CHIZUK MISSION TO ISRAEL MAY 27 – JUNE 4, 2019
EXCLUSIVE INSIDER MISSION: Bringing and Receiving Chizuk
(All plans subject to modification)
MONDAY, MAY 27 – ARRIVE, GET ORIENTED AND THEN HEAD FOR THE HILLS
9:00 AM – Convenient pickup for those who have been in Jerusalem at Binyanei HaUma on Sderot Shazar.
10:00 AM – Convenient pickup at Ben Gurion airport’s International Arrivals Building for those who arrive in Israel that morning or find it more convenient to be picked up at the airport location. (The airport is an easy train ride from Tel-Aviv).
Please let us know in your registration materials where you prefer to be picked up!!
Transport by luxurious coach to Latrun, the IDF Museum and Historical Battle site. We will have a tour and then special speaker, Colonel David Hacham (ret). Col. Hachaml recently published the Israeli best-seller,”Gaza in the Eye of the Storm” which is a first person account of the rise of Hamas and the Israeli response to it. David Hacham is one of Israel’s experts on Hamas and Fatah and served as the advisor on Arab affairs to six consecutive Ministers of Defense including Moshe Ahrens. He will give us an eye-opening view into Hamas and the terrorist organizations and their political framework and leadership.
We’ll then enjoy a Welcome Lunch with Col. Hacham and then head off to the Shomron.
On our first stop in the Shomron we’ll visit the town of Beit-El and tour the HQ of Arutz Sheva also known as Israel National News network. Our host there will be Yaakov “Ketzaleh” Katz the Yom Kippur war hero who commanded a Sayeret Shaked commando unit. We’ll then go on to Ofra, a growing town in Samaria. Following that we will visit Amichai,a brand new Binyamin town where many of AFSI’s friends from Amona were resettled. Time permitting we’ll stop in the well-known town Kfar Tapuach for a visit with our good friend and scholar, Lenny Goldberg.
After this very full day, we’ll check into Ashel HaShomron,our Ariel hotel, for a relaxing evening with dinner and a tour of the Hotel’s Tabernacle model. The hotel also boasts a beautiful outdoor pool which may just entice you to go for a refreshing swim.
Special after dinner speaker to be announced.
TUESDAY, MAY 28 – FROM ARIEL TO THE SHOMRON HILLS AND BACK
9:00 AM departure for the village of Chavat Gilad and AFSI friend, Ilana Shimoni. With her, we’ll visit the family of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, z’l. It was following his murder, right outside the community, that AFSI donated a security camera which has already helped catch terrorists. We’ll continue on to the town of Yitzhar where we’ll visit AFSI’s friends, the HaCohens, and see their now flourishing flour mill. Despite their amazing growth, they still use the tractor AFSI donated approximately 7 years ago when they were just a small operation in need of assistance. Yitzhar has new and interesting places to see; so we’ll include a visit to Ayash Jewelers. Here, two locals create handmade jewelry and etched Moroccan-style silver. After this busy morning, we’ll enjoy a farm-fresh organic lunch at Givat Olam, high in the hills of Itamar enjoying a stunning view from Israel into Jordan.
Following lunch we’ll depart for Elon Moreh, one of the first communities established in the Shomron. There we will visit Shira Ish-Ran, daughter of Chaim Silberstein, who was shot in a terror attack where she and her husband were wounded and she lost her 7 month old baby. After paying condolences, we’ll tour the growing and vibrant community.
Our next stop will be the bustling city of Ariel in Samaria. We’ll meet with residents who were expelled from Gush Katif. This group resettled in Ariel homes after many years of living in trailers.
Dinner in Ariel at a popular restaurant will be followed by a tour of the Cultural Center and a visit to the University where we will have a VIP tour and see the amazing progress that has taken place. It will be our pleasure to congratulate the administration on the hard won approval of the new Medical School.
Overnight at Ashel HaShomron hotel, Ariel.
WEDNESDAY – MAY 29: THE GALILI THREATS: HEZBOLLAH AND ARAB TAKEOVER
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll have a 9:00 AM departure to drive north into the Galilee. There we will be hosted by Ofir Shik, deputy head of the Lower Galilee Regional Council. We will see highlights of the area and discuss the threat of Arab expansion into the region. Our morning will include a visit to Nazareth Illit and an executive briefing with the Mayor, Ronen Plot. We will then be delighted to tour the famous Elite Chocolate factory located there, and sample some treats which are exported throughout the world.
After a typical Israeli lunch stop, we’ll drive up towards the Lebanon border with Marc Provisor, Director of Security Projects of The One Israel Fund. Marc will give us a professional assessment of the ongoing threats from Iranian backed Hezbollah and we will see some of the tunnels that have been thankfully been destroyed by the IDF. Thanks to the generosity of Jill Hunter, AFSI member, and part of our group, we will donate some badly-needed armored medic vests to the Security professionals in the region.
We will then make a stop at the ecological village of Klil to visit a family of Galil shepherds who recently had their flock of 200 sheep stolen by local Arab criminals. This is just an example of the ongoing threats from Arabs that Israeli farmers must endure. Such dedicated young idealists must be honored and given assistance.
