Winnipeg Mission to Israel
October 21 - 31, 2013
Chairs: Faye and Joel Lazer
Guide: Avi Ben Hur
Hostess: Tali Bernstein
Draft  (subject to changes) per Jan 6

Monday October 21
10:40   Arrive in Israel on Air Canada flight 84 TBC
   VIP airport assistance, transfer to Tel Aviv
12:30   13:30  Falafel lunch
13:30   15:30  Walking tour in Tel Aviv historical neighborhoods 
15:30   Check in at the hotel and time to freshen up
19:00   Welcome dinner at Entrecote restaurant
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Tuesday October 22
07:30   08:15  Breakfast at the hotel and checkout
08:15   09:15  Briefing on Israel Economy by Dr. Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg, Business School Associate Dean at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center and former chief economist of Bank Hapoalim or Israel update briefing by Col. (Ret.) Miri Eisin, former government spokesperson and former foreign media advisor to Prime Minister TBC
09:15   10:15    Drive north along the Mediterranean coast
10:15   12:15    Visit Caesarea archeological park, explore the remains of the  2000 years old glorious sea port city
13:00   14:30    Druze Hospitality and lunch at  Usafia village on Mount Carmel - take a glance into the life of this special ethnic group, visit  their houses, taste their food, and hear about their unique culture and religion
14:30   15:45  Continue to travel north
15:45   17:15  Visit Ayelet HaShachar Absorption Centre and meet with new immigrants from Ethiopia including a briefing by Micha Feldman TBC
18:00   Check in at the hotel
19:30 21:00  Meeting with Kav Hazinuk students and presentation about P2G with Eran David followed by dinner at the hotel with the students
 Overnight: Pastoral Hotel, Kibbutz Kfar Blum

Wednesday October 23
07:45   08:30  Breakfast at the hotel
09:00   09:45  Overview of Lebanon from Misgav Am and briefing by Kibbutz member
10:15   11:15  Visit to Danziger high school TBC
11:30   13:30  Scholarship ceremony at Tel Hai college followed by lunch at the Campus TBC
14:15   16:15  Jeep tour on Golan Heights along the Syrian border
19:00   Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Pastoral Hotel, Kibbutz Kfar Blum

Thursday October 24
07:30   08:15  Breakfast at the hotel and checkout
09:00   11:00  Visit the holy city of Tsfat, a major center of Kabbala; Jewish mysticism that is also known for its picturesque synagogues and art galleries
11:00   11:30  Travel to the Sea of Galilee area
11:30   12:30  Visit Capernaum, the centre of Jesus Ministry in the Galilee
13:00   15:00  Lunch at Café Rishonim at Kibbutz Dgania and visit the local museum
15:00   17:30  Travel to Jerusalem
19:30   Dinner at Olive & Fish restaurant
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Friday October 25
07:00   07:30  Breakfast at the hotel
09:00   11:30     Visit Yad Vashem Museum that presents the story of the Holocaust from a unique Jewish perspective, emphasizing the experiences of the individual victims through original artifacts, survivor testimonies and personal possessions
11:30   12:30  Memorial  ceremony at the Valley of Communities
13:00   15:30  Lunch and time at leisure at Machne Yehuda market
15:45    Depart to the Kotel
16:11    Shabbat begins  
19:00    Shabbat dinner at the hotel with the Canadian Ambassador TBC
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Saturday October 26
08:00   08:30  Breakfast at the hotel
08:30   10:00  Depart the hotel and travel to the Dead Sea area
10:00   12:00  Visit Massada, the site of King Herod’s desert mountain get-away palace and scene of the Zealots’ last stand against the Roman legion. Explore the ancient excavation of Herod’s palaces, the bathhouse, storerooms, the ramp and one of the oldest synagogues in the world 
12:30    15:00 Lunch and Dead Sea float at the Hod Hotel
15:00    17:30 Travel to Jerusalem
17:27   Shabbat ends
20:30     Dinner at leisure
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Sunday October 27
07:30   08:00  Breakfast at the hotel
08:00   09:00  Briefing by Khaled Abu Toameh , a Palestinian award- winning journalist TBC
09:30   10:45  Visit to Yad Lakashish; Lifeline for the Elderly, a pioneering social service project
11:00  13:00   Visit the City of David the claimed location of the biblical city of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3000 years ago. Visit the water systems and walk through the underground sewage system to the Davidson Centre
13:30     Falafel lunch in the old city
14:00   16:00  Old City walking tour; Visit the part of Jerusalem surrounded by walls. A historical and spiritual center for the Jewish, Christian and Muslim Religions
18:45   Return to the hotel to freshen up
20:00  Dinner at leisure
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Monday October 28
07:15   08:00  Breakfast at the hotel and check out
08:00   10:30  Travel south to the Negev desert
10:30   12:00  Visit Nitzana, Jewish Agency youth village and educational center on the peace border between Israel and Egypt meet with young adults who participate in the various JAFI programs and tour of the village including the solar park and the recycling centre
12:30   15:00  Visit IDF base including lunch with soldiers TBC
16:00   Check in at the hotel and time to enjoy the spa
19:30   Dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Beresheet hotel, Mitspe Ramon

Tuesday October 29
08:00   09:00  Breakfast at the hotel and check out
09:00   11:00  Jeep tour at Ramon Crater 
11:45   13:00  Visit Avdat archeological park
13:30   15:00  Wine tasting at Carmei Avdat lone farm. Meet the owners and hear their personal story and vision as well as about the lone farm project along the ancient spice route followed by lunch TBC
15:30   16:30    Visit Ben Gurion’s desert home in Kibbutz Sde Boker
16:30   19:00  Travel to Tel Aviv
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Wednesday October 30
Breakfast at the hotel
Day at leisure in Tel Aviv
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Thursday October 31
Breakfast at the hotel
09:15   Transfer to the airport; VIP airport assistance  
15:20   Depart Israel on Air Canada 85 TBC

POST MISSION EXTENTION TO NOVEMBER 2, AVAILABLE ON REQUEST:

Tuesday October 29
08:00   09:00  Breakfast at the hotel and check out
09:00   11:00  Jeep tour at Ramon Crater 
11:45   13:00  Visit Avdat archeological park
13:30   15:00  Wine tasting at Carmei Avdat lone farm. Meet the owners and hear their personal story and vision as well as about the lone farm project along the ancient spice route followed by lunch TBC
15:30   16:30    Visit Ben Gurion’s desert home in Kibbutz Sde Boker
16:30   19:00  Transfer to Eilat 
Overnight: Royal Beach Hotel, Eilat

 Wednesday October 30
Breakfast at the hotel
Day at leisure
Overnight: Royal Beach Hotel, Eilat

Thursday October 31
Breakfast at the hotel
Day at leisure
Petra option
Overnight: Royal Beach Hotel, Eilat

Friday November 1
Breakfast at the hotel
Day at leisure
Flight to Tel Aviv
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv

Saturday November 2
Breakfast at the hotel
09:15   Transfer to the airport; VIP airport assistance  
15:20   Depart Israel on Air Canada 85 TBC