July 11 - August 16 2010
Under the new leadership of Eli Brazil
Campers going into eleventh grade travel to Israel for a five week summer tour filled with awesome memories and unique experiences. Sulam campers learn leadership, the historical link between the land of Israel - the Torah - and the people of Israel, and are exposed to educational opportunities in Israel all while touring the land and having the times of their lives!
Upon our arrival in Israel we will ascend to Yerushalayim. During our initial stay there, we will overlook the Old City from the Haas Promenade, where Avraham Avinu first looked out and saw Mt. Moriah. We will walk through the underground 2700 year-old water tunnel of King Hezekiah and see the foundations of the palaces of the Kings of the House of David. Besides experiencing the special atmosphere of Shabbat in the Holy City and davening at the Kotel, we will have the opportunity to visit yeshivot for men and women and hear inspiring shiurim from leading teachers of Torah. We will also tour the magnificent houses of the Cohanim from the time of Bayit Sheni in the Herodian Quarter and explore the Kotel Tunnels. The many communities of Israel and their yearning for Eretz Yisrael will be the theme of our visit to the Sephardic Synagogues and other historical sites in the Jewish Quarter.
After that introduction to the history and religious facets of Israel, our next experience will be to explore the wild landscapes ofcommuning with nature in the challenging and fun 'BaMidbar' program. We then travel north to the enchanting Galil, where we will swim in the Kinneret, kayak down the Jordan River, visit the pioneer defenders settlement of Tel Hai, meet “Brooklyn Mike”, the security officer of Misgav-Am, the northern-most Israeli kibbutz, and have a chance to learn and talk with young Israeli men and women who are preparing for their army service in 'Mechinot'. We will also spend time in the wonderful Golan Heights, hiking through its cool waterfalls, scaling its volcanic hills, overlooking the historic fortress of Gamla, and combine fun with a great mitzvah in a sponsored bike ride on behalf of the Alyn children's orthopedic hospital. We will spend a mystical Shabbat in the Holy City of Tzefat, and meet an artist whose creations are inspired by the Kabbalah.
Options Week! Here's where you can enrich your experience of Israel the way you like it. Choose between Gadna training, in which you can get a taste of life in the IDF; an awesome Sea-to-Sea trail journey from the Mediterranean to the Kinneret; or a Beit Midrash program packed with lots of experiences to make your learning come alive. After the options we will all join up to see the magnificent mosaic floors of Beit Alfa, ride on muleback through the hills of the Galil, and cruise on the Kinneret. We will then have a weekend to visit friends and relatives throughout Israel.Tisha B'Av in Israel is a truly special time. In anticipation of the experience, we will spend the Nine Days in the Jerusalem region doing a variety of activities. We will follow the legacy of Bar Kochba and his brave struggle for freedom when we visit one of his underground strongholds. In the brand new museum at Yad Vashem we will gain new perspective about the Holocaust. We will see the places where Israel's War of Independence was fought, and learn how the Jewish People rose from the ashes of the Holocaust to found a State. We will also contribute to Israel through a unique Hesed program for Israeli children in need, and learn about the views of Israelis today about the issues in the news. We'll also have time that week for sports…and paintball!
After an inspiring Tisha B'Av experience, we will journey south towards Eilat. On the way there, we will camp out in the Ramon Crater, rappel down its cliffs, and take a wild jeep ride through its amazing landscapes. In Eilat we will swim and snorkel in the Red Sea, and enjoy a variety of water sports! Traveling through the Arava valley to the Dead Sea, we will have the opportunity to float on the lowest place on earth, and climb Masada at dawn. A final wonderful Shabbat in Yerushalayim will cap our trip to Israel – the experience of a lifetime!
