Mission Tracks Descriptions

DAY 5: FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018
Time: 9:00* am-2:00 pm (the majority of tracks will depart at 9 am, unless noted below)

URBAN TOURING: JERUSALEM / TEL-AVIV

1. Jerusalem for First Timers

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Ramparts Walk .  Take part in the Ramparts Walk around the Old City of Jerusalem, one of the Old City’s nearly hidden treasures. Take a walk that winds along the top of the walls, affording stunning views of the neighborhood of Yemin Moshe and West Jerusalem as well as several major churches. Catch glimpses inside the cloistered Armenian Quarter, the Valley of Hinnom, the Judean Desert, the Arab Shuk (market), the Garden of Gethsemane, the ancient graveyard on the Mount of Olives and Muslim homes inside the Muslim Quarter.
• Ir David.  The Jebusite citadel captured by King David to build his capital city was well-fortified with its own water source. Since it never belonged to any of the Israelite tribes, its selection by King David was unlikely to provoke jealousy. We will tour the archaeological excavation, walking in the footsteps of the architects and builders of the city and the many pilgrims that made their way to the Temple Mount 2,000 years ago.
• The neighborhood of Nachlaot.  One of the city’s older and more colorful neighborhoods, retaining much of its original 19th century architecture, narrow alleyways and cobblestone streets. The neighborhood was planned to accommodate the Yemenite, Kurdish, Jerusalem Sephardi, Greek and Galician Jews. The communities had their own synagogues (many still exist today) and were each housed within a walled compound built around a common courtyard and a water cistern in the center. Today the neighborhood attracts a large influx of middle class and students and is enjoying gentrification.

2. Jerusalem of Gold: go beyond the Old City

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Mt. of Olives. Walk down the narrow path of the Mt. of Olives as it winds between churches and the world's largest Jewish cemetery that dates from biblical times. According to Jewish tradition, the apocalyptic Resurrection of the Dead will begin at the Mt. of Olives. The amazing views of the walled city of Jerusalem are embraced by the Hinnom and Kidron valleys, set off by the Golden Gate to Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount, Mount Zion, the City of David and more will bring prophecy and psalms to life.
• The Menachem Begin Heritage Center initiated in 1998 by Begin's friend, Harry Hurwitz, to honor the former IZL commander, Prime Minister, and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Built on the Hinnom Ridge below the Scottish Church, the tall structure provides a breathtaking view of Mount Zion, the Old City, and the Mount of Olives. The museum portrays the life, work and achievements of Menachem Begin, presented in state-of-the-art audiovisual technology.
• Chagall Windows.  See the famous twelve stained glass windows at the Abbell Synagogue at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem. The Bible was Marc Chagall’s primary inspiration, particularly Jacob’s blessings of his twelve sons and Moses’ blessings of the twelve tribes. Each window is dominated by a specific color and contains a quotation from the individual blessings.
• Ein Kerem.  Step into another world and visit the quaint neighborhood of Ein Karem tucked into the hills of Jerusalem. Long an artists' quarter, Ein Karem is home to special people and sites waiting for your visit. Ein Kerem, a picturesque hillside village, part of Jerusalem since 1961 is the biblical Ein Hakerem mentioned in the Old Testament whose name means "the spring in the vineyard".

3. Tel-Aviv for First Timers

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• The fascinating story of the first Jewish neighborhood out of Jaffa - Walking tour of the historical neighborhoods that mark the beginning of Tel Aviv and have a peek at the living quarters of some of the city’s first residents.
• Trumpeldor Cemetery.  Tel Aviv’s Trumpeldor Cemetery is probably the best known in the land. It was established in the early 1900s, when Shimon Rokach, the founder of Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s first neighborhood, had to deal with an outbreak of cholera. He needed to distance the bodies of those inflicted by the disease from the rest of the settlement. He established the plot six years before the city of Tel Aviv was founded and it became the burial ground for the Who’s Who of Tel Aviv.
• The Habima Theater Israel’s national theater is an iconic building within the White City of Tel Aviv, and one of the most impressive cultural highlights of the city. Originally founded in 1913 in Moscow, the Habima was one of the first modern Hebrew language theaters. It moved to its current home in the culturally vibrant city of Tel Aviv in 1928 following persecution in Russia. The theater settled on its current landmark site at the top of Rothschild Boulevard in what is known as Habima Square in 1945. In 2009, the complex was completely refurbished and the Habima now offers a modern theatrical experience in a historically Tel Aviv location.
• Rabin Square.  Malkei Yisrael Square was renamed Rabin Square in commemoration of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin who was assassinated by a single gunman during a peace rally there on the night of November 4, 1995. The title of the rally was "Yes to Peace, No to Violence".

