Israel Leadership Camp – Schedule
Be Part of ISRAEL- Camp
Find your connection to Israel
A fun, challenging and unforgettable experience that will prepare you to be a leader and an opinion shaper.
Itinerary
Wednesday July 8
Arrival
- Arrive in Israel
- Head to Jerusalem for your first visit to the Kotel
- Overlook over the city
- General orientation
Overnight Jerusalem
Thursday July 9
Then and Now
- Start the day by visiting Latrun tank museum guided around by serving IDF soldiers. The museum is on the site of several important battles from the War of Independence and is the official memorial site of the armored corps.
- At Ammunition Hill learn about the critical battle that took place here in 1967 and that determined the outcome of the war in Jerusalem. Discover the heroism of those who fought there, without whom Jerusalem would not have been reunited.
- Participate in an outdoor challenge activity to develop your leadership skills and group work.
- Then visit the offices of the Jerusalem Post newspaper and meet with editors and journalists there.
- End your day with a session by renowned Israel Advocacy expert Neil Lazarus.
Overnight Jerusalem
Friday July 10
Multi-Cultural Israel
- Visit the Voice of Israel radio station
- Take a trip on the Jerusalem light rail and observe the many different populations of this complex city.
- Stop at the unique Meah Shearim Ultra-Orthodox neighborhood
- Meet with an amazing Israeli musician from the Old City. Sing, dance and discover how his Jewish roots inspire his art.
- Return to the base to prepare for Shabbat
- Light candles and join thousands of others for Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Kotel
- Then reunite with your new friends for our first Shabbat dinner in Israel
Overnight Jerusalem
Shabbat July 11
Shabbat in Jerusalem
- Relax and regroup with a special Shabbat program in the Holy City
Overnight Jerusalem
Sunday July 12
Desert Experience
- Depart from Jerusalem and head south into the desert.
- Enjoy rappelling from these ancient cliffs overlooking the Dead Sea
- Hike in the natural desert oasis at Ein Bokek
- Float in the unique waters of the Dead Seam, at the lowest point on earth.
- Check into your hostel and have an early night in preparation for tomorrow’s pre-dawn wake up.
Overnight Masada Youth Hostel
Monday July 13
Ancient Dilemmas
- Hike up the famous snake path in time to see the sunrise over the Dead Sea. Explore the 2000 year-old fortress of Masada and learn of the Jews who chose death over slavery in the last days of the Great Revolt against Rome.
- Head up to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. The Dead Sea Scrolls date back over 2,000 years and are considered one of the world’s most important archeological finds. They include the earliest surviving copies of the various books of the bible and show us how closely the text has been preserved over the millennia.
- Then enjoy hiking and swimming among the waterfalls and natural pools at Nachal David at Ein Gedi, where the young David once hid from King Saul
Overnight Masada Youth Hostel
Tuesday July 14
Tour with the Tenach
- Drive up the Jordan Valley passing the ancient city of Jericho
- Stop at Har Gilboa overlooking the Jezreel Valley. It was here that King Saul and his son Jonathan met their deaths. David eulogized them in some of the most beautiful words in the bible. He cursed the mountain that it should never bloom – and indeed part of the mountain remains barren to this day.
- Take a dip in the natural springs that this area of the country is famous for at Nachal HaKibbutzim.
- As night falls head over to Beit Shean and enjoy the light show that brings these ancient ruins to life.
Overnight Shlomi, Western Galilee
Wednesday July 15
Northern Exposure
- Spend the day explore the Western Galilee
- Take the cable car down to the natural water grottos at Rosh HaNikra, that sits on Israel’s border with Lebanon.
- Then explore the town of Nahariya
- Head to Acco and visit the amazing Crusader castles and crypts. Acco was also the site of the infamous British prison where in 1947 the Etzel staged a daring prison break.
- Hike through the beautiful greenery of Nachal Kziv
Overnight Shlomi, Western Galilee
Thursday July 16
Israel Encounters
- Meet with the activists of HaShomer HaChadash. Styled on the Zionist pioneers known as The Guardsmen who protected Jewish land 100 years ago this group is dedicated to protecting Israeli farmers and land from theft and damage.
- Hike to the Keshet cave – a natural arch shaped rock formation
- Then enjoy a fun BBQ on the beach with Israeli teens.
Overnight Shlomi, Western Galilee
Friday July 17
Kabbalah and Mysticism
- Tour the beautiful Holy City of Tzfat.
- Meet with artist David Friedman and explore some of the secrets of the Kabbala hidden in his art.
- Head to our new base in the Golan
- Then take some time for spiritual preparation in advance of Shabbat
- Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat dinner together
Overnight Golan
Saturday July 18
Debate
- Relax and regroup with a special Shabbat program in stunning Golan Heights countryside.
