Day One
Tuesday – Jerusalem Old City
City of David
Just outside of the Old City we will explore the ancient city where King David held his capital. Ir David, or the “City of David” as it is known in English, is the actual location of the biblical city of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3,000 years ago. Highlights include entering the secret tunnel leading to the Gihon Spring, walking through Hezekiah’s water tunnel, The Olei Regalim street from the Breichat Hashiloach up to “Wall Street” the ancient financial district and shopping area.
Shaar HaShamayim Experience
Embark on a spiritual journey at the new Shaar Hashamayim visitors’ center at the Kotel. This uplifting experience merges state-of-the-art technology with profound historical and spiritual insights. We will immerse ourselves in interactive exhibits, with a 3D film and hologram about the history of Har Habayit, giving us a deeper connection to the Kotel, and its enduring significance to Am Yisrael.
The Kotel – Mincha
If Jerusalem is the heart of the Jewish People then the Temple Mount and its western retaining wall are its soul. After the Temple’s destruction 2,000 years ago, the Western Wall or kotel is one of its last remaining walls. Although we only see a fraction of it exposed, it spans over a quarter of a mile and once stood 20 stories high! Although made of limestone, local tradition holds that it is made up of the tears and prayers of 2,000 years of Jews yearning for “Next year in Jerusalem.” According to Jewish thought the Temple Mount is the holiest place on earth and the entryway to the spiritual world…
Jewish Quarter- Including Aish Rooftop & Churva Synagogue
The Jewish Quarter has had a Jewish presence almost continuously for 2,700 years! Home to nearly 3,300 residents, it combines history, religion, and archeology as well as shops and restaurants, yeshivas and synagogues. Although there is a modern neighborhood on top of these ancient ruins, the stones come to life and whisper the prophecy of Zachariah that “there will once again sit old men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, and the streets will be filled with playing children.”
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Two
Wednesday – Galil
The Squadron Flight Simulator
With one of the strongest Air Forces in the world, Israel has made an art out of creating the world’s best pilots. Col. (res.) Kobi Regev and his wife Idmit have decided that they will harness those very skills which the IAF uses to train their best, in order to teach others how to build self growth, confidence, teamwork and leadership. We will put on our flight suits and enter the most state of the art training simulators as we embark on high speed missions defending the skies over Tel Aviv guided by actual Israeli Air Force heroes.
Kfar Kedem Mishnaic Village – Donkey Ride, Cheese Making & Pita Making
Let’s go back in time 2,000 years to a simpler time before modern conveniences such as packaged sliced bread and cars and trucks. In this reconstructed Mishnaic era village we will get to glimpse, if only for a few hours, what life was like for our ancestors in the Land of Israel. We will learn about ancient agriculture, ride donkeys, and even bake our own fresh pita bread. The experience includes a delicious rustic snack served outdoors.
Beit Shearim
1,800 years ago the Galilee became the capital of the Jews under Roman domination and the Sanhedrin, or High Court of Jewish law, moved from Jerusalem ultimately sitting in Beit Shearim. As home to the compiler of the Mishna, Rebbe Yehuda HaNasi, it became a major destination in both life and death for centuries. Uncovered at Beit Shearim is a necropolis of over 30 burial caves systems, with elaborate burial niches and sarcophagi. The vast abundance of artistic adornments contained in this burial site is unparalleled around the world.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Three
Thursday – Midbar Yehuda
Jeep Tour Judean Desert
There’s practically no better way to see the beauty of the Judean Desert than by offroading with a local, where we can find some of the most stunning views of valleys, canyons, and wildlife of all kinds. This adventure will take us into a barren desert, a place where very little can live. We will find signs of life from times past while enjoying stunning views of the mountains of Judea and Moab.
Tekhelet Factory
Judaism teaches that the rediscovery of Tekhelet is associated with the Messianic era. Chazal say that the rediscovery of the tekhelet will be a sign times of spiritual renewal, redemption, and the coming of the moshiach and in our generation we have rediscovered it! Come learn about this ancient craft of Tekhelet at their factory, where history and tradition come to life. Learn about the fascinating process of dye extraction and see how this sacred blue thread is made.
Kasr Al Yahud – Jordan River
It was here that nearly 3,400 years ago the Bnai Yisroel crossed over from the Midbar into Eretz Yisrael finally coming home after 40 years in the desert. The Jordan is no longer split, yet it’s only a few dozen feet to the other side as well as the modern border between Israel & Jordan. One can envision Eliyahu HaNavi’s transcendental ascent from this world. Kasr al Yahud was opened to the public in 2011 just across from Jericho on the lush banks of Israel’s longest river, the Jordan.
Eretz Breishit – Camel Ride
We will go back in time 3,800 years and leave our four wheeled vehicle for one of the four legged variety. Our camels will transport us back to the tent of the Patriarchs – Avraham and Sara. The experience is almost as amazing as the view of the desert of Judea and mountains of Moab that we will take in from atop our camels.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Four
Friday – Gush Etzion
Kever Rachel
Chazal tell us that Rachel was buried on the road by Beit Lechem so that those Jews going into exile would be consoled by the hope that her prayers guarantee our return. In the place where Binyamin was born and Rachel died, David Hamelech and the seeds of Moshiach will sprout. There is a special segula at Kever Rachel to daven for the Geula Shleima.
