AJA 50+ Presents

Israel: A Cultural Journey With Scholar-In-Residence Rabbi Steven Garten

Seminars and onsite learning

with Rabbi Steven Garten

Optional Tours to Petra,

Negev Kibbutzim, Masada

and West Bank Locations

Oct 10-22 13 Days $2999 Ground only Highlights: Art scene in Tel Aviv, Holon Design Museum, Air Force Museum at Hatzerim Air Force Base, Geopolitical tour of Jerusalem, Ethics and Dilemmas in the Field with Col. Benzi Gruber, Jeep Tour of Price guaranteed until June 30 Ramon Crater, Visit and meet with residents of town, Qumran, With $500 deposit Israel Society @2012 with Paul Liptz of Tel Aviv University.

Optional tours of your choosing including Petra, Jordan. For information and registration Contact : Annette Paquin Price does not include airfare, optional tours, $125 tips (mandatory) . [email protected] 613-526-2968

Active Jewish Adults 50+ Israel: A Cultural Journey Journey with AJA 50+ to experience a taste of the rich cultural life of Israel. A program for both the first timer Dates and the repeat visitor. See the sites, hear from Israelis, Departure Wednesday Oct 10 Return Monday Oct 22 feel the culture, taste the diversity and let Israel touch Carrier: Air Canada with connection through your soul. Toronto.

This tour is accompanied by Scholar-in Residence, Rabbi Tour price per person Steven Garten, congregational Rabbi at Temple Israel in Tour Cost per person Ottawa since 1995. He teaches widely in the community Ground Only $2999 and is active in Ottawa's interfaith dialogues. Double Occupancy Rabbi Garten was the Scholar-in-Residence for the Single supplement $900 previous AJA 50+ trip to Israel where he inspired, educated and even led morning bike rides for A deposit of $500 is required to secure your place th participants. He has led many trips to Israel and travels Price guarantee until June 30 to Eretz Yisrael as often as possible. Mandatory gratuities $125

Tour price includes: Hotels (4 Star Accommodation) *Transfer from airport to the hotel in Tel Aviv and Tel Aviv- Dan Panorama Hotel Cross the road and from the hotel in Jerusalem to the airport for those you’re on the Mediterranean where great beaches and taking the Air Canada flight arranged through soft sands greet you. It is easy walking distance to Jaffa, Marlin Travel Neve Tzedek and the Carmel Market. All rooms have a *Hotels based on two persons sharing, a limited Mediterranean view,, private balcony, minibar, LCD TV, number of single rooms are available with the and room safe. Hotel has Fitness Centre and Spa. single supplement rate - Pundak Ramon Hotel in Mitzpeh Ramon is *All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 5 dinners located atop a cliff overlooking Ramon Crater with *Entrance fees as per itinerary breathtaking desert scenery. Rooms have a separate *Escorted by our Scholar-in-Residence seating area, minibar and coffee set. * Services of an Israeli guide - Rimonim Hotel is located in the midst of the tourist and entertainment center. This hotel has a fresh Not included: and contemporary style. All rooms have a private Any meals not specified in itinerary balcony with views that overlook the Red Sea, cable TV, Beverages with meals coffee/tea-making facilities, room safe, hair dryer and Optional tours – mini bar. Petra- $250 USD plus border taxes and tips Jerusalem- Mt. Zion Hotel is a boutique hotel in a Arava Encounter- $65USD spectacular historical setting within walking distance of Masada- $90 USD the city’s main cultural, historical, and religious sites. As City of David/Herodian/Gush Etzion-$104 USD a living part of Jerusalem’s history, the Mount Zion Insurance- please ensure you have adequate Hotel reflects an eclectic combination of cultural styles. insurance coverage including medical and Spacious rooms have a view of the courtyard or valley. cancellation Gratuities as indicated above, due with payment in There is a spa and fitness centre. full

Comparable hotels may be substituted depending upon th availability. Payment in full, including gratuities, due June 30 at this price. Itinerary Israel: A Cultural Journey With AJA 50+ and Scholar-In-Residence, Rabbi Steven Garten Oct 10 Departure Ottawa-Toronto-Tel Aviv A block of seats has been reserved on Air Canada for this tour. The cost of the flight is $1500. To take advantage of this flight please contact Nancy Borer at Marlin Travel. Extensions are available for a limited number of seats. Oct 11 Arrival 10:40am Transfer toTel Aviv Artist’s colony Jaffa, Renovated Jaffa Flea Market, Ancient Port Check into Hotel, Dan Panorama Middle Eastern Style Welcome Dinner in Yemenite Quarter Overnight: Dan PanormaTel Aviv Oct 12 Migdal Shalom Mosaic, Art Scene in Tel Aviv-meet with gallery owners, Bialik Street for a view of Tel Aviv’s past and present, visit to Beit Ha’ir,the former Municipal Building, and view the houses of artist Reuven Rubin and writer Chaim Nachman Bialik Kabbalat Shabbat services at local synagogue , Shabbat Dinner Overnight: Dan Panorama Tel Aviv Oct 13 Art Along the Coast, Ein Hod artist colony, Zichron Ya’acov, one of the first communities established by the early Zionist pioneers , Ramat Hanadiv Gardens dedicted to Baron Rothschild, Holon Design Museum Havdallah, evening at leisure Overnight: Tel Aviv Oct 14 Israel Air Force Museum at Hatzerim Air Force Base, Meet with residents and artisans of Lakiya, a Bedouin town, Kibbutz Sde Boker to visit home and gravesite of David Ben Gurion, Kornmehl Goat Cheese Farm for dialogue with modern-day pioneers and cheese tasting, Dinner at Hotel Overnight: Pundak Ramon, Mitzpeh Ramon Oct 15 Ramon Crater jeep tour, drive through Negev, ascend Mount Yoash for 3-country overview: Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan . Enter Eilat and check into hotel, evening at leisure Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Eilat Oct 16 Day at leisure in Eilat or choose one of the touring options: 1) Nabatean City of Petra, Jordan 2) Day tour of the Arava including Kibbutzim and Timna Park Dinner on own and evening at leisure Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Eilat Oct 17 Eilat Underwater Observatory, Kibbutz Yotvata, Qumran, Arrive Jerusalem with Shecheyanu at Mt. Scopus Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem Oct 18 Tour of Jewish Quarter including the Kotel, Herodian Mansions and Hurva Synagogue, Geopolitical Tour of Jerusalem exploring some of the political and diplomatic complexities of recent years including the security barrier Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem Oct 19 Ethics and Dilemmas in the Field: Dialogue with Col. Benzi Gruber, Deputy Commander of an Armoured Corps brigade, Ethnic, cultural and tasting journey through Machaneh Yehudah, Kabbalat Shabbat, Festive Shabbat Dinner at hotel, Israeli Society@ 2012 with speaker Paul Liptz of Tel Aviv University and Hebrew Union College Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem Oct 20 Shabbat in Jerusalem Torah Study with Rabbi Garten, Shabbat lunch at hotel, the newly re-opened Israel Museum, Havdallah Suggested evening activity: Shopping evening at Ben Yehuda and Nachalat Shiva Street Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem Oct 21 Day at leisure to explore Jerusalem or choose one of the touring options: 1) City of David, Herodion, Efrat 2) Nahal David, Masada, Dead Sea (recommended for first timers) Festive Farewell Dinner Overnight: Jerusalem Oct 22 Breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport AJA 50+ reserves the right to change or substitute as necessary Terms and Conditions

