Tentative Itinerary

The 2018 commUNITY Mission to Israel is a custom built itinerary anchored by six mega events.  Below is a tentative itinerary.   The Personal Track options for Wednesday, October 17 are now available by clicking here. 

 Monday - October 15 - Welcome to Israel
WELCOME! BRUCHIM HABAYIM!

• Arrive in Israel with pick up from Ben Gurion Airport with transfers to the Tel Aviv hotels (for designated flights)
• Optional activities for early arrivals:
  • Tel Aviv Art Museum (depart from David Intercontinental hotel at 9:45 a.m., depart from Royal Beach hotel at 10 a.m.)
  • Morning walking tour (10 a.m. meet in your hotel lobby)
  • Beit Hatfeusot: The Museum of the Jewish People (depart from David Intercontinental hotel at 12:30 p.m., depart from Royal Beach hotel at 12:45 p.m.)
  • Design Museum Holon (depart from David Intercontinental hotel at 12:30 p.m., depart from Royal Beach hotel at 12:45 p.m.)
  • Biking tour  (pre-registration required; depart from David Intercontinental hotel at 12:45 p.m., depart from Royal Beach hotel at 1:00 p.m. )
  • Afternoon walking tour (1 p.m. meet in your hotel lobby)

• 5 p.m. Meet in the hotel lobby and depart for the gala opening event

• Opening reception and dinner at the Tel Aviv Port with a L'chaim for Israel's 70th Anniversary!

OVERNIGHT: Royal Beach Hotel, or David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv

Tuesday - October 16 - Bus Travel Day

• Early bird options: yoga, jogging or minyan
• Breakfast and speaker (TBD)
• A full day of customized tours with your bus group – we will be visiting sites in Tel Aviv and northward. Lunch is included.
• Finish the day with a “Salute to the Israeli Defense Force” Party with soldiers at an IDF base. This is your opportunity to meet the young men and women who fight valiantly to protect the State and People of Israel.

OVERNIGHT: Royal Beach Hotel, or David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv

Wednesday - October 17 - Personal Track Day

• Early bird options: yoga, jogging, minyan
• Breakfast  and hotel check out
• Meet in the parking lot between the hotels for your Personal Track
• At the conclusion of your Personal Track, travel towards  Jerusalem
• 3:30 p.m. Tour of Ammunition Hill, the historic site of fierce battles during the War of Independence and the Six Day War. More than just a memorial to the soldiers who fell there, it is a place that tells stories of bravery, heritage and leadership.
• Finish the tour with an official ceremony of welcome to Jerusalem
• Free evening and dinner on your own (Hostesses will be available beginning on Monday to assist with dinner reservations)

OVERNIGHT: Waldorf Astoria Hotel or David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Thursday- October 18 - Partnership Day

• Early bird options: yoga, jogging, or minyan
• Breakfast
• Travel by train from Jerusalem to Ofakim, a Greater MetroWest partner community
• Welcome remarks by the Mayor of Ofakim
• Each bus will be sent to one of our three Partnership communities in the Negev—Arad, Kibbutz Erez, or Ofakim/Merchavim.  Every bus will participate in a hands-on service project during which you will have the opportunity to meet Israelis and hear their personal stories
• End the day with an open-air cave party near Beit Guvrin, an archeological site south of Jerusalem, with an artists' shuk/market featuring bustling shops and artisans selling their wares
• Late return to Jerusalem

OVERNIGHT: Waldorf Astoria Hotel or David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem


Friday- October 19 - Jerusalem

• Early bird options: yoga, jogging or minyan
• Breakfast
• Visit Yad Vashem: The Jewish People's Living Memorial to the Holocaust with several tour options available for first-timers and returning visitors
• Free time to explore Machane Yehuda, the famous shuk/market of Jerusalem or enjoy the sights and sounds of the City Center
• Late afternoon departure for Kabbalat Shabbat in the Old City of Jerusalem followed by time at the Western Wall
• Festive Shabbat Dinner

OVERNIGHT: Waldorf Astoria Hotel or David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem


Saturday - October 20 - Shabbat

• Breakfast at leisure
• 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. (approximate times) Optional full day activity: Visit to the Dead Sea and Masada with lunch (additional cost)
• Optional Shabbat Services around Jerusalem
• Morning and afternoon walking tours in Jerusalem: see sights that you haven't seen in the Old City and the New City of Jerusalem
• 5:45 p.m. Shabbat University: choose from three dynamic speakers
• 6:40 p.m. Havdalah at the David Citadel pool area, separating Shabbat from the rest of the week
• Free evening and dinner in Jerusalem
• Late Evening Optional Activities
  • 9 p.m. Sound & Light Show at the Tower of David
  • 10:20 and 10:40 p.m. Western Wall Tunnel Tour

OVERNIGHT: Waldorf Astoria Hotel or David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem


Sunday - October 21 - Final Day in Israel

• Early bird options: yoga, jogging or minyan
• Breakfast and speaker (TBD)
• Tour Jerusalem—both the “Old City” and the “New City” including Ir David/City of David.
  • Thanks to recent excavations, one can now walk the streets of Second Temple Jerusalem and be amazed by its splendor.
  • Participate in a seamline tour along the security barrier, see firsthand the past and current seamline of Jerusalem, get a multi-dimensional overview of current issues concerning Jerusalem today including the controversial security fence

• Lunch
• Reception at Beit Hanasi/President’s Home with remarks by President Reuven Rivlin - to be confirmed
• Reflections session
• Farewell dinner at a winery outside of Jerusalem
• Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport (for those on designated flights)

L’HITRAOT! FAREWELL FOR NOW!