Mission Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome to Israel

• Individual arrivals with VIP airport service at Israel’s Ben Gurion International airport.

• Transfer to Hotel check-in and freshen up from your flight before dinner.

• Opening dinner, including greetings from Moshe Leon, the Mayor of Jerusalem.

 

Day 2: Jerusalem - Where it all began

• Breakfast in the main dining room.

• Gather together for an opening session with author Yossi Klein HaLevi, senior fellow at the        Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He is author of "Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation," which won the Jewish Book Council's 2013 Book of the Year Award. In 2018, his book "Letters to My Palestinian Friend" reached the New York Times best sellers.

 

First timer's track

• Spend the day exploring the gems of the Old City of Jerusalem from the streets of the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall (‘the Kotel’), the ancient retaining wall of the Second Temple which stood on the Temple Mount (the holiest site in the world for the Jewish people) and a centerpiece for Jewish prayer and longing since biblical times.

• Have lunch at Between the Arches.

• In the afternoon, proceed to a visit at the City of David.

 

Security track

• Go for a Jerusalem Seam Line tour with Col. (Res.) Dr. Dani Tirza.

• Lunch at the Gush Eztion winery with the mayor of Efrat, Oded Revivi. Understand the    geopolitical importance of the Gush Etzion settlement.

• In the afternoon learn about anti-terror weapons demonstration and an opportunity to participate in a special target practice, utilizing some of the most advanced personal weaponry currently in use by the IDF.

 

Innovation Track

• Meet with Jonathan Medved, CEO of OurCrowd - a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist and angel investor in Israel's high-tech scene.

• Hear from her about Adva, a pilot program that trains female students enrolled in religious seminaries to become practical software engineers and high-tech developers.

• Erel Margalit - an Israeli high-tech and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of the Jerusalem-based venture capital firm Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) and the founder of two non-profit organizations “Bakehila” and “Israel Initiative 2020” establishing seven regions of excellence that combine technology and education.

 

Day 3: Jerusalem - From heroism to Revival

• Breakfast in the main dining room.

• Depart the hotel and visit Yad Vashem, considered the foremost memorial to mankind’s darkest period and Israel's official memorial and historical museum to the victims of the Shoah.

• Walk through Israel’s largest military cemetery, Mount Herzl. Reflect on the visible testament of the personal sacrifice of thousands of Israelis towards the continued existence, security, and safety not only of Israel, but of Jews around the world. 

• Head to Israel's best known open market -Machane Yehuda, where all your senses will be on high alert as Friday is the time when the Shuk is at its peak -enjoy the unique sounds, aromas, colors, and the feeling of being part of one big family. Lunch on own.

• Free time for reflection at the Western Wall.

• Festive community-wide Shabbat Dinner.

 

Day 4: Shabbat - Rest, Reconnect, Rejoice

• Enjoy breakfast in the hotel's main dining room. For those interested in attending Shabbat morning services at nearby area synagogues, a list will be provided.

• Optional activities:

• Travel south towards the Dead Sea region. Next, ascend cable car to Masada.

• Visit the Israel Museum.

       And more!

• Conclude Shabbat with Havdalah.

• Dinner on own.

• Evening optional activities at the Tower of David OR the Western Wall Tunnels.

 

Overnight: David Citadel, Jerusalem

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Day 5:  Visit your Partnership Ramat Negev

• Breakfast and check out of the hotel.

 

First Timers 

Start the day in Beit Guvrin with an archeological dig.

 

Security Track

As we bid farewell and LeShana HaBa'ah to Jerusalem, we will go off the beaten track to a jeep tour along the Burma Road, which was paved in order to break the siege on Jerusalem during the Independence War.

 

Tikun Olam

This morning take part in a Tikkun Olam activity and help sorting food with the pantry packers.

 

All together

• Head south to spend the day with your partnership, Ramat Negev.

• Partnership2gether activities, including lunch.

• At evening, join together at a community event in the middle of the desert, including dinner, feast, music and dancing.

 

Day 6: The resilience of Israel

• Breakfast

• Late morning to enjoy hotel spa facilities.

• Check out of the hotel.

• Lunch in Sderot.

 

Security Track

Proceed to the Western Negev. Drive through "Otef Azza" region. This region has been uniquely affected by Israel's ongoing conflicts with the Hamas terror organization and government in the Gaza Strip, and its residents and industry have often fell victim to the ongoing onslaught of incoming rocket and mortar fir e launched from Gaza into Israel.

