News on Nancy Picus

I want to let everyone kow that Nancy Picus, who put her heart and soul into helping create and lead this incredible journey, took a fall earlier today and broke her patella. She spent some time at the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem, but will be taking a plane home tomorrow (Friday) so that she can have surgery and recuperate in the comfort of home. She expressed tremendous disappointment in not being able to complete the trip, and is particularly sad that she will not be able to celebrate Shabbat with the group ... but she has maintained her sense of humor, and already looks forward to the next Congregation Beth Israel and Shlenker School Family Trip to Israel. Pease join us in wishing Nancy "refuah shleimah" (a complete and speedy recovery).

Jerusalem!

Yesterday was filled with adventure! We visited an army base in the Golan, where we met soldiers, presented them with hats and shirts from some our favorite sports teams, and let the kids (and a few adults) climb up on some artillery batteries. Then we drove to Mount Bental, where we took in a bird's eye view of Syria and had a delicious lunch at Cafe Annan (very punny). Next was an opportunity to make our own delicious treats at a chocolate factory, before taking an ATV and 4-wheel-drive vehicle tour of some lower Golan areas. The day ended with an incredible dinner on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Finally, after more than three very full days in the beautiful North of Israel, we made our way to Jerusalem this afternoon ... just in time to the sun set over the glowing stone of the city. We began with a visit to the Reform Movement's flagship day school in Haifa, the Leo Baeck Educational Center, saw the incredible ruins of Caesarea (where 2 of the kids sang on the stage of an ancient amphitheater), and then ascended into the Holy City to the sounds of Mah Tovu (O Jerusalem), Matisyahu (Jerusalem), and Noa (beautifully singing Yerushalayim Shel Zahav). We had an emotional ceremony at Mt. Scopus, as our families took time to soak in the view and the reality of Israel's 3000-year-old capital, before making our way to the very modern area of Mamilla. More awaits tomorrow, including our first opportunity to stand at the Kotel (Western Wall)!

First full day

After a much needed night's sleep, we awoke to rain-drenched Galilean hills and a happy birthday song for Christine Laskin! We drove across from the border with Lebanon, and down past Nazareth to a "biblical village" called Kfar Kedem. We made cheese and bread, rode donkeys, held baby goats, and wore the clothes our ancestors here wore thousands of years ago. Now we are headed to the mystical city of Yzfat!

We've arrived!

It has been a LONG day ... after traveling for about 18 hours, we touched down at the (still) new and beautiful Ben Gurion airport. The Twitter picture shows us entering Israel! We spent some time at Independence Hall, the kids briefly danced on the sidewalk to Hava Nagila (and even a passing motorist joined in singing), and we walked through Tel Aviv to find some lunch. On our way to the Gallilee now!

