Sorry for the lapse in blogging - the tour has been great, and we have been busy.
All is well here, despite the conflict here.
We are safe and sound in Jerusalem, and continuing our tour today.
We have so many photos and videos, they won't all get uploaded until our return.
More to come soon - thanks for all of your concerns!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
First Night in Israel - First Night of Chanukah
On Sunday evening, December 21, tired, hungry, and spent from a long trip with our wondeful 19 month old, I ventured out from the hotel in search of dinner for Ginny, Jude and me.
Near our hotel, the Melody Hotel on the beach road in Tel Aviv, is a place called Benedict, that does breakfast 24 hours a day. When I got there, the staff were gathering to light candles for the first night of Chanukah. They looked around and asked if anyone knew the brachot (blessings), and I volunteered, admitting that I was a rabbi after all. We began to light the candles and the fan kept on blowing them out, until I realized that the waiter had handed me the first night candle to light, not the shamash, the one we're supposed to use to light the other candles. Once we switched candles, and moved out of the fan the lighting went fine. They listened quietly while I sung the blessings, and then all joined in to sing Ma-oz Tzur.
I got two candles from them to bring back to Ginny and Jude so that we could light our own candles in the hotel room.
More Israel stories to come - almost all of us are here and the tour starts today!
Near our hotel, the Melody Hotel on the beach road in Tel Aviv, is a place called Benedict, that does breakfast 24 hours a day. When I got there, the staff were gathering to light candles for the first night of Chanukah. They looked around and asked if anyone knew the brachot (blessings), and I volunteered, admitting that I was a rabbi after all. We began to light the candles and the fan kept on blowing them out, until I realized that the waiter had handed me the first night candle to light, not the shamash, the one we're supposed to use to light the other candles. Once we switched candles, and moved out of the fan the lighting went fine. They listened quietly while I sung the blessings, and then all joined in to sing Ma-oz Tzur.
I got two candles from them to bring back to Ginny and Jude so that we could light our own candles in the hotel room.
More Israel stories to come - almost all of us are here and the tour starts today!
Mostly Final Itinerary - Really!
Tuesday – December 23
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel (04-6700700)
Wednesday – December 24
Breakfast at Hotel
Tzfat
Golan… Mt. Benthal
Katzrin…
16:00 Golan Winery (04-6968409)
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel
Thursday – December 25
Breakfast & check out at Hotel
Beit Shean
Pass Qumran
Ein-Gedi (?)
Check in at Le’Meridien Hotel Dead Sea
Dead Sea at leisure / SPA…
Dinner & o/n at Le’Meridien Hotel (08-6591234)
Friday – December 26
Breakfast & check out at hotel
Masada
Drive to Kibbutz Yahel
Check in at Yahel Guest House
Shabbat Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel (08-6357967)
Saturday – December 27
Breakfast at Kibbutz
10:00 Agricultural tour (arranged by Kibbutz Yahel)
Hai Bar (?)
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Sunday – December 28
Early breakfast at Kibbutz
Drive to Eilat / Arava border
7:15 Arava - Day tour to Petra with Yambateva Company (Dorte, 8-6323002)
Please be sure that people remember to have $ 45 in cash for dep. taxes at both borders and tip to Jordanian guide & security
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Monday – December 29
Breakfast at Kibbutz
Timna – Solomon Mines
Eilat - Underwater Observatory
Free time in Eilat
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Tuesday – December 30
Breakfast & check out
Drive to Mitzpe Ramon
10:00 Jeep Tour / Crater (Iris, 02-9999857)
Sde Boker – Ben-Gurion grave & study center
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM (02-6588888)
Wednesday – December 31
Breakfast at hotel
View Ir David… Warren Shaft (no need to pre-book for 8 pax)
Mt. Zion – King David Tomb / Last Supper room
Jewish Quarter – Cardo – Burnt House
Kotel…
16:30 W.W. Tunnels (as FITs, in English)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Thursday – January 1
Breakfast at hotel
8:30 Knesset (pls. be at the doors at 8:10 with passports)
12:00 Ayalon Institute (08-9406552)
Israel Museum – Shrine of the Book / Temple Model
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Friday – January 2
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 Yad Vashem
Mt. Herzl…
Machane Yehuda…
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Shabbat – January 3
Breakfast at hotel
Enter Old City from Lion’s Gate
Bethesda Pools – Via Dolorosa – Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jaffa Gate – David Citadel Museum
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel (04-6700700)
Wednesday – December 24
Breakfast at Hotel
Tzfat
Golan… Mt. Benthal
Katzrin…
16:00 Golan Winery (04-6968409)
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel
Thursday – December 25
Breakfast & check out at Hotel
Beit Shean
Pass Qumran
Ein-Gedi (?)