- Explore the theme of Debate with special guest JP Weisman
Overnight Golan
Sunday July 19
Exploring the Golan
- See the Kesem HaGolan 3D experience and gain an understanding of what his region is all about.
- Stand atop Mt. Bental and look over the border into Syria. Understand the strategic significance of this region
- At Kibbutz El Rom watch the Oz77 movie telling the story of the largest tank battle in modern history which took place in this area during the Yom Kippur war.
- Meeting with Elaine Hotter, the mother of Gavriel Hotter who was murdered in a terrorist attack at his Yeshiva in Otniel in 2002. Gavriel was 17 at the time.
Overnight Golan
Monday July 20
Israeli innovation
- Hi-tech meets agriculture on the Kibbutz. See how innovations like the Robotic cow-shed are changing the war farmers farm and food is produced.
- Then try your hand at your own food production with a fun workshop at the De Karina chocolate factory.
- Enjoy a lazy afternoon kayaking down the river
- Meet with Kibbutz members at Misgav Am on the Israel-Lebanon border. Learn about their life on the border and how they see the future of this region.
- Then head back towards Jerusalem
Overnight Jerusalem
Tuesday July 21 – Thursday July 23
Israel Advocacy Film Seminar
- Participate in the three-day intensive film seminar focusing on the presentation of Israel in the various arts.
- Meet with Israel activists from Stand with Us and learn of the importance of being an advocate for Israel.
- Reflect on the origins of Zionism at Mt. Herzl
- In small work groups plan and film short movies about Israel using Jerusalem as our location backdrop.
- Learn how to edit your movies
- Celebratory film screening with film maker Rafi Kaplan and Israeli author Eliaz Cohen
- Participate in a fun and creative theatre workshop
- Evening activity With O2TMedia, an out-of-the-box think tank, finding new ways for timeless Jewish wisdom to water the pastures of tomorrow’s world.
Overnight Jerusalem
Friday July 24
Beneath the Surface
- Explore the excavations of the ancient City of David, the origins of Jerusalem. Stand in the spot where King Solomon was crowned and splash your way through the underground water system built by King Hezakiah 2,700 years ago.
- Then make your way to the Kotel tunnels. Walk the length of the Western Wall beneath the ground of the modern day Old City
- Return to home base to prepare for Shabbat
Overnight Jerusalem
Saturday July 25
Chazon
- In a special Shabbat program examine the concept of Chazon/vision for Jewish leadership.
- As Shabbat ends, Tisha B’Av starts. Head to the Kotel for a community reading of Megilat Eicha and unforgettable Tisha B’Av experience.
Overnight Jerusalem
Sunday July 26
Tisha B’Av
- Meet with Rav Stav, a leading figure in the religious Zionist world and the head of the Tzohar Rabbis group.
- Special Tisha B’Av program commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem from the rebuilt city.
Overnight Jerusalem
Monday July 27
Tel Aviv – New Old City
- Head to Tel Aviv for the day
- Enjoy a special tour at the Google Israel offices home to some of Israel’s most creative innovation pioneers
- Then learn about the founding of the State at the Palmach Museum
- Explore the history of Israel in the Yitzhak Rabin Museum
- Spend some time shopping at the Jaffa flea market
- Then meet the staff at Tatzpit, a news service dedicated to helping international journalists produce accurate and balanced coverage of Israeli events and sharing the real story from the field.
Overnight Jerusalem
Tuesday July 28
In the Shoes of the Other
- Experience the life of a blind person for just an hour at Dialogue in the Dark
- Then at Invitation to Silence step into the shoes of a deaf person
- What can these experiences teach us?
- In the afternoon follow the ancient Jewish tradition of Leket by volunteering to harvest fruit and vegetable from fields donated by the farmers to the poor. (In accordance with the Laws of Shmitta)
Overnight Jerusalem
Wednesday July 29
Growth from the Ashes
- Spend the morning at Israel’s national Holocaust museum – Yad Vashem. Explore the impact of the Holocaust on our people and honor the victims in a moving memorial ceremony
- Then see how Judaism has risen out of such dark days as you embrace the vibrant life of Jerusalem in the Machane Yehuda Market
- Meet with Rav Shalom Sharon of Ethiopian Council
- Participate in a fun cooking workshop and cook your own dinner
Overnight Jerusalem
Thursday July 30
Government and Politics
- Tour the Begin Center at Yemin Moshe and learn about the man who overturned Israeli politics
- Then visit the Israeli Supreme Court
- Tour the Knesset and meet with a member of Knesset
- Finally attend a meeting at the Foreign Ministry and have an opportunity to ask all your questions to an Israeli Government official
Overnight Jerusalem
Friday July 31
Depart for free Shabbat
Sunday August 2
Desert Experience II
- Regroup after free Shabbat and head down to the South
- Tour Kibbutz Yotvata famous for its chocolate milk
- Enjoy a camel trek among the sand dunes of the Arava desert
- Then prepare camp for an night sleeping beneath the stars
- After a dinner you prepare yourselves toast marshmallows and sing around the camp fire
Overnight Desert outdoors
Monday August 3
Eilat
- Hike in the natural beauty of Park Timna, home to some of King Solomon’s mines.
