Jewish National Fund PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY MISSION

May 19 – 23, 2019 Jerusalem Pre-Mission: May 17 – 19 Chair Ron Werner Professional Glen Schwartz Tour Guide Issy Herzog Jerusalem Pre-Mission Friday, May 17 – Arrival / Jerusalem

AM Welcome to ! Upon individual arrivals, meet your arranged transfer and head to your hotel in Jerusalem.

PM Head to the Kotel to celebrate the ritual of Kabbalat Shabbat, before enjoying an opening Shabbat Dinner at the hotel with scholar in residence, Rabbi Leor Sinai.

Overnight Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Itinerary is subject to change. Jerusalem Pre-Mission Saturday, May 18 – Shabbat in Jerusalem

AM Following a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast at the hotel, join a dynamic discussion with the scholar in residence. Spend the rest of the morning on a comprehensive walking tour of Jerusalem. This tour will focus on exploring the different synagogues of Jerusalem that belong to various cultural backgrounds and denominations. For those interested in remaining at the hotel, services will be offered.”

PM As the sun sets, mark the end of Shabbat by participating in the ritual of Havdalah. Recite the blessings, sing the prayers and learn about the role of spices in the service. Enjoy the rest of the evening as you choose, experiencing Jerusalem at your own pace.

Overnight Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue

Itinerary is subject to change. Jerusalem Pre-Mission (Main Mission Starts in Evening) Sunday, May 19 – Jerusalem

AM After breakfast at the hotel, partake in a comprehensive walking tour of Jerusalem’s Old City. Explore the Jewish and Christian Quarters in all of their history and wonder. Begin at the Southern Wall Excavations to see the original steps that lead to the Temple Mount. Walk through the colonnaded streets of the Cardo that was Jerusalem’s main street over 2,000 years ago. Visit the Kotel and experience its unique atmosphere of prayer and contemplation. Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher believed to be the location of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Explore the exotic Arab Shuk (market), home to shops selling everything from handmade jewelry and exotic scarves to hookahs and ceramics.

PM Take part in a Food Tour of Machane Yehuda Market and become immersed in the bustling energy of Jerusalem’s Shuk. Taste your way through the many local vendors selling delicious cheeses, pastries, spices, and more. Take a tour of the Begin Museum; a dynamic, experiential, multimedia exhibit that provides a compelling look into the life of Menachem Begin, former Prime Minister of Israel and Co-recipient of the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize award. This evening, your journey will officially commence with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant with a guest speaker.

Overnight Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

Machane Yehuda Market

Itinerary is subject to change. Monday, May 20 – Jerusalem

LOTEM

AM Following breakfast at the hotel, spend the morning with LOTEM-Making Israel Accessible, a one of-a-kind organization that enables people with special needs to maximize their enjoyment of nature through outdoor activities, unique educational opportunities, and comprehensive field trips. Explore some of the accessible nature sites in the Jerusalem area and participate in an interactive activity. Proceed to Ammunition Hill, site of the major Six-Day War battle that led to the reunification of Jerusalem, and enjoy lunch upon arrival. Walk through the battlegrounds and bunkers, follow the footsteps of the soldiers who fought there, and tour the new state-of-the-art Six-Day War Museum. Continue with the JNF Wall of Honor and Remembrance Hall.

PM Continue to Mount Herzl to see the new Smart Wall. This facility offers experiential and interactive learning using a multiple touch-screen array with a stunning range of animated films. Delve into current Israeli issues in the fields of religion, Zionism, society, environment and immigration, and examine Herzl’s vision in light of the reality of today’s Israel. Return to the hotel for time to relax, before enjoying dinner on the rooftop of Aish HaTorah, which offers a breathtaking view overlooking the Old City. This evening, take in the stunning sights of the Night Spectacular Light Show at the Tower of David.

