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Taglit-Birthright Israel

Taglit-Birthright Israel Program Israel Experience Orange County Community Young Professionals/Grad Students Sample Itinerary

Go to Israel the OC Way! – December 25, 2008 – January 6, 2009 (FLIGHT OUT OF LAX) This fantastic tour is specifically for Orange County-area young professionals and students so you'll fly from Los Angeles to explore your way through Israel! And, everyone on the trip is from the OC so you'll return with a whole new circle of friends! The trip is sponsored by Jewish Federation Orange County and our local Taglit-Birthright Israel department and in partnership with The Israel Experience. Highlights include... Visits to all of Israel's major sites: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, a complete Bedouin experience (including a camel ride and a night in a Bedouin tent), Masada and a float (literally) in the Dead Sea. Hiking in the Golan Heights and through desert canyons, updates on current political events in Israel and much more! "Mifgash" (encounter) - An opportunity to meet young Israeli adults to learn first-hand about what it's like to live in Israel. Experienced and fully accredited Israeli tour guides, top-quality informal educators and facilitators, and dynamic North American staff.

First Day - Welcome to Israel! Afternoon arrival in Israel Travel to base Check into rooms Shehechiyanu Ceremony and Kabbalat Shabbat Shabbat Dinner Oneg Shabbat – group activity and program outline Overnight: Judean Hills Second Day - First Shabbat in Israel Morning Services – Why Do We Pray? Group activity and discussion Jewish Lands and Jewish Texts – program led by staff – intro to the connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel Time to rest Havdalah Israel Update (with guest speaker) Overnight: Judean Hills Third Day - First Shabbat in Israel Dig for a Day – cave spelunking and digging at Beit Guvrin National Park Travel south David Ben Gurion's Desert Home – Visit the home of the first prime minister of the State of Israel, learn of his story, his leadership and his special connection to the Negev. Ein Avdat Canyon – desert hike through one of the most spectacular canyons and oases in the region Camel Rides Bedouin Hospitality Preparation for Masada – group activity Overnight: Bedouin Tent Fourth Day - The Judean Desert Early ascent to Masada – enjoy the sunrise (if weather permits!) and tour the site that has a unique story of faith and survival and that has become a central part of Israeli culture and Jewish legacy Just a ten-minute drive from Ein Gedi is the hill known as Massada, where Jews made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom some two millennia ago. In 66 CE, a small band of Jews fled to Massada to escape the Roman Army, which had occupied Jerusalem. For the next few years, the Romans attempted to capture Massada, in order to enslave the Jews on top of the hill. Finally, in 73 CE, it became clear that the Romans would reach the top and the Jews would be captured and enslaved. Deciding that it was better to die free than to live as slaves, 960 of the 967 Jews on Massada committed suicide. For most of the last two millennia, Massada's exact location has remained a mystery. Finally, in the mid-1960's, archaeologist Yigael Yadin unearthed the ruins of the ancient fortress Swim in the Dead Sea – careful…no dunking! Down to about 130 feet (40 meters), the seawater comprises about 300 grams of salt per kilogram of seawater. That's about ten times the salinity of the oceans. Travel north via Jordan Valley road Check into base and rest Free Evening and Dinner in Tiberias Overnight: Kinneret Fifth Day - The Golan Heights Mt Bental – overlook into Syria and entire region, introduction to the area and the story of the Golan Heights Valley of Tears – the battles of Yom Kippur War 1973 Oz 77 – audio-visual presentation at Kibbutz Elrom addressing the issues of the battles of the Golan Hamat Gader Hot Springs – BBQ dinner Return to base Overnight: Kinneret Sixth Day - Communities of the Galilee Tsfat – tour of the old city, ancient synagogues and artists' galleries According to tradition, Tzefat (Safed) was founded in the year 70 of the Common Era. The city has since come to be considered one of the four holiest cities in Judaism, along with Jerusalem, Hebron, and Tiberias Co-existence in the Galilee workshop Travel to Jerusalem Check into hotel and rest New Years Party in Jerusalem! Overnight: Jerusalem Seventh Day - The Old City of Jerusalem Ramparts Walk – walk along the walls of the Old City Jerusalem's history stretches back about 5,000 years. About 2500 BC, the Canaanites inhabited the city. Later, Jerusalem became a Jebusite citadel. When DAVID captured the city (c.1000 BC), the Jebusites were absorbed into the Jewish people. David made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom, and SOLOMON built the first Temple If I forget you Jerusalem ... Mt. Zion – learn of the centrality of the city to the three faiths – Christianity, Islam and Judaism City of David - explore the first Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem, when