itinerary April 29-May 6, 2019 Frenchman’s Creek mission inside the idf Chairs: Judith & Morry Weiss Judy & Paul Konigsberg Penni & Steve Weinberg Monday, April 29 Welcome dinner with the former IDF Chief of Staff OVERNIGHT: HILTON TEL AVIV Tuesday, April 30 Breakfast at the hotel Ride a helicopter from Tel Aviv’s airport toward Jerusalem; ride along the security fence between Israel and the West Bank; then head north over Tiberias and land on the Golan Heights. Hear a briefing on the most advanced technology and challenges the IDF uses for Hezbollah and other radical movements operating close to the border. Travel via helicopter to Ziv hospital in Tzfat Since the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in January 2014, the hospital has been treating Syrians injured in the fighting. An estimated $9 million has been invested in treating Syrian refugees alone. The Israel Defense Forces and Israeli government cover two-thirds of the cost, and a third is covered by the hospital. Lunch with Ilan Shohat, mayor of Tzfat, a city in Federation’s Partnership2Gether Region Visit Havat Hashomer Base and meet the base commander, female commanders and IDF soldiers. Havat Hashomer takes in soldiers who are considered at-risk youth. The mission of the base is to advance the individual’s education and fulfill his or her potential for the success of each soldier and citizen in general. Each soldier develops military and life skills, as well as a sense of personal capability and accomplishment. Travel to Tel Aviv via Helicopter Special dinner party with FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Students FIDF IMPACT! Scholarships are given to select IDF combat and combat-support veterans who qualify for post-secondary education but cannot afford to pay for it. Each scholarship provides $16,000 over four years; it can be used by the scholarship recipient to cover tuition at an accredited institution in Israel and for related costs such as textbooks. OVERNIGHT: HILTON TEL AVIV Wednesday, May 1 Breakfast at the hotel Tour Elbit Sytems Elbit Systems is an Israel-based international defense electronics company and world leader in defense projects and upgrade programs for military platforms. Meet with Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Avi Mizrachi, Vice President at Elbit Systems Lunch at Tishbi Winery Restaurant in Zikhron Ya’akov Visit to The Jewish Agency for Israel – Nativ Each year, Nativ provides a Jewish and Zionist education to thousands of immigrant soldiers who have a complex connection to their Jewish identity and heritage. The program involves learning, traveling throughout Israel, and observing Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Nativ ensures that Israel’s immigrant soldiers feel a personal connection to their new homeland and strengthens their Jewish identity. Each year, Jewish Federations contribute $1 million to support 1,700 participants at two sites. Dinner in Tel Aviv with an IDF hero who served at the historic Entebbe rescue mission that saved 103 hostages and brought them back to Israel. OVERNIGHT: HILTON TEL AVIV technology Thursday, May 2 Breakfast at the hotel Visit at IDF special operation unit on the Gaza Border that controls the fence Get briefed on the Gaza Border situation and challenges, including the special technology that detects tunnels on the Gaza side; humanitarian efforts from Israel to the people in Gaza; and medical updates of Palestinians in Israeli hospitals. Enjoy lunch at the home of one of the residents who live in the shadow of rocket fire. Encounter Jewish Federation-supported initiatives in the region that make a daily impact on residents’ lives. Visit Hamas Tunnels Meeting with Ruvik Danilovich, Mayor of Beer Sheva since 2008 Visit CyberSpark CyberSpark is the name of the Israeli Cyber Innovation Arena in Beer-Sheva. It is a joint venture of the Israeli National Cyber Bureau in the Prime Minister’s Office, Beer Sheva Municipality, Ben Gurion University of the Negev and leading companies in the cybersecurity industry. CyberSpark Industry Initiative is a non-profit organization, designed to be the central coordinating body for joint cyber industry activities with all stakeholders to leverage the region and maximize its potential as a global cyber center, encourage joint academia industry partnerships, and support plans to draw other companies to establish projects or base themselves in the region. Dinner with Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, Founder of the Iron Dome Defense System Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold is an expert on technology and innovation. He is best known for spearheading the creation of Israel’s Iron Dome system during his time as head of research and development at the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Israel Defense Forces. Gold currently serves as head of Defense Research and Development Directorate; he is in charge of determining the military research and development policy for Israel, including