Please contact us and sign up as soon as possible to
secure your place on this trip!
Sunday,
October 10 departure from
JFK on world-class Austria Air is scheduled at 6:40 p.m. Be sure to contact the Hatikva office before making domestic
arrangements. The office may be able to assist you in getting a
reasonably-priced “add-on” ticket from your home airport (especially if
you reserve early) . . . and you will need to arrive at JFK by around
4:00 p.m.
Monday, October 11 stretch your legs at the Vienna, Austria,
airport during the scheduled hour and a half connection time, then an
early afternoon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel
Aviv, to meet our Hatikva team in Israel–guide Gilla Treibich and
driver Moshe Raz . . . then on to JLM to check into our fine hotel.
Tuesday-Thursday,
October 12, 13, 14 study
the Temple through several visits to Temple
Mount with Joseph
Good and with Rabbi Chaim Richman. Also during the time
enter “King Solomon’s Quarries” (political situation permitting)
underneath the Mount, visit the Temple Institute where implements for
worship and sacrifice at the Third Temple are being prepared, the place
of the Red Heifer, Citadel Museum, and Eastern Wall. One major project
will be in the City of
David–attempting to definitively trace Nehemiah’s wall, towers and
gates. The group will also study Conrad Schick’s model of Jerusalem at
the Schmidt girls College as well as
in-depth study at the Southern Wall.
On the 14th,
late afternoon drive through the majestically desolate landscape of the
Judean Wilderness to the Dead Sea. Check into your hotel, have dinner,
and then at night experience the Sound and Light show at Masada.
Friday, October 15 Thrill to a 4-wheel vehicle ascent of the
solid salt mountain of Sodom which literally floats on the subterranean water of the
Dead Sea. View the plain of Jordan,
drive through the Pratzim river (called also the “flour cave” because of
the whiteness of its rocks), ending near the Brook Zered where the
people of Israel crossed into the land of
Moab. Stop at the Ancient synagogue at Ein Gedi, a community known for the
production of Balsam, a perfume greatly cherished, especially as incense
in the Temple. Back to the
Dead Sea hotel for a relaxing start to Shabbat.
Saturday,
October 16 . . . day at
worshipful rest, with opportunity for special teaching.
Sunday, October 17 Drive to Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu to study special
agricultural and ecological projects in an Orthodox kibbutz where
everything is done according to Halacha (Jewish law) taking into
consideration the Biblical commandments regarding such topics as
farming, the Sabbatical year, etc. We’ll also study date palm farming,
a special tree in the land of
Israel, one of the seven species that make the richness of the land (“The
righteous shall grow like a Palm tree,” Psalm 92:12).
Proceed to
Belvoir for the remains of an impressive crusader fort . . . even more
anciently known as Groffina, a station on the fire signals that
announced Shabbat. Check in for two nights at a comfortable kibbutz
hotel.
Monday, October 18 a very special full day seminar at Kibbutz
Lavi studying about Mikve (ritual baths), conversion, Kosher meat,
taking care of livestock, and other aspects of applying Halacha to the
21st century. A special kosher lunch at the hotel is
included. Then at the end of the day we’ll drive to Hammat Gader famous
in Mishnaic and Talmudic days for therapeutic hot springs near the
Decapolis city of Gadara . .
. where we’ll soak in relaxation just like many ancient Galileans and
Romans. Our dinner will be at Hammat Gader as well.
Tuesday, October 19 start the day in Tiberias at the Talmudic
Synagogue to discuss such “miracle makers” as Rabbi Meir, then drive to
the Golan for a real Talmudic experience at Katzrin with a study and an
authentic meal. Visit the Golan winery to learn about Kosher wine.
A visit to the
Barak brigade is the highlight of every Hatikva tour . . . but this
visit will have a different focus as we meet with the Brigade Rabbi and
observant commanders who will share about the role of Halacha in
military service in such multiple facets such as keeping Shabbat, going
to battle, and daily life as an observant Jewish soldier.
Time
permitting we’ll see a newly discovered Synagogue in the southern Golan
at Um el Kanatair (http://www.yeshuat.com) to see how it’s being
explored. On to Zfat, the center of modern mysticism to check into our
hotel for two nights.
Wednesday,
October 20 Start with a
fascinating drive to the tomb of Rabbi Jonathan, son of Uziel, to learn
about the custom and value of visiting tombs of great Rabbis. Visit
Zfat, home of the Ari (lion), a great rabbi and the founder of modern
Cabala. Zfat features many synagogues, the old mikve of the Ari, and a
beautiful artist colony which we’ll visit during our stroll through the
city. We’ll learn about Rabbi Shlomo Elkavetz who wrote the famous Lecha
Dodi for the Shabbat prayers. In a Hatikva “Battlefield note,” the
Palmach fought valiantly in Zfat in 1948.
Thursday October 21 Take the cable car for a dramatic and
picturesque descent into Rosh Hanikra’s beautiful maritime Grottoes,
then to Beit Shearim, the Mishnaic burial ground for Jewish people from
all over the world, drawn by the spiritually-magnetic presence of the
tomb of Rabbi Yehuda, who presided over the completion and sealing of
the Mishnah in the 3rd Century CE. On to Dor to explore the
recently re-discovered ancient industry of the Tchelet dye extracted
from the mollusk Murex and used as the traditional color of a strand in
each tzitzit (fringe) in the tallit (prayer shawl). Check into your
hotel in Ariel for one night.
