ARRIVAL: Monday, December 22, 2014

DEPARTURE: Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at night.

SUGGESTED DETAILED PROGRAM: The following is a suggested program that can be edited over time and adapted to your specific needs.

Monday, December 22 "Welcome to ." A member of our staff will meet the group upon arrival at Passport Control at Ben Gurion Airport to assist you with arrival procedures. He will then see you to your guide, driver and touring vehicle that will drive you to your hotel to check in and freshen up. This evening drive to the Yemenite Quarter of Tel Aviv to enjoy an authentic Middle Eastern Welcome Dinner and orientation at the Maganda Restaurant. Overnight – Renaissance Hotel, Tel Aviv.

Tuesday, December 23 "Touring in and about Tel Aviv." After breakfast start the tour at the Ayalon Institute ("the bullet factory") in Rechovot, a clandestine operation that manufactured armaments right under the noses of the British! (Lunch on own). On to the Beit Guvrin region and the land of a thousand caves for a tour of the ancient excavated caves that different civilizations used for various purposes. While here you will have a chance to participate in an actual archaeological excavation and tour the caves. Proceed to Tel Aviv for a brief vehicular “City Tour” of the main attractions. Conclude the day with a stroll along Tel Aviv’s popular Nachalat Benjamin Pedestrian Arts and Craft Fair. On Tuesdays, the street is transformed into an artisan’s paradise with performing street entertainers, music and an array of hand made crafts and jewelry stalls. Overnight – Renaissance Hotel, Tel Aviv.

Wednesday, December 24 "Along the Mediterranean Coastline." Check out of the hotel this morning. Depart Tel Aviv heading north to Caesarea and its Roman and Crusader antiquities to see the excavated Roman Theater echoing theatrical performances of long ago. Today, this theatre still serves as a spectacular venue for concerts and music festivals. Visit the hippodrome and port, as well as the Crusader City. While here see the Caesarea Harbor project cinematic exhibition and audiovisual experience that will take you on a majestic virtual tour of the site. Continue north to Rosh Hanikra where a cable car will lower you toward the grottoes. The grottoes resulted from an ongoing geological process over thousands of years and are a natural wonder, fascinating in its mystery and breathtakingly beautiful. Drive into the hills of the Galilee to Safed, the city of the mystics to visit the synagogues of Rabbi Isaac Luria and Rabbi Joseph Karo. There will also be time to wander about the alleys, lanes and art galleries of the Old City of Safed. Proceed to your hotel to check in and freshen up before dinner which is included for you tonight. Overnight – HaGoshrim Kibbutz Hotel, Galilee.

Thursday, December 25 "From the to Jerusalem." Check out of your hotel and start the day at the springs and waterfall of , one of the sources of the Jordan River for a nature hike along the reserve. All will then board awaiting jeeps to ascend the Golan Heights. During the course of the expedition, you will pass former Syrian army headquarters and positions overlooking the Galilee. Continue to the 'De Karina' chocolate factory in Ein Zivan that makes hand made chocolates. Here you may take part in a fun workshop making and tasting chocolate and meet with the chocolatiers that use the finest quality ingredients for their products. Then, head to Kibbutz Ortal on the Golan Heights for a tour of the Kibbutz to see a communal lifestyle unique to Israel. Meet with members, for an informal chat and enjoy lunch in the Kibbutz dining room. Continue along the battlefields of the 1973 war to an active IDF unit to meet with the troops, defending Israel's northern border (pending Military confirmation). Drive via the shores of the beautiful Lake Kinneret along the Jordan Valley and ascend

1 of 3 to Jerusalem. Upon your first view of the eternal Holy City stop for a moment's reflection and prayer by saying the "Shehecheyanu" and "Borei Pri Hagefen" blessing as pilgrims did when approaching Jerusalem throughout history. Arrive to your hotel and check in. Overnight – Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.

Friday, December 26 "The Old City of Jerusalem." Start the day from an observation point overlooking Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade. Head down to the City of David a small hill just outside of the Ottoman Walls of the Old City that was the site of Biblical Jerusalem and the capital of King David. Tour this fascinating location and see the new discoveries from recent excavations. Also visit the Canaanite dry tunnel which is 3,400 years old. This tunnel was replaced by the Hezekiah Tunnel 2,800 years ago, but since the Hezekiah Tunnel is filled with cold water you will stay in the dry tunnel. Continue to an in depth tour of the Jewish Quarter including the Cardo, where there will be time for shopping. Stroll on through the narrow, busy streets, and colorful Bazaars filled with small shops. Return to your hotel to freshen up before the Shabbat. This evening optional Kabbalat Shabbat at the Western Wall or at synagogue of your choice. Return to your hotel for Shabbat dinner which is included in a private room at your hotel. Overnight – Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.

Saturday, December 27 "Shabbat in Jerusalem." Optional Shabbat service in the morning. No bus services are provided today. Meet the guide at the lobby of the hotel and depart for a walking tour of the Christian quarter of the Old City. Take a walking tour of Mishkenot Shananeem, the first Jewish neighborhood outside of the Old City walls developed by Moshe Montefiore. Enjoy the special atmosphere of this lovely neighborhood. Return to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight – Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem.