 

Innovation Track

Visit the gummi bears factory in Sderot, called TopGum. This factory started from a place of looking for a solution of having gummi bears that are Kosher (most gummi bears are not Kosher)

 

First timers

Visit Ben Gurion's tomb and Proceed to a local winery for wine tasting.

 

All together

• Check in to the hotel.

• At evening, enjoy dinner on own.

 

Day 7:  Where we came from and where we are

• Breakfast

 

First Timers

• Visit the completely renovated and recently reopened Anu - Museum of the Jewish People (formerly Beit Hatfutsot, the Diaspora Museum). Anu is a global center for Jews worldwide that plays a pivotal role as a vibrant, dynamic, and innovatively interactive educational and cultural institution, strengthening Jewish identity and perpetuating Jewish heritage globally.

• Embark on a city tour of Tel Aviv, during which we will visit the recently renovated Independence Hall and walk along Rothschild Blvd, known as Israel’s ‘Silicon Wadi'.

• Have lunch on own at the Carmel Market, featuring a fantastic selection of the very best of Israel's local produce and culinary creations, representing the country's diverse and multi-ethnic population. Next to it, you will find Nahalat Binyamin, Israel's largest arts and crafts fair with the work of more than 200 artists selected by a public committee

 

Innovation Track

• Start the day at Peres Center for Peace & Innovation. While there, meet with Chemi Peres (subject to availability). Son of the late Pres. Shimon Peres, Chemi is the Chairman of the Board of the Peres Center and Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest venture capital fund which invests in a wide range of technological fields, from information technology to medical technologies.

• Lunch in the Carmel Market.

 

Security Track

• Accompanied by notable Palestinian journalist Rami Nazzal, enter the Palestinian territories and tour the city of Ramallah.

• Meet with representatives of the Palestinian Authority (subject to availability) and discuss the issue of bilateral relations with the Israeli government on regional matters, as well as gain perspectives on the current state of affairs in Palestine and Palestinian perspectives on the peace process.

• Proceed to Rawabi, the first planned Palestinian city. Meet with the city's developer and prominent Palestinian entrepreneur Bashar Masri (subject to availability).

 

All Together

At evening dinner with a concert sing along with Einat Saruf.

 

Day 8: Tel Aviv - Northern/ Coastline exposure

• Breakfast

• At evening, enjoy dinner on own

 

Israeli from a bird's eye and northern exposure - enjoy a full day in the northern part of Israel. Among others experience the following:

• Helicopter ride to the Golan Heights

• Security briefing at the Syrian border

 

Culinary capital - if you are a foodie or culinary is your passion, join us for a day that explores the endless and unique food Israeli has to offer. Stroll through the market with a chef, buy ingredients and cook your meal. Hear from him about Israeli being a culinary melting pot. Visit Dan Gourmet culinary school and hear about the way they promote youth at risk in their programs. Visit the Roladin visitors center in Kadima where we will bake some of their flagship dishes.
 

Life on the Mediterranean - spend the day and explore what the coastline has to offer. We will be joining Etgarim, an organization that empowers people with physical disabilities through outdoor and extreme sports, for a brief sailing excursion on the Mediterranean Sea.

• Proceed to Caesarea for lunch and tour of the national park.

• If you are up for the challenge, take part in a unique, adventurous (yet completely safe!) experience of swimming with sharks!

 

Day 9: Tel Aviv

• Breakfast

• Optional morning activity: Begin the day with an invigorating Krav Maga session.

• Sign up in advance to two out of the following activities:

1. See a different side of Tel Aviv on a graffiti tour through the streets of south Tel Aviv. Learn about the influence that Israel’s social and political voices have on artistic expression by deciphering the incredible graffiti on the walls.

2. Start the day at Squadron. Under the expert guidance of real-life fighter pilots, get a birds-eye view of Israel and learn about the challenges faced by the Israel Air Force as you take your turn at the controls of an F-16 at The Squadron, a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art flight simulator.

3. Tel Aviv, Israel’s ‘Capital of Cool’, is also the home of a large, vibrant, and colorful LGBTQIA community. Embark on a walking Rainbow Tour of the White city and discover the secrets of the largest LGBT community in Israel. Walk through all the important ‘pink points’ while learning about the events that shape and continue to impact this unique community.

4. Visit Orchard of Abraham’s Children kindergarten in Jaffa, an Arab-Israeli Joint School.

5. Tikkun Olam project: sort produce in Leket Ra'anana

• Lunch on own.

• Leisure time last minute shopping and return to the hotel to freshen up before your flight.

• Farewell dinner in one of Tel Aviv's leading chef restaurants

• Proceed to the airport.

 

Day 10-15: Post Mission Add-Ons in Eilat/Petra or United Arab Emirates