4. Tel-Aviv: Culture & the City

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Walking tour following the fascinating story of the first Jewish neighborhood out of Jaffa - In 1909, handful of Jews living in nearby Jaffa, purchased land and converted sand dunes into a city destined to become Israel's center of culture, commerce and finance. Tel Aviv, the first modern Jewish city, represents all that is modern and forward looking in Israel.
• Reuven House - The site of the museum is the former home of Israeli painter Reuven Rubin, a place where he resided with his family from 1946 until his death in 1974. Constructed in 1930, the house on 14 Bialik Street first opened to the public in 1983. A choice selection of the Museum's collection of Reuven Rubin's paintings is on permanent display, replaced periodically by guest exhibitions focusing on the early period of Israeli art.
• Sarona Complex - Sarona is Tel Aviv’s new and trendy open-air cultural center, based in a renewed colony of the Templar settlement. The complex incorporates new urban architecture along-side perfectly restored buildings of the old settlement that now house upscale art galleries, popular cafes, colorful market and contemporary shops.

HISTORY AND JEWISH ROOTS

5. Jewish Roots & Biblical Sites

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Mt. of Olives - Wondrous views of the walled city of Jerusalem are embraced by the Hinnom and Kidron valleys, set off by the Golden Gate to Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount, Mount Zion, the City of David and more, bringing prophecy and psalms to life. Walk down the narrow path of the Mt. of Olives as it winds between churches and the world's largest Jewish cemetery that dates from biblical times. According to Jewish tradition, the apocalyptic Resurrection of the Dead will begin at the Mt. of Olives.
• Visit the archeological site of Umm el-‘Umdan located in the city of Modi’in and described as “ Hometown of the Maccabees” - The excavations at Umm el-Umdan revealed six main settlement strata from the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Early Islamic periods. The main finds that were discovered were a rural settlement with a central lane flanked by residential structures and a public structure identified as a synagogue - date from the second century BCE to the Bar Kokhba rebellion (132 CE).
• Archaeological digs in Shfelat Yehuda (Judaean foothills) - To really dig deep into the past, head toward Shfelat yehuda and become an archaeologist for a day.

6. Tikkun Olam

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

Start your day with a meaningful texts study revolving around the idea, roots and practice of Tikkun Olam in the Jewish tradition and beyond.

Hands-on activity with an Amuta supported by the GMJF (TBD)

Site visit at a project supported by GMJF (TBD)

POLITIC AND GEO-POLITICS

7. Jerusalem: security challenges

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Briefing by scholar - Gain insight into the interplay between historical, demographic and political issues in Jerusalem and its vicinity. Delve into some of the current most challenging issues revolving around land ownership, citizenship, homeland security and beliefs, while exploring Jerusalem’s significant role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• Ramparts walk from Jaffa Gate to Damascus gate - The ramparts walk along the top of Jerusalem’s old city walls offers a new view into parts of the old city, which are otherwise inaccessible, and a view into the lives of the old city residents. As you walk above the New Gate, Damascus Gate, to Herod’s Gate and the Lions Gate you will be provided with unparalleled views of the Christian and Moslem Quarters, the Rockefeller Museum, Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives. These exceptional observation points will allow a profound understanding of the landscape and the geopolitical challenges Jerusalem’s is encompassing.
• Drive along the security barrier and stop at some key points emphasizing the physical measurements of the barrier; discuss the considerations in deciding the route of the barrier and its results, and delve into the question of legitimizing Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries.
• Nebi Samuel - located on a hill (908 m. above sea level) some 5 km north of Jerusalem offering a spectacular look on the Grin line, the Palestinian city of Ramallah and the route of the separation barrier. Once here you will better understand the context of boundaries and borders, the negotiation of space in the context of the boundary practices.
• Giva’at Zeev - located five kilometers northwest of Jerusalem. The town was founded in 1977 on the site of the abandoned Jordanian military camp, adjacent to the site of ancient Gibeon. Giv'at Ze'ev is one of five settlement blocs that, according to the Jewish Virtual Library, "[m]ost Israelis believe they should become part of Israel when final borders are drawn" and "both Prime Minister Sharon in 2005 and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2010 have repeatedly said the large settlement blocs will “remain in our hands.” Its location will allow us to discuss the Greater Jerusalem Area and the realization of a large Jerusalem that guaranteed the settlements surrounding the city would remain within Israel's boundaries as an integral part of the city.

