JOIN US IN ISRAEL THIS AUGUST    

Temple Ner Tamid has arranged through the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) and the Jewish Agency For Israel (JAFI) for a unique and wonderful opportunity to travel with Rabbi Kushner to Israel this summer, the 60th anniversary of Israel's birth.

This remarkable trip is special for two reasons. First, the trip will go far beyond the typical "tourist" experience in Israel, to provide an insider's view of Israel, and particularly the Reform movement in Israel. Second, the trip is incredibly affordable—only $920 per person exclusive of airfare. This is about half of the cost of most comparable Israel trips.

The trip will go from August 12th to 23rd. It is open for individuals, couples and families with children. Highlights of the trip include the following:

• Stay in kibbutz housing, get an insight into Ulpan and other aspects of kibbutz
• Hiking, kayaking, and wine-tasting in the Golan with Israeli families
• Take part in Tikun Olam in Tel Aviv-Yafo
• Explore the new in old Jerusalem, with the Anita Saltz Center.
• Be a part of the solution: Eco-Zionism at Reform Kibbutz Lotan
• Dialogue with Jews and Arabs at the Leo Baeck Center in Haifa
• Enjoy Bedouin hospitality and hear about their challenges
• Celebrate Shabbat with Israeli Reform congregations
• Discover the aquatic life in Eilat, the night life in Tel Aviv

But this only scratches the surface. Click this link for a complete current itinerary. We do not believe there is a comparable trip at a similar cost available anywhere else. You can learn more information about the trip (and download materials related to it) at the ARZA website, which is www.arza.org/rfe.

If you want to attend this trip, space is limited, so it is necessary for you to register and to make a $500 deposit (per family). If you are ready to do that, please contact Andy Dwyer, and he will pass on your information to the trip organizer. Andy can be reached via cell at (973) 460-0450, or via email at andy@thedwyerlawfirm.com. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact him.

Completing the registration and making the deposit will be necessary to secure a place on the trip. A copy of the registration form can be found by clicking this link, or by going to the ARZA website noted above.

If you want to register for the trip, you should:

1) Make your deposit check of $500 per family payable to “Israel Aliyah Center,” and mail it to:

Liran Gazit

ARZA

633 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10017

2) Fill out the attached registration form and fax it to:

Liran Gazit

ARZA

(212) 318-6145 (fax)

Please tell Andy Dwyer ASAP if you are going to make the commitment to going, so he can tell ARZA and insure they know you are coming from Temple Ner Tamid.

• Please state on the registration and when you mail in the check that you are coming from Temple Ner Tamid.

The $920 per person cost covers apartment-style living, half board (two meals a day), buses, and entrance and activity fees. You will need to separately make arrangements for airfare. In making your travel arrangements, you need to insure that your arrival and departure (in and out of Tel Aviv) will coordinate with the attached itinerary. This will almost certainly involve some overnight travel. You can, of course, extend your trip in Israel as you wish, but you would bear the additional ground costs.

• Temple Ner Tamid will be glad to help coordinate the overseas travel arrangements if enough of us would like to travel to and from Israel together.

Finally, ARZA has advised us that large families that would find the cost financially prohibitive may be able to obtain a small scholarship from the Jewish Agency. If you believe that might make the difference for your family, please tell Andy Dwyer and he will follow up with ARZA.