Itinerary

In case anyone wants to "follow us" on our journey to Israel, here is our scheduled itinerary: Day 1 ~ Sunday, December 23, 2012 Houston/Enroute Depart Houston flying overnight to Israel. Day 2 ~ Monday, December 24, 2012 Tel Aviv/ Galilee Arrive Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv. Meet, assist and begin the journey with a visit to Independence Hall, where David Ben Gurion announced Israel’s Statehood. Lunch stop at the authentic and colorful Carmel Market for a falafel, before continuing north to the Galilee and Kibbutz Kfar Blum. Day 3 ~ Tuesday, December 25, 2012 Galilee Begin the day at Kfar Kedem Biblical Village, a recreated ancient Galilean village that enables you to "touch the past". Experience being a shepherd, herd the sheep into their pens for shearing and milking. Make goat cheese in the ancient Galilean fashion. Plow your fields and bring in the harvest to the village threshing floor. Then grind the flour and bake your own Pita bread. Join a donkey caravan heading to the Galilean hills and end the visit with a feast lunch in the shepherd's tent. The afternoon is spent in the very special city of Safed, center of Jewish mysticism with historic synagogues and modern artists’ quarter. Safed, also famous for its art of beautiful candle making. Special hands on workshop with glassblower, Sheva Chaya. Time for shopping at the end of the day. Evening game night at the Kibbutz! Day 4 ~ Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Galilee This morning, with gifts in hand, visit with IDF soldiers at Machane Yoav Military base of the 405 Battalion of the Israeli Artillery Corps on the Golan Heights. Next, visit a Galilean Chocolate factory where there will be an opportunity to actually make chocolate! This afternoon, jump into ATV’s to tour up on the Golan Heights, and continuing to the summit of the extinct volcano-turned-bunker of Mount Bental, for great views over the entire Golan and deep into Syria. Continue on to Tiberias for an evening Galilee grill dinner at Decks Restaurant, followed by a short cruise on the Sea of Galilee with music & dancing! (weather permitting). Day 5 ~ Thursday, December 27, 2012 Lower Galilee/Jerusalem The day begins with a visit to the Crusader town of Akko with its old city within the walls and all the exciting new excavations being uncovered. Continue past Haifa, capital of the north and one of Israel's main commercial ports. Haifa is also proud to be the nucleus of much of Israel's high technology research and industry. See the view from atop Mt. Carmel. Visit the Leo Baeck Education Center, meet their children and enjoy lunch together (pending confirmation). Next, drive the coastal road to Caesarea, visiting the beautiful restored Roman Theater, the ruins of the ancient town, harbor and aqueduct. Drive up to Jerusalem, reciting a special “Shehechiyanu” atop Mt. Scopus. Day 6 ~ Friday, December 28, 2012 Jerusalem Begin the day in the restored Jewish quarter and visiting the Roman Cardo and the Herodian Quarter. Next, explore the Machne Yehudah Market for a quick lunch and to experience the preparation of Shabbat as a local Jerusalemite. Gather on the Southern Wall Steps for a special Kabbalat Shabbat and service honoring our first Shabbat in Jerusalem. Continue on to the Kotel, before walking back to the hotel for Shabbat dinner together. Oneg Shabbat following dinner with special speaker Danny Gordis. Optional kids evening swim. Day 7 ~ Saturday, December 29, 2012 Jerusalem Shabbat Shalom! Shabbat at leisure. Optional Shabbat services at Kol Haneshama, followed by a Shabbat walking tour of the Old City, with a stop for a falafel lunch in the market. Continue along with a walk on the Ramparts on top of the Old City walls, and the presentation at the Time Elevator, combining film, motion platforms, and special effects. At sundown, gather together under the stars for Havdallah. Evening attend the Sound & Light Show at the Tower of David. Day 8 ~ Sunday, December 30, 2012 Jerusalem This morning, participate in an archeological Dig at Beit Guvrin and Tel Maresha. Next, plant trees in a national forest. This afternoon, learn of the battles at Latrun, the armored corps’ memorial site and visit its open-air tank museum. Day 9 ~ Monday, December 31, 2012 Masada/Dead Sea/Jerusalem Early departure for a full day of sightseeing in the Negev. Drive to Masada, climb or ascend the east side, to marvel at King Herod’s desert fortress – Palace and last stronghold of the Jewish zealots against the Roman domination in 73 CE. Descend Masada and drive to the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth almost 1300 feet below sea level, for a refreshing swim. End the day with a camel caravan in the desert at the Bedouin village of Kfar Hanokdim. Learn about Bedouin life, and enjoy a hafla dinner in a Bedouin tent. Return to Jerusalem after our day’s adventure. Day 10 ~ Tuesday, January 1, 2012 Jerusalem The morning is spent in the New City of Jerusalem. Visit the unforgettable Holocaust Memorial Museum at Yad Vashem, while the younger children on the tour visit the biblical zoo. Afternoon time at leisure for shopping before a farewell dinner. Day 11 ~ Wednesday, January 2, 2012 Jerusalem/Houston Very early morning transfer to the airport with assistance in departure for the USA. Arrive Houston later today.

Final preparations

It is less than 12 hours until our flight leaves Houston for Newark, where we'll take off in the afternoon for our adventure in Israel! Such an exciting time for this group of families - and especially for the kids who are ready to initiate what we believe will be a lifelong and meaningful relationship with our Jewish homeland. We've been talking about Israel, we've been learning about Israel, we've been dreaming about Israel ... but there simply is no substitute for being in Israel. And we hope that this blog will offer a small window into our experience so that we can share it with our relatives, our friends, and our congregational family. Congregation Beth Israel and the Shlenker School are very proud of this first young family trip to Israel - and will start sending stories and pictures soon!