Past, Present & Future
Overnight Tiyul to Jezreel Valley
Wednesday 2–Thursday 3 November
Guide: Sharona Liman
Our tiyul starts at the train station of The Jezreel Valley Railway, known as the Train of the Valley. It operated from 1905 until 1948, going from Haifa to Zemach, as part of the Ottoman Hejazi railroad linking Haifa with Damascus. The visitor centre is housed in the old station in Kfar-Yehoshua that was renovated by the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites. After our picnic lunch break, we shall continue travelling through the largest valley in Israel, The Jezreel Valley. We shall learn how it played a key role in our history. Being part of the Via Maris, it was the main route of the ancient east, having witnessed all cultures, peoples and faiths going through it in times of war and peace. Of these peoples, the Jews have always had the best connection to this valley, from biblical times through the Mishnah period, until the Zionist return to the land in modern Israel.
Our overnight stay will be at Kibbutz Nir David Guest House. On arrival, there will be time for afternoon tea, a dip in the heated pool or just to relax before our evening program She’an Nights: Multi-Sensory Multi Media Experience at Beit She’an National Park. The multi-sensory experience transports us 2000 years back in time with surprises to all the senses.
Our supper is at Muza, a countryside kosher fish restaurant situated in the beautiful Gan Hashlosha.
The next morning, we will tour the Beit Shean Valley in golf carts visiting two natural springs and an ancient aqueduct at the foot of the Gilboa Mountains.
Leaving our golf carts behind we will travel to Gan Hashlosha, otherwise known as Sahne, famous for its warm flowing springs, which remain at a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius throughout the year - a natural Jacuzzi under the waterfalls with rich vegetation. There will be an opportunity for a pleasant swim or time to relax in the gardens. An ancient Arab legend claims the park to be the Garden of Eden. We will visit the reconstructed tower and stockade settlement, a water-powered flourmill and the Museum of Regional and Mediterranean Archaeology. Our kosher self-service lunch will be in the dining hall of Kibbutz Tirat Zvi.
Finally, we will visit the Rehov Synagogue to see the Mosaic Floor, which is decorated with a vast inscription that closely parallels a series of the earliest discovered and preserved rabbinic halachic texts relating to the sabbatical year.
Bring swimwear & towel for Kibbutz Nir David Guest House & Gan Hashlosha
Cost: NIS 995
After 1/9/2011: NIS 1025
Depart: Wednesday 2 November
7.45am Kikar/8.00am Young Israel
Return: Thursday 3 November 5.30pm (Approx)

Day Tiyul to Jerusalem - Birds, Politics, Nature & Art Tuesday 29 November
Our first stop of the day is a tour of the The Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO), a one-acre (5,000 square meters) oasis located on prime real estate between the Knesset and the Supreme Court. The site is one of the few traditional bird watching areas in Jerusalem that has not been harmed by development.
Our next stop is at The Knesset (rescheduled from the summer) where we will hear of some of the many eventful happenings throughout its history and see the plethora of tapestries and mosaics by Marc Chagall.
From politics we shall go to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens which is the site is the location of a 2000 year old burial cave discovered in 1902. Today, the original North American conifers grove is surrounded by plants from all over the world. The gardens harbor the largest living plant collection in Israel - more than 10000 species. We shall enjoy these gardens from the open train followed by a visit to the herb garden for an explanation on herbal remedies and teas.
Our last stop of the day is at the Museum for Islamic Art which holds one of the foremost collections of Islamic Art and Antique Watches & Clocks. The museum was founded by the late Mrs. Vera Bryce Salomons, realizing her long standing idea of giving expression to the impressive artistic achievements of Israel’s Muslim neighbors.
We shall see the beautiful and rare collection of more than180 watches and clocks.
The museum’s permanent collections constitute one of the most important exhibitions of Islamic art in the world. The exhibits present the numerous styles that characterized the different dynasties, from the first Umayyad caliphs to the Ottoman period, which marks the end of the Muslim Empire.
Cost: NIS 215
After 1/11/11 NIS 225
Includes: Morning Coffee at JBO & Kosher Meat/Vegetarian Lunch at the Knesset
Depart: 7.15am Young Israel / 7.20am Kikar
Return: 6.30pm (Approx)