Educational and Mitzvah Experiences in Israel

As mentioned in my first post below, I'm leaving in about two weeks for my first trip to Israel, together with some of my fellow seminary students and their "significant others". We're going to be guided by Keshet (rainbow): The Center for Educational Tourism in Israel.

Because we're seminary students, we'll be seeing and doing some things that wouldn't be on a typical tourist itinerary. Many of our stops wouldn't have been on any itinerary in 1963, when I wrote the speech below or even 1993, 30 years later. I'd like to share the highlights with you:

Day 1
Tel Aviv -- hear Ben Gurion's voice declaring independence
Machon Avyalon -- see ammunition plant from 1945-48
Tel Aviv -- distribute food packages to needy Israelis

Day 2
Casesarea -- see largest man-made port of ancient world
Isufia -- meet with Druze Israelis for lunch
Haifa -- visit Museum of Clandestine Immigration
Haifa -- meet Haganah veteran and former British prisoner

Day 3
Tzfat (Safed) -- learn about mysticism from Kabbala artist
Manara Cliffs -- view Hula Valley across from Golan Heights
Golan Heights-- see discoveries from 2nd Temple period

Day 4
Kibbutz Lavi -- learn how collectives are adapting to modernity
Zippori -- Roman era discoveries where Mishna was completed
Galilee -- harvest food donated by farmers for poor Israelis

Day 5
Jerusalem -- study binding of Isaac, look at traditional site
Jerusalem -- tour newly discovered City of David

Day 6
Jerusalem -- Shabbat services, walking tour
Mt. Scopus -- read Aicha (Lamentations) for Tisha B'Av

Day 7
Jerusalem -- visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial
Ma'aleh Adumin -- meet Ethiopian Jewish immigrants
Jerusalem -- afternoon prayers at Western Wall

Day 8
Jerusalem -- make lunch for poor Israelis at free restaurant
Jerusalem -- meet mother of soldier killed in Gaza in 2004
Jerusalem -- hear speaker from Rabbis for Human Rights

Day 9
Jerusalem -- meet S. Shulman, advisor to 4 prime ministers
Gush Etzion -- meet pioneers who are building city of Efrat
Kfar Etzion -- volunteer at canteen for Israeli soldiers
Neve Shalom -- visit joint Jewish - Palestinian community

Day 10
Masada -- see artifacts of rebels' last stand against Rome
Masada -- float in Dead Sea
Jerusalem -- tour Western Wall Rabbinic Tunnels

I intend to post photos from these sites, except those visited on Shabbat, along with comments on what we've seen and experienced, throughout the trip. I'll be glad to respond to questions.