8. *Security and daily life challenges: Judea & Samaria

Additional cost $75 per person
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Visit the settlement of Kockav HaShachar The settlement overlooks the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Shomron and Jordan mountain ranges. A short 20-minute drive Northeast of Pisgat Zev, Jerusalem, Kochav Hashachar has made a name for itself over the past 20 years as a "nice guys" community. Currently home to some 300 families, the town is classified as a "Yishuv Kehilati Dati" or religious community settlement. Kochav Hashachar, meaning peak of the morning star aims to be just that: a bright light shining the Torah way of life, with its emphasis on mutual respect.
• Meet with Sarah and Eliezer Rosenfeld twice-bereaved family, a role model of inspired Israeli parents
• Wine tasting at Psagot winery - The winery produces high quality premium wines that age in a cellar located in an ancient cave that was discovered during the process of establishing the winery. This unique boutique winery resides in a stone building in the Nachalat Binyamin Center, overlooking the panoramic Jordan Mountains.
• Tour Ancient Shilo -   Shiloh was the religious capital of Israel during the times of the Judges, and spans 4,000 years of continuous settlement starting from the 18th century BC (Middle Bronze II).  Shiloh was an assembly place for the people of Israel and a center of worship.    Its sacred area (Tabernacle - Mishkan) in Shiloh housed the Ark of Covenant, Table of Showbread, Altar of Incense and Golden Lamp stand.  Shiloh is sacred to the three religions - Jewish, Christian and Muslim - and pilgrims come to visit the ruins for the past 3,060 years. On the southeast side of Tel Shiloh are ruins of Mosques and Churches and a modern Synagogue.

9. *Israel Advocacy

No additional cost $100 per person
Min. 25 / Max. 45

• Get a compelling overview on this explosive region from (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman, former Deputy National Security Advisor for Foreign Policy and International Affairs.
• Developments in the Arab word and their impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - meet Kahled Abu Toameh - Award-winning Arab Israeli journalist, lecturer and documentary filmmaker.
• Get a better understanding of the Media work: walking tour with journalist Gil Hoffman Chief Political Correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem Post. Walk with a Gil Hoffman through Jerusalem’s neighborhoods, see the city through a reporter’s lens, and headline narrative.
• Advocacy 101 - workshop session with Neil Lazarus - Learn the essentials of being an advocate of Israel. This workshop is very popular among community leaders and students a like. Conducted in over 190 schools, universities and communities worldwide, this experience has become essential for everybody who is a friend of Israel.

10. *Security, Defense & Nature by Helicopters - North

Additional cost $1900 per person
Min. 4 / Max. Unlimited

• Board your helicopter and fly north - Enhance your understanding of Israel's northern borders following the current fragile situation in Syrian and Lebanese
• Land on Mt. Hermon - Ascend to the summit of Mt. Hermon and arrive at the IDF outpost of Israel’s highest peak. Get a firsthand glimpse of a bird's-eye-view of one of Israel's most complex borders, which rubs elbows with several enemy forces in the region.
• Fly to Ein Zivan - ATV ride from Mt. Bental along the Syrian border - The summit of this extinct volcano is also a dormant army strongpoint, where sodden sandbags still surround guard posts. Mt. Bental is a key strategic point for Israel due to its advantageous observation point. In a region where much is inaccessible to tourists due to restrictions on non-military traffic and poor roads, Mt. Bental offers a rare and rewarding sight.
• Fly to Mt. Adir for an overview of Lebanon - Meet Major (Res.) Zehavi who served for over 14 years in the Israeli Defense Forces specializing in the Military Intelligence. Major Zehavi will discuss the history of Israel's northern borders: Southern Lebanon relationship, the two Lebanon wars, Hezbollah, ISIS and other current threats in the North and beyond.
• Wine tasting at one of the region boutique winery - Today Israeli wine is world renowned with a highly efficient operation and the small, independent wineries retain a romantic, pioneering spirit.

11. *Security, Defense & Nature by Helicopters - South

Additional cost $1900 per person
Min. 4 / Max. Unlimited

• Fly south to Auja al-Hafir - Auja al-Hafir (known these days as Tel Nitzana) - The long history of Auja al-Hafir encompasses bloody battles, borders changes, agreements and disagreements – microcosms of the region relationships.
• Meet the co-ed fighting Caracal Battalion soldiers to fully understand their role in defending Israel southern borders - The Caracal Battalion is an infantry combat unit of the IDF and is one of only two fully combat units in the country's military which has both male and female soldiers. Based in the Negev desert, on the border with Egypt and Jordan, Caracal was formed in the year 2000, following the demand for an intensive combat unit for girls. Nine years later, around 70% of the battalion was recorded as female. Before Caracal, women were not allowed to serve in direct combat in Israel. The Caracal course is strenuous and identical to that of any other exclusively male battalion. As part of the Southern Command, the Caracal soldiers secure the Egyptian border from infiltrators, smugglers and terrorists. Meet with the Caracal soldiers and here a special story from wounded soldiers.
• Proceed to Mitzpe Ramon, land at the middle of the Crater - Adventure jeep ride at the new colored park that was recently opened. The Ramon Crater is 25 miles long and 1.2 to 6.2 miles wide, shaped like an elongated heart. The crater formation began hundreds of millions of years ago when the ocean that covered the Negev began to move north. The crater bottom deepens fast while the walls retain their vertical angle, gradually increasing in height. As the crater deepens, lower and more ancient rock strata are exposed. At the bottom of Ramon Crater, some rocks are as old as 200 million years.
• Wine tasting at Nana wine farm - Nana Farm was founded by Eran Raz. After running the vineyards at Ella Valley Vineyards, Eran decided to plant his own vineyards in a private farm in the Negev Desert. In a huge pioneering effort, Eran succeeded in growing top quality wine grapes in the Central Negev Highlands. His grapes are highly sought after by several leading vineyards. Midbar Winery takes 40% of his grapes. Other wineries that source grapes from Nana Farm include Recanati Winery, Pelter Winery and Tal Pelter’s kosher Matar Winery, Chillag Winery and more. Nana Farm is especially known for its Chenin Blanc, a variety that is used in less than a dozen Israeli varieties wines.