- Then head to Eilat for some retail therapy
- Learn the story of the ink flag and the capturing of Eilat, the final operation in the 1948 War of Independence
Overnight Eilat
Tuesday August 4
Red Sea Relaxation
- Rise early to climb Mt. Tzfachot at dawn. From the top of this mountain it is possible to see four different countries
- Descend from the mountain straight to the sea- the Red Sea that is – and enjoy time snorkeling among the beautiful fish of the Eilat waters
- Take some time out from the 100 degree heat in the ice-mall.
- Then enjoy some competitive water sports before heading back to Jerusalem for our final day.
Overnight Jerusalem
Wednesday August 5
Closing the Circle
- Take some time on our final day to summarize and evaluate our experiences together. What have we learned? What is next?
- Then celebrate with an amazing farewell party before a tear-filled departure.
Next year in Jerusalem
* Please note that this program is subject to change based on security and other considerations.
| Day | Week Day | Date | Activities | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wednesday | July 8 |
Arrival First visit to the Kotel (Western Wall) |
Jerusalem |
| 2 | Thursday | July 9 |
Then and Now Latrun |
Jerusalem |
| 3 | Friday | July 10 |
Multi-Cultural Israel Visit the voice of Israel |
Jerusalem |
| 4 | Shabbat | July 11 | First Shabbat in Jerusalem | Jerusalem |
| 5 | Sunday | July 12 |
Desert Experience Rappelling |
Masada YH |
| 6 | Monday | July 13 |
Ancient Dilemmas Masada |
Masada YH |
| 7 | Tuesday | July 14 |
Tour with the Tenach Mt. Gilboa |
Shlomi |
| 8 | Wednesday | July 15 |
Northern Exposure Rosh HaNikra |
Shlomi |
| 9 | Thursday | July 16 |
Israel Encounters Meeting with HaShomer HaChadash |
Shlomi |
| 10 | Friday | July 17 |
Kabbalah and Mysticism Tour in Tzfat |
Golan |
| 11 | Shabbat | July 18 |
Shabbat in the North Theme: Debate |
Golan |
| 12 | Sunday | July 19 |
Exploring the Golan Kesem HaGolan |
Golan |
| 13 | Monday | July 20 |
Israeli Innovation Robotic cow shed |
Jerusalem |
| 14 | Tuesday | July 21 |
Advocacy Film Seminar Stand with us activity |
Advocacy Film workshops |
| 15 | Wednesday | July 22 |
Advocacy Film Seminar Mt. Herzl |
Advocacy Film workshops |
| 16 | Thursday | July 23 |
Advocacy Film Seminar More filming and editing |
Advocacy Film workshops |
| 17 | Friday | July 24 |
Beneath the Surface City of David |
Advocacy Film workshops |
| 18 | Shabbat | July 25 |
Shabbat Theme: Chazon (Vision) |
Jerusalem |
| 19 | Sunday | July 26 |
Tisha B’Av Conversation with Rav Stav – Leading figure in the religious Zionist world and head of Tzohar |
Jerusalem |
| 20 | Monday | July 27 |
Tel Aviv – New Old City Tour at Google offices |
Jerusalem |
| 21 | Tuesday | July 28 |
In the shoes of the Other Dialogue in the Dark |
Jerusalem |
| 22 | Wednesday | July 29 |
Growth from the Ashes Yad Vashem |
Jerusalem |
| 23 | Thursday | July 30 |
Government and Politics Yemin Moshe |
Jerusalem |
| 24 | Friday | July 31 | Depart for Free Shabbat | |
| 25 | Shabbat | August 1 | Free Shabbat | |
| 26 | Sunday | August 2 |
Desert Experience II Tour Kibbutz Yotvata |
Desert outdoors |
| 27 | Monday | August 3 |
Eilat Park Timna |
Eilat |
| 28 | Tuesday | August 4 |
Red Sea Relaxation Dawn climb of Mt. Tzfachot |
Jerusalem |
| 29 | Wednesday | August 5 |
Closing the Circle Final Party Departure |
