This is a trip to Israel you don't want to miss!  Join Rabbi Backman and hundreds of others from across world on a unique eight day trip to the Holy Land. 

 

Explore the land of our heritage, walk in the very same paths as King David, Gideon and Deborah the Prophetess.  Learn about our 3,000 years of rich history -- from Joshua to Maimonides and to the present-day State of Israel.  Discover the spiritual power of the northern city of Safed, birthplace of the 16th century Kabbalist movement.  Visit Caesarea and see the Roman amphitheater and other historical relics left behind by this great power and hear about the mighty clash of civilizations between Judea and Rome that took place right there.  Spend Shabbat in Jerusalem, our eternal capital, experiencing the incredible beauty of thousands of Jews singing Friday night at the Western Wall.  At the final farewell dinner, our group will be addressed by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (schedule permitting).

 

This special trip will absolutely inspire and thrill to your very core.

 

This special mission is being organized by a premier tour company in Israel and includes five star accommodations at the very best hotels ensuring that you will be taken care of and pampered every step of the way.  The group is comprised of various Chabad communities giving you an opportunity to meet and spend time with wonderful people from across the globe.

 

We will depart from Los Angeles on Sunday, March 7, 2010 and return on Tuesday, March 16.  I have included below a summary of the itinerary so that you can see for yourself what a wonderful program has been planned.  The price for this trip which includes accommodations, transportation, food and lodging is $2,279.00 -- excluding airfare.  Special group-rate airfare on El Al, Israel's national airline, has been arranged for $1,384.40 for a non-stop round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv.

 

Make every effort to join us on this wonderful trip - I'm sure you will thank yourself for doing so.  If you have any questions, are considering joining us, or plan on coming along, please respond -- either via email or by calling me at 818-618-4335 -- as soon as possible so that we can make the proper arrangements and purchase our airline tickets from Los Angeles together.

 

I look forward to hearing from you!

 

Best regards,

 

Rabbi Simcha Backman

 

 

DAY ONE – MONDAY, MARCH 8TH (22 Adar)
• Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport where our representatives will escort you through passport control, baggage handling and customs. Luggage will be sent ahead to hotel for pre-arranged check-in and will be waiting for guests in their room when they arrive.
• Transfer to Caesarea
• Discover the magnificent port city of Caesarea built by King Herod and examine the clash of civilizations between Judea and Rome that led to the destruction of the 2nd Temple. Here, too, is the place of the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiva who was tortured to death by the Romans in Caesarea following the Bar Kochva Revolt. 
• Experience the state-of-the art multimedia presentation
• Transfer to Zichron Ya’akov
• Enjoy boxed lunch and free time on the Zichron Ya’akov Promenade OR at the beautiful Rothschild Gardens
• Ascend the Carmel Mountains where Elijah the Prophet contested with the Prophets of Ba’al
• Transfer to Tiberias
• Check-in to hotel, rest and relax
• Dinner at hotel and opening ceremony of the mission. Speaker: Rabbi Shear Yeshuv HaCohen - Chief Rabbi of Haifa and Former Commander of the Israeli Navy David “Dudu”  Ben Bashat.
• Overnight: Sheraton Tiberias
 

DAY TWO – TUESDAY, MARCH 9th (23 Adar)
TRACK A
• Full Israeli Breakfast at the hotel
• Introductory class at the hotel – Kaballah and Chassidus OR Visit to Meron and the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
• Transfer to Tzfat
• Connect with Spirituality in the Mystical City of Tzfat where pivotal figures in Jewish History come to life. Walk through the alleyways of the Old City encountering beautiful synagogues, artists’ galleries and fascinating personalities. The tour includes a meeting with a Kabbalistic artist.
• Enjoy boxed lunch in Birya Forest
• Security and Borders – Tour of the central and northern Golan Heights with an emphasis on the Six day War, the Yom Kippur War and the current security situation. Includes Syrian Bunker at Tel Facher, lookout over Kuneitra, visit to Mt Bental, El Rom and OZ 77.
• Return to Tiberias and join up with the rest of the group for an early evening boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee
• Dinner on own in Tiberias
• Overnight: Sheraton Tiberias
 

DAY TWO – TUESDAY, MARCH 9th (23 Adar)
TRACK B
• Full Israeli Breakfast at the hotel
• Security and Borders – Tour of the central and northern Golan Heights with an emphasis on the Six day War, the Yom Kippur War and the current security situation. Includes Syrian Bunker at Tel Facher, lookout over Kuneitra, visit to Mt Bental, El Rom and OZ 77. Option to hear briefings from local speaker (to be confirmed)
• Enjoy boxed lunch in Golan Heights
• Transfer to Tzfat
• Connect with Spirituality in the Mystical City of Tzfat where pivotal figures in Jewish History come to life. Walk through the alleyways of the Old City encountering beautiful synagogues, artists’ galleries and fascinating personalities. The tour includes a meeting with a Kabbalistic artist.
• Visit to Meron and the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai
• Return to Tiberias and join up with the rest of the group for an early evening boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee
• Dinner on own in Tiberias
• Overnight: Sheraton Tiberias
 
