Home Events Gimme 5 Israel Encounter Pictures About YJLC
See the Israel Encounter video by Hollywood film producer Guy Shalem, whose most recent project is "Lovespring International" airing on Lifetime TV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Israel Encounter

 

Our 2008 Israel Encounter trip is scheduled for December 18 — 26. For information on how to reserve your spot, please send an e-mail to the YJLC Administrator.

 

National Young Professionals Tour - December 18, 2008 departure

Jewish history and culture come alive for young professionals ages 21-40, traveling throughout Biblical and modern Israel. Enjoy a personal encounter with your heritage through experiencing the land, the people, and the special feeling of uniqueness — living the miracle of being in the Jewish Homeland.

Encounter Israel - from the snow capped peaks of the Golan, to the Mediterranean shores of Tel Aviv, to the sun-drenched beaches of Eilat!

Encounter Jerusalem - the City of Gold. Celebrate Jerusalem with your first week based in the Eternal Capital of Israel; see the latest sites including the City of David, the Southern Wall, the Rabbi's Tunnel, and the focus of Jewish spirituality, the Kotel - the Temple Mount's Western Wall. Thrill to a pre-dawn climb of historic Masada, experience the majestic view from Mount Scopus, and the solemnity of Yad VaShem.

Encounter Kibbutz - staying at a kibbutz guesthouse in the Galilee; touring the rugged Golan; visiting Zfat, city of mystics; Tiberias, oasis on the lake; and perhaps whitewater rafting down the Jordan River.

Encounter Eilat - our special feature, Eilat Resort Escape, sun and fun playground of Israel, with optional snorkeling, windsurfing, waterskiing, sailboat picnic and much more... now take an optional day trip to explore Petra, Jordan.



Extensions Available
Spend an extra week or month in Israel; visit ancient Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Europe or Encounter Egypt - optional extensions to see the ancient synagogues of Cairo, the Giza pyramids, or the Temples of Luxor.

Turn your 10 day vacation into an 18 day experience of a lifetime (your vacation days are spread over national holidays and weekends). Make life-long friends with fellow young professionals. Visit special off-the-beaten track oases and participate in exclusive programs specially designed for young adults to get the most out of being in Israel.

Israel Encounter is intimately designed for you!

Tour Highlights

Day 1, Thursday - Depart for Israel
Reception at NYC airport. Enjoy a getting-acquainted mixer and group photo. Depart USA to Israel. Your overnight flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey

Day 2, Friday - Jerusalem
Arrive and transfer to Jerusalem for a welcome Shehechianu Ceremony at the Kotel, the Western (Wailing) Wall. This evening, a welcome Shabbat dinner Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Dinner

Day 3, Saturday - Jerusalem
A hush covers Jerusalem for the Shabbat. In the afternoon, stroll through the ancient streets of the Old City on a walking tour of Jerusalem. In the evening meet young Israelis in the cafes on the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast

Day 4, Sunday - Jerusalem
Today, breakfast and an archaeological seminar with a noted Jerusalem historian. Explore the excavations of the ancient city including Southern Wall Excavations, Davidson Center, the Kotel-holiest shrine of the Jewish world, the western wall tunnel and Jerusalem through the generations. See the Dome of the Rock, Al Aska Mosque. Visit the Jewish Quarter, Herodian Mansion and Burnt House. Tonight, enjoy an authentic Moroccan dinner at El Marrakesh Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5, Monday - Jerusalem
See the wonders of modern Jerusalem. Visit the Knesset, the nearby Israel museum, Shrine of the Book- home to the Dead Sea Scrolls and scale model of the Old City of Jerusalem from the second temple period. Visit Hadassah Hospital and the famous Chagall Windows. Pay solemn tribute to six million Jewish martyrs at Yad VaShem, then renew life by planting a tree in the Jerusalem Forest. View Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus and enjoy a night tour of Illuminated Jerusalem (Note: T-shirt day!) Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast

Day 6, Tuesday - Jerusalem
Today, depart Jerusalem for a pre-dawn climb of Masada and watch the sunrise from the mountain fortress. See Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Climb to the refreshing shower waterfalls of Ein Gedi. Continue to the Mineral Beach and float in the Dead Sea. On the way back to Jerusalem stop at Abraham's Tent. Take a camel ride along the cliff of Nahal Prat towards Kfar Adumin. Enjoy the hospitality of the ancient Hebrews with Sarah's dairy meal. Return to Jerusalem and have the evening at leisure Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7, Wednesday - Jerusalem
After breakfast leave the hotel and join one of the special volunteer programs going on in the city. It may be helping in a soup kitchen or perhaps painting and fixing up a home in the city. This afternoon depart the city and drive west to Latrun, the IDF Tank Corp Museum and Memorial. Then on to Mini Israel where there are hundreds of models that are exact copies of sites, buildings and landscapes from around the country. The models are built to a scale of 1:25, which means every real meter is scaled down to 4 cm. The exhibited models are of architectural, historical, religious, archaeological and social importance. At day's end return to Jerusalem and set out on an early evening scavenger hunt around the city followed by dinner Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8, Thursday - Jerusalem
Thurs Day at Leisure in Jerusalem for self-exploration, shopping and relaxing Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast

Day 9, Friday - Galilee
This morning, depart Jerusalem and head north on the new Trans-Israel Highway. The day will include visits to the excavations of ancient Beit Shean. Enjoy lunch on your own and a swim at Sachne. Visit Beit Alpha and on to Tiberias and you kibbutz on the shores of the Kinnereth. Tonight, Shabbat dinner Overnight: Galilee Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10, Saturday - Galilee
Today, enjoy the day at leisure poolside at the kibbutz. You may also choose an optional activity including, horseback or jeep tours, Tiberias Spas or rafting down the Jordan river, In the evening, enjoy a night out at the Discos of Tiberias or the kibbutz "Volunteers" Pub Overnight: Galilee Meals: Breakfast

Day 11, Sunday - Galilee
Explore Safed and see what inspired an Artist's Colony in the Old City and the synagogues of revered Rabbis. Meet the young adults of the "Livnot" work-study program. Security briefing and lunch at one of Israel's border Kibbutzim for a security briefing. Splash at Banias, the source of the Jordan River. Tour in the footsteps of the IDF soldiers and their battles in the Six Day War. See the ancient synagogue of Katzrin. Drink Le'Chaim at the Golan Winery and return to your kibbutz for dinner and overnight Overnight: Galilee Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12, Monday - Tel Aviv
Drive to Rosh Hanikra near Israel's northern border, descend by cable car to the cool grottos of the sea-sculpted caves carved out of chalk cliffs by the force of the beating waves. As you walk through the grottos and feel the salty spray on your face, delight in the sparkling colors that reflect from the blue lagoon waters. History continues to unfold in Acre as we visit the site of Paul Newman's Exodus "break-out". Continue via Haifa to the Atlit Detention Camp located in the Mediterranean Sea. Between the years 1939 and 1948 when the detention camp was in use, illegal immigrants were housed in 80 regularly spaced long rectangular wooden huts. Each was home to about 40 individuals. After World War II more than 32,000 European Jewish immigrants sailed to what was then Palestine on old vessels that had been purchased in the United States and steered by mainly American volunteer soldiers. The immigrants were picked up in ports all over the Mediterranean after some of the ships had completed hair-raising voyages across the Atlantic. Many ships had to pass a British Naval blockade. When they eventually landed, many of the immigrants were taken to Atlit or sent to an immigrant prison camp in Cyprus which was at the time also controlled by the British. Atlit is now a museum dedicated to telling the story of clandestine immigration. Stop for lunch at the Tishbi winery and taste their famous brands. Then proceed to the ancient ruins at the spectacular site of Caesarea. Afterwards proceed to Tel Aviv and enjoy an evening tour of Jaffa Overnight: Tel Aviv Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13, Tuesday - Tel Aviv
After breakfast, explore Israel's cultural center Tel Aviv. First head to the port town of Jaffa for a short walk through the old town to a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Next, return to Tel Aviv for a visit to the Independence Hall to see a short film about Ben Gurion's declaration of Israeli Independence in 1948. Afterwards, enjoy a visit to the interactive Palmach Museum (pending confirmation) and learn about the Israeli War of Independence and the development of the renowned Israeli army. In the afternoon walk through the quaint neighborhood of Neve Tzedek. This evening stroll through the Tayelet where the Israelis will be out in full force Overnight: Tel Aviv Meals: Breakfast

Day 14, Wednesday - Depart for USA
This morning drive to Bet Guvrin where you will have the opportunity to sift through history with your own hands on an archaeological dig! Return to Tel Aviv for a farewell dinner followed by a cocktail party for those who are leaving to go home tonight. Transfer to airport for return flight home. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

(Itinerary subject to modifications and enhancements)

Special Tour Features (subject to change)