VIPIsrael - Beis Shmuel Israel Experience

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VIPIsrael – Beis Shmuel Israel

Experience Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - Monday, November 05, 2007

11 Tuesday, October 30, 2007 (Guide & Vehicle) Welcome

WELCOME TO ISRAEL

• Touchdown at Ben Gurion International Airport.

• Before clearing passport control a VIPISRAEL representative will be waiting to welcome

you at the door of your plane as you exit the plane. You will be transported quickly through

the airport, pass immigration at the flight crew counter where passport control is efficiently

expedited and continue to facilitate luggage identification and handling; & escort you

through customs.

• Ascend to Jerusalem & Check into your hotel to freshen up and relax.

OVERNIGHT: Jerusalem, David Citadel


22 Wednesday, October 31, 2007 (Guide & Vehicle) Old City

• After breakfast, tour the amazing City of King David.

• Begin with a breathtaking observation overlooking Biblical Jerusalem and observe 3,800

years of history dating back in time to the days of Abraham, when the first foundations of

the city were laid.

• The journey quickly heads underground to some of the newest archaeological excavations at

the site.

• Enter the Old City walls and start at the Davidson Center – the newly opened visitors’

center, located at the Jerusalem Archaeological Park.

• Tour the Southern Wall Excavations where some of the most important archaeological

discoveries have been unearthed, proving this to be one of the key areas of Jerusalem.

Amongst these remains is a complex of royal palaces dating back to the 7th century.

• Descend to tour of the archaeological discoveries excavated in the Western Wall Tunnels.

Inside, a most interesting model shows the different dwelling periods and history of the

inhabitants of Jerusalem. Stand on the site believed to be the nearest spot to the "Holy of

Holies”.

• Take a Guided tour of the Jewish Quarter that was reconstructed after the city was unified

at the conclusion of the Six-Day War in 1967. A special point of interest in the restored

Jewish Quarter is the "Cardo", meaning the "heart" of this ancient Byzantine City. View the

unearthed main Roman thoroughfare and ancient marketplace lined with columns.

• Nearby see the Four Sephardic synagogues founded in 1588, the oldest of of the four

known as the “Eliyahu HaNavi’ Synagogue. Supposedly, according to tradition, Eliyahu the

Prophet appeared during Yom Kippur to be the 10th member of a minyan. Ever since a

chair has been reserved specifically for his next appearance.

• See the Temple Institute which houses a collection of artifacts from the First and Second

Temple Periods



33 Thursday, November 01, 2007 (Guide & Vehicle) Dead Sea

• After breakfast depart to the Dead Sea area traveling south through the Judean Wilderness.

• Arrive at Masada- Ascend the cliff top fortress by cable car, or for the more daring, ascend

the snake path just as the Jews did thousands of years ago.

• Daven Shacharit on top of Masada; at the ancient synagogue and then explore the ancient

remains of the fortifications, King Herod’s palace, storerooms and baths.

• Continue along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and a rich source of minerals for

export.

• Head back to Jerusalem to learn about the Heroism of the 1967 battle for Jerusalem at

Ammunition Hill; one of bloodiest battles of the Six-Day War. Once a Jordanian army

camp, which in the time of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War became a symbol to the bravery of the

Israeli soldiers in the battle for Jerusalem.



44 Friday, November 02, 2007 (Guide & Armored Vehicle) Chevron

• After breakfast, depart in an armored vehicle for Kfar Etzion to learn about the history of

the struggle for Gush Etzion in a moving multimedia sound a light presentation.

• We head next to Herodion, one of the most fascinating structures from the ancient world.

This fortress was built by King Herod, who commanded an artificial hill by having earth to

be piled up around the walls. At the time of the Bar Kochva Revolt, the Jewish fighters dug

tunnels into the mountain and hid out there. The tunnels were dug in secret and were used

as the base for guerilla warfare against the Roman enemy.

• Onto the holy city of Chevron, visit Ma’arat Hamachpela where our patriarchs and

matriarchs are buried: Avraham, Yitzchok, Yaacov and their wives. Meet some of the very

special families who live in this special neighborhood & Rabbi Danni Cohen, the Chabad

Rabbi of Chevron.