12. *Veshavu Banim Legvulam: Hebron & Gush Etzion

Additional cost $100 per person
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Hebron: a security briefing about the challenges in this city and continues with a behind-the-scenes-view of life.
• Visit the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Ma’arat HaMachpelah or the Cave of Machpelah) to learn about the site’s significance, primacy and sanctity in Jewish heritage and history as the world’s most ancient Jewish site and the second holiest place for the Jewish people after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah are buried in the Cave of Machpelah.
• Continue to Gush Etzion, another example of the renewal of an ancient Jewish community, and a city where more than 200 settlers died protecting Jerusalem during the most important defense in the War of Independence.
• Overlooking and briefing at "The Lone Oak Tree" - the symbol of Gush Etzion
• The story of Gush Etzion at the Gush Etzion Light & Sound Show - Recounting the fall of Gush Etzion on May 13, 1947, just one day before the Declaration of the State of Israel.

13. *Israeli - Palestinian Relationship (security permitting)

Additional cost $100 per person
Min. 30 / Max. 90

• Religion and Conflict in Israel from A Jewish Perspective: The Story of Siach Shalom (Talking Peace) - a non-partisan and non-political educational project that was co-founded by Dr. Avinoam Rosenak, Ms. Sharon Leshem-Zinger and Dr. Alick Isaacs in 2009. In the years since its establishment, Talking Peace has enjoyed unprecedented success addressing some of the most stubborn obstacles to peace inside Israeli society and at the highest levels. Talking Peace has received international recognition for this work and is now being turned to by foreign governments including the US administration to consult on questions concerning the settler population and the challenge of developing innovative new approaches to peace in Israel.
• Visit Ramallah the boom town of the West Bank. The city of 70,000 people sits at about 3,000 feet above sea level. Its name means “God’s Mountain". As, bit by bit the likelihood of East Jerusalem being the capital of Palestine is fading, Ramallah is emerging as the de facto capital of the country. It feels secular and relatively sophisticated, and there is no question that it is Palestinian. The PLO headquarters is here. Yasser Arafat is buried here and it is busy with NGOs and international agencies working on Palestine’s problems.

-OR -

• Visit the Palestinian new city of Rawabi; hear about one of the Palestinians inner conflicts: the strive for independence and modernity versus the daily dependency on Israel. Rawabi, the first Palestinian planned city, is a bold initiative. Located 9 km north of Ramallah and 3.5 km north of Birzeit, Rawabi lies 25 km north of Jerusalem and 25 km south of Nablus. The new city integrates international best practices for urban master planning, sustainable environmental policy, regionally suited architecture and state of-the-art infrastructure for residents, enterprises and visitors.
• Wine tasting at Psagot winery - The winery produces high quality premium wines that age in a cellar located in an ancient cave that was discovered during the process of establishing the winery. This unique boutique winery resides in a stone building in the Nachalat Binyamin Center, overlooking the panoramic Jordan Mountains.

PROFESSIONAL & INNOVATION

14. High Tech: Israel's Innovative Arena (Jerusalem)

No additional cost
Min. 25 / Max. 45

• The shift from Start Up Nation to Technological Nation - expert overview on Israel's current shift to create and grow technologies.
• OurCrowd - OurCrowd is the leading global equity crowdfunding platform for accredited investors. Managed by a team of seasoned investment professionals, OurCrowd vets and selects opportunities, invests its own capital, and brings companies to its accredited membership of global investors. The OurCrowd community of almost 17,000 investors from over 110 countries has invested over $400M into 110 portfolio companies and funds.
• Meet IBM Watson: Israeli team develops cutting-edge cancer diagnosis system - IBM’s super-computer Watson is a cognitive technology that processes information more like a human than a computer. Some of its newest capabilities are being developed at IBM’s research lab in Israel. Among the many applications of IBM Watson, the Israeli team is developing Watson’s capacity to read and understand medical imaging. Using computer vision technology, as well as the machine learning algorithms already built into IBM Watson, the team is building what IBM calls their Medical Sieve, a system which will be able to read mammograms, ultrasounds x-rays, and MRI images – and pick out anomalies.
• Visit Mobileye-Collision Avoidance Technology.  Mobileye is a technological leader in the area of software algorithms, system-on chips and customer applications that are based on processing visual information. Mobileye’s EyeQ® chip perform detailed interpretations of the visual field in order to anticipate possible collisions with other licensed vehicles, pedestrians, animals, debris and other obstacles. The products are also able to detect roadway markings such as lanes, road boundaries, barriers and similar items, as well as to identify and read traffic signs and traffic lights.

