Our Arrival in Jerusalem

Our group of 14 (will be 15 on Friday) arrived in Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday late afternoon, after a very long flight of 11 hours with very little sleep. We each had a personal TV screen and many choices of movies and TV shows. No time for sleep! Oh and we lost 7 hours in the process, so long day (or two) required to get there.

The tour guide and bus arrived and took us to the Jerusalem area up very steep and winding roads, to our first stop at a very scenic kibbutz that served us a buffet dinner.

Dan and Joanne Bonder enjoy the kibbutz buffet after a long trip.

After dinner we drove to Mt. Scopus for a night time view of Jerusalem, a few fireworks and brief prayer.



Everyone our tour is very nice and getting along well, considering that most did not previously know the others.

No falafel found yet, but we are hopeful for the next day!

We arrived late yesterday afternoon at Ben Gurion airport. Our first stop was dinner at the Yad HaShemonah Guest House. Yad Hasmenoah, is a kibbutz just west of Jerusalem near Abu Gosh.

Fresh vegetables and fruits, along with fish, chicken and turkey filled the buffet. The weather could not be more perfect. It was warm with a gentle cool breeze. It was a wonderful way to begin our journey in Israel. Following dinner, our bus hastened to the Tayelet or the Haas Promenade, which features an incredible view of the Old City and the Kotel (Western Wall) from south Jerusalem. When we arrived at the Tayelet, a festive wedding was taking place, replete with fireworks as if to welcome us to the Jerusalem. We drank grape juice and said “L’chayim”, and marked this special moment by singing the Shehecheyanu blessing.

Our first full day will feature an exploration of “Jerusalem Through the Ages”. We will visit the Old City, where the kotel awaits us.

Jerusalem Weather Forecast

See 10-day Jerusalem forecast. High 85 and sunny every day!

Our Itinerary (Outline)

June 17
Leave Cleveland, connect in Atlanta, en route to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv

June 18
Arrive in Israel
View Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus
Hotel check-in and dinner
Did we just lose 7 hours?

June 19: Jerusalem Through the Ages
City of David
Hezekiah's water tunnel
Mt. Zion
Old City/Jewish Quarter
Cardo
Kotel (Wall)

June 20: From Out of the Crucible
Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum)
Outdoor market
Ethiopian Jewish immigrants
Kabbalat Shabbat service

June 21: Shabbat in Jerusalem
Historic walking tour
Havdalah
Kotel (Wall) tunnels

June 22: Building a Jewish State/Dig the Past
Israel Religious Action Center
Herzl Museum
Archeological adventure
Camel trek
Night at Bedouin tent

June 23: What Price Freedom?
Early morning hike up Masada
Ein Gedi waterfalls
Float in the Dead Sea
Home hospitality dinner in Beit Shean

June 24: Land of Borders
Tour Bein Shean
Golan Heights
Visit Syria border bunkers
Waterfall hike or Golan Heights Winery
Dinner in Tzfat (Safed)

June 25: Mountains & Mystics
Kabbalistic artist
Magical mystery tour of Tzfat
IDF border soldiers
Family rafting on Jordan River
Artists Colony dinner and music

June 26: Mayim, Mayim
Swim in natural pools in Beit Shean
Tel Aviv program to feed the needy
Old Jaffa walking tour
Expore Tel Aviv

June 27: To be free in our own land
Independence Hall
Palmach Museum
Shopping at Nahalat Binyamin street market
Shabbat service

June 28: Shabbat Peace in Tel Aviv
Yitzhak Rabin memorial
Beaches
Concluding Havdallah
Head to airport

June 29
Return to Cleveland
Regain lost 7 hours
Check mail and mow lawn

Gearing Up for Israel

I have not been to Israel since the Summer of 2005, and I am excited to imagine being in Israel one week from today! I am also thrilled to travel with a wonderful group from Cleveland!

One of the most impotant stops on the trip will be tasting an authentic Israeli falafel. I'll keep you posted...

Rabbi Josh