Friday, October 22 In a day visiting places not many groups go,
face Mt. Gerizim, where Moses revealed to the nation of Israel G-d’s
requirement “to fear the L-rd your G-d, to walk in all His ways, to love
Him, to serve the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your
soul, and to observe the L-rd’s commandments and decrees” (Deuteronomy
10:12) and proclaimed the blessings that would follow obedience. Then
to Elon Moreh, where Abraham saw the land of Canaan for the first time
and Shiloh where the tabernacle stayed until the building of the Temple
in Jerusalem. We arrive in Jerusalem before Shabbat and check into the
hotel for the rest of the trip.
Saturday, October 23, Shabbat in Jerusalem, the Holy
City, with the group gathering to study the weekly Torah portion.
Sunday, October 24 Drive to
Hebron to the cave of the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah
are buried. Visit the unusual Talmudic period Judean synagogue in Susia,
then see the area of the Mountains of Hebron where David spent several
years, found his wife Abigail, and reigned over Israel before capturing
Jerusalem for his capital.
Also during our
time in Jerusalem, scheduled as works best: such fascinating visits as
to the supreme court of Israel to study with a lawyer how the legal
system works in accordance with Halacha and an active Yeshiva to explore
their unique way of studying.
Monday,
October 25 morning in Jerusalem, then to the airport for the
mid-afternoon flight to Vienna, Austria, for overnight and dinner.
Either in the evening or next morning, we will arrange a panoramic tour
of historic and beautiful Vienna (may be a slight small extra charge for
this). It was at the walls of Vienna, 1683, that the Muslim assault of
Europe was defeated (at least until recently), and it was capital of the
Hapsburg empire.
Tuesday,
October 26 mid-day flight
Vienna to JFK, scheduled to arrive around 2:30 p.m. Homeward flights
should not be scheduled earlier than around 5:00 p.m. or reasonably
priced overnight accommodation can be arranged.
U.S.
passport
valid through April, 2005, is required.
Payment:
$300 deposit is due immediately by cash or check only; second payment of
$1200 due July 1; final payment is due no later than September 1.
Brochure price is discounted for cash/checks Credit card use for
second and/or final payment will incur a non-refundable 5% fee.
Tour price includes . . .
Air transportation from New York
is currently scheduled on Austria Air, but may be on any
regularly-scheduled jet carrier, economy class. Cancellations made
after the air tickets have been issued subject to a cancellation
penalty as imposed by the airline.
Accommodations in first-class and deluxe hotels, twin-bedded rooms, private bath.
Single supplement, $549. Meals daily buffet breakfast and
dinner, three lunches.
Sightseeing
as specified in the itinerary using motorcoach or other conveyances
as required. Entrance fees and the services of local
English-speaking guides are included.
Transfers
to/from airports/hotels in private motor coach.
All tipping
for guide, driver, porters, hotel.
Baggage
allowed free of charge is one regular-sized suitcase per person plus
one airline approved “under seat” bag. Excess baggage will be
charged at the established rates. While maximum care will be taken
with luggage, tour organizers accept no liability for loss or
damage.
Tour price does not include wines, liquors, mineral water, after dinner coffee or tea
not part of the menu; sightseeing or services not specifically mentioned
or noted as optional; excess baggage; all items of a personal nature.
Cancellations: $100 penalty for written cancellations received up to 90 days before
departure. Written cancellations received 89-61 days before departure
are subject to a $300 per person can-cellation fee. Written
cancellations received 60-31 days before departure are subject to a 25%
cancellation fee of the total tour price per person. Written
cancellations received 30-16 days out are subject to a 50% can-cellation
fee of the total tour price. Written cancellations received less than 16
days before departure are subject to a 100% cancellation fee of the
total tour price per person. No refund made for any missed services
while on tour. In addition to the above cancellation fees,
airline tickets are not refundable.
We recommend trip cancellation insurance–applications available on
written request.
Healthcare/medical costs outside the
USA are not covered
by Medicare and some private insurance plans. Medi-cal insurance is
part of the optional trip insurance, applica-tions available on request.
Important notice: brochure price based on a minimum of
26 passengers. While no increase is expected, price is subject to change
if participant numbers are lower.
Responsibility:
Joseph Good, Judy Kilgore, Hatikva Ministries, Escorted Travel Concepts,
and their agents act only in the capacity of agents in all matters, and
as such, are not responsible for any damage, expense, or inconvenience
caused by late plane arrival or departure or by any change of schedule
or other condition, nor the loss of or damage to any person or property
from any cause whatsoever. The sponsoring organization reserves the
right to withdraw the tour at any time, or make changes in the published
itinerary whenever in their sole judgment conditions warrant, or if they
deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience or safety of the tour.
Services of any regularly-scheduled jet carrier may be used on this
tour.
Payment of deposit by tour participants indicates understanding and
acceptance of the above terms and conditions.