Temple Israel
Journey To Israel

Led by Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman and Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer

Jun 9, 2024 - Jun 19, 2024

DESTINATION Israel
Who’s Going Families
Trip Type Family Trip
Duration 11 DAYS
Group Size 40+
Price From $4,760

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
Current Affairs
Jeep Tour
Local Specialists
Nature Walks
Rafting & Kayaking
Active

Program Itinerary

DAY 1

DEPARTURE

Sun. Jun 9, 2024

Depart the USA.

Overnight: Flight

DAY 2

THE START OF A GREAT JOURNEY

Mon. Jun 10, 2024

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.
Depart the airport, driving towards Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
Welcome to Israel: Stop at the Jaffa Overlook for an introduction to Tel Aviv and to our journey in Israel.
Check into the hotel with time to freshen up.
Window to Israel & Our Journey: Orientation with Rabbi Zimmerman, Jen Saad and the tour educator over a private dinner.

Overnight: Tel Aviv Meals: Dinner

DAY 3

THE FIRST HEBREW CITY

Tue. Jun 11, 2024

Breakfast at an Israeli hotel is an experience in itself. Start the day with a bounteous buffet.
From Hebrew City to Hebrew State: Walk along the newly-opened Independence Trail in Tel Aviv and embark on a remarkable journey that begins with the founding of Tel Aviv in 1909 and ends with the establishment of Israel in 1948.
Walk through the trendy area where the colorful Carmel Market, Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian mall, and Sheinkin Street meet in central Tel Aviv; lunch on your own.
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. 
Free late afternoon for an opportunity to:
- Crash the waves of the Mediterranean Sea.
- Walk or bike the Blue Route in Tel Aviv, with its beautiful coastline and Mediterranean atmosphere, from the Jaffa Ridge in the south to Tel Aviv Port in the north.
Special Dinner at the hotel followed by Shavhout Tikkun.

Overnight: Tel Aviv Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 4

THE SAND, THE WATER AND THE PEOPLE

Wed. Jun 12, 2024

Check out of the hotel.
Depart Tel Aviv and drive north along the coast to Caesarea, one of the Land of Israel’s most important landmarks. Explore the Roman Herodian Theater and the excavations along the Mediterranean shore, concluding with the ruined 900-year-old Crusader town.
Walk through the 2,000-year-old water tunnel at Park Alona, the water source for ancient Caesarea.
Join the Shavuot Festivities at a kibbutz celebrating the harvest and “first fruits”.
Tour the Zippori National Park, known for its extraordinary ancient mosaics and its central role in Jewish life after the destruction of the Temple.
Drive to the Upper Galilee and Late check into the kibbutz hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.
EVENING ADULTS’ PROGRAM:
Embrace the Enemy: Dialogue with Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Eyal Dror, former commander of the "Good Neighbor Campaign” – the IDF’s Humanitarian Aid Unit for the Syrian population that was affected by the civil war. This unit led close to 700 humanitarian operations on the Israeli-Syrian border, most of them to provide medical assistance.
EVENING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM:
The Names and Faces of Israel: Israeli game night with your tour educator.

Overnight: Upper Galilee Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 5

ADVENTURES IN THE NORTH

Thu. Jun 13, 2024

B’nai Mitzvah service in one of the following locations:
- The partially reconstructed synagogue in Katzrin Talmudic Village, surrounded by the remains of the homes of a thriving ancient Jewish community.
- The beautiful 1,500-year-old Baram Synagogue, located in the Upper Galilee.
Walk through the Tel Dan Nature Reserve, located on the largest tributary of the Jordan River, and explore the ruins of the great biblical city of Dan.
Take a jeep tour off-road up the Golan Heights, following the footsteps of Israeli soldiers and their battles in the Six-Day War.
The panoramic views from Mt. Bental (overlooking the abandoned Syrian town of Kuneitra) give sharp insights into Israel’s security situation on the Golan Heights, and the enormous challenges it faced in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and the challenges from the north.
AFTERNOON OPTION 1: Wine Tasting at a local winery on the Golan Heights.
AFTERNOON OPTION 2: Enjoy the culinary delight of a chocolate workshop at the De Karina Chocolate Factory on Kibbutz Ein Zivan.
ALL: Enjoy rafting or kayaking down the Jordan River.
Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Upper Galilee Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 6

ALONG THE JORDAN VALLEY

Fri. Jun 14, 2024

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out.
Drive to Tsfat, a center of Jewish mysticism for hundreds of years and a contemporary artists’ colony, including the Ari, Caro or Abuhav Synagogues, each with its great stories and mystical messages, and the quaint Artists’ Colony, its craft shops and galleries; meet with local artisans inspired by the messages of Kabbalah.
Swim in the freshwater pools and natural springs at the Gan Hashlosha Nature Reserve (Sachne), situated at the foot of Mt. Gilboa.
Drive along the Jordan valley, stop near the settlement of Mizpe Yericho (the Jericho View Point) for a close-up view of the ‘Security Barrier’ along the seam zone between Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Welcome to Jerusalem: Upon entering the vibrant and colorful city of Jerusalem, stop at Mount Scopus for an overlook of the Old and New City and to recite the traditional “Shehechiyanu” blessing.
Check into the hotel.
Join Jerusalemites in a musical Kabbalat Shabbat at the Old Train Station Plaza, a central neighborhood hub for food, entertainment, culture, and enrichment, followed by Shabbat dinner at the hotel or at a restaurant.
OR
Kabbalat Shabbat services at a local Reform congregation, followed by home hospitality or a communal Shabbat dinner with local congregants.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 7

SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM

Sat. Jun 15, 2024

Shabbat morning Torah study.
Walk to the Old City and begin with a walk along its ramparts.
Stop at the Kotel (Western Wall) and experience the special atmosphere of this holy site.
Discover the archaeological treasures and other highlights of the Jewish Quarter:
- Ascend to the Rooftops of the Old City for a behind-the-scenes look at the various communities in Jerusalem and how they live alongside each other.
- Walk through the Cardo - the main street of Jerusalem in the 6th century, King Hezekiah’s First Temple-period “Broad Wall,” and Hurva Square - the central square of the Jewish Quarter.
- Walk through Jerusalem’s famous Old City Market (shuk).
Explore the first neighborhood of the new city in a scavenger hunt in Yemin Moshe.
Ben Kodesh Lechol: Havdallah overlooking the Old City.
Free time in the Mamilla pedestrian arcade, a contemporary shopping area with a touch of the past, located outside the Jaffa Gate of the Old City; dinner on your own.
Watch the Night Spectacular at the Tower of David Museum: The walls of the Citadel serve as a stage for a night-time show – a celebration of sight and sound depicting the story of Jerusalem.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8

INTO THE DESERT, MASADA & THE DEAD SEA

Sun. Jun 16, 2024

Early breakfast at the hotel.
Descend to the Dead Sea Basin.
Ascend by cable car to Masada, Herod’s mountain palace and the site of the Jewish Zealots’ last stand against the Roman Legionnaires. Discuss Masada’s role as a symbol of Jewish defense and its current significance in modern Israel.
Take a short hike to Nahal David, the freshwater spring and waterfalls in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, where David hid from King Saul.
Experience an astonishing sense of weightlessness as you float in the super-saline Dead Sea.
How Fast Can This Thing Go? Take a camel for a test drive as you ride into the heart of the desert. The patriarch Abraham will welcome us to Genesis Land as we get a taste of hospitality and travel in biblical time.
Return to the Jerusalem and to the hotel.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast

DAY 9

MEMORY & RENEWAL

Mon. Jun 17, 2024

B'nai Mitzvah ceremony at the Kotel (Western Wall).
ADULTS & OLDER YOUTH:
- The Memory of the Holocaust in Israel: Meet with Holocaust scholar Dr. Rachel Korazim.
- Visit Yad Vashem, the National Memorial of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including the Avenue of the Righteous, the Historical Museum, and the Children’s Memorial.
CHILDREN:
- Learn some Hebrew words through music and dance.
- Tour Ein Yael, an interactive, living museum, located on a 2,000-year-old archaeological site. Take part in weaving, ceramics, painting and other crafts typical of life in ancient times.
ALL: 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. This doubles as a delicious lunch.
Drive through the Israeli “Capitol Hill”: along the Knesset – Israel’s Parliament and its famous Menorah, the Supreme Court building, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Israeli National Bank, and the future Site of the Israel National Library.

Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 10

DIGGING FOR ROOTS

Tue. Jun 18, 2024

Depart Jerusalem for the Ella Valley.
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.
Time permitting: Proceed to the Armored Corps Memorial and Museum at Latrun, on the road that links Jerusalem with the coastal plain, and biblical times to the Six-Day War.
Lunch on own, perhaps in the Village of Abu Gosh, aka the world’s Hummus capital.
Return to the hotel for time to pack and relax.
Late check-out from the hotel.
Looking Forward: Wrap-up session over a private farewell dinner.
Transfer to the Ben Gurion International Airport and check in for your flight to the USA.

Overnight: Flight Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 11

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Wed. Jun 19, 2024

Return to the USA.

RATES & LODGING

participants

40+

Cost p/p in double room

$4,760

Cost p/p in single room

$6,360

Child As 3rd (Reduction)

- ($810)

Cost of accommodations for pre & post nights including breakfast and all taxes:
-Tel Aviv: Crowne Plaza $424,- per night per double occupancy room, $402,- per night per single occupancy room, $534,- per night per double occupancy room with child as third.
-Jerusalem: Dan Panorama $352,- per night per double occupancy room, $334,- per night per single occupancy room, $454,- per night per double occupancy room with child as third.

All rates are subject to availability. Registration open

Tel Aviv: Crowne Plaza Beach

Nights: 2

Room Category: Deluxe

Hotel Website

Upper Galilee: Hotel HaGoshrim nature

Nights: 2

Room Category: Superior

Hotel Website

Jerusalem: Dan Panorama

Nights: 4+LCO

Room Category: Jerusalem

Hotel Website

8 nights' accommodations. Late check out on the day of departure is included.
9 days of touring with a tour educator (guide), 8 days of touring in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
Daily breakfast, 1 lunch & 6 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.