Barnert Temple
Multigenerational Trip to Israel

Led by Rabbi Rachel Steiner

Nov 2, 2023 - Nov 12, 2023

DESTINATION Israel
Who’s Going Multi-Generational
Trip Type Congregational
Duration 11 DAYS
Group Size 30+
Price From $4,600

J²way intro
Your journey
Itinerary
Rates & Lodging
What to expect

Program is tentative and subject to change. Connect with our Customer Care Team by calling: (888) 230-6008 Mon.-Thur. from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

YOUR journey

J² crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. We are guided by a simple but powerful concept: No two trips are the same; each experience should be personal, meaningful, and backed by superb service. Travel is not just about the places you visit, but the connections you make along the way.

Archaeology
Art & Culture
Food & Wine
Heritage
Home Hospitality
Family Friendly

Program Itinerary

DAY 1

EN ROUTE TO ISRAEL

Thu. Nov 2, 2023

Depart the USA.

DAY 2

THE START OF A SPECIAL JOURNEY

Fri. Nov 3, 2023

Arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport. Our representative will be on hand to assist with all formalities and ensure your journey has the smoothest of starts.
Meet your tour educator who will accompany you on this journey of education and inspiration.
Group transfer to Tel Aviv, also known as “the city that never sleeps.” A place of sun and fun, its centers of culture and history are complimented by great beaches, stores, and entertainment.
Check into the hotel.
Friday service at the beach, followed by Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Tel Aviv Meals: Shabbat Dinner

DAY 3

SHABBAT IN TEL AVIV

Sat. Nov 4, 2023

Breakfast at an Israeli hotel is an experience in itself. Start the day with a bounteous buffet.
Arming for Independence: Visit the Ayalon Institute near Rehovot and uncover its role in the establishment of the state of Israel. This secret ammunition factory produced millions of bullets for Jewish forces fighting for a Jewish state and the end of British rule over Palestine.
Experience the dynamism of Jewish life at the newly opened ANU Museum of the Jewish People, dedicated to telling their story and representing their diversity, highlighting the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities in different periods of history until the present day. 
A Fallen Leader, A Fallen Soldier: The assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 was one of the greatest traumas of Israeli political history. Discuss his life and death at Rabin Square, the place where he was murdered, and take a quiet moment to reflect at the Rabin Memorial. We’ll also see how Rabin Square has become one of the crucial public spaces in Israel and the location for political protests, state ceremonies and spontaneous celebrations.
Three Stars in the Israeli Sky: At nightfall, we will mark the end of a special Shabbat with a communal Havdallah ceremony.
The City at Night: Tel Aviv’s food scene is on fire with world-class chefs and a huge range of happening restaurants. See and taste for yourself during a free evening with dinner. Afterwards, those who love the nightlife can sample the city’s bar, club and café culture or stroll along the refurbished promenade and port.

Overnight: Tel Aviv

DAY 4

COMMUNITIES THEN AND NOW

Sun. Nov 5, 2023

Check out of the hotel, depart Tel Aviv and drive north.
Visit the innovative Zippori National Park, site of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi’s codification of the Mishna and extraordinary ancient mosaics, with a special mosaic-making program for children and youth.
Visit Kfar Kedem in the Galilee for a hands-on family experience, exploring Jewish life of 2,000 years ago, including donkey rides, costumes, pita baking and lunch.
Drive to the Upper Galilee and check into the kibbutz hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Upper Galilee Meals: Lunch and Dinner

DAY 5

ADVENTURE IN THE NORTH

Mon. Nov 6, 2023

Take a nature hike to the Hanging Trail at the Banias Nature Reserve. The trail is suspended above the gorge and the rushing waters of the Banias Stream, the second largest source of the Jordan River, at the foot of Mount Hermon. We'll end at the famous Banias Waterfall, the largest in Israel.
Stop by Tel Faher, an abandoned Syrian outpost that once threatened the northern towns of Israel, and follow the footsteps of Israeli soldiers who fought there in the 1967 Six-Day War. The view offers an invaluable insight into the challenges of the war and its rapid and unexpected conclusion.
The Druze of Israel: Visit a village on the Golan Heights for a glimpse into the lives of Israel’s Druze community. We’ll learn about the background and beliefs of this minority group as we look at their complex but close relationship with the State of Israel.
Return to the hotel for dinner.