Hebron & Beit Hadassah
3,800 years ago the biblical patriarch Abraham made the first Jewish acquisition of land in the Land of Israel for his descendants. Ever since then, Mea’arat HaMachpela or the Tomb of the Patriarchs has been a site of pilgrimage and prayer for the children of Avraham and Sara and the city of Hebron is waiting with open arms. At the tombs of the matriarchs and patriarchs of Judaism we will be embraced with holiness and awed by the beauty of this thousands year old shrine.
Stalactite Cave
This 50,000 square foot cave in the belly of the earth will leave you awed by the beauty of creation. For all of human history these caverns and caves were closed off and undisturbed until quarrying 60 years ago accidentally discovered these modern treasures of nature. We will explore these underground caves and see the natural artwork of this one of a kind natural wonder.
Evening Recommendation – Shabbat at the Western Wall
Friday night is a special time to be in Jerusalem. With the setting sun a new day begins – Shabbat.The Kotel in Jerusalem becomes a unifying place for the Jews as holiness of time and place intertwine. Soldiers and Hassids, tourists and locals, dance arm in arm together to welcome the Jewish Sabbath with song and joy. This celebration has no parallel in the world and should not be missed.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Five
Saturday -Jerusalem Gut Shabbos
New City Shabbat Walk
Jerusalem might be most famous for its “old “city but since 1860 new neighborhoods of Jews have been established outside her walls, creating the “new city”. We will walk along Mishkenot Sha’ananim and learn about Moshe Montefiore and his windmill, as we stumble upon many more, remnants of the past from the last 2,500 years, as well as modern shuls. As we soak up the kedusha of shabbos in the Holy City, we will also see how real Yerushalmim spend their shabbos in downtown Jerusalem.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Six
Sunday – Binyamin
Blacksmith Apprentice Workshop
It says in the Torah that Hashem refined the nation in the Iron Crucible of Egypt, melting the metal and removing its impurities. After a bit of time with Yossi you’ll really understand what that truly means. We will melt Iron in his workshop and craft it into jewelry, where we will make our own souvenirs with the iron of Eretz Yisroel. A constant reminder of the pasuk in Dvarim that tells us “For Hashem your G-d is bringing you into a good land…a land whose stones are iron.”
כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, מְבִיאֲךָ אֶל-אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה. אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲבָנֶיהָ בַרְזֶל, וּמֵהֲרָרֶיהָ תַּחְצֹב נְחֹשֶׁת.
Tefillin Factory
The Hills of the Shomron plays host to one of the most innovative tefillin factories literally tying the Bnai Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael. We will get a VIP tour through the factory and see the process of making the tefillin.
Shiloh
In the center of the hill country of Ephraim was discovered the first capital of Israel, from over 3,000 years ago! Walking through the excavations of Tel Shiloh is like walking through a time machine back to the period of the Shoftim when Eli HaCohen was Cohen Gadol and the Navi Shmuel was just a lad. Here the Mishkan stood for 369 years as the spiritual center of Am Yisrael and the resting place of the shekhina. One can almost smell the Ketoret as we stand at the entrance to the Mishkan where the righteous Chana taught us the proper way to daven.
Kever Shmuel
At the site where Shmuel HaNavi lived and is buried we will see the excavations of biblical Mitzpa. From the roof we will have a 360 degree view of the surrounding area at the very place where Shmuel gathered Am Yisrael to choose a king, as well as where Yehudah HaMaccabee gathered his troops and prayed before his toughest battle.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Seven
Monday – Beit Shemesh
Dig for a Day
At Beit Guvrin/Maresha, the land of 5,000 caves, we will take part in a modern archaeological excavation. Maresha was the hometown of the prophet Michah and has a 3,000 year history, as well as having been conquered and destroyed numerous times. Dig For a Day is a unique opportunity to get your hands dirty with the past by participating in an active archaeological dig searching for lost treasure and exploring underground caves that haven’t been seen for 2,100 years.
Khan Shaar HaGai Battle Museum
In 1948 when Israel was fighting for its independence, Jerusalem with one sixth of the Jewish population of Israel living was under intense siege. The battle for the soul of Israel – our eternal capital – was raging and it seemed as though Jerusalem might have been lost. At the Shaar HaGai museum we will learn about the battle for the roads, and the challenges our soldiers had when trying to capture Jerusalem. After coming here and seeing the armored cars that fought in the battles, and hearing the personal stories of the soldiers, we can truly appreciate our modern and eternal capital city.
Safrus Workshop
Embark on a captivating journey into the intricate world of Sofrus with the sofer Moshe Braun. Discover the secrets behind Torah Scroll, Tefillin, and Mezuzah through immersive demonstrations and explanations, and workshop. We will go behind the scenes with a Sofer STaM, witness firsthand the meticulous craftsmanship behind each letter and line while experiencing the unique opportunity to try our hand at this holy avodah.
Sleep Jerusalem