Overnight Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

Itinerary is subject to change. Tuesday, May 21 –

AM After breakfast and hotel check-out, depart south to Moshav Lakhish in the northern Negev for a program with HaShomer HaChadash, a volunteer organization dedicated to safeguarding the land in the Negev and the Galilee. Hear an overview and meet with young leaders who will discuss how HaShomer upholds the Zionist ideals on which the State of Israel was founded.

PM Continue to and participate in a program with the local MAKOM Community. MAKOM communities see the strengthening of the social fabric of Israel as their mission. They are led by groups of young people who move to underprivileged parts of the country and empower those places from within through a variety of projects involving employment, culture and education. JNF works with the local MAKOM community to help develop the region. Enjoy lunch with the community. Proceed to Wadi Attir, a one-of-a-kind program in the Bedouin community that brings 21st technology together with the traditional Bedouin agricultural approach and provides much needed jobs for the Bedouin population. Drive to Mitzpe Ramon and check into the luxurious Beresheet Hotel. Set on the cliffs of the Ramon Crater it offers a breathtaking desert view. Enjoy dinner in the main dining hall at the hotel this evening.

Overnight Beresheet Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon

HaShomer HaChadash volunteers

Itinerary is subject to change. Wednesday, May 22 – Mitzpe Ramon (Lag Ba’Omer)

Mitzpe Ramon Crater

AM Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then enjoy an exhilarating Jeep Tour ride through the Ramon Crater and discover the unique landscapes and hidden treasures of this one- of-a-kind geological phenomenon. Following a meeting with the Mayor, explore the town of Mitzpe Ramon, where you’ll visit the JNF Skate Park. Also see the Fire Station, a part of the JNF initiative that helps ensure the safety and security of local residents and the surrounding region, and learn about the progress of Israel’s firefighting and rescue efforts.

PM Enjoy lunch and free time at the local Spice Quarter, a developing area in Mitzpe Ramon with various cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. Return to the hotel and indulge in an optional spa treatment, take a dip in the hotel pool, or simply relax in the hotel’s tranquil atmosphere. Enjoy a special “Desert Style” BBQ dinner under the stars. This evening, create a bonfire in honor of Lag B’Omer and participate in a stargazing activity together with the young members of the Green Horizons (Hugey Sayarut), an educational program that cultivates the love of hiking among Israeli youth.

Overnight Beresheet Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon

Itinerary is subject to change. Thursday, May 23 – Departure

AM Following breakfast and hotel check-out depart to the spectacular Avdat National Park. Tour Avdat, an ancient Nabatean city, that served as a station on the Incense Route in the Negev highlands. Among the remains of the city you can find potteries and Roman burial caves, along with a Byzantine period residential neighborhood, rainwater harvesting system, the town’s fortress, baths and wineries.

PM Depart to Halutza located in the Northwest Negev, less than a mile away from the Gaza border. Halutza was founded in 2005 by a group of families that left their homes during Israel’s disengagement from Gaza. In cooperation with JNF, Halutza’s pioneers laid roads, created infrastructure, brought in temporary housing, erected hundreds of greenhouses, planted crops and built fields of solar energy panels. Led by Yedidya Harush, JNF-Halutza Liaison, see Halutza’s greenhouses and the state- of-the-art Medical Center. The new 24–hour medical center provides an expanded range of services and timely response for residents in the surrounding area. During a catered lunch, local residents will share with you their personal stories of settling in the area. Visit the Eshkol Resilience Center, one of ITC’s (Israel Trauma Coalition) five Resilience Centers located near the Gaza border. Hear from Michal Uziyahu, of the , about the center’s work; how it treats people suffering from anxiety and post- traumatic stress, and how it supports parents, children, and staff from villages and kibbutzim in the area. Learn about the ongoing JNF campaign to help residents of the Gaza Envelope region. Our journey concludes with a farewell dinner before transferring to Ben-Gurion Airport for return flights to the U.S.

Advat National Park

Itinerary is subject to change.