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Thursday - Golan Heights

After breakfast, we will take a boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee to Kfar Nachum (Capernaum), the center of Yeshuas’ (Jesus') Galilean ministry and the site of many of His miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt. 8:5; 14-17; 9:1-7; 17:18), we will see the remains of Shimon’s (Peter's) house and the synagogue site where Yeshua taught and worshiped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Continue to Tabgha, the site of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes (John 6:1-14) and the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered what is perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached - "The Sermon On The Mount" (Matt. 5). We will drive to the heights of the Golan area and stop at the Banias Springs, one of the sources of the Jordan River, a Hellenistic city known as Paneas once stood. It was near this spot that Yeshua called Shimon (Peter) "the rock" on which the Synagogue would stand. (If time permits) We will visit Tel Dan and Mt. Hermon. We continue to Katzrin and the Talmidic Village, an ancient Jewish town dating back to between the 4th to the 7th centuries, it has been uncovered and partially restored. We conclude our day of touring in Tzfat (Safed), one of the four holy cities in Israel and the village known for spiritual Judaism. We will also visit the artist colony. Tzfat rests 2,780 feet above sea level. It received its great fame during the 16th century as being the city where the great Kabbalists lived. Today, it is known as an artist’s colony. We will return to our Kibbutz for dinner and overnight.

Friday - Road to Jerusalem

After breakfast, we will drive to Yardenit, for an immersion service in the Jordan River. We will leave the Galilee area and proceed southward to Beit Shean, where we will walk through the incredible excavations of the largest ongoing archaeological dig in the land of Israel with its amphitheater, colonnaded Roman streets, mosaics and the Roman bathhouse. It is also the city where, the body of King Saul and his sons were nailed to the walls by the Philistines (1st Samuel 31:10). We then drive through the lush Jordan Valley where the dessert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2) and stop to visit Gideon Springs, here Gideon, one of many "deliverers" in the Book of Judges, prepared for the battle against the Midianites by paring down his army from thirty-three thousand (Judges 7:3) to ultimately only three hundred--so that God could demonstrate his greatness in granting them ultimate victory (7:2-8). We then proceed on to the city of Jerusalem, where we will spend our next five nights. Upon our arrival in Jerusalem, we will stop at Mt. of Olives for a beautiful panoramic view of Jerusalem and the Old City. Tracing the footsteps of Yeshua, we will stroll down the Palm Sunday to the Garden of Gethsemane. Prior to checking-in to our hotel, we will enter the Old City through the Dung Gate to visit the Kotel (Western Wall) and Beit Hamikdash to witness the preparation of Shabbat. Check-in to our hotel, enjoy Shabbat dinner/overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday - Shabbat at leisure

Breakfast and Shabbat at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Sunday - Old City of Jerusalem

steps leading to the original entrance to the temple mount and to the Second Temple. It is certain that Yeshua climbed these steps when he visited the temple in Jerusalem. We will also enjoy an audio/visual presentation at the Davidson Center. We continue on to the Kotel (Western Wall). In front of the Western Wall of Beit Hamikdash (the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem, an incredible labyrinth of tunnels, arches, and passageways remained untouched for centuries. Here we will visit the incredible excavation of the “Underground Rabbi Tunnels” of the Western Wall. We will continue to the Jewish Quarter including the Herodian Mansions and its residential quarters with mosaic floors, frescoes, ritual baths and cisterns. Proceed to the Cardo quarters, one of the two main streets of the ancient Roman city that once stood here. After the destruction of the Bait HaMikdash, when the Romans captured the city, they kept these streets as a marketplace. We continue to the Third Temple Institute, which focuses on its efforts towards the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. A short walk, we visit the Burnt House, the remains of a priest's dwelling from the Herodean dynasty. The identity of the owner of the house was established by the discovery of a stone weight inscribed "[belonging to the] son of Kathras". We conclude our day with a visit to the Citadel Museum and the Tower of David Museum, Set in the magnificently restored ancient Citadel' first constructed 2,000 years ago by Herod the Great. Return to our hotel in Jerusalem for Shabbat dinner and overnight.

Monday - New City of Jerusalem

After breakfast, we will enjoy a day of touring of the New City of Jerusalem. We will visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited. Continue to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum commemorating the slaughter six million Jews during World War Two. We will also visit the Valley of the Communities and the Children’s Pavilion. We will continue to the Holy Land Hotel to view the Model of Jerusalem, as it used to look in the 2nd Temple period. We will continue to the Knesset to view the Menora. We continue to Ammunition Hill, sight of one of the fiercest battles for Jerusalem, which took place during the Six Day War. We drive to Mt. Zion (City of David) to visit King David’s Tomb, as well as the room of the last supper, this site may have been the site of Yeshua’s Passover meal. We will conclude our day and return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday - Judean Hills and Tel Aviv area

After breakfast, we will travel west towards Tel Aviv. On the way, we will stop Mini Israel, Israel’s miniature park in Latrun. Mini Israel features over 350 exact replica models of the land of Israel. We will continue to JNF Forest to plant a Tree. Feel your connection with the land of Israel by planting a tree with your own hands. Enjoy an extremely impressive and informative overview of the amazing achievements of the Palmach at the newly opened multi-media exposition at the Palmach Museum. We will conclude our day and stroll at the Greenwich of Tel Aviv - Sheinken Street, where we will have time to see the many arts and unique crafts, the funky shops at Nachalat Binyamin’s colorful, open-air market and see modern Tel Aviv. We will return to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday - Dead Sea area/Massada

After an early breakfast, we drive towards the Dead Sea area. Our route will take us back down the main highway towards Jericho. We then turn south and start driving along the shores of the Dead Sea, as we descend to the lowest point on the surface of the earth at 1305 feet (398m) below sea level. We will visit Qumran, where a young shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will continue south to Massada and ascend to the top of Herod's fortress of Massada by cable car. Our walk around this historical and remarkable ruin is enhanced by the fantastic view of the Dead Sea. Here we will see the amazing courage shown against Rome and its might. Next we will stop at Ein Gedi reserve for a short hike to the waterfalls of David. Here we will hear the stories of David, which is mentioned in the book of Psalms and his rival King Saul. We will cross over for lunch for a float in the unsinkable Dead Sea and cover ourselves with mud and enjoy a bath in the Natural Hot Sulfur Springs. Return back to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday- at leisure & Departures

After breakfast, we enjoy our last day at leisure (depending on flight times). Perhaps re-visit the Old City for last minute gifts or relax and enjoy the facilities of our hotel. PM. (if flight departs in the evening), we will drive to our farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Jerusalem. After dinner, we are transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home.

Friday- Arrive back in the USA

We arrive back home with everlasting memories of Israel.
Shalom!

ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE Rabbi Calise will consult with the tour guide and evaluate sites and routing on a daily basis with the tour guide).