oversight of its execution. OVERNIGHT: HILTON TEL AVIV security Friday, May 3 Breakfast and checkout at the hotel Visit and explore Jerusalem’s Machne Yehuda Market Explore the market’s many sounds and smells, from fruit to Arab coffee to flowers to spices to fresh breads being baked. Free afternoon Welcome Shabbat at the Western Wall Shabbat Dinner with Lone Soldiers Enjoy Shabbat dinner with Lone Soldiers – servicemen and -women who don’t have immediate family in Israel. Hear about how, with the support of the Wings program through Federation’s partners at The Jewish Agency, Lone Soldiers are offered guidance, support and mentorship from their arrival in Israel, during their service and for two years after their release. In 2017, the program served approximately 850 Lone Soldiers. OVERNIGHT: THE ORIENT JERUSALEM Saturday, May 4 Breakfast at the hotel Option 1 - Shabbat at leisure Experience the atmosphere of Shabbat in Jerusalem at leisure. For those interested in attending Shabbat morning services at nearby area synagogues, a list will be provided. Option 2 – Shabbat walking tour of the Old City Discover the Hidden Gems of the Old City. Stroll through the shuks (markets) of the Christian Quarter, as well as the covert courtyards and alleyways of the Jewish Quarter. View the city from special lookout points in all quarters and discover the hidden treasures that the city has to offer. Option 3 – Shabbat walking tour of Yemin Moshe Yemin Moshe was the first Jewish neighborhood to be established in the modern era outside the walls of the Old City. The picturesque 19th century area, founded by Moshe Montefiore, has seen quite its share of the city’s tumultuous modern history; it sits on the seam between East and West. Option 4 – Israel Museum The Israel Museum houses encyclopedic collections, including works dating from prehistoric times to today. The Jewish Art and Life wings feature the most extensive holdings of biblical and Holy Land archaeology in the world. While here, a visit to the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls (the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world), and the model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period are a must. security exclusive After the Shabbat morning activities, Judith & Morry Weiss will host Kiddush and lunch at their home at the Isrotel Residence Jerusalem, connected to the Orient Hotel. Havdallah service at the hotel Dinner with former Head of the Mossad Mossad is the national intelligence agency of Israel, responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations and counterterrorism. It is one of the main entities in the Israeli intelligence community, along with Aman (military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal security). The goals, structure and powers of the Mossad are exempt from the basic laws of Israel, but its activity is subject to secret procedures that have never been published. OVERNIGHT: THE ORIENT JERUSALEM Sunday, May 5 Breakfast at the hotel Visit at the Caracal Battalion The Caracal is an infantry combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces, one of only two units in the Israeli military that is composed of both male and female soldiers. Lunch at Orlyya Farm The Orlyya Farm is located in the middle of the Ramat-Negev region, at the heart of beautiful Negev desert scenery in the south of Israel. Jerusalem Seam Line tour with Col. (Res.) Dan Tirza, one of the architects of the security fence in the Jerusalem area. Travel along the separation fence with him as he explains the considerations and negotiations which went into its construction and how its presence has impacted the city of Jerusalem. Dinner with IDF coordinator and IDF Haredi graduates of the JDC’s Haredi Post IDF-Employment program. Through JDC’s TEVET employment division, the IDF program works to help place Haredi soldiers in places of employment after their army service. OVERNIGHT: THE ORIENT JERUSALEM vip experience vip Monday, May 6 Breakfast at the hotel VIP tour of the Knesset The Knesset is the unicameral national legislative branch of the Israeli government. It passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister, approves the Cabinet and supervises the work of the government. Meet with a member of the Knesset, Mr. Avi Dichter, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and chair of the Subcommittee for Cyber Defense. Among the key roles he has held are Director of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), Minister of Internal Security, Minister of Home Front Defense and Shin Bet director. Farewell dinner party with Michael Oren, Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Israeli statesman Dr. Michael Oren served as Israel’s Ambassador to the United States between 2009 and 2013. In January 2014, Oren was appointed analyst of Middle Eastern Affairs at CNN, but he chose to waive the exclusive contract with the station so that he could work with all foreign channels to explain Israel’s and the IDF’s actions.