15. High-Tech: For Professional (Jerusalem) (up to 1 bus)

No additional cost
Min. 25 / Max. 45

The shift from Start Up Nation to Technological Nation - expert overview on Israel's current shift to create and grow technologies.

Visit the center for Intelligence, IDF Modi’in Elite Unit also known as the Central Collection Unit - This unite is the largest unit in the Israel Defense Forces. It is comprised of several thousand soldiers and is a special division of the Israeli Intelligence Corps responsible for collecting super-secret signal intelligence and code decryption for use in its cyberwar capabilities. Modi’in is believed to have played a leading role with the United States in the development of a powerful new cyber weapon known as W32.Flame that attacked Iran's oil industry in April 2012. Its function is comparable to the United States' National Security Agency, but it is a Ministry of Defense rather than civilian body.

Yissum - Yissum is the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It is responsible for marketing the inventions and know-how generated by the University's renowned researchers and students. The University’s range of intellectual property includes inventions and know-how in many fields, including nanotechnology, medicine and pharmaceuticals, agriculture and nutrition, water and environmental technologies, computer science, homeland security, and more. Over the past 52 years, Yissum, has granted more than 880 technology licenses and is responsible for commercializing an array of successful products that generate over $2 billion in worldwide sales every year. More than 110 spin-off companies, including Mobileye, Collplant, Qlight, Briefcam, and Avraham Pharma have had their start at Yissum.

16. Biomedical R&D

No additional cost
Min. 25 / Max. 45

• Visit Shaare Zedek Medical Center with Dr. Ofer Merin Deputy Director General - Dr. Ofer Merin is a Cardiac surgeon, Deputy Director General, Director of the trauma unit, Shaare- Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem. In addition, Dr. Merin is a lecturer in cardiac surgery in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is a colonel in the I.D.F. and served in the reserve forces in various positions including commander of a medical battalion. He is currently, in the reserve forces of the IDF, the commander of a military field hospital. Dr. Merin graduated from the Hadassah Hebrew University in 1991 and subsequently started residency training in cardiac surgery. Additional training has been a fellowship in adult cardiac surgery at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto, Canada during the years 2001-2003.
• The multi-disciplinary approach to Biodesign - Biodesign is a multi-disciplinary, team-based approach to medical innovation, created by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center. The program takes outstanding medical fellows; bioengineering and business graduate students and tutors them in the science and practice of bringing a medical innovation to the market. Biodesign innovation is taught by Hebrew University faculty, clinical experts, medical device entrepreneurs, corporate executives, intellectual property attorney, and venture capitalist. As such, it provides a unique opportunity to gain real world experience in an academic environment growing a new generation of innovators.
• Combating Alzheimer: new finds - Team of Tel Aviv University scientists, headed by Prof. Michael Ovadia, isolate a substance in the cinnamon plant which inhibits development of Alzheimers in mice. Alzheimer's is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is caused by processes in the brain consisting of an accumulation of amyloid proteins outside the neurons and tangled bundles of fibers. The World Health Organization estimates there are 18 million Alzheimer's patients throughout the world and their number is expected to rise to 34 million by 2025.

17. Legal for Professionals

No additional cost
Min. 25 / Max. 45

VIP tour: Israel’s Supreme Court - The Supreme Court building is situated within the Government Complex in Jerusalem and is part of the triangle of Israeli democracy: the legislative (Knesset), executive (Prime Minister and Cabinet) and the judicial (Supreme Court) branches. This stunning structure features five halls and is a blend of enclosed and open spaces, both old and new, using abundant natural light, and incorporating a panoramic overview of Jerusalem.

Meet Dr. Einat Albin, Director of the Clinical Legal Education Center, the Faculty of Law Dr. Einat Albin completed her DPhil studies in the University of Oxford in 2010 after which she joined the law faculty at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a lecturer and as the Academic Director of the Clinical Legal Education Center. Einat’s main fields of interest are labor law, welfare, and social rights. She published articles in leading law journals, such as the Modern Law Review and the Industrial Law Journal, and won some prestigious awards and prizes, including the AAUW scholarship (2006), the ORS award (2006-2008), the IFUW award (2008), The Vidal Angel Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Minerva Center for Human Rights, Hebrew University Jerusalem (2010), the British Academi Visiting Scholar Award (2011) and the Wedderburn Prize (2011).

