Thursday, June 28, 2007
Depart on your way to London

Friday, June 29, 2007 Arrive in London Orientation Tour: Pass the famous London landmarks including, The Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and more. Visit Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum where you can take photos with the stars! Kabbalat Shabbat Overnight: London

Saturday, June 30, 2007 Enjoy a walking tour of London. Start at Hyde Park and continue to Wellington Arch Next view Buckingham Palace, residence of Queen Elizabeth and the Royals! If we get lucky we may get a glimpse of the Changing of the Guards! Continue to St James Park, Westminster Abbey, Westminster and Big Ben Ascend the London Eye, the giant Ferris wheel, for a magnificent view of London Evening cruise on the Thames Visit the Tower of London - a thousand years of Kings, Queens, Traitors and magnificent Jewels. Explore the dungeons and stand on the execution site of 3 English Queens! Havdallah Overnight: London

Sunday, July 1, 2007 Start the day with a visit to the Jewish quarter of London. Visit the famous Bevis Marks synagogue. Hear stories of famous English Jews such as the former Prime Minister Disraeli. Visit Windsor Castle, an official residence of the Queen and the oldest occupied castle in the world. Onward to Oxford - the University City (and see where they filmed parts of Harry Potter!) Overnight: London

Monday, July 2, 2007 Depart London for Dover making a stop at Leeds Castle, a special blend of heritage, beautiful grounds and conservation. Explore the maze and search for the secret underground grotto! Cross the English Channel from Dover to Calais by ferry Pause in Calais, for a ceremony marking the Normandy Landings and liberation of Europe in World War II. Drive through the French and Belgian countryside to the picturesque city of Bruges, Belgium. Known as the "Venice of the North", Bruges is a splendid medieval city of quaint lanes and quiet canals. Relax in the uniquely beautiful square lined with antique buildings and colorful cafes Enjoy a walking tour of Bruges by night. Overnight: Bruges

Tuesday, July 3, 2007 Depart Bruges for Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Visit Grand Place, the magnificent medieval square in the heart of Brussels. See the Manneken Pis, for a glimpse of Belgian humor. Stop for a short visit to the Great Synagogue built in 1879 and left untouched during World War II. Travel to Amsterdam passing by Antwerp, one of the largest diamond centers in the world. The city has a large Hassidic population where 90% work in the diamond industry. Stop in The Hague, the old Royal and government city of The Netherlands where Queen Beatrix lives and works. It is also the site of the International Court of Justice. Visit the miniature city of Madurodam and see models of canal houses in Amsterdam. View working windmills, boats traversing the harbor and trains crisscrossing this mini-city. Continue to Amsterdam, the city of canals and dykes, chocolate, cheese-one of the most colorful cities in Europe. Overnight: Amsterdam

Wednesday, July 4, 2007 Full day in Amsterdam Visit the Anne Frank House, city tour with a visit to the Jewish quarter, the Portuguese Synagogue and the Van Gogh Museum. Cruise along the famous Canals while gazing up at Renaissance buildings and other highlights. Overnight: Amsterdam

Thursday, July 5, 2007 Drive into the pastoral Dutch countryside to Zaanse Schans to see a typical Dutch town with green wooden houses, exquisite gardens and historic windmills. Continue to Volendam a picturesque fishing village and lovely harbor. Enjoy an authentic Dutch cultural experience - a bike ride along the canals! Visit a wooden shoe factory. The Dutch invented wooden shoes to walk the muddy lands they reclaimed from the sea! Overnight: Amsterdam

Friday, July 6, 2007 Depart Amsterdam for Paris Afternoon city tour in Paris. See the highlights of the city of lights! Ascend the Eiffel Tower - symbol of Paris Cruise along the Seine River Kabbalat Shabbat Overnight: Paris

Saturday, July 7, 2007 Optional Shabbat morning services Walking tour of Paris, starting with the Tuileries Garden and Place de la Concorde Pass the hotel where Theodor Herzl wrote "The Jewish State" and hear about the notorious case of Alfred Dreyfus Walk the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Havdallah Find your way to Montmartre, the highest hill in Paris for dinner and a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Overnight: Paris