Sunday, December 28 "The New City of Jerusalem." After breakfast. drive to visit the Government Center and the Knesset, Israel's parliament to learn about the Israeli legislation process firsthand. This tour will be led by a local guide. On to Yad Vashem where the guide will drop you off for a tour of the central memorial and museum dedicated to the Holocaust accompanied by a local curator. Hold a memorial service at the Valley of Communities and place a single flower at the community of your choice. While you are at Yad Vashem the guide will take the children under 10 years old for a visit to the Tisch Family Zoological Garden in Jerusalem. The children will be able to see many animals that are referred to in the Bible. Following the visit to the Biblical Zoo return to Yad Vashem to meet up all together for lunch (on own account). Later this afternoon drive to the Old City for a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels to see the archaeological discoveries excavated in a vast, concealed tunnel along the Western Wall (pending confirmation). Conclude the day with an optional visit to the Mahane Yehuda open air market of Jerusalem to see how the locals do their shopping. Take in the sites, smells and noises of the market. And don't forget to pick up some chocolate rugelach! Overnight – Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday, December 29 "Kings and Rebels in the Desert of Judah." Check out of your hotel and depart Jerusalem. Drive east through the Judean Desert, arriving at the mountain-top fortress of for an in-depth tour of the site. Ascend the cliff top fortress by cable car. From the top of Masada, the outlines of the Roman encampments are still visible below. Continue to a hotel/spa on the shore of the Dead Sea for an afternoon of R & R. Enjoy the tasty buffet lunch (included). You also have use of the hotel's private Dead Sea beach and private outdoor pool. You may wish to reserve treatments at the spa (not included, should be reserved in advance.) By the afternoon travel to Mount Sdom, made of salt and see the column of salt traditionally believed to be Lot's wife. According to the Book of Genesis, she was turned into a pillar of salt when she glanced backward at the cities of Sdom and Gmorah while they were being destroyed. Proceed into the Desert to your hotel located on the edge of the Ramon Crater and check in. Dinner is included for you tonight at your hotel. Overnight – Beresheet Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon, Negev.

Tuesday, December 30 "The Negev Desert and amazing Ramon Crater." Early this morning enjoy coffee and cake at your hotel before heading to the oasis of Ein , for a nature hike along the canyon to see the waterfall and spring waters as they flow in natural pools to the base of the deep ravine of Zin. Enjoy the river flora, poplar trees and maybe even see herds of ibex that roam this area. Make your way up the steel ladders to the Upper Parking Lot. Return to your hotel for breakfast. Freshen up and check out by noon. On to visit the Mitzpe Ramon Visitor's Center situated on the edge of the crater and offering an amazing view of the crater’s beauty and its treasures. See the audio-visual presentation. Head northward, stopping for lunch at a Bedouin encampment,

2 of 3 where you will be hosted in true Bedouin style. You will also have the opportunity to go on a short camel ride here in the Negev. Drive through the Negev Desert to Tel Aviv to Independence Hall where Ben Gurion declared the establishment of Israel on May 14, 1948. Sit in the very same room where our founding fathers sat on that historic day! This evening, there will be time at leisure in the Tel Aviv Port which has recently been renovated. You might stop at one of the excellent restaurants there and enjoy dinner (own account) or shop in some of the new and “in” stores. Prior to your departure flight your guide, driver and touring vehicle will transfer you from the Tel Aviv Port to Ben Gurion Airport for your late night departure flight. A member of our staff will assist you with departure procedures.

HOTELS: Accommodation at hotels includes full Israeli breakfast daily and hotel service charge. The price has been based on the following hotels:

December 22 – 24 (Two nights) Renaissance Hotel, Tel Aviv (Deluxe rooms)

December 24 – 25 (One night) HaGoshrim Hotel, Galilee (Boutique rooms)

December 25 – 29 (Four nights) Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem (Superior rooms)

December 29 – 30 (One night) Beresheet Hotel, Negev (Desert view rooms)

MEALS: In addition to the complete Israeli breakfast served daily, we have included the following meals: Monday, December 22: Dinner at Maganda Restaurant, Tel Aviv. Wednesday, December 24: Dinner at HaGoshrim Kibbutz Hotel, Galilee. Thursday, December 25: Lunch at Kibbutz Ortal, Golan Heights. Friday, December 26: Shabbat Dinner in private room at the Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem Monday, December 29: "Lunch and Swim" at Dead Sea Hotel, Spa. Monday, December 29: Dinner at Beresheet Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon, Negev Tuesday, December 30: Lunch and Bedouin hospitality in the Negev.

TOURING AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: One VIP meeting/assistance upon arrival before Passport Control. Entrance fees to the various parks and sites as per the itinerary. Bottled mineral water on touring vehicle throughout. Porterage at hotels. Group arrival transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv (considered part of the first day of touring) Eight days of touring with a professional English speaking tour guide Eight days services of a driver in a vehicle licensed/ insured for tourism. Overnight stays away from home base and expenses for the tour guide and driver All mileage per the above program. All tour coordination services. Jeep excursion on the Golan Heights Curator at Yad Vashem Flowers at Yad Vashem for ceremony One VIP meeting/assistance upon departure in the Terminal. One group departure transfer from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport.

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