We’ll then check into the lovely Kinar hotel on the Kinneret. After a sumptuous dinner, Ayoob Kara, long-time Druze MK, will meet us for a talk about the Druze community in the area.
THURSDAY, MAY 30 – THE GOLAN MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS PART OF ISRAEL
After a sumptuous Israeli breakfast, we will depart at 9:00 AM for Katzrin, the capital city of the Golan. There we’ll tour the amazing reconstruction of an ancient synagogue and the newly constructed visitor center. This is the site of a Jewish stand-off against the Romans one year before Masada.
We’ll then visit with the small community of Gush Katif refugees who settled in the area after their expulsion. We’ll visit their heritage center and see where they now live. Gush Katif leader, Maayan Yadai will host us.
A lovely dinner at an outdoor restaurant will be followed by a boat ride on the Kinneret. This is a beautiful way to end an amazing day.
Back at the hotel we’ll have a speaker on the importance of the Golan to the State of Israel, and the necessity of US formal recognition of the Golan as Israeli territory.
Overnight at the Kinar hotel.
FRIDAY, MAY 31 – JORDAN VALLEY: CRUCIAL TO SECURITY AND JERUSALEM
Depart at 9:00 AM and drive down Jordan Valley.
After a visit to our former Gush Katif friends in the village of Maskiot, we’ll stop in Rotem for a fabulous lunch and some quick shopping.
We’ll continue south to the beautiful and unusual community of Kfar Adumim and visit with former MK and scholar, Dr. Aryeh Eldad.
We’ll then head into Jerusalem and check into the Kings Hotel to prepare for Shabbat.
Kabbalat Shabbat services at Great Synagogue or synagogue of choice Shabbat Dinner at Kings Hotel.
Overnight at the Kings Hotel where we will remain for the next 4 nights!
SATURDAY, JUNE 1 – SHABBAT AND THEN YOM YERUSHALAYIM FESTIVITIES
Morning services at synagogue of your choice.
Full Shabbat Lunch at Kings hotel.
4:00 PM Meet in lobby to walk to the Old City and meet our Ateret Cohanim family for Shalosh Seudot and Havdalah.
9:00 PM Your choice! Motzei Shabbat cozy Klezmer entertainment – OR – FESTIVITIES FOR YOM YERUSHALAYIM.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2 – TEMPLE MOUNT, EXPLORE AND YOM YERUSHALAYIM PARADE
7:00 AM meeting in the lobby for those going to Har Habayit for tour of Temple Mount with expert guides, Yaakov Hayman or Rabbi Richman.
10:30 AM Entire group meets at the women’s water fountain at the Kotel to join Dan Luria of Ateret Cohanim for tour of the Old City and the Yemenite village.
1:00 PM Lunch – picnic at Kidmat Zion, overlooking the entire city of Yerushalayim.
Afternoon parades and festivities for Yom Yerushalayim
Dinner at Mahane Yehudah, the exciting and colorful outdoor market.
MONDAY, JUNE 3 – E1 AND MITZPEI YERICHO TAKEOVER, YOM HEBRON
9:00 AM departure to meet Regavim leaders. We will view the E1 area, between Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim, and discuss the Bedouin takeover of that area and of Mitzpe Yericho.
We will meet Uri Pilichowski for a talk about IF NOT US – the unique gap year program created by AFSI. We’ll have a brief sample of a stop he makes with the students in this highly successful new program.
A very special lunch at their home will be hosted by Uri Pilichowski, our Director, and his wife Aliza, Mayor of Mitzpe Yericho.
After lunch we’ll stop in Maaleh Adumim and visit with Mayor Benny Kashriel.
3:00 PM We’ll then depart for Hebron and visit our friends there. It will be a special treat to participate in Yom Hebron events, celebrating the liberation of Hebron in 1967.
Dinner on your own in Jerusalem.
TUESDAY, JUNE 4 – INSIDER’S JERUSALEM, WOMEN IN GREEN IN GUSH ETZION, FAREWELL
9:00 AM Departure with our friend and guide, Chaim Silberstein. Chaim’s daughter and husband were wounded by Arab terrorists, and her baby was killed. We will offer our condolences and tour with him as he plans.
12:30 PM A farewell lunch will be enjoyed with Jerusalem Councilman Arieh King. He will give us an update on the eastern Jerusalem problem areas and the happenings in Jerusalem politics under the new mayor.
3:00 PM We’ll go on to visit the amazing Women in Green leaders, Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover at Oz v’Gaon in Gush Etzion. There are always exciting new developments there. AFSI is proud of its partnership with Women in Green.
5:00 PM For those who can stay for the evening, you are invited to attend the very special Moskowitz Prize awards in HaUma. We will travel there as a group.
If your flight is scheduled for June 4, you will be taken to the airport for a safe trip home.
Cost: *$2,500 per person double occupancy | $3,200 single occupancy
$500 Due upon registration | 50% Balance due by March 29 | Full payment due April 30
*We will do all we can to pair you with a roommate if you don’t have one. However, if we are not able to do so, you will be responsible for the cost of single occupancy.
.
Previous Missions
