaust Memorial & Museum Har Herzl - National memorial Mifgash activity with Israeli counterparts Chanukah candle lighting night 8 Overnight: Machanyim Hotel / Tel: 972-4-6933221 Monday, Dec 29 – Golan Heights Nimrod's Castle - Hike from the Crusader castle to Banias Mt. Bental - Observation point & former Syrian bunkers Golan Heights Winery - Tasting & tour Hamat Tiveria – Hot springs along the Sea of Galilee Overnight: Machanyim Hotel / Tel: 972-4-6933221 Tuesday, Dec 30 – Tzfat and Tel Aviv Tzfat - Jewish mysticism's birthplace Drive to Tel Aviv Final Mifgash with Israeli Soldiers Evening: Current overview of the Israeli political scene Overnight: Dvora Hotel, Tel Aviv / Tel: 972-3-5278282 Wednesday, Dec 31 – Tel Aviv Jaffa - Ancient seaport & artist colony Rabin Square – Memorial to Yitzhak Rabin Independence Hall - Declaration of the modern State of Israel Tree planting - Plant a tree in Jerusalem foothills Overnight: Dvora Hotel, Tel Aviv / Tel: 972-3-5278282 Thursday, Jan 1 – Departure Departure from Ben Gurion at 5:30 AM Arrival at EWR 2:30 PM