• Return to Jerusalem & test your “Israeli bargaining skills” at the Machana Yehuda Shuk

(open market).

WELCOME SHABBAT AT THE KOTEL (WESTERN WALL)

• As the sun sets preparations will be made for welcoming the Shabbat

• Upon reaching the steps leading down to the Kotel, look around and notice people from all

corners of the world converging together with one purpose in mind; to welcome the Shabbat

at the holiest place on earth for Judaism.

• Enjoy Shabbat Dinner & Chassidic Farbrengen at the Tzemach Tzedek Shul.



55 Saturday, November 03, 2007 (Free Day) Shabbat Shalom

• After breakfast, head over to the Mayanot Shul for morning davening.

• At noon when prayers are finished…

• We will join the Mayanot Shul with a community Kiddush with plenty of chulent to go

around! Enjoy food singing and L’chaims with this amazingly warm & welcoming

community.

• Enjoy Shabbat Lunch at your hotel.

• Rest of the afternoon is at leisure.


66 Sunday, November 04, 2007 (Guide & Vehicle) Galilee

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel and travel north along the Jordan valley to the

ancient remains of Beit Shean – one of the oldest settled sites in the country. This is where,

in biblical times, the bodies of King Saul and his sons were nailed to the city walls by the

Philistines.

• Next, in true Biblical fashion, we adorn traditional garb at Kfar Kedem (Ancient Village)

and take a short donkey ride in the scenic hills of the Galilee. From our donkeys back we will

be able to admire Israel’s countryside, which has hardly changed since days of old.

• Arrive in Tiberius and visit the resting places of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess & Rabbi

Akiva, one of the most central contributors to the early Oral Torah & Rambam.

• Onward to Tzfat to absorb the special ambience of this town of contrasts, where ancient

sites such as The Arizal - Rabbi Isaac Luria; Jewish Scholar and Mystic’s synagogue and the

ancient burial site of Shlomo HaLevi (author of Lechah Dodi) exist side by side with today’s

modern art galleries.

• Visit Tzfat’s restored Old City including the artists' colony. Tzfat has much to offer in the

way of art galleries, gift-shops and restaurants found tucked away amongst the winding,

cobblestone streets..

• See the unique synagogues such as the Ari Sephardi, Ari Ashkenazi, Ari Beit Midrash, Caro

Synagogue, Abuhav synagogue (built in 1490) and many more of the local Chassidim, and

take a dip in the famous Mikveh of the Ari z"l in the mystical city.

OVERNIGHT: Tzfat, Rimonim


77 Monday, November 05, 2007 (VIP & Transfer) Farewell

• For morning prayers, visit Mount Meron, the resting place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai,

one of the great Tannaitic sages who lived during the era of Roman persecution & author of

the Zohar, a fundamental kabbalisitic work.

• Ascend the Golan Heights, where you will have the very special privilege of being the guest

of an Armored Brigade at their IDF base.

• Your next stop is the observation point on Mount Bental, overlooking the Mount Hermon

the highest mountain in Israel area and the entire Golan Heights. From here you can see the

mountains of the Galilee and Lebanon, and eastward into Syria. A dormant Volcano, Mount

Bental is also an eye-opening lesson in how this part of “Eretz Yisroel” was physically

created.

• Here too lies the Valley of Tears, where one of the bloodiest battles of the Yom Kippur

War was fought. A great lookout to see the Heights, and especially the Syrian side of the

border, is from the now abandoned Israeli bunker 4,000 feet (1,200 m.) above sea level on

Mount Bental.

• Drive to a shooting range, a place where some of the secret forces of Israel are trained and

we will practice shooting from an automatic Uzi Israeli submachine gun, an AK47

(Kalashnikov).

• Onward further north to Katzrin, which was established in 1977 and was one of the first

urban settlements in the Golan. While in Katzrin, see a fascinating audio-visual presentation

describing the history of the Golan throughout the ages. Tour the ancient reconstructed

Talmudic Village and a partially restored 1,500-year-old synagogue.

• Enjoy wine tasting at the Golan Heights winery.

• Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for the departure flight home where you will be met by a

VIPISRAEL representative will be waiting to assist you in your temporary departure from

Israel.

VIPIsrael - Beis Shmuel Israel Experience

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