ITINERARY | AdatShalomAdults2025

ADAT SHALOM ADULT MISSION 2025
LED BY RABBI AARON BERGMAN

August 2026 - There will be an intergenerational trip led by Rabbi Nosanwisch! (....more details to follow)

ITINERARY

Adat Shalom Israel Adult Mission 2025

Led by Rabbi Aaron Bergman

October 20-29, 2025

Day 1: Monday, October 20 - Israel's History & Innovations

Meet your guide in the airport arrivals hall
Drive to Tel Aviv
Jaffa - The ancient port city was the gateway to the Holy Land. We will walk through the ancient port, down the small alleyways visiting the artist colony and all the beautiful galleries. We’ll visit the enchanting flea market, where we might find a few bargains and have an amazing overlook of the first Hebrew city of Israel: Tel Aviv.
Lunch - on your own
Ayalon Institute - This place was originally created to fool the British into thinking it was a Kibbutz during the British Mandate. In fact, it holds a secret that turned the tide of the War for Independence.
Peres Center for Peace and Innovation - The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation is a leading non-profit and non-government organization focused on developing and implementing unique and cutting-edge programs. They serve hundreds of thousands of participants of all ages, religions, and backgrounds
Hotel check-in
Dinner on your own

Overnight: Tal By The Beach, Tel Aviv

Day 2: Tuesday, October 21 - The Walls Hold Secrets

Breakfast at the hotel
Graffiti Tour Post October 7 – Tel Aviv is a melting pot of different people and cultures, diverse forms of expressions and character that makes the urban scene what it is today – and since October 7 there is graffiti showing the desperation, heroes and hope, giving an insight into the Israeli psyche
Nahalat Binyamin Artist market - Open only on Tuesdays and Fridays
Carmel Market - The most colorful food market of Tel Aviv, where we will have the chance to walk around and enjoy the smells and the colors of this special market.
Lunch – on your own in Carmel Market
Hostage Square – We will visit the square of the hostage families. Hopefully we will not need to.
Visit the First Israeli Distillery - Tour "The Milk and Honey", Israel's first distillery where you will learn about the history and process of the spirit making and finish with some tastings, of course!
Dinner at the hotel
Speaker– Dana Dvorin Rays of Light - A documentation of female heroic stories from October 7th - a voluntary project whose purpose is to commemorate them.

Overnight: Tal By The Beach, Tel Aviv

Day 3: Wednesday, October 22 - October 7 - From Tragedy to Resilience

Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Gaza overlook We will take you to the Gaza border region and share the story of the events of October 7th. Together, we will visit key locations that played a significant role in that day, including the area near Re’im and the site of the Nova Festival. Through these stops, you will gain a deeper understanding of the impact and challenges faced by the region during that time
Lunch on your own on the way
Rahat - Meeting with a representative from this Bedouin community who will share stories about the events on October 7 that affected the Rahat settlement, human stories of citizens who rescued people.
Volunteering / Meeting with a survivor of the Black Sabbath who will tell his/her story
Drive to Jerusalem
Shehechyanu Ceremony: Celebrating your arrival at this holy city
Check in to your hotel
Dinner on your own

Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 4: Thursday, October 23 - Desert Wonders

Breakfast at the hotel
Masada – Learn about this amazing archeological wonder, where King Herod built his summer palace and the Zealots from the Great Revolt spent their final days
Lunch on your own
Kayaks and boat ride on the Dead Sea - On the Dead Sea boat ride the experts will take you to explore the beautiful northern coastline and show you things that will blow you away. Pearl and diamond formations, salt cliffs and more. And yes you will go for a dip into the "Yam HaMelach" as well. We will also do Kayaking like you have never experienced before, the paddling is slower and the view is breathtaking. On our journey we will find salt crystals in different shapes and sizes, and surrounding the Dead Sea are the powerful mountains: on the east, Moav Mountains, on the west, the cliffs of He'etekim and Dragot.
Drive back to Jerusalem
Dinner on your own

Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 5: Friday, October 24 - The Ancient City of Jerusalem

Breakfast at the hotel
City of David – The place where the Jewish nation began their special relationship with the magical city of Jerusalem. Here we will walk in King David’s palace and enter the biblical version of a “water ride” through the pitch-black Hezekiah Tunnels, armed with our flashlights.
Lunch – on your own in the Jewish quarter
The Jewish Quarter – Visit the incredible holy sites like the Western Wall and the Hurva Synagogue as we walk through the narrow alleyways of the quarter. Leave the city through the Jaffa Gate and walk to Ben Yehuda Street.
Drive back to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat
Kabbalat Shabbat – Location to be decided. (Shabbat Enters 5:17PM)
Shabbat dinner at the hotel

Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 6: Saturday, October 25 - Shabbat in Jerusalem

Breakfast at the hotel
Shabbat Service - TBD
Old City Walking Tour – Dual Narrative - Discovering the significant sites at each quarter with two guides showing both Jewish and Arab points of view, including the Muslim Quarter (security permits) with the colorful Arab market, the Christian Quarter with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Via Dolorosa.
Lunch at the hotel
Afternoon relaxation
Havdalah (Shabbat ends at 6:33PM)
Dinner on your own – Time for shopping on Ben Yehuda Street

Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 7: Sunday, October 26 - The New City of Jerusalem

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out
Visit Yad Vashem, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust
Lunch Machne Yehuda Market -Culinary Tour - At Israel’s most famous outdoor market, Machne Yehuda, where we’ll have a chance to taste delicacies of Jewish communities from around the globe! It will be the coolest way to have lunch!
Hartman Institute – Details to be advised
Dinner on your own
Speaker Khaled Abu Toameh - an Israeli Arab journalist, lecturer and documentary filmmaker. Abu Toameh writes for The Jerusalem Post and for the New York–based Gatestone Institute, where he is a senior distinguished fellow. He is a producer and consultant for NBC News since 1989.

Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 8: Monday, October 27 - West Bank Challenge & Partnership Region

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out
Givat Haviva International School - The school seeks to transform the Middle East by developing a powerful network of leaders who will work together to achieve a shared society and a sustainable, just future. The students come from 17 different counties and together they create a mosaic of cultures, lifestories and ideas
Speaker - TBD
Emek Hefer Valley -The Narrow Border - The distance from the sea to the border in the Emek Hefer area is approximately 15-20 kilometers, making it a relatively narrow and sensitive border zone. We will see how close the border is to residential areas and how security in the communities has tightened. Yet, at the same time, there is a sense of friendship between the Arab communities on the Israeli side and the Jewish communities
LET Travel’s Shopping Route - We will take a tour through Emek Heffer, the most developed area in Israel of farm to table and meet the local vendors. This incredible valley is close to the sea and is full of farm to table local and independent families and businesses that support the economy and is a window to the Israeli world famous Hi-tec agriculture. Enjoy cheese farms, micro-breweries, organic farming, bakery and coffee shops and much more. Including a picnic lunch
Drive to the Partnership Region
Partnership day TBD
Dinner- home hospitality
Drive to hotel and check-in

Overnight: Mitzpe Hayamim, North

Day 9: Tuesday, October 28- Diversity in the Golan Heights

Breakfast at the hotel
Rhadjar Borders Tour – Explore the captivating village of Rhadjar, a unique crossroads between Lebanon and Israel. Discover the rich history of its Alawite residents from Homs and enjoy breathtaking views of the Hatzbani River and the Lebanon border
Lunch – Majdal Shams – We will enjoy a traditional Druze lunch at this Druze town, located at the foothills of Mount Hermon
Mt Bental Overlook - From this 360 overlook we’ll have stunning views of Mount Hermon, the Israeli and Syrian Golan, Upper Galilee and the Jordan valley and will have a wonderful opportunity to learn firsthand about the Six Day War, the Yom Kippur War, and the situation in Syria today. You will also have the opportunity to walk through an Israeli Bunker that sits on top of the mountain.
Geopolitical Jeep Ride with an expert Ilan Shulman - We will ride on 4WD jeep with a security expert and a member of a local Kibbutz. We will drive along the Syrian border passing all the important army posts that overlooking into Syria, and understand from our guide the current situation in Syria and the new challenges that the IDF border security and the local community need to face. After, we will stop for an amazing view of Mt. Hermon and the valley of tears.
Back to the hotel to pack and relax
Farewell dinner and Party TBD

Overnight: Mitzpe Hayamim, North

Day 10: Wednesday, October 29- Mysticism & Departure Day

Breakfast at the hotel and late check out
Speaker - TBD
Tzfat - The colorful city of Tzfat, visiting the old city, the famous Kabbalah synagogues and the artist quarter. We will even have an opportunity to meet with a kabbalah artist and understand the idea of kabbalah through his works.
Lunch on your own
Winery – We will enjoy some delicious local wine
Tel Aviv/Haifa – for last dinner on your own, shopping and a drink