Check in at Le’Meridien Hotel Dead Sea
Dead Sea at leisure / SPA…
Dinner & o/n at Le’Meridien Hotel (08-6591234)
Friday – December 26
Breakfast & check out at hotel
Masada
Drive to Kibbutz Yahel
Check in at Yahel Guest House
Shabbat Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel (08-6357967)
Saturday – December 27
Breakfast at Kibbutz
10:00 Agricultural tour (arranged by Kibbutz Yahel)
Hai Bar (?)
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Sunday – December 28
Early breakfast at Kibbutz
Drive to Eilat / Arava border
7:15 Arava - Day tour to Petra with Yambateva Company (Dorte, 8-6323002)
Please be sure that people remember to have $ 45 in cash for dep. taxes at both borders and tip to Jordanian guide & security
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Monday – December 29
Breakfast at Kibbutz
Timna – Solomon Mines
Eilat - Underwater Observatory
Free time in Eilat
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Tuesday – December 30
Breakfast & check out
Drive to Mitzpe Ramon
10:00 Jeep Tour / Crater (Iris, 02-9999857)
Sde Boker – Ben-Gurion grave & study center
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM (02-6588888)
Wednesday – December 31
Breakfast at hotel
View Ir David… Warren Shaft (no need to pre-book for 8 pax)
Mt. Zion – King David Tomb / Last Supper room
Jewish Quarter – Cardo – Burnt House
Kotel…
16:30 W.W. Tunnels (as FITs, in English)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Thursday – January 1
Breakfast at hotel
8:30 Knesset (pls. be at the doors at 8:10 with passports)
12:00 Ayalon Institute (08-9406552)
Israel Museum – Shrine of the Book / Temple Model
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Friday – January 2
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 Yad Vashem
Mt. Herzl…
Machane Yehuda…
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Shabbat – January 3
Breakfast at hotel
Enter Old City from Lion’s Gate
Bethesda Pools – Via Dolorosa – Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jaffa Gate – David Citadel Museum
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Friday, December 19, 2008
Almost Final Itinerary
Meet pax at the airport and continue to Tiberius
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel (04-6700700)
Wednesday – December 24
Breakfast at Hotel
Tzfat
Golan… Mt. Benthal
Katzrin…
TBA Golan Winery
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel
Thursday – December 25
Breakfast & check out at Hotel
Christian sites around the Lake (Capernaum/etc)
Beit Shean
Pass Qumran
Ein-Gedi (?)
Check in at Le’Meridien Hotel Dead Sea
Dead Sea at leisure / SPA…
Dinner & o/n at Le’Meridien Hotel (08-6591234)
Friday – December 26
Breakfast & check out at hotel
Masada
Drive to Kibbutz Yahel
Check in at Yahel Guest House
Shabbat Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel (08-6357967)
Saturday – December 27
Breakfast at Kibbutz
TBA Jeep Tour
TBA Agricultural tour (arranged by Kibbutz Yahel)
Antelope Ranch (?)
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Sunday – December 28
Breakfast at Kibbutz
Timna – Solomon Mines
Eilat - Underwater Observatory
Free time in Eilat
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Monday – December 29
Early breakfast at Kibbutz
Drive to Eilat / Arava border
TBA Day tour to Petra Please be sure that people remember to have $ 45 in cash for dep. taxes at both borders and tip to Jordanian guide & security
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Tuesday – December 30
Breakfast & check out
Drive to Mitzpe Ramon
TBA Jeep Tour / Crater (?)
Sde Boker – Ben-Gurion grave & study center
TBA Ben-Gurion University (TBA yet?)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM (02-6588888)
Wednesday – December 31
Breakfast at hotel
View Ir David…
Mt. Zion – King David Tomb / Last Supper room
Jewish Quarter – Cardo – Herodian Mensions – Burnt House
Kotel…
TBA Kotel Tunnels (?)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Thursday – January 1
Breakfast at hotel
10:00 Ayalon Institute (08-9406552)
(to be booked &confirmed yet)
13:00 Independence Hall (03-5173942) (to be booked &confirmed yet)
Neve Tzedek walk around (?)
