Itinerary YA-32-868
WELCOME TO OUR BEAUTIFUL HOME, ISRAEL KE-32-373
*Please note this Itinerary is subject to change*
Monday, May 11, 2015
First things first: Day 1, Today you'll get to finally understand your Jewish selves in the context of a collective Jewish past.
This is where our history was made, yo.
Up till this point, you've all been a Hebrew character without a Hebrew past. Abraham had the mission of creating something entirely new whereas, we have both the advantage and the challenge of carrying history with us and like every generation before us we are building the Jewish future.
- Land at Ben Gurion
- Breakfast
- The North!
- Lunch
- Activity
- Dinner
- Overnight stay at Kibbutz Gonen
Tuesday, May 12
What a full day ahead! Right after breakfast we'll get a gorgeous view of the Golan at Mitzpe Gadot. We'll have a hike at Zavitan and visit Kazterin. We'll also get to hike Mt. Bental!
- Breakfast
- Mitzpe Gadot
- Zavitan
- Kazterin
- Lunch
- Mt. Bental
- Kabalat Shabbat
- Dinner
- Overnight Kibbutz Gonen
Wednesday, May 13
Today we'll explore the mystical city of Tzfat (Safed). After lunch we'll head twoards the coast. Just outside of Haifa we'll visit Wadi Nisnas and then go to the beautifully manicured Bahai Garden. At this point it will be time to say our farewells to the soldiers that we've traveled with so far.
- Breakfast
- Tzfat (Safed)
- Lunch
- Wadi Nisnas
- Bahai Garden
- Dinner
- Last night at Kibbutz Gonen
Thursday, May 14
Oooh, you're all going to have so much fun today! We'll get to hike the amazing Ein Ovdat AND Sde Boker. Be sure to have your Instagram game on strong! We'll ride camels and experience Bedouin hospitality.
- Breakfast
- Negev Brigade Monument
- Ein Ovdat
- Lunch
- Sde Boker
- Camel ride
- Dinner
- Bedouin hospitality
- Overnight stay Kfar HaNokdim
Friday, May 15
To the SOUTH! Not all Birthright Israel groups get a chance to experience Eilat. The next two days will be about exploring the Red Sea and learning about eco conservation.
- Kabalat Shabbat
- Dinner
- Oneg Shabbat
- Overnight stay at YA Eilat
Shabbat, May 16
On Shabbat we will experience what it's like to rest in combination with getting that "spiritual thang" on... We'll discuss our new experiences and hear creative responses to Jewish sites and sources. The pace of our schedule will be less hectic than usual, it is Shabbat after all... Later on, in the evening, we'll get to splash around and have some fun!
- Sleep in (just a little)
- Breakfast
- Activity with soldiers
- Lunch
- Kibbutz walking tour
- Havdala program
- Dinner
- Last night at YA Eilat
Sunday, May 17
Discovering Jerusalem is today's mission. We'll walk the steps of our fore-fathers and get a chance to stuff a prayer in one of the cracks at the Western Wall - The Kotel. We'll walk through one of the world's most renowned museums and then later on, we'll get a peak at Jerusalem's nightlife.
- Breakfast
- Jewish Quarter
- The Western Wall - The Kotel
- Lunch
- The Israel Museum
- Dinner
- Overnight stay at Caesar Hotel Jerusalem
Monday, May 18
Isn't it great to wake up in Israel? Today we'll meet the soldiers who join us for the next few days. After a bit of community service, we'll get a chance to wander around the Machne Yehuda market in Jerusalem. Also, while on tour with us, we'll hike different portions of the Israel National Trail. We'll hike the Sataf portion!
- Breakfast
- Yad Lakashish
- Lunch
- Machne Yehuda
- Sataf (INT)
- Dinner
- Yad Vashem prepartion
- Overnight stay at Caesar Hotel Jerusalem
Tuesday, May 19
Today is all about connecting our past with our future which is up to us to define it. We'll have our eyes opened wide at the museum of the Shoa and pay tribute to the founders of Israel who made this place actually happen. It's going to be an emotional day to say the least!
- Breakfast
- Yad Vashem
- Lunch
- Mt. Herzl
- Dinner
- Tie-in session
- Last night at Caesar Hotel Jerusalem
Wednesday, May 20
Our last day, can you believe it? We'll explore the White City, the City that Never Sleeps, the Startup Nation! After breakfast, we'll get a glimpse of Israel's ingenuity during a special activity that highlights Israeli entrepreneurship. We'll see first hand how hectic and crazy the shuk can be. After lunch, we'll go through Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv's first neighborhood and then explore the old port of Jaffa.
In Israel, we never like to say good-bye. Instead we say, "Lehitraot," which means something like, "see ya, later." We'll have a wrap-up session and farwell dinner at the Rabin Center before we take off for the airport.
It's been fun, hope to see you again, soon!
- Breakfast
- Startup Nation
- Shuk HaCarmel
- Lunch
- Neve Tzedek
- Old Jaffa
- Rabin Center
- Dinner at Rabin Center
- Departure Ben Gurion International Airport
TRIP INFORMATION FOR PARENTS & FRIENDS
Tour Guide: Yariv Ofer
USA Staff:
- Jackie Barzvi jaclyn592@yahoo.com (347) 515-5456
- Joshua Schwartz
Office Number: 1-877-404-9677 (toll free to Israel)
Emergency Contact: Anat Hait in Israel: 011-972-54-678-7836
Email: trips@awesomeisrael.com
Trip Photos: Please like Awesome Israel on Facebook where you, your friends and family can see photos and updates from your trip!
List of Accommodations:
- Kibbutz Gonen
04-6955220 - Caesar Jerusalem Hotel
02-500-5656 - Kfar HaNokdim
08-6535777 - YH Eilat
Trip Number: YA-32-868
Trip Title: Kenes - Signature Trip (Ages 18-22)
Flight Information:
Departure to Israel
Departure Date: May 10, 2015
Departure Time: 12:00 PM ET
Departure Airport: JFK - John F Kennedy International Airport
Airline- Flight: El Al LY004
Gateway: JFKTLV
Time you must be at the Airport: 8:00 AM ET
Return to the USA
Arrival in USA Date: May 20, 2015
Arrival Time: 3:45 PM ET
Arrival Airport: JFK - John F Kennedy International Airport
Airline- Flight: El Al LY007
Gateway: TLVJFK
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS FLIGHT IS A DIRECT FLIGHT