December 26th JNFuture Volunteer Vacation - January 3rd Leadership Aly Robinson, Co-Chair Simon Schwartz, Co-Chair Itinerary is Subject to Change. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26- DEPART NEWARK Meet fellow participants at Newark Airport for flight to Israel. Board plane and embark on a journey to do your part in building the Land of Israel. Together you will learn about the challenges of creating sustainable settlements in Israel’s desert regions, the issues that face Israeli “development towns” on the periphery, environmental issues and - with Ben Gurion JNF - take real steps toward continuing the reality of a Jewish State. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 - ARRIVAL/DRIVE TO NEGEV Welcome to Israel! After a brief snack and refreshment, travel south to the Negev desert to begin your seven-day adventure on this incredible JNF Alternative Winter Break Program! Travel South to the Negev Desert where we will begin our program in Kibbutz Mash’abei Sade. Negev Check in and then join fellow group members for a welcome dinner at the Kibbutz's restaurant. Following dinner proceed to the community space for orientation. Spend the next few hours getting to know your peers, enjoying dessert and reviewing the itinerary for the exciting week ahead. Overnight: Kibbutz Mash’abei Sade guest house. Itinerary is Subject to Change. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28- MITZPE RAMON From Vision to Reality: Making the Negev bloom After breakfast travel to Sde Boker to begin the day by visiting the burial site of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, who claimed that “It is in the Negev that the creativity and pioneer vigor of Israel shall be tested”. Sde Boker Following the visit to Sde Boker, join members of HaShomer HaChadash at the Mitzpeh Ramon vineyards, working the land and preparing the soil for planting season. HaShomer HaChadash is a young, grassroots volunteer organization established in 2007 to help farmers and ranchers in the Negev and the Galilee who administer vast tracts of state-owned land to deal with the threat of illegal seizure of their land. Like the original Guardsmen who protected remote Jewish settlements 100 years ago, HaShomer HaChadash works to ensure a stronger Jewish presence in the Negev and the Galilee and uphold the Zionist ideals on which the State of Israel was founded. Hashomer Hachdash Enjoy a picnic lunch with Hashomer Hachdash and then spend the next few hours completing the project started in the morning. Then the group will have the opportunity to participate in wine tasting at the vineyard. Sit back and relax over a hard-earned glass of wine. Learn about the unique climate and its effect on the grapes and wine produced from them, and of the region’s rich history of wine making. Witness the sunset over the Ramon crater and then take an evening stroll on the breathtaking boardwalk at the edge of the cliffs overlooking the vast Ramon crater. Dinner in the Bedouin Tents of Chan Hashayarot. Learn about the Hashomer Hachdash Bonfire traditional Bedouin lifestyle and eat a delicious authentic Bedouin dinner. Bonfire in the Desert Enjoy the desert’s star-studded skies cuddling by a bonfire. Overnight: Kibbutz Mash’abei Sade guest house. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29- BE'ER SHEVA/ SDEROT Following a lovely Israeli breakfast at the Kibbutz, the group will start the day with a short tour of Nahal Beersheva. The centerpiece of JNF’s Blueprint Negev campaign is the Be’er Sheva River Park, a massive water, environment and economic development project that is transforming the Be'er Sheva Amphitheater riverfront into a 1,700-acre civic paradise. The Be’er Sheva River Park will be an engine for the city’s rebirth. Working with the Israeli government and other partners, the creation of a thriving waterfront district will attract new businesses and entice visitors passing through the city to stop, relax, and enjoy a green desert oasis that offers a wealth of possibilities for family recreation. Be’er Sheva’s image is being Itinerary is Subject to Change. transformed into that of a green and vibrant modern city, truly the capital of the Negev. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29- CONTINUED After seeing Nahal Be'er Sheva take the short drive to Shavuat Ha'adamah (Earth’s Promise), which works with economically- disadvantaged Ethiopians in Be’er Sheva. Hear from the Director Adam about their current project is to take vacant parcels of land filled with garbage and debris, and with your help and the help of others in the neighborhood, clean the plot, lay down compost, and then give out Earth's Promise parcels of land to Ethiopian families to farm. This urban farming is a twenty-first century version of Ben Gurion’s dream to settle the desert, as well as a way to restore self-pride and improve quality of life. In this particular project, you will continue the work of