King David chose Jerusalem as his capital, forever linking the city with the story of the Jewish people Inside the City of David is the area which the archaeologists denoted with the letter ''G.'' It was probably the nerve center of the ancient city for many years: the administrative, municipal, and governmental center, with the royal residence possibly nearby. Tour the Jewish Quarter - learn the stories of its inhabitants, then and now A tour of the Western Wall Tunnels is a fascinating, unforgettable journey through time. The archaeology of the site brings to life everything from Jerusalem's glory during the time of Herod to the Jewish people's longing for Jerusalem throughout the generations. The Kotel – the central, most significant site in Jewish tradition Return to hotel and rest Dinner at hotel Preparation for Yad Vashem – group activity led by staff Overnight: Jerusalem Eighth Day - Memory and Remembrance Yad Vashem – visit the National Memorial for the Victims and Martyrs of the Holocaust Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, is the Jewish people's memorial to the murdered Six Million and symbolizes the ongoing confrontation with the rupture engendered by the Holocaust. Containing the world's largest repository of information on the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is a leader in Shoah education, commemoration, research and documentation. Mt. Herzl – the tombs of the leaders of the nation and the military cemetery tell the story of the struggles for Jewish independence from the first days of Zionism to today Israel's national cemetery is also Jerusalem's military cemetery, where soldiers of the past and present are buried. Mt. Hertzl is the burial place of many dignitaries and prominent figures of the Jewish people such as Theodore Hertzl, Yitzchak Rabin, Channa Sennesh and Yoni Netanyahu. Machane Yehudah Market – join Jerusalemites as they prepare for Shabbat, buying produce and sharing stories in one of the country's most bustling and colorful markets (buy goodies for group Oneg Shabbat Prepare for Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat – at the Kotel Shabbat Dinner Oneg Shabbat – group fun! Overnight: Jerusalem Ninth Day - Shabbat in Jerusalem Morning Services – optional local synagogues Group Activity – The Spirituality of Shabbat Time to rest Havdalah Free Evening in Jerusalem Overnight: Jerusalem Tenth Day - Partnership and Service Travel to P2K community in Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon Meet with local representative and youth club Participate in volunteer project & community service Travel to Tel-Aviv Hall of Independence – visit the site of the declaration of Israel's independence, led by David Ben Gurion on the historical eve of May 14th, 1948 On Friday, May 15, 1948 David Ben Gurion proclaimed Israel's independence in the Declaration Hall. Because of the historical importance of the event the hall was restored as it was at the time with the help of witnesses and pictures. Around the declaration hall there is a permanent exhibition showing the historical background of the establishment of the State. Dialogue in the Dark – unique cultural experience in the Na Laga'at Theatre of the Blind in Jaffa Jaffa has always been the entry port to the ancient land of Israel and is even today, full of the traditional sights and sounds which have always characterized it: beautiful stone buildings, narrow winding alleys, the fishermen's port, the artists' quarter, cafes, restaurants and shops. Overnight: Tel-Aviv Last Day - Tel-Aviv – Then and Now Tour of Jaffa and the first neighborhoods of Tel-Aviv – the story of the first town in Israel Neve tsedek the first quarter build in tel-Aviv The settlement in the area of modern Southern Tel Aviv (neighborhoods of Neve-Shalom and Neve-Tsedek) was started in the 1880s as a substitute for the rather expensive Arab neighborhoods of Jaffa. However the city of Tel Aviv itself was established only in 1909. It quickly grew to become the center of Israeli urban life, and it remains one up until today. In 1950 Tel Aviv and Jaffa were united in a single municipality - Tel Aviv-Yafo. Free time in Tel-Aviv Meet with guest speaker – How do I return to Israel? What Next? Neot Kedumim – the Biblical Nature Reserve in Israel: summary program and festive meal Program evaluation with group coordinator Depart for the airport

*This Taglit-Birthright Israel gift includes the roundtrip airfare from LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) to Tel Aviv. Participants are responsible for the cost of transportation to and from LAX. The Taglit-Birthright Israel gift also covers hotel, transportation, most meals and other associated land costs in Israel. Gratuities, personal purchases and travel medical insurance are not included.

Taglit-Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, private philanthropists through the Birthright Israel Foundation and Jewish communities around the world (North American Jewish Federations; the Jewish Agency for Israel; and Keren Hayesod).

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