Israel: Grand Jewish Heritage Tour

En Route for your tour to Israel

Depart from the USA for your Jewish Heritage Israel Tour.

Jaffa Beach

Welcome to Israel! Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, proceed to the arrivals hall. Your driver will meet you at the La Farina Bakery and transfer you to your hotel in Tel Aviv.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Independence Hall

Start the day with a visit to the Independence Hall where the establishment of the state of Israel was declared. Next, drive to Latrun to visit the Armored Corps memorial museum also considered as one of the most diverse tank museums in the world. Continue to Beit Guvrin National Park, declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Explore some of the caves and archaeological remains.

Proceed to Ayalon Institute, once a secret underground ammunition factory established by the “Haganah”, the Jewish underground movement before May 1948.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Jaffa Sunset

Visit the Diaspora museum; Drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, center of business and entertainment of Israel; Also known as the “White City”, Tel-Aviv was declared by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site for its Bauhaus style buildings. Stop at Rabin’s Square, place of assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin. Continue to Old Jaffa, one of the oldest port cities in the world; Visit the ancient ruins and walk along the Artist’s Quarter. Visit Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1887 and Nahalat Benyamin, the pedestrian mall of the city where you can enjoy live street music, arts, crafts and handmade jewelery. Next, stop at Sheinkin, the lively and colorful street specially known with the unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv

Enjoy a free day in Tel Aviv.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Haifa

Drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the crusaders’ city, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre which has been restored as a concert venue. Proceed to Haifa to visit the Clandestine Immigration and Naval museum (“Af al Pi Chen”) and hear the story of the illegal immigrants to Israel at the time of the British mandate. Drive to Acre and walk along the old harbor and local market. Continue to the northernmost point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra, descend by cable into the limestone Grottoes.

Dinner and Overnight, Kibbutz Lavi

Golan Heights

Drive to Safed, center of Kaballa movement. Visit the Joseph Caro and the HA’ ARI synagogues, the most important synagogues in the city; stroll around the Artist’s quarter. Enjoy a jeep tour to the foot of the Golan. Continue to the Golan Heights; stop at Gadot overlook, the memorial for the fallen of the Golan, located over former Syrian bunkers; view  the monument built in honor of the Alexandroni brigade. Proceed for a magnificient observation point over the city of Kuneitra, and the Syrian territory. Drive to Tel-Hai; see the “Roaring Lion” monument and learn about the heroic battle of  Josef Trumpeldor and his comrades in 1920.

Meet with a Kibbutz member and learn about their unique lifestyle.

Dinner and Overnight, Kibbutz Lavi

Sea of Galilee

We begin the day with a drive to Tiberias to visit Rambam’s grave. Next we will proceed to Beit Shean, also called “Scythopolis”, the biggest archeological park in Israel with beautiful excavations from Roman and Byzantine periods. Stop at Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaic floor of a synagogue from the Byzantine period. Onto Gan Hashlosha, (Sachne) where you will have an opportunity to enjoy in the water springs located at the foot of the Gilboa Mountain, the famous mountain on which King Saul was killed in the battle against the philistines. Continue via the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem. Stop at Mount Scopus for a blessing as you enter the city.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem

Tour the old city of Jerusalem. Start with a visit of the tomb of King David on Mt. Zion. Walk along the Cardo, the ancient Roman road; Visit the four Sephardic synagogues restored after 1967 war in the Jewish quarter. Tour the Western Wall Tunnels. Visit the Davidson center and walk through the Roman Cardo, to the local Arab bazaar. Walk through Jaffa gate to David’s Tower museum and see the ancient remains of the city beginning with the first Temple period.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Yad Vashem

Depart the hotel and arrive to the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem.

*Celebrate your Bar/Bat-Mitzvah ceremony at the Kotel. See below for details.

Continue to Mea Shearim and learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra orthodox communities. Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and see the Menorah with the biblical emblems. Next visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed, and the new Holy Land model – a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period. Drive to Mount Herzl, the military cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Ammunition hill, a former Jordanian army stronghold, conquered by the Israeli army in the Six Day War, and converted into a national memorial site and museum.
Overnight, Jerusalem 

STARTING MARCH 2017

Depart the hotel to visit the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem.

*Celebrate your Bar/Bat-Mitzvah ceremony at the Kotel. See below for details.

Drive through Mea Shearim, one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem and learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra orthodox communities.

Proceed to Mount Herzl, the military cemetery, and Yad Vashem the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Ammunition Hill, a former Jordanian army stronghold, conquered by the Israeli army in the six day war, and converted into a national memorial site and museum.

Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and see the Menorah with the biblical emblems.  Next visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea scrolls are housed, and the Holy Land model, a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period.
Overnight, Jerusalem

OPTIONAL BAR MITZVAH / BAT MITZVAH:
For families who wish to celebrate a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony at the Wall. This will be a perfect opportunity, while the rest of the group will tour Mea Shearim, arrangements will be made at the Wall with a Rabbi. At the end of the service, rejoin your tour group at the entrance of the Israel Museum. For this special option, see below.

Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea. We will stop at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Continue on to Massada, ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress. Next we will visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, and the bathhouses. Descend by cable car. Next, stop for Lunch and Spa facilities in one of the leading hotels in the area and enjoy a “Swim” in the  mineral rich Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Western Wall

Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Transfer to Ben-Gurion airport for departure.