Orientation

Entering eleventh graders have the incomparable opportunity to spend nearly four weeks climbing, swimming, singing, hiking, learning, and exploring their way through Israel. Participants will experience Shabbat in Jerusalem, see the sunrise over Masada, spend time with their Israeli peers, and discuss the realities of life in contemporary Israel.

Welcome to Israel

After an overnight flight, you will be met at the airport by your guide and the IsraelExperts staff. Start the trip at the Biblical Landscape Park of Neot Kedumim.  Learn about the significant connection between the Bible and the Land of Israel. Then visit the City of David, including Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel, built 2700 years ago to bring water from the Gihon Spring to the city during the Assyrian siege of the city.

Holy to All

Spend time in the Old City of Jerusalem, exploring significant sites that are important to the people of many religions. Tour the Kotel tunnels and explore the vast network of history below and behind the Kotel. Visit the artisan workshops of Yad L’Kashish (Lifeline for the Old) and experience the empowerment of Jerusalem’s elderly community. Explore the Israel Museum, including a visit to the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls). Plus, dig into Israel…in an actual archeological dig!

Flight to the Wilderness

Take a hike through the beauty of Ein Gedi. Then you’ll meet with representatives of Blue & White Human Rights, a right‐wing Israeli Palestinian human rights organization, as we continue to experience all types of organizations.

The Masada Option

Start the day right by climbing up Masada to take in the sunrise! Then relax in the Dead Sea as you float along and experience word renowned mud. Then we’ll head over to the city of Rahat to visit a Bedouin mosque and learn about the traditions of the community while meeting with Bedouin teens.

Tikkun Olam

We’ll take sometime today to repair the world. You’ll help to alleviate the problem of nutritional insecurity amongst Israel’s poor by picking fruits and vegetables with the organization Leket (Tabel to Table). We’ll head towards Tzfat, known as a center for Kabalah (Jewish mysticism) and tour the ancient synagogues and artists’ square where we’ll meet with local artists. We’ll continue to spend our time in the lower Galilee learning about the art of poetry and other religions. While spending our evenings taking a sunset boat ride on the Kinneret one night and drumming together the next.

Coexistence Is Possible

We’ll be entertained by Moshav Shorashim, a co-existence circus, where Arab and Jewish children perform together in a fun a lively way. We’ll also experience the famous Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company and take part in the discussion of this troop also bringing Arab and Jewish performers together. Tefen Industrial Park will be the perfect ending to our day. This park combines local industry, culture, and art, and includes five museums, sculpture gardens, and art galleries. It is certain to be a day full of thought and wonder.

Minorities in Israel

Our time in the shoreside city of Haifa will begin with a tour of the Baha’i Shrine and Garden where we’ll learn about this unique religion and how its values are manifested in the gardens. Then we’ll visit the Atlit detainee camp to hear the stories of the ma’apilim, the illegal Jewish immigrants arriving at the shores of Israel during the British Mandate. After all that we’ll visit the Druze village of Ussefia for a tour and dinner.

To Build and Be Built

We’ll take a few days to enjoy all that the Tel Aviv area has to offer. Some of the highlights will be taking in the Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region, spending time with the Ethiopian National Project, visiting Rabin Square, visiting the Tel Aviv Gay Center and meet with a member of the Israeli gay youth movement. We’ll take a moment to hear the story of Independence Hall where David Ben Gurion proclaimed Israel’s Independence in 1948.

Ben Gurion, Prophet and Pioneer

Tisah be Av

Landmarks in the Israeli Narrative

Shabbat at Camp Havaya