VFI-USA.ORG

VFI PLUS Programs for 2022


Program Schedule for Fall, 2022

VFI PLUS ARCHAEOLOGY (14 days) October 23 to November 5, 2022 - See Below

VFI PLUS ADVANCED (17 days) November 11 to 27, 2022. See tinyurl.com/vfi2022B

VFI PLUS ARCHAEOLOGY (14 days) Program 

October 23 to November 5, 2022

DETAILED ITINERARY

5/19/2022

Program Scope: This program is suitable for both first-time and experienced visitors to Israel. Custom touring focuses on well-known and less-visited yet compelling historic sites for the limited group size. The first week is dedicated to volunteering in uniform on an IDF base, followed by weekend touring. Week two volunteering is at the Jerusalem, City of David archaeological dig. Work with professional archaeologists seeking biblical artifacts where people actually walked in 586 BCE, just after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. Enjoy instructional visits to otherwise restricted sites. After additional weekend touring, the program concludes at the airport.

PROGRAM COSTS:

The costs in Israel are influenced by the current shekel-USD exchange rate where a U.S. dollar buys about 3 Israeli shekels.


The All-Inclusive program fee bundles all major costs including Covid insurance, all 4-star hotel rooms, all transportation in an air-conditioned bus, most food, touring, private tour guide, archaeology fees, gratuities, etc. NOTE: Airfare, Covid tests, personal health and trip insurance are not included. The following fees are paid separately: VFI Application fee: $125. and Sar-El fee: $100.


The All-Inclusive program fee for each person, sharing a double room is $3,415. In addition, a single supplement is available for $4,465. The fee is based on a group minimum size of 12 and subject to adjustment for fewer participants.


DEPOSIT - A $500 refundable deposit holds your reservation on a first-come, first-served basis and applies to the total. Group size is limited and a wait-list is maintained. Send your deposit check made out to "Volunteers for Israel" to VFI’s Financial Secretary, Irene Newman at 680 N. Lake Shore Drive Apt 1003, Chicago, IL 60611  inewman680@aol.com 

Please indicate your program name and date. All fees are paid by check to VFI.


Hotels used: Leonardo Tiberias and Prima Royale Jerusalem or equivalent.

DETAILED ITINERARY


1.      Sunday, October 23 - Week One

Morning group meeting at a Tel Aviv location before transfer to your IDF base via bus. Lunch on base, IDF orientation, receive uniforms, volunteer assignments. Dinner. Evening education program.


2.     Monday, October 24

Breakfast, flag raising, volunteer assignments on IDF base. Lunch, dinner. Evening education program.


3.     Tuesday, October 25

Breakfast, flag raising, volunteer assignments on IDF base. Lunch, dinner. Evening education program.

 

4.     Wednesday, October 26

Breakfast, flag raising, volunteer assignments on IDF base. Lunch, dinner. Evening education program.

 

5.     Thursday, October 27

Breakfast, flag raising, volunteer morning assignments conclude on IDF base. After lunch depart by bus and begin touring. Travel North to Megiddo, one of the best-known and significant biblical sites. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site with over 20 identified layers of civilization. Megiddo is beautifully situated in between Carmel Mt. and the Jezreel Valley, and is meaningful for Jews and Christians alike. Dinner at hotel. Overnight in Tiberias / Hotel Nof Ginosar on Lake Kinneret.

 

6.     Friday, October 28

Breakfast at hotel. Tour the Golan Heights: visit Mt. Bental overlooking Syria, Ein Kshatot ancient synagogue which was recently (and amazingly) restored, and a Druze village on the slopes of Mt. Hermon. Enjoy a delightful Druze hospitality luncheon in a private home, learn about their history and traditions, and most important - enjoy a delicious lunch. Shabbat dinner at hotel. Overnight in Tiberias / Hotel Nof Ginosar on Lake Kinneret. 

 

7.     Saturday, October 29

Breakfast at hotel. Tour all day. Visit Hammat Tveria, an ancient synagogue famous for its beautiful mosaic floor. Tour Gesher – the kibbutz on the bank of the Jordan river, which became a battlefield in 1948. We will discuss military history, as well as the first (and last) hydroelectric power plant in Israel.

Visit Qasr El Yahud – according to a Christian tradition, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Located next to Jericho, where the people of Israel entered the promised land.  

Drive to Jerusalem, stop at Mt. Scopus for a "Shehecheyanu" ceremony. Dinner at hotel. Overnight in a 4-star Jerusalem hotel. Private evening lecture and archaeology orientation by Prof. Yuval of Tel Aviv University.

8.    Sunday, October 30 - Week Two

Transport at 6:45 am to City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours - see above program schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner at hotel, overnight in Jerusalem 4-Star hotel.

 

9.     Monday, October 31

Transport at 6:45 am to City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours - see above program schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner at hotel, overnight in Jerusalem 4-Star hotel.


10. Tuesday, November 1

Transport at 6:45 am to City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours - see above program schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner at hotel, overnight in Jerusalem 4-Star hotel.


11.  Wednesday, November 2

Transport at 6:45 am to City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours - see above program schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner at hotel, overnight in Jerusalem 4-Star hotel.


12. Thursday, November 3

Transport at 6:45 am to City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours - see above program schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner at hotel, overnight in Jerusalem 4-Star hotel. Volunteer services concluded.


13. Friday, November 4

Breakfast at hotel. Tour all day. Visit Herodian – the desert fortress built by King Herod the Great, which he chose as his gravesite. Herodion became a Jewish stronghold during the Roman revolts. It was excavated and restored for many years, and now you can see it as never before. Drive to Jerusalem. Walk in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, see the restored Hurva Synagogue, the 4 Sephardic synagogues, the square where the population of the Jewish quarter gathered just before the Jordanian army took over Jerusalem in 1948. Place a note at the Western Wall. Optional – Kabbalat Shabbat at the Wall. Shabbat dinner at hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem 4-star hotel.


14. Saturday, November 5

Breakfast at hotel. Tour all day. Visit Jericho – one of the oldest cities in the world, home to the best date palm trees. We will ascend to Mt. of Temptation to visit an ancient monastery overlooking the plain of Jericho, will visit Tel El Sultan – the location of biblical Jericho, the ruins of the Hasmonean palaces and Hisham palace with amazing mosaics, and more. Farewell dinner at restaurant. Drive to Tel Aviv airport and fly home.

PROGRAM REFERENCE MATERIALS:

To read a published article on our dig site in the City of David go here   https://tinyurl.com/davidcityof

See Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3LCbCz9lWs

 

You simply need to pack and show up, ready to volunteer.

RESERVATIONS ON A FIRST-COME BASIS. A WAIT-LIST IS MAINTAINED.



CONTACT ILANA BLUMENTHAL AT Ilanavfi@gmail.com


QUESTIONS: CALL Steve Plotkin at 267.252.0597
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