Temple Beth Sholom
of Miami Beach
Multigenerational Trip to Israel

Led by Rabbi Gayle Pomerantz, Cantor Lisa Segal and Mark Baranek

Jun 8, 2023 - Jun 19, 2023

DESTINATION Israel
Who’s Going Families
Trip Type Multi-generational
Duration 12 DAYS
Group Size 25+
Price From $5,890

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.

Active
Art & Culture
Home Hospitality
Food & Wine
Local Specialists
Heritage

Program Itinerary

DAY 1

DEPARTURE

Thu. Jun 8, 2023

Depart the USA.

DAY 2

THE START OF A SPECIAL JOURNEY

Fri. Jun 9, 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.
Check into the hotel from 3:00 p.m.
Step outside and create a community circle on the glorious beach of Tel Aviv. Enjoy the power of the sand, sea and the rush of the water as you celebrate the beginning of your journey throughout Israel. We’ll welcome Shabbat together as a community with Rabbi Gayle Pomerantz, Cantor Lisa Segal and Mark Baranek.
Private Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Tel Aviv Meals: Shabbat Dinner

DAY 3

SHABBAT BY THE SEA

Sat. Jun 10, 2023

Breakfast at an Israeli hotel is an experience in itself. Start the day with a bounteous buffet.
Optional Morning meditation and stretching on the beach.
Beginnings: Modern Tel Aviv grew out of ancient Jaffa. Gaze out over the Mediterranean Sea; learn why Jaffa, mentioned in the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale, is so historically important; and see how its Old City reflects the present as well as the past.
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.
Three Stars in the Israeli Sky: At nightfall, we will mark the end of a special Shabbat with a communal Havdallah ceremony overlooking the sea.
When the Sun Goes Down: Enjoy Tel Aviv’s hot night life, with its boardwalk and cafés, bars, clubs, shows – and more.

Overnight: Tel Aviv

DAY 4

ALONG THE COAST

Sun. Jun 11, 2023

Check out of hotel and depart.
Visit ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, the largest Jewish Museum in the world, and join a fascinating journey that portrays the story of the Jewish people through the generations and up to the present time. The Museum represents all parts of the Jewish people and highlights the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities in different periods of history.
Depart Tel Aviv and north along the Mediterranean Sea.
Go back in time to Caesarea, one of the Land of Israel's most important cities during the Roman Period. Explore life 2,000 years ago with its ancient amphitheaters, palaces, and bathhouses.
Continue north and check into the hotel.
Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Our Thoughts, Our Journey: Come together to share experiences and feelings from your journey so far.

Overnight: Sea of Galilee Meals: Dinner

DAY 5

NATURE, SECURITY & SERENITY IN THE GOLAN

Mon. Jun 12, 2023

Higher Ground: Hit the ground racing as we go off-road for a jeep tour of the Golan Heights that will combine natural beauty with security insights into one of Israel’s most strategically important areas. Retrace the experiences of Israeli soldiers in their battles during the Six-Day War of 1967 and the 1973 Yom Kippur War and talk with your jeep drivers about their personal experiences and feelings about the Golan.
Proceed to a Druze village in the Golan Heights for a window into the unique world of the Druze community.
Visit Emek Habecha (“the Valley of Tears”) on the eastern edge of the Golan Heights, the Site of one of Israel’s fiercest battles in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Enjoy the culinary delights of a chocolate workshop at the De Karina Chocolate Factory on Kibbutz Ein Zivan.
Cool Off Down the Jordan River: With the hot weather, it’s time to take to the water with rafting or kayaking down the Jordan River. This is the parched Middle East rather than the Rockies, so the current is mainly calm and suitable for ages five and up. Water shoes are recommended.
Group Dinner and a boat ride at Deck’s Restaurant in Tiberias.

Overnight: Sea of Galilee Meals: Dinner

DAY 6

FROM SEA TO SEA

Tue. Jun 13, 2023

Check out of hotel and depart.
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'll:
- 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.
- Walk through the cobbled streets and alleyways to the Artists' Colony with its galleries, shops, and studios.
Drive via Tiberias, an ancient/modern city located on the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). One of Israel’s four holy Jewish cities, this is where the “Jerusalem” Talmud was codified and where Maimonides is buried.
As we drive south through the Jordan Valley, we’ll discuss the strategic and political situation in this area and consider how Israeli control over it is viewed by some as vital to national security but by others as an impediment to any future agreement with the Palestinians.
Check into the hotel and experience the weightlessness of the Dead Sea as you float in its waters.
Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Dead Sea Meals: Dinner

DAY 7

THE DEAD SEA BASIN

Wed. Jun 14, 2023

Early breakfast at the hotel, followed by check out.
The Last Stand: Climb via the Snake Path OR 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.
Join as a community and bless the B’not and B’nai Mitzvah as they wrap themselves in a talith for the first time at the ancient synagogue in Masada.
Hike in Nahal David, part of the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. This is a desert oasis with springs, waterfalls, and freshwater pools, so don't forget your swimsuits. Featured are the ibex, hyraxes, and other desert mammals that live in this area. Nahal David is named after the biblical David, who fled here to escape from the murderous King Saul.
Desert Delight: Experience how guests were treated like royalty in biblical times. We’ll kick back in a spacious, cool desert tent and enjoy a traditional “hafla” lunch.
How Fast Can This Thing Go? The patriarch Abraham will welcome us to Genesis Land for a taste of life and travel in biblical times as we take a camel for a test drive and ride into the heart of the desert.
A First Look at the Holy City: Over the centuries, many have been moved and awed by their first sight of Jerusalem. We'll stop for a stunning overview of the city and celebrate our arrival with a special ceremony and the traditional “shehechiyanu” blessing of thanksgiving.
Check into the hotel.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Lunch