Meet with Attorney Amos Hausner, the son of Gideon Hausner, Israel’s Attorney General during the 1960s and chief prosecutor of the Eichmann Trial. Amos Hausner was instrumental in setting precedents in several fields of Israeli law, including the restriction of smoking in public places and cigarette advertising since 1983. The World Health Organization awarded him an honorary medal in 1994 for his achievements. He is a board member of the Massuah Institute for the Study of the Holocaust; a member of the lay advisory board of the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute in Miami, Florida; and of the Disciplinary Tribunal of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.  He was a Supreme Court Judge of the World Zionist Organization between 1998 and 2006.

The Great Outdoors

18. *Caving & Rappelling

Additional cost $110 per person
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

Enjoy the excitement of caving and rappelling in the Judea plain known in Hebrew as Shfelat Yehuda. This transitional region of soft-sloping hills is stretching over 10–15 km between the Judean Mountains and the Coastal Plain. The Bible assigned land in the Shfela to the tribes of Judah and Dan. Today the Shfela is largely rural with many farms and agriculture lands. It is one of Israel’s gems for nature lovers and extreme sport activities.

19. *Biking Adventure (This track is geared to professional bikers onl

Additional cost TBC
Min. 25 / Max. Unlimited

• Route TBD to suit group

20. Leisure bike-ride for all levels No additional cost Min. 25 / Max. Unlimited

A day of leisurely biking at the Judea plain - The Judea plain known in Hebrew as Shfelat Yehuda. This transitional region of soft-sloping hills is stretching over 10–15 km between the Judaean Mountains and the Coastal Plain. The Bible assigned land in the Shfela to the tribes of Judah and Dan. Today the Shfela is largely rural with many farms and agriculture lands. It’s one of Israel’s gems for nature lovers and extreme sport activities. The bike ride will allow you to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the area, feel the nature and explore some of its archeological sites.

21. The Dynamic Outdoor: Hike & Active (moderate hiking)

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Hike the Sataf - Situated to the east of Har Eitan, on the western fringes of Jerusalem. Sataf was first settled some 6,000 years ago during the Chalcolithic Period. Some 1,500 years later, the inhabitants began terracing the steep slopes of the hills to create land, which could be used for agriculture, moving large amounts of the rocky earth to create small platforms upon which they grew grapes, olives, figs, and pomegranates. These terraces remain today, and efforts are being made by JNF to use them for organic, cottage-style agriculture in much the same way they were used thousands of years ago.
• Ein Handak - Across the valley from Sataf is Ein Handak. Here you can see channels the farmers hewed into the heart of the mountain to release the springs to irrigate their land. One look at the 24-foot-high wall of the terrace you’ll find along the trail, makes you realize the kind of community effort it must have taken to build it – as some stones are as huge as those in the Western Wall.
• End your day by explore the ruins of the Belmont crusader fortress Tel Zuba - The remains of the Belmont crusader fortress and later Arab village of Suba are located west of Jerusalem, near Kibbutz Tzuba of today. Zuba is first mentioned in the Bible in 2 Samuel 23:36 as an Israelite settlement. The crusader fortress was built in 1170, possibly to guard the approaches to Jerusalem, though more likely a stronghold from which the landlord could rule the surrounding lands. It was conquered in 1191 by Saladin. In late 1947 and 1948 the Arab village of Suba stationed irregular forces of the Muslim Brotherhood from Egypt who attacked Jewish traffic on the main road to Jerusalem. The village was subsequently conquered by Palmach forces on July 1948 during operation Danny.

22. A Scenic Hike - Wadi Kelt (Arabic for Kelt valley/stream) - progressive walking

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• Wadi Kelt is one of the desert gem and a home to variety of flora and fauna, as well as spectacular historical monuments and archeological remains. The hike will take us through a deep desert gorge with plenty of water. Along the way we will be able to see a cluster of caves used by hermits’ monks dated about 420 CE, remains of an aqueduct and many more archeological ruins.
• St. George Monastery - The sixth-century cliff-hanging complex, with its ancient chapel and gardens, is active and inhabited by Greek Orthodox monks. It can be reached by a pedestrian bridge across the Wadi Kelt, which many imagine to be Psalm 23's Valley of the Shadow. The valley parallels the old Roman road to Jericho, the backdrop for the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37).

