Our representative will meet us at Ben Gurion Airport, facilitate our customs clearance, and join us on our deluxe tour bus bound for Tel Aviv. On our way to Tel Aviv, we will visit the old port city of Jaffa; you will have a breathtaking view of the modern Tel Aviv and the ancient/modern contrast of both cities. You will want to stroll through the narrow picturesque streets of this old city, view the Art Galleries, and enjoy the special Mediterranean ambiance. Back to the hotel and prepare for our traditional Shabbat dinner.

Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Enjoy a leisurely morning walking tour to Ben Gurion Blvd and visit Ben Gurion’s home in Tel Aviv. In the museum, you will have a chance to look into his private and public life with lots of books and pictures, all the items that belonged to Paula & David Ben Gurion are in the house. Continue to the Old Port of Tel Aviv, recently renovated and the center of cultural life, bustling with restaurants. In the afternoon transfer to ‘Sarona’, the recently opened Historical center situated in the area settled by German Templers in the mid-19th century; which is now the new entertainment district in the heart of Tel Aviv. Enjoy the shops and cafes while learning about the Templers in Palestine as well as the architectural restoration work.

Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

After your delicious buffet breakfast (this may be the best one yet…), we’ll drive to nearby Rehovot and the Machon Ayalon, the pre-state underground ammunition factory and see how the early Israelis prepared for battle under the noses of the British Army – from past responses, this is invariably a highlight of the trip! From here you’ll head to the ancient city Beit Guvrin and the chance to join a real archaeological dig at the neighboring Bell-Caves of Tel Maresha. As we make our way back to Tel Aviv, we’ll visit the famed Carmel Market, the Nachlat Binyamin promenade, have authentic Israeli falafel, mingle with the crowd, and become immersed in this bustling scene. We’ll get you back to the hotel in plenty of time to have a rest.

Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

After breakfast, journey to the seacoast of Caesarea, the port city built by King Herod. The seaside setting and fascinating ruins make this special stop. The newly excavated hippodrome is the best-preserved in Israel. While here we’ll take in a new multi-media presentation that depicts the history of this ancient city, Herod’s “jewel on the sea”. From here we’ll travel to Haifa and the beautiful Mediterranean coast. You’ll see the lovely Baha’i Shrine and its spectacular Persian gardens. Drive to Safed, the birthplace of Kabala and home to wonderful, tiny synagogues and a thriving colony of artists.

Overnight: Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel

Today our journey through the Golan starts… what a blast! We hope to share a rare treat – subject to the political situation, we’ve arranged to visit an Army Base, speak with the soldiers who defend the northern borders, and observe the life of an active combat unit! From this once-in-a-lifetime experience, we’ll head down from the heights of the Golan, taking in spectacular views of the area as we make our way to Tel Dan.

A town that has seen many different occupants in the course of 6000 years, its setting in the lush valley supplied by the Dan River makes it one of the loveliest visits to the North. For a little excitement, it’s time to get off the beaten path – we’ve got a jeep tour that will run us up the Golan Heights following the same route taken by Israel’s defenders when they took the heights during the 1967 Six-Day War. As we continue on, we’ll pass through Katzrin, the central city of the Golan, and arrive back in HaGoshrim. We’ll spend the night here.

Overnight: Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel

Today, we head south… As we wind our way along the Jordan Valley, our first stop is Beit Shean, the largest excavated Roman city in the Middle East. Its magnificent Amphitheatre is still used for performances and the evidence of the earthquake that destroyed the city in 749 is most impressive. We’ll head to Kfar Kedem a recreated biblical village that offers a glimpse into the daily lives of our ancestors. Heading to Jerusalem and before dinner this evening the families will meet the Rabbi and the bar/bat mitzvah children will have a chance to visit with him and rehearse individually.

Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

This is the day you came for and we’ve made sure that it’s everything you’ve hoped for and more. We’ll depart early — before dawn, you’ll board a cable car and ascend the face of Masada to witness one of the most glorious sunrises imaginable – the ruins around you seem almost to glow…. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah service will take place in a special area, shaded and looking out over the great expanse of desert. Your child holds center stage and the setting could not be more appropriate. Following the service, after the photos, after the hugs, take time to wander the site – from the palace of Herod, the early synagogue, and the remains of the Roman siege camps, this is a marvelous chance to reflect on our shared history. Descend Masada and drive to the Dead Sea for an unforgettable float in the therapeutic mineral-rich waters. Our next destination is the enchanting oasis of Ein Gedi, one of the most important of Israel’s many nature preserves. Now it’s time to play… Eretz Bereshit (Genesis Land) and our Desert Experience, promise a day of fun and relaxation. Here we’ll meet the Bedouin – people for whom the desert is home — a caravan of camels will carry us across the parched landscape toward a traditional “Chafla” dinner. We depart the desert and continue to Jerusalem.

Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

We’ll start the day with Yad Vashem, the nation’s memorial to victims of the holocaust, where we’ll receive an introductory lecture, tour the exhibits and grounds, and participate in a moving “Yizkor” (memorial) service. A short drive will bring us to Har (Mount) Herzl, the military cemetery and final resting place of Theodore Herzl and many of Israel’s leaders. The rest of the day we’ll celebrate the vital city Jerusalem has become. A visit to Machane Yehuda market – strolling the alleys of the market, taking in incredible mounds of spices, fruit, and nuts, tasting local-made halva, ice cream, fresh fruit drinks – a trip to the supermarket back home will never seem the same again. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. In the evening we’ll make our way back to the Western Wall and join in Friday night prayer – an experience you’ll remember forever. Tonight we’ll share a traditional Shabbat dinner, conversation, and maybe another stroll.

Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

Today is yours to spend at leisure. For some, a rest or catch up with friends and relatives might be just the thing, for others, a Shabbat service or a wander through the modern city’s sites might beckon. Those who wish may join us for a morning walking tour through some of the Old City of Jerusalem’s diverse neighborhoods. Be sure to leave a little time to rest up. Tonight we’ve planned a Festive Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration in honor of the hard work and dedication the children have shown. A specially arranged dinner planned around the freshest of local bounty and live entertainment (subject to group size) will make it a night to remember.

Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

This morning we’ll head to Mount Scopus for a stunning, panoramic view of Jerusalem and gain a sense of the old city and the day’s journey. We’ll enter the Old City through the Jewish Quarter and walk along the Cardo, the colonnaded main street of Byzantine Jerusalem. As you stroll this ancient street, our expert guide will bring to life the people and the events of the period. We’ll wander through the twisting streets of the Quarter and arrive at the Davidson Centre where you’ll be treated to a computer imaging presentation of the Temple through time. With a short walk, you’ll find yourself in the center of the Jewish world – we’ll explore the Kotel – the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, the Southern Wall, and exciting new excavations revealing the shops beneath the storied Robinson’s Arch. The Rabbinical Tunnel, running along the western wall of the Temple Mount, will bring us back to today’s Jerusalem and a chance to relax and reflect.

Overnight: Orient Hotel, Jerusalem

You’ve packed a lot into this short time and provided the kids and yourselves with memories for a lifetime. It’s a long flight, but home is on the other end