ITINERARY

Read the blog for updates and reactions from current attendees.

DAY ONE: Sunday, January 25, 2009

DEPART THE U.S.A.

Overnight: Flight

DAY TWO: Monday, January 26, 2009

ARRIVAL

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport.

Welcome by our representative and assistance with arrival formalities.

Transfer to Jerusalem.

2:00 p.m. - Check into the hotel. Earlier check in upon availability .

7:30 p.m. - Festive Welcome Dinner with JCCA leadership at the hotel.

Optional walking tour into Jerusalem -- Guided walk through the streets of Jerusalem using the writings of Jerusalem’s poet laureate Yehuda Amichai as a guide.

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

THE ISRAEL DIASPORA PARTNERSHIP

Breakfast at the hotel.

8:15 a.m. - Sustaining our Ties:  A Dialogue with Zeev Bielski Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel at the hotel.

9:30 a.m. - Depart for the Mandel Leadership Institute.

9:45 a.m. - Trends in Israeli Society today

11:00 a.m. - Dialogue with Israeli Mandel fellows.

12:30 p.m. - Lunch on Emek Refaim with Israeli’s.

2:30 p.m. - The Israel Community Center Association and the Jewish community Center Association: Building Jewish Community in Israel and North America, with Avi Armoni, Chairman of the Israel Community Center Association.

3:00 p.m. - Departure.

4:00 p.m. - Site visits to Matnasim – Community Centers in and around Jerusalem. (
Free time and Dinner on your own. (What time approximately, if they want to make plans with family or friends, will they be back from Matnasim)

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

DAY FOUR: Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A VISION FOR ISRAEL

Breakfast at the hotel.

8:15 a.m. - Dialogue with Martin Fletcher. (tentative)

9:00 a.m. - A Vision for Israel:

Turning Vision into Reality - Track Options

Track I – Social Awareness and Development | Including:

• Including: Maagalei Zedek ( Tav Hevrati – Social Justice Kashrut for restaurants and foreign workers)
  
• Elem (A non-profit organization for youth in distress)
  

Track II – Education | Including:

• Keshet School – Orthodox Secular school
  
• Bi Lingual School – Jewish Arab School
  

Track III – Hi Tech | Possibilities include:

• Malha Hi Tech Park
  
• Har Hotzvim Hi Tech Park

12:30 p.m. - Lunch at a restaurant in Jerusalem.

1:45 p.m. - A Vision for Israel:

A Jersualem Mosaic - Track Options

Track I –Guided visit through the newly renovated Yad Vashem complex, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including:

• The Avenue of the Righteous
  
• The new Historical Museum
• The Children's Memorial
• A concluding Memorial Service
  

Track II – Exploring the Bible: City of David  Using biblical texts relive the stories of Abraham and Malkizedek, David and Batsheva, King Solomon and others, while exploring one of the most exciting biblical sites in Israel today, followed by a guided visit to the Davidson Archaeological Park – Southern Wall Excavations.

Track III – An Interfaith Journey Through the Old City, including dialogues with Jewish, Christian and Muslim clerics and a behind the scenes walk through the Old City alleyway.

Track IV - Delve into the world of Israeli Arts and Culture while meeting with an artist and exploring the private collections of Israeli art at the Israel Museum.

Entire Group
6:30 p.m. - JCCA Reception with Israeli guests at the Matnas in the French Hill.
Free time and dinner on your own.

8:15 PM 
Free time and dinner on your own.

10:00 p.m. - Optional visit to the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount.

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

THE NEGEV

Breakfast at the hotel.

1:00 p.m. - Pioneering @ 2009, site visit and dialogue with members of the Ayalim project in the Negev including lunch catered by women from Sderot. 

3:00 p.m. - Israel’s Bedouins – Visit a Bedouin town to discuss some of the issues facing the Bedouin Community in the Negev.

5:30 p.m. - Nighttime event in the Negev Wilderness, including dinner.

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

SPIRITUALITY AND SHABBAT

Breakfast at the hotel - late wake up

8:30 a.m. - Discussion with invited guests Miri Regev and Prof. Naomi Chazan. (pending confirmation)

10:00 a.m. - My Shabbat – 8 small group Tracks Encounters with Israelis who relate in various ways to Shabbat, in and around Jerusalem.

Lunch on own,

Free time to prepare for Shabbat.

3:00 p.m. - Pre Kabbalat Shabbat program at the Davidson Archeological Park.

• Optional Shabbat Services.
• Festive Shabbat dinner at hotel.
• Oneg Shabbat.

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

DAY SEVEN: Shabbat, January 31, 2009  

SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM

Breakfast at the hotel.

9:30 a.m. - Optional Shabbat morning services  OR Optional walking tours.

12:30 p.m. - Shabbat Kiddush.

Optional Shabbat Walk through hidden alleyways to Mt. Zion, including the Temple Mount Overlook and King David’s Tomb.

4:00 p.m. - Hess 12: From JWB to JCCA The Walls Speak their Story and the Directors Speak theirs with Asher Tarmon, Don Scher, Richard Juran and Leah Garber at the JCCA Israel office.

Dinner on your own.

Cultural event in Jerusalem.

Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

VISION AND POLITICS

Breakfast at the hotel.

8:30 a.m. - When a Vision and Reality Meet  Dialogue with David Horovitz, and Editor of the Jerusalem Post at the hotel.

The Geopolitics of Jerusalem Travel through the city of Jerusalem exploring some of the political and diplomatic complexities of recent years, including Har Homa, Gilo and the new ‘Security Fence’ in the Jerusalem area  and the Maaleh Adumim settlement, with an in - depth study seminar on the ramifications of current developments.

Drive to Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv walking tours.

First Timers -

Tel Aviv: Walking Through 100 Years

• Visit to Independence Hall, site of David Ben Gurion’s monumental proclamation of the State of Israel in May 1948.
• Walking tour through the colorful re-gentrified Neve Zedek one of Tel Aviv’s cultural centers with many small boutiques and galleries as well as the Suzanne Delal Dance and Theater Center.

Returnees -

Tel Aviv 100: With a Taste of Bialik and Rubin

• "Masaot," a guided walk through Tel Aviv's cultural mile, incorporating music, art, poetry and prose to help understand some of the visions and challenges of some of Tel Aviv's first settlers.
• Guided walk down Bialik Street in Tel Aviv, including visits to the houses of artist Reuven Rubin and writer Chaim Nachman Bialik.

Contemporary Israel and the Written Word Farewell Dinner with Gadi Taub, author and historian, at Lilit restaurant.  Lilit works together with the Elem association, giving work to youth with difficulties and donating part of their profits to the association.

Transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport. Or Return to Tel Aviv Carlton.

BACK TO MAIN PAGE