Overnight: Upper Galilee Meals: Dinner

DAY 6

SPIRTUALITY AND MORE

Tue. Nov 7, 2023

Check out of the hotel.
Perhaps it’s the combination of mysticism and art, and maybe it’s the mountain air in Israel’s highest city; entering Tsfat, there is a sense of something uniquely Jewish but not quite of this world. Here, you could:
- Visit the Ari Synagogue and share in the inspiration and innovation that moved Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Holy Ari) and his fellow mystics. In Tsfat they developed the Kabbalah, the esoteric insights of Judaism and created Kabbalat Shabbat, the prayers sung on Friday evenings to welcome the arrival of the Sabbath.
- See the Caro Synagogue, built originally, like the Ari Synagogue, in the 16th century. It is where Rabbi Joseph Caro, one of the greatest of all Jewish legal authorities, taught and lived. Hear the story of how he was viSited here by a maggid, an angelic messenger, who revealed secrets of the Torah.
- Walk through the cobbled streets and alleyways to the Artists’ Colony with its galleries, shops, and studios. Tour the Tsfat Candle Factory.
As we drive south on the Trans-Israel Highway, there will be plenty of opportunities to see the Security Barrier which runs along the seam zone between Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and to learn about the barrier’s effects on Israeli security and Palestinian communities.
Welcome to Jerusalem: Drive to the vibrant and colorful ancient city of Jerusalem, and experience the convergence of the old and the new
Check into the hotel.

Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 7

MEMORY NEAR AND FAR

Wed. Nov 8, 2023

ADULTS & OLDER YOUTH:
- Visit Yad Vashem, the national memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, an essential emotional and educational experience. Your guided tour will include:  Visit Yad Vashem, the national memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, an essential emotional and educational experience. Your guided tour will include: 
 
YOUNGER YOUTH:
- Two by Two the Animals Went into the Ark: The Biblical Zoo is one of Jerusalem's loveliest places. It has a great collection of animals with a special focus on creatures mentioned in the Bible. It includes 62 acres of open areas where the animals live, a zoo train if you don't feel like walking, a petting zoo, and plenty of other activities to keep all ages enthralled.
ALL:
- Depart Jerusalem for the Ella Valley.
- Diggin' for Roots: We'll literally get in touch with the land and history of Israel during an archaeological dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves. Get your hands dirty uncovering pottery from the Hellenistic period, 2300 years ago before crawling through the Maresha Cave Labyrinth. The non-crawlers among us will visit a more spacious part of the cave complex in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Return to Jerusalem and to the hotel.

Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 8

PASSAGES IN TIME

Thu. Nov 9, 2023

Bnei Mitzvah services at Azarat Israel, the pluralistic section of the Kotel (Western Wall).
Take a walking tour through Jerusalem's Old City and the Jewish Quarter and experience the center of Jewish life, history, and holiness. Among the highlights will be:
- A climb to the rooftops to see and discuss the ties and tensions between the different faith groups and communities of the Old City. From this one spot, we'll look out over the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, venerated by Christian groups as the burial place of Jesus; the golden Dome of the Rock, which is sacred to Islam; and the Jewish Quarter's famous Hurva Synagogue.
- The Cardo, the main street of Roman-controlled Jerusalem and its spectacular Byzantine-era columns.
- King Hezekiah's "Broad Wall," a massive wall built to protect Jerusalem from invasion 2,700 years ago.
- Hurva Square, the center of modern-day life in the Jewish Quarter.
- The Jerusalem Archaeological Park is a large-scale excavation that has uncovered vital parts of ancient Jerusalem. A particular highlight is to walk on the Southern Wall steps used by Jewish pilgrims to enter the Temple, 2,000 years ago. But there is much else to see, including Robinson's Arch, the remains of a major Second Temple-period street, and drainage tunnels used by Jewish fighters hiding from the Roman invaders. A museum, including movies and a 3-D model of ancient Jerusalem, add to the experience. 
- No visit to Israel is complete without experiencing the Kotel (Western Wall), widely considered Judaism's holiest site. Each year, over one million notes containing prayers and wishes are placed in the cracks of the wall. We'll discuss the wall's historical and contemporary importance and experience its unique atmosphere.
Experience the sights, smells, and tastes of Jerusalem while walking through the Mahane Yehuda open-air market.

Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 9

THE ETZION BLOCK

Fri. Nov 10, 2023

King Herod – Villain, Visionary, or Both? Visit Herodian, where King Herod built an impressive palace-fortress and where he is believed to have been buried in 4 BCE. This archaeological site is the ideal place to explore the clout and character of one of ancient Israel’s most influential and polarizing figures.
Ride the longest zipline in Israel at “Eretz Ha’ayalim” (Deer Land) in the Etzion Bloc.
Is Religion the Way Forward or an Obstacle to Peace? We’ll go beyond the Green Line to meet with Ali Abu Awwad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger/ Rabbi Shaul Judelman from Shorashim (Roots), a program bringing West Bank Palestinians and their Jewish neighbors together despite their fears and suspicions.
Return to Jerusalem and to the hotel.
Kabbalat Shabbat services at Kehillat Yozma in Modi’in, led by Rabbi Nir Barkin, followed by home hospitality Shabbat dinner.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Shabbat Dinner

DAY 10

INTO THE DESERT

Sat. Nov 11, 2023

Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before setting out to explore the Dead Sea region.  
As Low as It Goes: We'll drive to the Dead Sea Basin, 1,412 feet below sea level and the lowest place on earth. The desert, the landscape, and the views are breathtaking. 
The Last Stand: Take the cable car to the top of Masada with its extraordinary views and fascinating archaeological remains. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where Jewish rebels are believed to have made their final attempt to resist Roman invaders (c 74 CE). We'll learn about Masada's importance as a symbol of Jewish defense and discuss its influence on modern Israel.
The Sea of Salt: Float into happiness in the Dead Sea. Not much can live or swim in what is the saltiest piece of water in the world, nine times saltier than the ocean, but the weightless feeling of floating is great fun. 
Return to Jerusalem and to the hotel.
Late check-out from the hotel.
Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Group transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for the departure flight to the USA.

Meals: Dinner

DAY 11

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Sun. Nov 12, 2023

Return to the USA.

RATES & LODGING

participants

30+

Cost p/p in double room

$4,600

Cost p/p in single room

$6,200

Child As 3rd (Reduction)

- ($1,010)

Registration open

Tel Aviv: Hilton

Nights: 2

Room Category: Deluxe Sea View

Hotel Website

Upper Galilee: Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel

Nights: 2

Room Category: Classic

Hotel Website

Jerusalem: The Inbal

Nights: 4+LCO

Room Category: Standard

Hotel Website

8 nights' accommodations. Late check out on the day of departure is included.
9 days of touring with a tour educator (guide), in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
1 Group arrival transfer & assistance at the airport.
1 Group departure transfer & assistance at the airport.
Daily breakfast, 1 lunch & 5 dinners.
Water on the bus.
Porterage at the airport & hotels.
All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.

Credit card fees.
Flights to & from Israel.
COVID related expenses, including tests.
Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc. are added to the program, an additional fee may be required.
Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d’hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified.
US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable.
Value Added Tax is currently not applicable to tourists visiting Israel. Should the law change, you will be notified accordingly, and VAT will be added to your final invoice.
Gratuities: Recommend guidelines for tipping are provided in the terms section.

Please review our terms & conditions (T&C’s) or request that we send you our full T&C’s. Until you do that, here is the small print, and other stuff you may want to know:
Validity | All prices quoted are based on exchange rates as of the proposal date and are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and are based on shared twin room occupancy.
How to Make a Reservation | The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or contact us by email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. A non-refundable deposit is required in order to complete the registration process.
For any assistance with this registration process or other trip-related queries, please email Customer Care: [email protected]
Payments | The balance of your payment is due 90 days before your trip begins, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date. Various payment options are available as follows:
Credit card | We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online via a credit card or by wiring funds via your bank.
Domestic bank wire transfer | Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice. Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by email. The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary’s name on the wire transfer.
Please use the following information: Citizens Bank: 1 Citizens Drive, Riverside, RI 02915 Routing number: 021313103 (Domestic only) ACH: 036076150 SWIFT Code: CTZIUS33 (International only)
Beneficiary Instructions: For the benefit of J² Adventures. Account number: 1001858331
J² Adventures reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.
Cancelation Policy | All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
Cancelation fees | Cancelations made 90 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 89 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.
Cancelation fees may also include: Hotel or supplier cancelation fees. J² Adventures reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits. Please refer to the small print tab on your trip’s webpage or in your proposal for your cancelation policy and fees.