CULINARY ADVENTURE

23. *Great Food & Excellent Wine

Additional cost $140 per person
Min. 30 / Max. 90

• Tasting adventure in Jerusalem’s praised market: Machne Yehuda - Enjoy tasting at a few hidden gems of the market including Basher cheese, the Halava Kingdom, local pastries, and juices.
• VIP tour of the outstanding wineries of Emek Haela with world praised wine makers - Today Israeli wine is world renowned with a highly efficient operation and the small, independent wineries retain a romantic, pioneering spirit.
• Iza Pziza - Tour and cheese tasting at Iza Pziza, a boutique dairy in Moshav Tal Shahar. The dairy is located on farm fields facing pastoral landscape.
• Tour and beer tasting at Abir Haelah brewery - Aram Dekel was the first to brew beer in the rolling green hills of the Ella Valley, brimming with biblical history. Some of his bottles evoke ancient recipes with date syrup and honey. The allspice beer stays on your tongue with its crisp and potent flavor. Make sure to ask about the mead and ginger liqueur!

24. *Hands-on Cooking Experience

Additional cost $80 per person
Min. 30 / Max. 90

• Tour the beautiful region of Emek Haela visit the homes of the best ethnic cooks of the region - Take part in a group cooking experience. Celebrate the homemade ethnic cuisine while listening to the stories of families’ immigration to Israel and learning the secrets of their traditional and modern cooking.
• Be a chocolatier: hands-on chocolate workshop at the trendy boutique chocolatier: Galita - Galita offers a full range of experiences: a center for chocolate making, movie about the history of chocolate, a shop offering the full range of the Galita products.

25. *Wine Culture: Tasting of Israeli Wines and Spirits

Additional cost $80 per person
Min. 30 / Max. 90

• Wine making in biblical time - hands-on workshop at Neot Kedumim - Far more than a "garden" showing various biblical plants, Neot Kedumim embodies the panorama and power of the landscapes that helped shape the values of the Bible and provided a rich vocabulary for expressing them. The Bible conveys its ideas not in abstract terms, but through a clear and vivid record of long human interaction with the land of Israel.
• 'Wine Culture' with Prof. Ben Ami Bravdo at Bravdo Boutique Winery - Private tour of the acclaimed Bravdo Winery, one of the leading boutique wineries in Israel. In 1999 Prof. Ben Ami Bravdo and his former student Prof. Oded Shoseyov, both faculty members of the Hebrew University, decided to establish Karmei Yosef Winery that produces Bravdo wines. The winery is located in the heart of the vineyard at the foothills of the majestic village of Karmei Yosef. The Shoseyov family began growing grape vines 120 years ago. The cool summer nights and the limestone rich soil at the 50 acres Shoseyov estate are known to produce fine wine grapes back to the time of the Solomon’s kingdom. Visit the Vineyards, Wine Cellar and the Visitor Center for a profound understanding of Israel's wine culture.
• Tour and beer tasting at Abir Haelah brewery - Aram Dekel was the first to brew beer in the rolling green hills of the Ella Valley, brimming with biblical history. Some of his bottles evoke ancient recipes with date syrup and honey. The allspice beer stays on your tongue with its crisp and potent flavor. Make sure to ask about the mead and ginger liqueur!

The Arts

26. Art & Artist

No additional cost
Min. 25 / Max. 45

• Betzalel Academy of Arts and Design, Israel's national school of art and meet with the next generation of Israeli acclaimed artists
• Chagall Windows - See the famous twelve stained glass windows at the Abbell Synagogue at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem. The Bible was Marc Chagall’s primary inspiration, particularly Jacob’s blessings of his twelve sons and Moses’ blessings of the twelve tribes. Each window is dominated by a specific color and contains a quotation from the individual blessings.
• Meet David Gerstein a painter and a sculptor, and one of Israel’s most famous modern artist. - In his art, Gerstein seeks to expand the limits of two-dimensional paintings into three-dimensional sculptures. His easily recognizable artistic colorful syntax has found its place in private homes and collections, as well as public spaces around the world. His works have been given by Israel's Foreign Ministry to heads of state around the world.
• The mural of Avraham Ofek (1934-1990), Moshav Kfar Uriyah - Ofek was born in the town of Borgos, Bulgaria. When he was seven years old both his father and mother passed away. After World War II, Ofek and his brothers immigrated to Israel. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, as well as in Spain and London, and later taught art in Betzalel academy. He was one of the founders of the Levitan group of artists, and he exhibited internationally, receiving many prizes and representing Israel at the Venice Biennale in 1972. Ofek's first wall painting was created in 1970 in Kefar Uriyah. From then on he was commissioned for many wall paintings all over the country, most of them dealing with the history of Israel.

