Bus 1 touring May 23-26, 2022;
Bus 2 touring May 30 – June 2, 2022

Tour Guide: Aliza Avshalom; Accommodations: Olive Gilboa Hotel
Preliminary Itinerary (subject to change):

• Walk in the Footsteps of the Tanach, including lookout from the Gilboa – story of King Saul & the Philistines, & Ein Harod – Gidon & the Midianites.
• Marvel at the splendid mosaic floor of the ancient synagogue of Beit Alpha – one of the finest uncovered in Israel with its unique motifs and workmanship. The synagogue itself was small and simply built, but its mosaics represent a folk art that is striking, very colorful and rich in motifs.
• Up the hill from the ancient Beit Alfa Synagogue, deep inside Kibbutz Heftzibah, is something unexpected: a lovely little Shinto-style Japanese garden with a serene koi pond, built by members of the Makoya, a Japanese Christian movement whose members have been studying Hebrew at the kibbutz since 1962.
• Enjoy an Agriculture & Innovation Tour at Kibbutz Magal including a guided tour of the “Netafim” drip irrigation plant and greenhouse innovation park, and “Masik” olive oil visitor center.
• Visit the Sarah Herzog Emunah Afula Children’s Home & interact with the staff and children – home to 130 at-risk children ages 6-18, in residential and afternoon care, placed by child protective services.
• Experience Shean Nights – A magical nighttime light and sound show illustrating the history of Beit Shean.
• Explore Belvoir Crusader Fortress – the most complete and impressive Crusader fortress in Israel.
• Visit Degania Aleph – the first kibbutz established in Israel by Jewish settlers who wished to work the land as farmers; it became famous as a successful commune which was later emulated by many similar communities around Israel.
• Tour the Bet Rami & Uri Nehoshtan Contemporary Art Museum.
• Encounter a Bedouin experience along Nahal Tzippori including a visit to the memorial site for fallen Bedouin soldiers.
• Tour Bet Shearim – the seat of the Sanhedrin and burial place of Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi.
• Soar on an optional early morning hot-air balloon ride over the Jezreel Valley (additional cost of 590 NIS/person with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 30 participants) to enjoy a breathtaking, panoramic view of northern Israel in an amazing, unique, peaceful, quiet and safe airborne experience.

Cost is 2750 NIS per person in a shared double room, or 3800 NIS for a single room (200 NIS per person or 300 NIS per couple additional for non-AACI members) and includes: bus transportation from Jerusalem and professional English-language tour guide for 4 days, half board (breakfast and dinner) and lodging for 3 nights at the scenic Olive Gilboa Hotel, and entrance fees to sites. Balloon ride is extra. Kashrut  & Ministry of Health rules observed.

For more information or to register, contact Jeff Rothenberg at Conted@aaci.org.il .