Israel Summer 2017
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Israel Summer 2017 PROGRAM ITINERARY subject to change JCC Maccabi Israel Emma Kaufmann Camp C.I.T Teen Trip to Israel June 21st – July 13th, 2017 JMI Emma Kaufmann Camp CIT Trip to Israel June 21st – July 13th, 2017 Staff: TBD – Mitchell Slutsky TBD – Abigail Wurmbrand TBD– Jacob Recht Alon Gat – Israeli Tour Educator Kinneret– Israeli General Counselor TBD –Medic and security guard JMI Emma Kaufmann Camp CIT Israel Trip 2 Wednesday, June 21: Departure • Depart on LY 002 from JFK to Tel Aviv at 7:00pm Thursday, June 22: Welcome home! Arrival and Orientation • Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport at 12:40pm and meet the Israeli JCC Maccabi Israel staff • Meet money changer (prepare envelopes in advance of $100 to be collected by staff) • Head to Jaffa • Welcome to Israel – Shecheyanu ceremony from Gan HaPisga in Jaffa • Tour of Jaffa, the old port city that is a symbol of co-existence • Check-in, dinner and orientation at our accommodations Overnight: Orchan Yoav, Central Israel Friday, June 23: Heading south • Breakfast and check-out of hotel • Head to Beit Guvrin for an Archeological dig experience – learn how to identify different eras through your findings • Start heading south • Pizur lunch on route • Welcome to the desert – Overlook at Mt. Sdom • Kibbutz Lotan– welcome to the Kibbutz by local staff • Check in and preparation for Shabbat • Camp style Kabbalat Shabbat • Shabbat Dinner • Oneg Shabbat Overnight: Kibbutz Lotan, Arava region Shabbat, June 24: Shabbat on a Kibbutz • Late wake-up and optional breakfast • Morning services on Kibbutz with local community • Seminar at the Kibbutz • Free time at the pool • Walking tour of the Kibbutz • Sikkum HaShavua – summary of the week's activities and experiences • Dinner in the Kibbutz • Havdallah • Free night in Eilat Overnight: Kibbutz Lotan, Arava region JMI Emma Kaufmann Camp CIT Israel Trip 3 Sunday, June 25: Eilat and the southern borders of Israel • Breakfast and check out • Morning hike at Mt. Tzfahcot- overview of Israel's southern borders and their importance • Snorkeling in the Red Sea • Pizur lunch in the Eilat mall • Water sports • Kasui sand dunes (time permitting) • Continue to Arad • Check in and dinner at Hotel • Evening program – prepare for Masada Overnight: Inbar Hotel Arad, Judean Desert Monday, June 26: L'dor v' Dor: Masada, a story of Jewish heroism, dilemmas and leadership • Early wake up (tea\coffee and snack) • Masada – climb up via the Roman ramp, look over the Jordanian mountains and tour the sites that are a symbol of our people's history • Descend via the snake path • Breakfast at the Masada Youth Hostel • Float in the healing water of the Dead Sea • Packed lunch • Nachal David (Ein Gedi) – walk through the largest oasis in the Judean Desert, joining the ibex and the mountain goats as they search for water • Head towards Chan HaShayarot • Buckle up! It's time to ride some camels, the best way to travel through the desert • Bedouin "Hafla" – the Bedouins are famous for their hospitality. Explore their delicious cuisine and unique culture • Camp-style bonfire under the stars Overnight: Chan HaShayarot Bedouin tents Tuesday, June 27: Making the desert bloom • Morning hike in Ein Ovdat • Visit Paula and David Ben Gurion's grave, and discuss his vision and his special relationship with the Negev • Lunch in Sde Boker • Head to the Teva visitor's center in Ramat Hovav to get a glimpse of the tech industry in the Negev • Depart for Jerusalem • Mt. Scopus – observation point – Welcome to Jerusalem! • Check in and Dinner Overnight: Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem JMI Emma Kaufmann Camp CIT Israel Trip 4 Wednesday, June 28: Jerusalem, where it all begins • Laundry day! Bring your laundry bags to breakfast • Breakfast at hotel • City of David. Tour where Jerusalem began 3,000 years ago, Water hike through Hezekiah's tunnel, built to bring water from the Gihon Spring to the city during the Assyrian siege • Enter the Old City of Jerusalem from the Dung Gate and experience life in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago by participating in a virtual tour at the Davidson Center • Free time in the Jewish Quarter • Falafel lunch • Tour the old City and its different quarters, finishing up at the Western Wall • Kotel tunnels tour • Pizur dinner and free evening on Ben Yehuda Street | Friends and family can visit (if pre- arranged) • Evening staff led program: Prepare for Yad Vashem Overnight: Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem Thursday, June 29: L'dor V' Dor: understanding our past in order to create a future • Breakfast at hotel • Visit Yad Vashem, the Central Holocaust Museum in Israel. Hear a story from a survivor and get a strong understanding of the importance of the State of Israel. • Lunch • Volunteer activity– celebrate life and the ability to contribute to the world • Neil