Tentative Itinerary Israel Travel Course

Version: Oct 30 As we get closer to the course we will finalize the itinerary to add topics.

Additional programming to add to schedule as we get closer to travel: Visit: Temple Mount Topic: (Tel Aviv or Hebrew U) Topic: Indian Jewish community at Nevatim in Israel: Contact: Ruth Greenfield. Topic: Bahai: contact Geoff Kellowe Topic: Druze community (Tel Aviv or Hebrew U) Topic: Qmran lecture (Tel Aviv U or Hebrew U) Topic: A Discussion with Havruta’s Daniel Jonas (Orthodox LGTBQ community) Contact: Daniel Jonas, [email protected] Topic: Jewish Religion and Identity in the State of Israel. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Akiva Tor, Head of the Bureau for World Jewish Affairs and World Religion. Topic: Islam & Muslim community in Israel (Tel Aviv U or Hebrew U) Topic: Stephen Fine, University, Arch of Titus / Archeology Topic: Ethiopian-Israelis: Preserving Ethiopian Culture in Israel. Atachlit, Beta Yisrael village in Kiryat Gat Contact: Shalev Maharat, [email protected]

Date & travel schedule Day 1: Wednesday, May 2, 2018

DEPARTURE May 2, 2018: Ottawa to Toronto: Flight 453 Departure YOW at 1300 Arrive YYZ 1404

May 2, 2018 Toronto to Tel Aviv Flight 84 Departure YYZ 1640 Arrive TLV 1005 May 3

Day 2: Thursday May 3

Arrive Tel Aviv 10:05 am Smile service upon arrival

P.M. Group Lunch stop Transfer to Hotel in Tel Aviv Settle in.

TBD: Orientation, and intro to the course in Israel. TBD: Welcome group dinner at hotel Accommodations: Tel Aviv (1)

DAY 3: FRIDAY MAY 4, 2018 A.M.: Breakfast at the hotel.

Diaspora Museum: http://www.bh.org.il/

Bus to Old Jaffa:

Lunch on your own in Old Jaffa

PM: As time permits, seminar organized by Dr. Butler: in Israel

Community Shabbat service at Tel Aviv port with progressive Jewish community.

Dinner Group Shabbat dinner

Accommodations: Tel Aviv (2) (B, D) DAY 4 - SATURDAY MAY 5, 2018

Day of rest, breakfast at hotel, lunch and dinner on your own, recommendations will be provided. Recover from jet lag. Check out the beach

Evening: Course resumes Sunset Havdalah service with IDF conversion teachers followed by evening seminar led by Dr. Butler.

Accommodations: Tel Aviv (3) (B, D)

DAY 5 -SUNDAY MAY 6, 2018 8 A.M. Lecture organized by Dr. Butler: Topic Religion and State in Israel

Palmach Museum

Lunch on your own

P.M. Neve Shalom (Oasis of Peace) (and if time permits Bedouin visit)

Return to Tel Aviv

Dinner on your own

Accommodations: Tel Aviv (4) (B) DAY 6 - MONDAY, MAY 7, 2018 8

Breakfast at hotel

A.M. Entrance to Beit Govrin National Park

Archeological Dig at Tel Maresha

P.M. Box lunch will be provided

Tel Lachish

Return to Jerusalem

Dinner on your own

Accommodations: Caesar Jerusalem, Jerusalem (1)

(B, BoxL)

DAY 7 - TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018 A.M.

08:30-09:30 Mt. of Olives: historical overview of Jerusalem as a city

10:00-12:00 The Museum for Islamic Art-

P.M.

12:30-13:30 Lunch on own at Yad Vashem Cafeteria

13:30-16:30 Yad Vashem: Before touring on your own, we will discuss how the Holocaust is remembered in Israel and by in the Diaspora.

Bus to hotel

Group dinner at hotel

Evening program: Bus to Sound and Light show at Tower of David:

Accommodations: Caesar Jerusalem, Jerusalem (2) (B, D)

DAY 8 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018

A.M. Breakfast at Hotel

City of David & Hezekiah’s Tunnel:

P.M. Lunch on own at the Jewish Quarter

Burnt House:

Visit Kotel: Western wall of the Temple Mount.

Davidson Center: The Jerusalem Archaeological Park,

Ramparts Walk

Dinner on your own (transfer back to the hotel by bus or stay in the for dinner)

Accommodations: Caesar Jerusalem, Jerusalem (3)(B, D) DAY 9 - THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018 A.M. 7:45 A.M. on the bus Church of the holy Sepulcher

Temple Mt. Sifting Project (emek Tzurim) with lecture by Gabriel Barkay.

Kotel Tunnels:

P.M. Lunch on own

Via dolorosa, Bethesda Pool,

Mea shearim

Accommodations: Caesar Jerusalem, Jerusalem (4)(B)

DAY 10 FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018

Breakfast at Hotel

A.M. Israel Museum

Women of wall

P.M. Shop and prepare for Shabbat when most stores and restaurants are closed in the area. Traditional Shabbat dinner as a group.

Accommodations: Caesar Jerusalem, Jerusalem (5)(B)

DAY 11- SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2018

Shabbat, day of rest No scheduled activities Go explore! Accommodations: Caesar Jerusalem, Jerusalem (6)

DAY 12 - SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018

A.M. Lecture organized by Dr. Butler: Topic TBA

Visit to the Knesset

Lunch on your own

P.M. Leave the city

Dead Sea swim

Baptism site at Jordan River (Israeli side)

Stop at Ahava factory (bathrooms and shop)

Dinner: Abraham’s tent & Camel ride

Accommodations: Masada Guest Youth Hostel (1) (B, D)

DAY 13 - MONDAY, MAY 14, 2018 AM: Boxed breakfast.

First cablecar up to Masada 8 a.m.. Optional –hike the snake path at 4 a.m.

Qmran

P.M. Lunch at Masada or Kalia Beach

Dead Sea Mud and Floating Kalia Beach

Dinner at Masada Youth Hostel

Accommodations: Masada Guest Youth Hostel (2)

(BoxB,D)

DAY 14 - TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

A.M. Beit Shean

Megiddo

P.M. Nazareth tour and visit to mosque.

Accommodations: Dinner and Overnight: Kibbutz Degania (1)(B, D)

DAY 15 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2018 .

A.M. Capernaum

Mount Bental viewpoint

P.M. Lunch – the guide will arrange a stop at a self-service restaurant.

Lecture about Kibbutz history and life by Kibbutz member to be organized by Eshet Tours.

Accommodations: Kibbutz Degania (B, D)

DAY 16- THRUSDAY MAY 17, 2018 . A.M. Safed

Lunch on your own

Rosh Hanikra: caves and sea views, wear rubber soled shoes, may be slippery.

P.M. Akko: Crusader Fort, sea views, and market

Bahai Temple and Gardens:

Group dinner

Accommodations: Acco Youth Hostel (B, D)

DAY 17 – FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

A.M. Caesaria

P.M.

Group Lunch (ADD)

Transfer to Tel Aviv (B)

Course is now over. You may travel on your own after Caesaria or return to Tel Aviv with the group. Drop offs to train and bus stations can be arranged in advance.

Make own arrangements for lodging for tonight until departure. Travel agent will help and can advise on range of affordable options.