Sunday, July 8, 2007 Visit Versailles - the magnificent palace built by Louis XIV. See the gorgeous gardens, sparkling fountains, splendid buildings and monuments. This afternoon travel to the medieval town of Provins, where we travel back in time for two fabulous performances. "The Eagles of the Ramparts" is a splendid aerial show of birds of prey. The birds swoop at 200 kilometers an hour at the commands of their masters, a marvelous first authentic experience of falconry with costumes and imposing musical themes. Next we dive into the heart of a medieval legend of a knight as he returns from the Crusades to the love of his life. But first he must fight for her! You will see it all in the moat of the Ramparts where the spectacular fights on horseback take place right in front of your eyes! Return to the 21st century and Paris. Overnight: Paris

Monday, July 9, 2007 This morning visit the Louvre - an ancient Palace filled with priceless art including the famous Mona Lisa. See the sites made famous in Dan Brown's controversial book "The Da Vinci Code". Tour the Jewish Quarter, known as Pletzl and Rue des Rosiers. Walk the narrow ancient street lined with Jewish restaurants, synagogues, bakeries and bookstores. Late night departure to the airport for your flight to Israel

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Shalom and Welcome to Israel! Shehehianu ceremony overlooking Jerusalem at the Haas Promenade Visit Mt. Zion and the tomb of King David, founder of Jerusalem. Continue to the City of David. Prepare to get wet while walking through Hezekiah's Tunnel. Enjoy a spiritual visit to the Western Wall. Festive welcome dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem area

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Visit to the David Citadel museum. View the Old City from the top of Fazael Tower. Walk the Old City Wall promenade from Jaffa to Zion Gates. Enter the Old City through Zion Gate as Jewish Warriors have done for generations. Take in Highlights of the Jewish Quarter, including the Broad Wall, the Burnt House, and the Cardo-an 1800 year old market where you can still shop today! Explore the Southern Wall Excavations. A unique "Jerusalem by night" tour including the Western Wall Tunnels. Overnight: Jerusalem area

Thursday, July 12, 2007 Participate in a day of community service activity. We join in picking fruit to donate to the needy or help prepare packages for Israeli soldiers - lots of fun and very worthwhile! Evening visit to the famous Malcha Mall. Overnight: Jerusalem

Friday, July 13, 2007 Depart Jerusalem for Tel Aviv. Explore Old Jaffa and hear tales of Napoleon, Andromeda, and Jonah the Whale Continue to the Nachalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall and walk one of Israel's most fashionable spots- trendy Shenkin street. View Tel Aviv from the top of Azrieli Tower. Take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea Return to Jerusalem Kabbalat Shabbat Festive Shabbat Dinner Shabbat programming Overnight: Jerusalem

Saturday, July 14, 2007 Shabbat morning services Enjoy a Shabbat leisure walk through Jerusalem neighborhoods - Yemin Moshe, Mishkanot Sha'ananim, Nahalat Shiva and end in Ben Yehuda Street for Havdallah and dinner. Evening visit to the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall. Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday, July 15, 2007 Depart Jerusalem area and head to Caesarea. Visit the ancient Roman Harbor and and famous Theater. Visit Zichron Yaacov to hear tales of wine, spies, love and betrayal. Continue to Ossafia, for lunch and home hospitality in this Druze village Visit Atlit, an immigrant camp from pre-statehood days where "illegal" Jewish immigrants were held until freed by the Palmach. Follow their escape route with a hike up the Carmel Mountain, ending at Ha'Etzba "The Finger" pre-historic cave. View the spectacular Bahai Gardens in Haifa Overnight: Western Galilee

Monday, July 16, 2007 Explore Akko's Crusader fortress and its secret underground escape passage Descend by cable car to the grottos carved by the waves into the limestone cliffs at Rosh Hanikra Hike to the Keshet Cave for an exciting view of Western Galilee. Head to Zfat, city of Mystical Judaism (Kabbalah), to explore the narrow alleyways lined with old synagogues and fascinating artists' galleries Overnight: Sleep under the stars at Dugal Beach

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Spend the morning at the Sea of Galilee with water sports, banana boat rides and more! Visit the Kinneret Courtyard to hear of the pioneers who settled the region Sunset swim and dinner at Hammat Gader Hot Springs. Overnight: A Kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 Peer deep into Syria from Mt Bental and see the "ghost" town of Kuneitra Enjoy a water hike on a tributary of the Jordan River to the Devorah falls. Visit the Talmudic Synagogue at Katzrin Head to the Gamla bird-watching site and spot some eagles! Don't forget to watch out for the vultures! In the evening return to the Kibbutz for Kumzitz (bonfire) party Overnight: Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee

