TOVA GILEAD INC. - T O U R S  T O  I S R A E L

25 Partrick Lane, Wilton, CT 06897
Tel: 203 834-8682 or 800.242.TOVA Fax: 203 834-9898
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October 17-28, 2012

Wednesday Oct. 17

DEPARTURE
Depart the United States to Tel Aviv.

WELCOME TO ISRAEL
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, where you are met and transferred to Jerusalem. Arrive at the historic King David Hotel. Cocktail party at the hotel. In the evening, on your own, visit the Mamilla Mall where Jerusalemites shop and dine.

Overnight at the King David Hotel

TOUR OF JERUSALEM
Drive to Mount Scopus for a spectacular view of the city, the traditional shehechiyanu blessing, and a l’chaim. Continue to Mt. Zion to visit King David's Tomb and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City at Zion Gate and walk through the reconstructed Jewish Quarter with its four restored Sephardic synagogues. Browse the boutique-lined Cardo, once an ancient Byzantine bazaar. Tour the Jerusalem Archaeological Park and see the Second Temple excavations. Walk through the Western Wall Tunnels. In the evening, visit the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, to welcome the Shabbat.

Friday night dinner and overnight at the King David Hotel

SHABBAT SHALOM! A WALKING TOUR OF THE OLD CITY
Stroll through the 19th century neighborhood of Yemin Moshe to see Sir Moses Montefiore’s carriage. Enter the Old City at Jaffa Gate and visit the Tower of David Citadel and Museum, which traces the history of Jerusalem. Explore the narrow alleyways of the Old City and the colorful shuk (Arab Market). Continue along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Afternoon at leisure. At night, return to the Tower of David Museum to see The Night Spectacular light show.

Sunday Oct. 21

TOUR OF JERUSALEM
Drive to Yad Vashem, memorial to victims of the Holocaust, and visit the Museum and Children's Memorial. Continue to Mt. Herzl, burial place of Israel's leaders and founding fathers and site of the military cemetery. Visit the Herzl Museum. Enjoy a Middle Eastern lunch at the Machne Yehudah Market. Visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. View the exhibits and stroll through the outdoor Billy Rose Sculpture Garden. See the scale model of Jerusalem as it looked in Herod’s time. Stop at the Knesset, Israel's House of Parliament, to see the bronze Menorah sculpture, symbol of the State of Israel. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.Overnight at the King David Hotel

TOUR OF THE DEAD SEA AND MASADA
Drive through wilderness of the Judean Desert to the lowest spot on earth, the Dead Sea. Continue along the sea past the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Arrive at Masada, the mountain fortress where the Jewish Zealots fought against mighty Rome, and ascend by cable car to the plateau. Tour Herod's palace, the Zealots’ synagogue, and the Roman bathhouses. Stop at the Dead Sea for an unforgettable "float" and lunch. Hike through the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to the waterfalls, and observe the wildlife and lush foliage in this oasis. Return to Jerusalem.Overnight at the King David Hotel

Tuesday Oct. 23

TOUR OF THE GALILEE AND THE GOLAN
Depart Jerusalem and drive along the seashore road to the Valley of Jezreel to visit the unique Moshav Nahalal founded by the pioneers (“halutzim”) in 1921. Stop at the cemetery to see the gravesites of Moshe Dayan and the Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon. Enjoy home hospitality and lunch at the Moshav. On to Tiberias, one of the four Holy Cities, with a seaside promenade and hot springs. Visit the Synagogue of Hamat to see the amazing 4th century mosaic zodiac floor. Enjoy a refreshing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Drive to the Golan Heights and take an exciting jeep ride through the rugged hills of the Golan. Stop at a former Syrian fortification to view the Hula Valley below. Arrive at the kibbutz to learn first-hand about this unique lifestyle.Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz K'far Blum

Wednesday Oct. 24

TOUR OF THE GALILEE
Drive through the mountains of the Upper Galilee to Safed, 16th century birthplace of the mystical "Kabbala" movement. Stroll the cobbled streets to explore ancient synagogues and the galleries of the quaint Artists' Colony. Continue to the picturesque Bay of Akko with its medieval port, and visit the Citadel and the underground Crusader City. Continue along Haifa Bay. Ascend Mt. Carmel and drive along Panorama Street with breathtaking views of Haifa Harbor. See the golden-domed Bahai Shrine and the beautiful Persian Gardens surrounding it. Optional: Join Israeli folk dancing in a local center.Dinner and overnight at the Dan Carmel Hotel

Thursday Oct. 25

TOUR OF MOUNT CARMEL AND CAESAREA
Drive past Haifa University to the unique Druze villages atop Mt. Carmel for a home hospitality visit. Continue to Atlit, the port of illegal immigration into Palestine in 1947. Drive along the Mediterranean seashore to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the country. See King Herod's ancient port, the Roman theatre, the aqueduct and the fortifications of the Crusaders. Pass the seaside resorts of Netanya and Herzliya. Arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel's center of culture and commerce, with its outdoor cafes and beautiful Mediterranean beaches. The 100-year old “White City” was declared a World Heritage sight by UNESCO.Overnight at the Dan Hotel

Friday Oct. 26

TOUR OF BEIT GUVRIN AND TEL AVIV
Drive south to explore the unusual Bell Caves and excavations of Beit Guvrin. Participate in a live archaeological dig where visitors young and old can "Dig Israel." Visit Machon Ayalon, near Rehovot, to see an underground ammunition factory that operated during the British Mandate. Return to Tel Aviv via Rishon LeZion, home of the Carmel Winery. Walk through Nachalat Binyamin to see artisans selling their crafts. Stop at the colorful Carmel fruit and vegetable market for a "taste" of Israel. Visit the biblical seaport of Old Jaffa and meander through the galleries in the reconstructed Artists\' Quarter.Friday night dinner and overnight at the Dan Hotel

SHABBAT SHALOM! TEL AVIV
Day of leisure. Enjoy the beach, swim in the Mediterranean, and stroll along the seaside promenade. Evening transfer to Ben Gurion Airport.

Sunday Oct. 28

DEPARTURE
Flight back home