Lazrus lecture - Middle east update • Dinner at hotel • Prep for Har Herzl: Learn about Michael Levin's story • Evening out in Jerusalem Overnight: Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem Friday, June 30: Modern day symbols of Jerusalem • Breakfast at hotel • Visit Mt. Herzl - This is the site where many of the Nation's dignitaries are buried. This complex also is the home to the National Military ceremony where you will hear the story of Michael Levin and other fallen Israeli heroes • Tour the security fence in Jerusalem. Learn about the sensitive security situation in Jerusalem • Pizur lunch in the Machne Yehuda fruit and vegetables market • Visit Bezalel arts fair featuring quality arts and crafts from the city's local artisans (optional) • Return to hotel to prepare for Shabbat • Head to Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat • Walk back to hotel through Jerusalem's beautiful and quiet streets • Shabbat dinner and camp-style song session Overnight: Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem JMI Emma Kaufmann Camp CIT Israel Trip 5 Shabbat, July 1: Shabbat in Jerusalem • Breakfast at hotel • The Israel Museum – the largest cultural institutions in the State of Israel which is also ranked among the leading art and archaeology museums in the world. You will see the well- known Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known biblical manuscripts in the world • Visit the Rose Garden and learn about the Knesset and Supreme Court in order to discuss the challenges of democracy in Israel • Family and friends can visit at the hotel in the afternoon \ free time • Sikkum HaShavua – summary of the week's activities and experiences • Dinner at hotel • Havdallah Overnight: Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem Sunday, July 2: Gvanim: mosaics of people and cultures • Breakfast and check out of hotel • Travel North • Head to Haifa to see an amazing city that is a symbol of cross cultures: the Bahai Gardens, Stella Maris Carmelite Monestery and the Ahmadiyya Mosque • Tour the old Druze of Usfie, eat an authentic Druze lunch and learn about this special community that holds its religion a secret, while being active members of the Israeli Society • Walking tour in the old city of Akko • Check-in and dinner at hotel • Israeli dance session • Evening program: prepare for Mifgash Overnight: Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot Guest House, Western Galilee Monday, July 3: Experiencing Eretz Yisrael and Beginning of Mifgash • Breakfast at kibbutz • Rappelling adventure experience at Keshet Arch • Visit the mystical city of Tzfat • Lunch • Meet Avraham Lowental and learn about Kabbalah and the connection between Judaism and art • Head to Karmiel to meet teens from Partnership region and Icebreakers activities • Spend the evening with our friends at their host family's homes • Dinner with families at homes | laundry at homes Overnight: Home hospitality JMI Emma Kaufmann Camp CIT Israel Trip 6 Tuesday, July 4: Connecting with our new friends • Breakfast with host families • Visit the Hula Valley and bike in this beautiful landmark • Learn about the work that happens here with birds, including ringing • Overview of the Lebanese border to understand the complexity of the north • Co-existence seminar with Circus Galilee, learn about how the diverse population of the Galilee come together in this initiative • Head back to host families • Dinner with host families Overnight: Home hospitality Wednesday, July 5: Exploring the North • Breakfast with host families and meet back up in Karmiel • Morning hike in the Jilabun • Lunch in Kfar Blum • Kayaks on the Jordan River – relax on the cool water • Visit Syrian bunker at Tel Facher or Mitzpe Gadot and learn about the strategic importance of this region. Hear about the dramatic story of the 1973 Yom Kippur war, as well as the current situation in war-torn Syria • Dinner at the community center with Israeli teens • Head to host families Overnight: Home hospitality Thursday, July 6: Getting to know our partnership region • Breakfast with host families • Yom Kehilla; activities in the partnership region (TBD) • Volunteer at Eshbal • Beach time in the afternoon (Nahriya beach) • Dinner with host families Overnight: Home hospitality Friday, July 7: Connecting with our families • Activities with host community in the morning until after lunch • Meet in the community center • Head to hotel • Check in and prep for Shabbat • Camp style Kabbalat Shabbat • Shabbat Dinner • Oneg Shabbat Overnight: Ohalo Manor, Sea of Galilee JMI Emma Kaufmann Camp CIT Israel Trip 7 Shabbat, July 8: Shabbat with our hosts • Optional breakfast • Morning activity session • Relaxation and Shabbat Free time • Afternoon activity • Summary of mifgash week • Havdallah • Farewell party: Disco boat on the Kinneret Overnight: Ohalo Manor, Sea of Galilee Sunday, July 9: Past, present, future • Activity in partnership region •