DAY THREE – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10TH (24 Adar)
TRACK A
• Full Israeli Breakfast at the hotel
• Checkout and departure. Luggage will be sent ahead to Jerusalem hotel for pre-arranged check-in and will be waiting for guests in their room when they arrive.
• Explore the Holy City of Tiberias where the Sanhedrin held court and the Jerusalem Talmud was codified. Includes visit to the Tomb of Rabbi Akiva or Maimonides or Rabbi Meir Ba’al HaNess
• Transfer to Tzippori
• Discover the spectacular mosaics in the “home town” of Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi where the Mishna was set-down in writing. Tour includes a short text study in the Ancient Synagogue of Tzippori.
• Transfer to Bet Shean Valley
• Visit Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu and learn about the commandments that regulate the agriculture cycle in the Land of Israel. Includes meeting with veteran Kibbutz members and lunch.
• Depart for Jerusalem via the Jordan Valley
• Discover “Kasser el Yahud” the site where Joshua crossed over the Jordan with the Israelites.
• Welcome ceremony to Jerusalem on Mt. Scopus
• Dinner at Eretz Bereishit in Abrahams tents with Mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Nir Barkat.
• Check-in to hotel
• Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel Jerusalem
 

DAY THREE – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10TH (24 Adar)
TRACK B
• Full Israeli Breakfast at the hotel
• Checkout and departure. Luggage will be sent ahead to Jerusalem hotel for pre-arranged check-in and will be waiting for guests in their room when they arrive.
• Visit to the Tomb of Rabbi Akiva or Maimonides or Rabbi Meir Ba’al HaNess
• Explore Gamla, site of the famous battle between Romans and Jews during the Great Revolt 2000 years ago, and beautiful nature reserve.
• Lookout over the border between Israel, Syria and Jordan by Hamat Gader and the Yarmuk River
• Depart for Beit Shean Valley
• Visit Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi and learn about the commandments that regulate the agriculture cycle in the Land of Israel. Includes meeting with veteran Kibbutz members and lunch.
• Depart for Jerusalem via the Jordan Valley
• Discover “Kasser el Yahud” the site where Joshua crossed over the Jordan with the Israelites.
• Welcome ceremony to Jerusalem on Mt. Scopus
• Dinner at Eretz Bereishit in Abrahams  tents with mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Nir Barkat.
• Check-in to hotel
• Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel Jerusalem
 

DAY FOUR – THURSDAY, MARCH 11TH (25 Adar)
• Full Israeli Breakfast at the hotel with Breakfast with Moshe Ya’alon – former IDF Chief of Staff.
• Enjoy a spectacular lookout over Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade
• Transfer to Old City
• Trace the lives of Prophets and Kings in the City of David (option to wade through Hezekiah’s Tunnels)
• Lunch on own and free time in the Jewish Quarter
• Experience the fascinating world within the Jewish Quarter as past, present and future merge together – Tour includes the following:
o Southern Excavations and Davidson center
o Kotel Tunnels and new excavations under the Kotel Plaza
o Lookout over Temple Mount
o Sites of interest with the Jewish Quarter – Cardo, Broad Wall, Hurva Synagogue
• JLI - Group mincha at the Kotel and words of welcome by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger 
• Return to hotel
• Dinner on own and free evening
• Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel Jerusalem
 

DAY FIVE – FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH (26 Adar)
• Full Israeli Breakfast at the hotel with Yehuda Avner.
• Time for reflection at the Tomb of Rachel the Matriarch
• Tour Hebron neighborhoods together with Rabbi Danny Cohen, including Avraham Avinu Synagogue, Tel Romeda, Tel Hevron and Beit Haddasah, meet with Sara Nachshon.
• Pray at the Tomb of the Patriarchs
• Lunch on own at the Gutnick Center
• Return to Jerusalem
• Discover the vibrant Machane Yehuda Outdoor Market
• Prepare for Shabbat
• Join thousands of Jews from around the globe in a joyous celebration of Shabbat at the Kotel
• Friday night dinner and fabrengen at the hotel
• Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel Jerusalem
 

DAY SIX – SHABBAT, MARCH 13TH (27 Adar)
• For the early–risers – pray at the Kottel
•  Full Israeli Breakfast at the hotel
• Optional services at the Tzemach Tzedek, Mayanot Shul or Great Synagogue.
• Lunch and fabrengen at hotel. Guest – Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
• Rest and relax
• Explore your personal connection to Jerusalem as you take in the special atmosphere of the Jewish quarter and meet with local residents on their rooftops for authentic tales of the Old City OR Discover the beautiful Yemin Moshe neighborhood and Montefiorie’s Windmill.
• Musical Havdala
• Dinner on own and discover Jerusalem’s vibrant night-life
• Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel Jerusalem
 

DAY SEVEN – SUNDAY MARCH 14TH (28 ADAR)
• Full Israeli Breakfast at the Hotel with the former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Lau 
• Join the Mayanot Institute of Jewish learning for Executive Learning
• Departure for Sderot
• Support the local economy – lunch on own in Sderot
• Visit the Kassam-weary city of Sderot, tour neighborhoods and meet with local shaliach Rabbi Zev Pizem whose work is an inspiration to all.
• Depart for IDF Base
• Join together with IDF combat troops for a tour of their base, live-fire exercise, security briefing by officers and a BBQ with live music
• Depart for Jerusalem for banquet at The David Citadel Hotel Jerusalem
• Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel Jerusalem
 

DAY EIGHT – MONDAY, MARCH 15TH (29 Adar)
• Full Israeli Breakfast at hotel
• Early Check-in with El Al at hotel
• Checkout and departure
• Optional briefing by Gil Hoffman, senior political correspondent of the Jerusalem Post OR Shopping time and lunch on Ben Yehuda Street
• Pay tribute to the memory of the Six Million at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Children’s Memorial.
• Departure for Kfar Chabad
• Farewell dinner at Kfar Chabad - Address by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (schedule permitting) 
• Departure for Ben Gurion Airport
• Return to the USA
• NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!