27. Museum & Galleries

No additional cost
Min. 30 / Max. unlimited

• VIP tour of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art one of Israel's leading artistic and cultural institutions. The museum was envisioned and founded in 1932 by the first Mayor of Tel Aviv, Meir Dizengoff, in his private home on Rothschild Boulevard. Since then, it has changed locations and developed significantly. The museum's collection, which originally comprised only a few dozen items, has grown steadily. The museum is currently situated in three main buildings: The Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, built in the heart of the city in 1959, was the museum's abode for twelve years and today showcases mainly temporary exhibitions; the Main Building which opened in 1971; and adjacent to it, the new Herta and Paul Amir Building, inaugurated in the Fall of 2011, which doubled the museum's exhibition space. This innovative building is an international landmark at the center of Tel Aviv, Israel’s cultural capital.
• Chelouche Gallery - Contemporary art gallery in central Tel Aviv promoting Israeli and international artists specializing in modern mediums, set within a very large unique Bauhaus twin house. The gallery’s exhibitions are constantly changing, they also put on musical events, have a roof terrace and salon to soak up the rich atmosphere.
• The Alon Segev Gallery exhibits Israeli artists with an emerging practice alongside established practitioner from Israel and abroad. Founder Alon Segev’s inclusive ethos extends to the medium the artists employ: installations, video, painting and sculpture which have all been exhibited in the white cube space. By representing Israeli artists at home and abroad, as well as exhibiting, the Alon Segev Gallery extends its artists to the reviews of a global audience, re-energizing itself with a kind of accessibility that attracts worldwide attention.

28. *Track for art collectors

Additional cost $200 per person
Min. 20 / Max. 35

• The Israel Museum, Jerusalem: Cultural Timelessness in Our Time - Private VIP talk and tour with James S. Snyder – International President and Director Emeritus, The Israel Museum - focusing on the museum’s global reach and influence.
• Meet Yehudith Shendar and/or Shlomit Steinberg members of the Schwabinger Kunstfund, the international task force dealing with the $1.4 billion art trove discovered in Munich.
• Private collection viewing with lunch (TBD)

FASHION

29. *Israeli Fashion

Additional cost $120 per person
Min. 20 / Max. 35

• TLVstyle with by fashion maven - Tel Aviv, one of the fastest growing metropolises in the world, has been expanding its fashion scene and is a pulsating celebration of styles and statements. Get a true insider's view and be exposed to Israeli hidden boutiques, independent stores and up-and-coming designers. See the hidden gems of Israel fashion from a veteran expert of the local scene.
• Meet Ethiopian fashion designer Oshrat Ferede and view her stunning collection Ethiopian-Israeli fashion designer Oshrat Ferede is hoping to add the missing Ethiopian touch to the high fashion scene in Tel Aviv through her brand Ferede designs.
• Visit Maskit with designer and face of Maskit’s revival Sharon Tal - Sharon was born in 1982 in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2004, she attended Shenkar College to pursue a degree in fashion design where she graduated with honors. Upon graduating from Shenkar, Sharon jetted to Europe, first interning under Alber Elbaz, head designer of Lanvin, then went on to work at Alexander Mcqueen as the head designer responsible for embroideries. Staying true to her roots, Sharon returned to Israel and is now the head designer of Maskit

ADDITIONAL TRACKS

30. *Spa day

Additional cost $130 per person
Min. 25 / Max. Unlimited

• Yoga or Tai-chi session.  Start your day with a yoga or Tai chi session in the fresh air of the Jerusalem Mountains overlooking its majestic desert panorama.
• Pamper yourself at Cramim, the new spa and wine hotel near Jerusalem - experience of combined leisure, recreation, fine wines and impeccable tastes. Enjoy the contemporary spa complex with unique vino-therapy treatments.
• Wine Tasting.  Private Wine Tasting featuring the area praised boutique wineries.

31. *Counter-Terrorist Training Bootcamp

Additional cost $170 per person
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

• MOUT- Military Operations in Urban Terrain - Participate in MOUT training session. The training includes shooting, hand-to-hand combat Techniques (Krav Maga) and Israeli Counter-Terrorism tactics. All instructors have real battlefield experience and are weapons experts. You will be able to interact with them and hear their stories about places and operations you heard in the news or history lessons.
• Deerland Adventure Park: enjoy the second Longest Zip line in the world - You have to see it to believe it. You cross the most beautiful valley filled with trees as you reach the other side. It is 600 meters long and 120 meters high.

32. *Masada and the Dead Sea (For first timers)

Additional cost $125 per person
Min. 30 / Max. Unlimited

Masada - Atop a lone rock cliff at the western end of the Judean Desert lays Masada, combining natural beauty and deep meaning. Ascend and tour King Herod’s private fortress, which, following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 BCE, became a base for a small band of Jewish zealots in revolt against the Romans. Although the rebels held their own, they were eventually overcome by siege, and according to historian Josephus, chose mass suicide over surrender. Masada has come to symbolize the fierce determination of the people of Israel, but its tragic history also raises questions about the price of freedom.

The Dead Sea - Descend Masada to the Dead-Sea: Relax and enjoy lunch at the Dead Sea Spa. At 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth. You can make this visit a high point by venturing into the waters for a “float,” suspended by the high concentrations of salt and minerals.