Old Jaffa (?)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Friday – January 2
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 Yad Vashem
Mt. Herzl…
Israel Museum – Shrine of the Book / Temple Model
Machane Yehuda…
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Shabbat – January 3
Breakfast at hotel
Mt. of Olives – Gethsemane Gardens
Enter Old City from Lion’s Gate
Bethesda Pools – Via Dolorosa – Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jaffa Gate – David Citadel Museum
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel (04-6700700)
Wednesday – December 24
Breakfast at Hotel
Tzfat
Golan… Mt. Benthal
Katzrin…
TBA Golan Winery
Dinner & o/n at Gai Beach Hotel
Thursday – December 25
Breakfast & check out at Hotel
Christian sites around the Lake (Capernaum/etc)
Beit Shean
Pass Qumran
Ein-Gedi (?)
Check in at Le’Meridien Hotel Dead Sea
Dead Sea at leisure / SPA…
Dinner & o/n at Le’Meridien Hotel (08-6591234)
Friday – December 26
Breakfast & check out at hotel
Masada
Drive to Kibbutz Yahel
Check in at Yahel Guest House
Shabbat Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel (08-6357967)
Saturday – December 27
Breakfast at Kibbutz
TBA Jeep Tour
TBA Agricultural tour (arranged by Kibbutz Yahel)
Antelope Ranch (?)
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Sunday – December 28
Breakfast at Kibbutz
Timna – Solomon Mines
Eilat - Underwater Observatory
Free time in Eilat
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Monday – December 29
Early breakfast at Kibbutz
Drive to Eilat / Arava border
TBA Day tour to Petra Please be sure that people remember to have $ 45 in cash for dep. taxes at both borders and tip to Jordanian guide & security
Dinner & o/n at Kibbutz Yahel
Tuesday – December 30
Breakfast & check out
Drive to Mitzpe Ramon
TBA Jeep Tour / Crater (?)
Sde Boker – Ben-Gurion grave & study center
TBA Ben-Gurion University (TBA yet?)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM (02-6588888)
Wednesday – December 31
Breakfast at hotel
View Ir David…
Mt. Zion – King David Tomb / Last Supper room
Jewish Quarter – Cardo – Herodian Mensions – Burnt House
Kotel…
TBA Kotel Tunnels (?)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Thursday – January 1
Breakfast at hotel
10:00 Ayalon Institute (08-9406552)
(to be booked &confirmed yet)
13:00 Independence Hall (03-5173942) (to be booked &confirmed yet)
Neve Tzedek walk around (?)
Old Jaffa (?)
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Friday – January 2
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 Yad Vashem
Mt. Herzl…
Israel Museum – Shrine of the Book / Temple Model
Machane Yehuda…
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Shabbat – January 3
Breakfast at hotel
Mt. of Olives – Gethsemane Gardens
Enter Old City from Lion’s Gate
Bethesda Pools – Via Dolorosa – Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jaffa Gate – David Citadel Museum
Dinner & o/n at Crown Plaza Hotel JRM
Welcome to TBY's Israel Trip Dec 2008 - Jan 2009!
We will be posting photos, videos, journal entries, observations, news and more here over the next three weeks.
Ginny, Jude and I leave for Israel tomorrow, and will be in Tel Aviv, God willing, on Sunday, December 21.
Most of our group arrives on Monday, and we all gather on Tuesday to head up north for the first part of the trip.
Our almost final itinerary is attached.
Feel free to ask questions for us.
Check back frequently!
We will be posting photos, videos, journal entries, observations, news and more here over the next three weeks.
Ginny, Jude and I leave for Israel tomorrow, and will be in Tel Aviv, God willing, on Sunday, December 21.
Most of our group arrives on Monday, and we all gather on Tuesday to head up north for the first part of the trip.
Our almost final itinerary is attached.
Feel free to ask questions for us.
Check back frequently!
Off to Israel tomorrow!
TBY's newest trip to Israel begins on Tuesday, December 23.
Ginny, Jude, and I depart tomorrow, Saturday, and arrive on Sunday, December 21.
We will post photos, videos, comments, diaries and more here - so come and see!
Ginny, Jude, and I depart tomorrow, Saturday, and arrive on Sunday, December 21.
We will post photos, videos, comments, diaries and more here - so come and see!
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