Friday, February 25, 2011 - Depart Newark International Airport for Israel by CONTINENTAL AIRLINES.  Meals and night in flight.

Saturday, Feb.  26 - On arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, meet our Israeli staff and drive to the Resort-Hotel BLUE BAY in Netanya.

Sunday, Feb.  27 - Leave Netanya, visit Herod's great city of Caesarea, with its Roman theater, New Testament associations and Crusader ruins.  Continue to the Biblical site of Megiddo, Mt. Carmel (Elijah's story) and the Jewish catacombs of Bet She'arim.  Overnight at Guest House NES AMMIM.

Monday, Feb. 28 - Drive to Nazareth to see the Church of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well, then via Cana of Galilee to Tiberias, one of the four Jewish holy cities.  Lunch of St. Peter's Fish and a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). Visit the ancient Galilee Boat ("Jesus Boat") found in the mud of the lake in 1986.  On to the Mount of Beatitudes (Sermon on the Mount), and then to the Upper Galilee and Kibbutz Inn KFAR GILADI.

Tuesday, Mar. 1 - Tour the kibbutz, then to the Lebanese Border, Tel Dan ("from Dan to Beersheba"), Banias (Caesarea Philippi) and the Golan Heights.  Return to the kibbutz.  Evening lecture on contemporary Israel.

Wednesday, Mar. 2 - Leave the kibbutz for Tabgha (the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes), Capernaum

(the ancient Jewish town was Jesus' home base in the Galilee) to see the ancient synagogue and Peter’s house, then on to Bethsaida.  Visit the nearby Kinneret Cemetery

for an insight into the Zionist pioneering movement of a century ago.  On to the delightful mosaic floor of the ancient Beit Alfa synagogue, then down the Jordan Valley and via Jericho up to Jerusalem.

Stop at Mt. Scopus to celebrate our arrival in the Holy City. Check-in at the Hotel KING SOLOMON.

Saturday, Mar. 5 - Excursion to Masada (ascend and descend by cable car), view Ein Gedi, bathe in the Dead Sea and visit Qumran, where the De

ad Sea Scrolls were written and found.   Return to Jerusalem.

Sunday, Mar. 6 - Day at leisure in Jerusalem.   Suggested: Walk from the hotel to Bet Agron and attend the "Time Elevator" multimedia half-hour show (admission $10) on the history of Jerusalem, from Kings David and Solomon through the destruction of the First Temple, the Romans, birth of Christianity, Muslim conquest, Crusaders, the rebirth of Israel and the city's reunification in 1967.   Or, visit the Tower of David Museum of the history of Jerusalem at the Jaffa Gate.  Continue then to the Biblical Zoo.  You may also wish to sit at a cafe on the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall or poke around the craft shops in the area.    Dinner on your own.

Monday, Mar. 7 - Drive to the Promenade for a marvelous panorama of Jerusalem from the

south. Explore the City of David, the original core of Old Testament Jerusalem, with its tunnels, Gihon Spring and the original Pool of Siloam. Head out of town to the Biblical Gardens at Neot Kedumim for lunch and a walking tour.  Plant a tree at the site (optional - $10 per tree).  On to the Elah Valley to re-enact (!) the duel of David and Goliath. Return to Jerusalem.

Tuesday, Mar. 8 - Visit the Temple Mount and see the exteriors of the Muslim Shrines, then the remarkable excavations

of the Southern Steps and Robinson’s Arch.  On to Mt. Zion to visit King David’s Tomb and the Room of the Last Supper.  Visit Yad Vashem, with its acclaimed Holocaust Museum.

Wednesday, Mar. 9 - Mid-morning check-out.  On to the Israel Museum, see the Dead Sea Scrolls, the huge model of Jerusalem in the days of Jesus, and the newly re

vamped Archeology Wing.  View the great Menorah of the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament).  Lunch at Ima Restaurant, then proceed to the Garden Tomb for a tour and worship service.  On to Ben Gurion airport for departure by CONTINENTAL AIRLINES to the States.

Dinner on your own.

Thursday, Mar.  10 - Arrive Newark at dawn.         

Welcome home !

Thursday, Mar. 3 - Ascend the Mt. of Olives for the panoramic view of the Old City, walk down the Palm Sunday Road, stop at Dominus Flevit and visit the

Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations.  Explore the Hinnom Vallley and end the day with a guided visit to Bethlehem (circumstances permitting), to see Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity.

Friday, Mar. 4 – Visit the Western Wall Tunnel.  Walk along the Via Dolorosa with the Stations of the Cross, to the Holy Sepulchre. Explore Machaneh Yehuda produce market in its busy pre-Shabbat frenzy.  Return to the Western Wall to welcome the Sabbath. 

                                    Shabbat Shalom!