previous JNF Alternative Break groups in building an “urban sanctuary” along-side the community gardens, where families can relax and play together while working the land. Lunch at Café Ringleblum a unique coffee shop providing youth at risk Kids of Earth's Promise with guidance, support and an honorable job that helps them support themselves respectfully. During lunch meet with Nefesh B’nefesh director of “Go South”, Ravit Greenberg. The Go South program is an ambitious initiative offering enhanced services and financial benefits to Olim interested in moving to Israel’s Southern communities. These enhancements coupled with Go South based dedicated Nefesh B’Nefesh community and employment specialists are aimed at enabling Olim to have a smoother and more solid integration thereby creating a successful and solid Southern Aliyah experience. Travel to Sderot indoor playground in Israel in Sderot to directly impact the lives of the children of Sderot. The all- inclusive Indoor Recreational Be'er Sheva Playground Center opened on March 10, 2009 to provide Sderot’s youth with a place to have fun, connect with friends, enjoy stimulating classes, and be children, beyond the conflict. A place to feel strong and free, away from their daily helplessness and anxiety. And parents can have peace of mind knowing that their children are playing and learning in an environment that is safe and secure. After leaving the indoor playground the group will have the exciting opportunity to meet with Musicians and local young professionals and hear their personal stories living in Sderot and how the security situation Sderot Indoor Playground effects their lives. Dinner at the Golden Goose in Be'er Sheva Overnight: Kibbutz Mash’abei Sade guest house Itinerary is Subject to Change. Dinner at the Golden Goose in Be'er Sheva Overnight: Kibbutz Mash’abei Sade guest house WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30th HALUTZA/ YERUCHAM Following breakfast at the guest house, travel to the Halutza Region of the Negev. Located on the border between Israel and Egypt the Halutza region is nestled between isolated sand dunes far from major cities. Their dream of Halutza’s settlers became a reality with several new communities created in the last year and green agricultural fields Halutza surrounding the area. You will spend the day working to beautify the land and the community. Projects include, building a pergola and outside space, painting a mural and building a deck and laying down grass. During a picnic lunch participants will have the opportunity to speak with local residents about why they decided to live there and what are the accomplishments and challenges of living a pioneering lifestyle near the Gaza border. End the day visiting the medical clinic and the Young Farmers incubator. That afternoon the group will leave Halutza and drive to Yerucham for Halutza an authentic meal at the home of one of the woman participating in the “Cooks of Yerucham” project. Cooks of Yerucham empowers women from various ethnic groups with low to no incomes– by enabling them to host groups of visitors for rich, authentic meals at their homes. This project increases their income, enables them to tell their story and provides an exceptional experience for the cooks and their guests alike. A cookbook of their recipes has recently been published. Overnight: Kibbutz Mash’abei Sade guest house THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31st JERUSALEM/ TEL AVIV Yeruham Lake Enjoy breakfast at Mash’abei Sade guest house and then travel to Jerusalem. Visit Ammunition Hill which was a fortified Jordanian military post in the northern part of Jordanian-occupied East Jerusalem. It was the site of one of the fiercest battles of the Six-Day War and is now a national memorial site and symbol of the reunited Jerusalem. Spend the next few hours shopping and enjoying a independent lunch at the Ben Yehuda outdoor mall. Then drive to the old city for a visit at Ammunition HIll the Kotel. Following the visit to the Jerusalem travel to Tel Aviv to prepare for 2016. After checking-in and getting changed, the group will head to a trendy Tel Aviv restaurant for dinner and drinks to ring-in 2016! After midnight participants will have the option to continue the celebration at a local club or can return back to the hostel. Overnight: Bnei Dan Itinerary is Subject to Change. of visitors for rich, authentic meals at their homes. This project increases their income, enables them to tell their story and provides an exceptional experience for the cooks and their guests alike. A cookbook of their recipes has recently been published. Overnight: Kibbutz Mash’abei Sade guest house FRIDAY, JANUARY 1st TEL AVIV After a relaxing breakfast at Bnei Dan, start the day with a graffiti tour of the Florentin neighborhood. Join Niro Taub, Bezalel Academy for Art and Design graduate, tour guide and educator for a fascinating tour of Tel Aviv’s street art.