When: March 15-27, 2009

          Eilat, Petra-Jordan extension: March 26-29

Led by:Jim Gold and Dr. Joe Freedman

Featuring:

• See the new-old, multi-faceted culture of Israel, meet its people, learn songs and dances, visit its historic sites!
• Folk dancing with Israeli choreographers, Balkan dance with Dunav, Klezmer music workshop, an evening talk on Ethnic Folk Dance !
• Meet Yemenite, Bedouin, and Kurdish cultural groups. Attend Arab and Druze Debka dance workshops, and a performance by Inbal Dance Theater !
  

Land only: $3395
Land and air: $3895

Eilat, Petra-Jordan extension: $895

About Jim Gold

About Dr. Joe Freedman
Joe’s interest in international folk dancing and folk guitar began at 12 years old in St. Louis. He holds undergraduate degrees from Columbia University and The Jewish Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in education from Columbia Teachers College. He studied Israeli dance in New York with the legendary Fred Berk. In 1980 he and his wife moved to Israel where he organizes educational tours. Currently, he is Director of the Ramah Programs in Israel. He is a licensed Israeli tour guide and certified Israeli folk dance instructor. He loves to connect Israeli music and dance to sites in Israel and share his enthusiasm about the country with his tourists.

Day 1: Sunday, March 15:
Depart from USA in afternoon or early evening flight.

Day 2: Monday, March 16:
Arrive in Israel. Transfer to Tel Aviv's Dan Panorama Hotel. Overview of Old Jaffa. Orientation. Dinner in Mediterranean-style restaurant in Yemenite Quarter.

Day 3: Tuesday, March 17:
TEL AVIV: Independence Hall with focus on growth of Tel Aviv. Performance and workshop with Inbal Dance Theater. Museum of the Diaspora with emphasis on history of Jewish ethnic groups. Free for dinner. Evening workshop with an Israeli folk dance choreographer. Overnight:Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv.

Day 4: Wednesday, March 18:
Travel south. Introduction to the desert at the Jo Alon Center - Bedouin Culture Museum. At a Bedouin Tent: camel ride, Bedouin hospitality with coffee, tea, and an introduction to Bedouin life and Bedouin music. Bedouin-style Lunch. Afternoon transfer to Dead Sea Hotel. Use of spa facilities and float on the Dead Sea while reading a newspaper! Dinner included at the hotel. Overnight: Isrotel Hotel, Ein Bokek, Dead Sea

Day 6: Friday, March 20:
Old City of Jerusalem: Visit Christian Quarter (Church of the Holy Sepulcher), Jewish Quarter, Kotel (Western Wall). Optional visit to Friday night Sabbath services at the Kotel. Overnight and dinner at Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem.

Day 7: Saturday, March 21:
Day of leisure. Optional walking tour of Tower of David. Afternoon walking tour of first neighborhoods outside the City Walls. On your own for dinner. Evening talk on Ethnic Folk Dancing in Israel with the renowned Ayalah Goren-Kadman followed by optional Israeli dancing with Boaz Cohen. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel.

Day 8: Sunday, March 22:
From Tel Azeka recall story of David and Goliath. Participate in archaeological dig at Bet Gurvrin/Tel Maresha. At the Ayalon Institute hear the amazing story of clandestine operation during the British mandate. Free time for dinner in the city of Rehovot. Special evening program of Yemenite culture in the neighboring town of Kiryat Ekron! Return to Jerusalem's. Dan Panorama Hotel. On your own for dinner.

Day 9: Monday, March 23:
New City of Jerusalem: Yad Lekashish: Lifeline for the Elderly, sheltered workshops. Drive through Jerusalem’s Cultural Mile, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Tour the various ethnic neighborhoods in the Nahla’ot area as well as the colorful Machaneh Yehuda Open-Air Market. Evening program with immigrants from Kurdistan: authentic songs, dances and dinner! Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem.

Day 10: Tuesday, March 24:
Drive north. Druze hospitality at village of Daliat el Carmel. Panoramic view of the city of Haifa and the Bahai Gardens. Arab and Druze Debka dance workshop with the amazing Yihye Abu Juma. Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Guest House on the Sea of Galilee.

Day 11: Wednesday, March 25:
The mystical city of Zfat (Safed). Talk with a Kabbalistic artist. Klezmer music workshop. Visit Christian sites on the northern shore of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). Tour and wine tasting at Golan Heights Winery. Dinner at fabulous Decks Restaurant on the Kinneret. Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Guest House.

Day 12: Thursday, March 26:
Kinneret Courtyard and Cemetery: We start in Tiberias, traverse the Galilee to Zippori located near Nazareth. Songs and dances of poetess Rachel. Mt. Carmel – story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. Panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley. Drive down the coast. Farewell dinner near Tel Aviv. Depart for airport for midnight flight (arrival on early Friday morning, March 27). Travelers taking extension stay overnight in Tel Aviv at Dan Panorama.

Eilat and Petra-Jordan Extension: March 26-29

Day 13: Friday, March 27:
Fly to Eilat. Enjoy the Red Sea! Overnight: Eilat Hotel.

Day 14-15: Saturday-Sunday, March 28-29:
Cross border to Jordan to visit the fantastic city of Petra. Return to Eilat. Take late night flight to Ben Gurion airport, then on to New York City.

Day 16: Sunday, March 29:
Early arrival in New York City.