B"H SHIRAT HA'ARETZ ISRAEL JOURNEY 
14 NIGHTS

(Notes: This is an "itinerary in progress." A more finalized itinerary will be available one month before departure. This itinerary is designed to incorporate flexibility for the group and its individuals as much as possible, while still maintaining group cohesiveness. Participants are free to abstain from activities as needed due to physical or other limitations. Optional morning prayer and meditation will be offered most mornings. )

TUESDAY. Arrive Ben Gurion airport mid-afternoon. Travel to Jerusalem.  Dinner at hotel. Optional visit to Kotel (Western Wall)

WEDNESDAY Morning teaching (possibly with Rabbi David Zeller). Walking tour of Jerusalem. Evening meeting with Eliahu MacLean, facilitator of spiritual dialogue between Israelis and Arabs in Israel, as well as the West Bank and Gaza.

THURSDAY Leave early for the Dead Sea spa. Hike at Ein Gedi nature reserve. Lunch at spa. Afternoon spa experience. Head for Tsefat by  late afternoon. Have dinner at our Tzefat hotel, the Rimon Inn. Optional evening teaching with Rabbi David Friedman.

FRIDAY, Early morning orientation to old city of Tzefat; visit burial place of great kabbalists (Rabbi Yitzhak Luria [the Ari], Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, etc.); visit ancient synagogues. Afternoon teaching in the studio of artist/kabbalist Avraham Lowenthal. Prepare for Shabbat. Kabbalat shabbat services led by Rabbis Aryeh and Jackie and friends from Tzefat

SHABBAT. Morning prayers at historic Abuhav (North African Sephardic) synagogue. Late morning group Torah discussion. Early afternoon free time. Late afternoon third meal & teaching. Evening Melaveh Malkah (escorting the bride) musical celebration with Gaby Meyer and friends at Amiray Hagalil Restaurant & Night Club

SUNDAY. Travel to Golan Heights; spend morning and afternoon at spectacular Gamla, "Masada of the North," site of major battle with the Roman army  during the Jewish revolt, and beautiful nature and wildlife reserve. Rosh Hodesh (new month) celebration with friends in Tzefat.

MONDAY. Free day in Tzefat.

TUESDAY. leave Tzefat. Travel down through Jordan Valley. Stop and visit Qumran, site of discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Travel south thru Aravah (desert) to town of Mitzpeh Ramon, site of the famous Ramon Crater

WEDNESDAY. Early morning prayer overlooking Ramon Crater.Day trip relaxing in Eilat with snorkeling, observing the bird migrations, and enjoying the aquarium. Back to hotel for late dinner.

THURSDAY. Early morning prayer at Ramon Crater. Travel north to visit grave of David Ben Gurion. Hike in Nahal Avdat. Continue on to Jerusalem for early evening arrival. Teaching in evening.

FRIDAY. Visit Open House, Center of Jewish-Arab reconciliation work. Afternoon meeting with teacher Mimi Feigelson of Yakar. Prepare for Shabbat. Friday night prayer at the Kotel followed by festive dinner

SHABBAT. Shabbat morning prayer, lunch and torah study with Jerusalem Jewish Renewal community. Late afternoon third meal and teaching. Evening Melaveh  Malkah ("escorting the bride") celebration with Jewish Renewal friends in Jerusalem

SUNDAY. Free Day

MONDAY. Visit Neot Kedumim, famous biblical landscape preserve. Go to Moshav Modi'in" (Carlebach chassidim ) for tour and lunch. Afternoon visit to Deir  Qadis, the home and West Bank spiritual center of Sufi Sheik Abu Saleh.

TUESDAY. Optional morning visits to Jerusalem museums. Afternoon teaching with Mimi Feigelson, teacher at Yakar. Evening farewell dinner and celebration

WEDNESDAY. Leave Israel on early morning flight