THE TOUR COSTS INCLUDE: HOTELS: As indicated based on two persons sharing twin-bedded room with private bath and/or shower. AJA 50+reserves the right to substitute hotels at a similar level. SINGLE ACCOMMODATIONS: AJA 50+ will endeavor to arrange for a congenial roommate, this is not always possible and a single supplement will be charged when required or requested. MEALS: Breakfast daily, 1 lunches and 5 dinners TRANSFERS: International arrival and departure transfers are included for those booking on AC flight 084, Oct 10 through Marlin Travel. SIGHTSEEING/TRANSPORTATION: All touring as described. Transportation by motor coach. Entrance fees to places visited in the itinerary are included with the exception of optional tours. LECTURER/GUIDES: Rabbi Steven Garten will provide seminars and local guide. BAGGAGE: Includes the transportation and handling of two pieces of luggage per person throughout within the limits of airline regulations. GRATUITIES AND TAXES: All local/government taxes for hotels, meals and services listed. Tips to drivers and guides are not included. ARRANGEMENTS: The tour price includes planning, handling and operating charges. The tour price is based on a minimum of 20 participants and with the assumption of Canadian Dollar on Par with American. Should there be a variance, participants will be billed for such. THE TOUR COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE: Airfare, Passport and visa fees, cost of personal/trip cancellation and baggage insurance, transportation of excess baggage, all items of a personal nature such as laundry, beverages, alcoholic drinks, gratuities as stated above, optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled tour, individual transfers to join or leave the group once the tour has commenced, meals not shown as included, menu items not on the table d’hote menu, and any item not specifically mentioned as included. TRANSPORTATION: Return airfare via Air Canada. A price of $1500 for flights booked through Nancy Borer, Marlin Travel. Includes international arrival and departure transfers. VISAS: Passports must be valid within six months from return date. RATES: All rates quoted in Canadian dollars based on tariffs and rate of exchange in effect as of Feb 2012. These rates are valid until June 30th. To ensure this rate, payment in full must be received before June 30th. Rates are based on Canadian dollars at par. Should there be a variance, participants will be charged the difference at the time of travel. We would not expect this amount to exceed $100. RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT: Early reservations are essential. A deposit of $500 is required to ensure your place. Payment in full by June 30th is at rate of $2999 plus single supplement if any and $125 for gratuities. After June 30th, 2012 base price is $3499 plus the single supplement if any, and $125 for gratuities. CANCELLATION AND REFUND: Cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellations up to June 30 will result in a 90% refund. Cancellations after June 30th (including the deposit) will not be refundable. For this reason, you are strongly encouraged to obtain trip cancellation insurance. Insurance can be purchased through our agent, Nancy Borer at Marlin Travel. UNUSED: Prices quoted based on group participation; no refund for unused services, airline tickets or portions of the tour not taken. Refunds cannot be made to tour members who do not complete the tour for any reason. INSURANCE: AJA 50+ is not responsible or liable for loss, damage, or theft of personal baggage and belongings. AJA 50+ is not liable for personal injury, accident, or illness.. Upon booking, insurance covering baggage, accident, health and trip-cancellation will be made available. We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance. OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS: Arrangements to extend your tour can be made with our agent at the time of booking. Participants can change the return date of the tour at the time of booking. Group rates require departure to Israel on Oct 10th. HEALTH: We strongly suggest that tour members contact their personal physician. By forwarding a deposit the passenger certifies that he/she does not have a physical condition that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. NOTICE: Although AJA 50+ makes every effort to adhere to the printed itinerary, on occasion it may be necessary to adjust arrangements due to circumstances beyond our control. Should any activity be unavailable, substitution will be made to the best of our ability and no refund will be made.

To book airfare at group rates and purchase insurance, please contact: Nancy Borer Marlin Travel 175 Richmond Rd Ottawa, K1Z 6W3 613-728-1616 ex 226