Thursday, July 19, 2007 Meet Israeli soldiers guarding our country at the Lilach outpost Experience a kayaking adventure on the Jordan Next more thrills zip-lining, rock climbing, rope bridges and other adventurous activities in the area. Travel to Tel Aviv where friends and family may pick up participants. (FNB) Overnight: Tel Aviv

Friday, July 20, 2007 The rest of the group heads to Hayarkon Park-Tel Aviv's Central Park. Enjoy a morning at the Memodiyon, the fabulous water park with water slides, and wave pools. Off to the Carmel Market - Tel Aviv's bustling and colorful, outdoor market and see the residents buying all the provisions for Shabbat. Marvel at the huge variety of fruits, vegetables, breads, olives, pickles, spices and much much more. Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat dinner Night stroll along Tel Aviv's seaside promenade Overnight: Tel Aviv

Saturday, July 21, 2007 Optional Shabbat services Walking tour of Tel Aviv neighborhoods such as newly gentrifying Neve Tzedek Pass the Bau Houses, designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO Relax at the beach, work on your tan, wander along the promenade, cool off with a swim in the Mediterranean and enjoy "people-watching" as Israelis flock to the beaches. Havdallah Overnight: Tel Aviv

Sunday, July 22, 2007 The whole group re-gathers in Tel Aviv Experience the state-of-art Palmach Museum, an exciting and theatrical audio-visual experience Relive history with a visit to Independence Hall Pause at Rabin Square to remember, reflect and speak of Peace. Israeli peers join us for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea and more fun ice-breaking activities. Evening get together party Overnight: Tel Aviv

Monday, July 23, 2007 Start the day with a visit to the Ayalon Institute to see a secret Palmach ammunitions factory from the time of the British Mandate Participate in an Archeological dig at Beit Guvrin Explore the fascinating Bell-shaped caves at Beit Guvrin Visit the Air Force Museum at Hatzerim Enjoy a camel trek in the desert Bedouin "Hafla"- feast and hospitality Overnight: A Bedouin tent in the Negev Desert

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Hike up the mountain fortress of Masada - site of Herod's palaces and where the brave Jewish defenders chose death over slavery at the hands of the Romans. Walk through Ein Bokek a fresh water oasis on the shores of the Dead Sea. Swim (float) in the Dead Sea. Drive south along the Arava valley to Eilat - Israel's premier resort city on the Red Sea. Overnight: Eilat

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Spend the whole day in Eilat! Visit the Underwater Observatory and let the fish look at you! Snorkel at the Coral beach and marvel at the exquisite coral reefs and exotic tropical fish. Overnight: Eilat

Thursday, July 26, 2007 Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon Hike the magnificent Red Canyon with its amazing array of colorful sandstones. Stop to enjoy the view of the world famous and unique Ramon Crater. Hike to Ein Avdat and visit Ben Gurion's grave at Sde Boker Enjoy a spooky night hike through Nachal Havarim-the White Clay Canyon Overnight: Mitzpe Ramon

Friday, July 27, 2007 After a chance to sleep in this morning we head for Nitzanim on the Mediterranean Coast. Hear stories of the heroic resistance of Kibbutz Nitzanim during the War of Independence and see the Monument commemorating the "Female Hebrew Fighter" Time for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Continue to the Tel Aviv area to prepare for Shabbat with your Israeli friends and families Overnight: With host families

Saturday, July 28, 2007 Shabbat with host families In the evening get together to enjoy a farewell dinner. Overnight: Host Families

Sunday, July 29, 2007 Say good-bye to Israeli friends and drive to Jerusalem. Start the day with a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Then tour Mt Herzl to the graves of Herzl, Rabin and Golda Meir Continue with a fabulous view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus. Hear about Hadassah Hospital and The Hebrew University - an Israeli enclave in Jordan! Follow the "Seam Line" (the line that marked the border between Jordan and Israel from 1948-1967) Farewell visit to the Western Wall Overnight Jerusalem

Monday, July 30, 2007 Morning hike to the Sataf Springs which best represent biblical mountain agriculture. Explore the Absalom Caves to see the magnificent stalactite and stalagmite caverns. Visit the Armored Corps Memorial in Latrun, and its collection of tanks from all over the world. Re-cap your trip at Mini-Israel and see it all over again! Enjoy a fun farewell dinner Travel to Ben Gurion Airport

Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Early morning departure
Shalom U'lehitraot

* Program is subject to change