DAY 8

I AM DIGGIN ISRAEL

Thu. Jun 15, 2023

The Art of Tikkun Olam: Meet elderly, often impoverished, immigrants who are finding a sense of purpose and creating beautiful artwork at Yad LaKashish. We’ll hear personal stories and see the aging artisans in action, talk with those running this inspirational organization, and check out the fabulous gift shop that supports this endeavor.
Depart Jerusalem and drive south towards Beit Guvrin.
Diggin' for Roots: Get in touch with the land and history of Israel. Take part in an archaeological dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves. Get your hands dirty uncovering pottery from the Hellenistic period, 2300 years ago, and then crawl through the Maresha Cave Labyrinth in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Late lunch on own at Ben Yehuda.
Take a multi-cultural tasting journey through the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda open-air market: Enjoy the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of this vibrant area where Jerusalemites shop.
Adults:
- Free evening in Jerusalem with dinner on own.
Youth:
- Evening program with youth educators.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Lunch

DAY 9

A CITY OF LAYERS

Fri. Jun 16, 2023

Depart the hotel for the Old City.
B’nai Mitzvah Tefillin ceremony at Azrat Yisrael (the Egalitarian Platform).
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.
Going Under, Going Deeper: Explore the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Kotel, and examine important archaeological discoveries that are revising our understanding of daily life in ancient Jerusalem.
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 walk along the rooftops that will provide an extraordinary scene of multi-faith Jerusalem. From this one spot, we will see the domes of three great religious landmarks: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (marking where Jesus is believed to have been crucified); the Jewish Quarter’s Hurva synagogue; and the Dome of the Rock, one of Islam’s most sacred and beautiful sites.
- 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.
Return to the hotel to freshen up and prepare for Shabbat.
Bnei Mitzvah Rehearsal time at the hotel.
Kabbalat Shabbat with Kehilat HaDror in Jerusalem led by Rabbi Ezra Ende.
Private Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Shabbat Dinner

DAY 10

SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM

Sat. Jun 17, 2023

Option 1 - with tour educator:
- A Mountain Holy to Many: Experience the complexity of inter-religious relations on Mount Zion. We’ll first visit the Upper Room. It is venerated by Christians as the location of Jesus’ Last Supper but was, for a period, converted into a mosque. In a room directly below, Jews pray at the place believed to be King David’s Tomb.
- At the end of the Via Dolorosa is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified. This is one of Christianity’s great pilgrimage sites and a testament to the remarkable diversity of the Christian world. It includes an empty tomb where it is said that Jesus was buried and resurrected.
- There will also be time to see the bargains and the bargaining in the Old City Shuk (market) in the Christian Quarter.
Option 2 - on own:
- Explore the wonderfully creative Israel Museum, housing more than 5,000 years of cultural treasures. Highlights include the archaeology wing, with the most extensive collection of biblical artifacts in the world; the Jewish art and life wing; the fine arts wing; the sculpture garden; and the open-air model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Don’t miss the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, considered the world’s oldest existing biblical manuscripts.
All:
- Meet in the lobby of the hotel and walk together as a group to the location of the ceremony.
- Celebrate with Temple Beth Sholom’s B’not and B’nai Mitzvah.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Dinner

DAY 11

MEMORY AND RENWAL

Sun. Jun 18, 2023

Check out of the hotel
Adults and teens:
- 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:
Children:
- 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:
- Visit the National Military Cemetery on Mount Herzl to recall landmark events in modern Israeli history for which these soldiers gave their lives. Follow with a visit to the graves of Theodor Herzl, Yitzhak Rabin, and Shimon Peres in the adjacent section for Leaders of the Nation.
- What We’ve Seen and Felt During Our Journey: Share the experiences and discoveries that have inspired you during this trip as we get ready to say Shalom U’lehitraot (Bye and see you soon) to Israel.
- Private Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Group transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport and check in for your departure flight.

Meals: Dinner

DAY 12

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Mon. Jun 19, 2023

Return to the USA.

RATES & LODGING

participants

25+

Cost p/p in double room

$5,890

Cost p/p in single room

$7,740

Child As 3rd (Reduction)

- ($1,130)

Cost of accommodations for pre & post nights including breakfast and all taxes:
-Tel Aviv: Carlton $484,- per night per double occupancy room, $462,- per night per single occupancy room.
-Jerusalem: Orient $539,- per night per double occupancy room, $570,- per night per single occupancy room.

*All rates are subject to availability. Registration closed

Tel Aviv: Carlton

Nights: 2

Room Category: Premium

Hotel Website

Sea of Galilee: Nof Ginosar Hotel

Nights: 2

Room Category: Deluxe

Hotel Website

Dead Sea: Gamin

Nights: 1

Room Category: Deluxe

Hotel Website

Jerusalem: Orient

Nights: 4

Room Category: Orient

Hotel Website

9 nights' accommodations.
10 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, 2 lunches & 7 dinners.
Rental fee for B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony on July 17.
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.
Sound/lighting equipment (if needed) for B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony on July 17.
DJ & Photographer for B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony on July 17.
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.