Meeting Israel’s people
Getting to know modern Israel and the makeup of its many communities, was at the core of the Omaha Jewish Federation group tour which took place this March, and since many of the individuals taking this trip have been to Israel before, our goal was to pack into 10-days different experiences which would deepen their understanding of the country’s magnificent melting pot of cultures and communities.
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CREATE
On the morning after arrival, we started the tour with a viewpoint on the Old City of Jerusalem where we performed an exciting She’hecheyanu ceremony, a blessing to offer thanks for new and unusual experiences. We spent the next few days exploring Jerusalem’s Old and New City, visiting Yad Vashem, the museum and memorial for the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, Machane Yehuda Market for a unique culinary tour with a food specialist, and taking a day-trip to the gorgeous Ella Valley, for a visit and wine tasting at a beautiful winery, and an adventurous safari truck ride.
The next part of the tour took place in the Western Galilee, where the group had a fascinating meeting with Kivunim, an organization that assists youth and young adults with disabilities in dealing with challenges of independent living and community integration. From there, another meaningful visit at the Galilee Medical Center (GMC), the most northern medical center in the country, and only a few kilometers from Lebanese border. As part of the tour, we visited the underground hospital and the new fortified emergency department. We drove to the Lebanon border accompanied by the Director of Security and Emergency Services of the Matte Asher Council, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and former deputy commander of the Western Brigade on the Lebanese border.
Day 6 of our journey began at Sheikh Danun, an Arab
village located in Israel’s Northern District. We made our way to Derech Hatavlinim, (the Spice Way Farm) in Bethlehem of Galilee, which pioneers in the spice industry in Israel, who have been growing spices for almost 50 years. We ended the day at the picturesque Amphora Winery for a special wine tasting and BBQ.
On the following day we headed South to the Negev Desert and visited Mitzpe Ramon, the world’s largest natural crater, and its visitor’s center where we learned about the area, and heard the life story of Israeli astronaut, Col. Ilan Ramon. Our desert excursion continued in the city of Yerucham, where we combined learning, meditation, personal reflection, and creative writing, attempting to understand why the Torah was given in the desert. From there the group participated in a discussion on women in the Bedouin society, and enjoyed traditional Bedouin tea and refreshments at the hostess’s tent.
The evening was concluded with a visit to the Shanti House, a therapeutic and rehabilitative village that serves as a home for youth at risk and in immediate danger, where spent an emotional evening and enjoyed delicious food prepared by the Culinary Queens of Yeruham.
A visit Shivta National Park, showcasing the impressive remains of a Byzantine city, and a stop at the Ramat Negev Desert Agro-Research Center, an experimental center established 50 years ago as part of a national project encouraging the development of agriculture in the periphery concluded our tour on Southern Israel. From there we continued to Tel Aviv, to enjoy everything this vibrant city has to offer, including its gorgeous beach.
The last day of the tour was spent in Masada and then relaxation at the Dead Sea before flying back home.
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Delivering a tour with such a full itinerary of meetings, and trying to carve out enough time for sightseeing and relaxations, required very detailed planning, and a commitment to stay on schedule at all times. Thanks to our guides and drivers, everything ran smoothly from start to finish.
It was clear to us, that an educational tour designed to learn about Israeli society had to include different culinary experience so that the group got a taste of Israel’s many traditional cuisines and cultures. We also combined visits at farms and wineries where they could enjoy the bounty of the country, directly from the source.
And after these long and eventful days, we chose perfectly located and wonderful accommodations, so people could relax in comfort and style and enjoy independent exploring during their free time.
May 1, 2023