Swords of Iron: Melton’s Solidarity Trip to Israel
June 18-23, 2024
(Itinerary subject to change)

Includes

• Accommodations: 5 nights
• Meals: All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
• Educational Programming: All entrance fees and programs as per the Melton itinerary

Tuesday, June 18 – WELCOME TO ISRAEL

• Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport- Private transfers and VIP services can be arranged.
• Welcome & Introductions
• War update and briefing with Amos Harel- Chief Military and Defense Correspondent for Haaretz Newspaper for the past 25 years, Harel is one of Israel's leading media experts on military and defense issues.
• Opening dinner

Overnight: Tal Hotel, HaYarkon Street 287, Tel Aviv, Tel: +972 3-542-5500

Wednesday, June 19 – BEARING WITNESS IN THE GAZA ENVELOPE

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Geo-political tour of Otef Aza, the Gaza Envelope, led by Michael Bauer, a professional educator, tour guide, and the author of "Israel Journey: Eight Days in One of The World's Most Complex Countries." Bauer specializes in Israeli-Arab relations, Israel's minority populations, Israel’s borders, and neighbors, as well as Middle East politics and history.
• Lunch at the home of Osi Lankri - Recognized as one of Ofakim's "Culinary Queens," Osi invites you to savor a home-cooked meal in her beautiful home. While enjoying the culinary experience, listen to her personal stories about life in the Envelope, her birthplace and hometown. Gain insights into how the October 7th attack affected her home, family, and neighborhood.
• Bear Witness to the events of October 7 - Trips to the Gaza Envelope area will be determined closer to the visit date. With time, residents are slowly returning home and may request privacy during these visits.
• Tree planting in or around the Nova Festival area pending need.
• Explore the integral role of the Bedouin Community woven into the fabric of Israeli society by visiting Rahat or another Bedouin Village. Meet the youth involved in the Desert Stars Program, dedicated to fostering a generation of Bedouin leaders for the advancement of a flourishing Bedouin community and a robust Israeli society. This initiative empowers mission-driven teenagers and young adults to unlock their individual and collective potential as transformative leaders.
• Prepare, serve, and enjoy a BBQ meal with IDF soldiers.
• Return to Tel Aviv

Overnight: Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv

Thursday, June 20 – HEALING TOGETHER

• Breakfast at the hotel - Check out of the hotel.
• Join Yotam Polizer, CEO of IsrAID, for an encounter and volunteering experience with the urban and relocated Kibbutz of Kibbutz Reim. Following October 7, Kibbutz Reim underwent evacuation to a hotel in Eilat. With IsraAID's assistance, the kibbutz established a temporary urban community in South Tel Aviv. IsrAID, a non-governmental organization based in Israel, is dedicated to responding to emergencies worldwide with targeted humanitarian assistance. Their efforts encompass various aspects of disaster relief, from search and rescue missions to rebuilding communities and schools, providing aid packages, medical assistance, and post-psychotraumatic care.
• Writing on the Walls, Graffiti Tour - What narratives do these images and words convey about the events in Israel since October 7? What social issues are depicted in the artwork on the walls? What sets Israeli graffiti, especially in Tel Aviv, apart? Embark on a dynamic tour through Florentin, Tel Aviv's renowned graffiti hub, where you will explore and discuss these questions, share your interpretations, and develop an appreciation for this vibrant form of artistic expression.
• Head north and enjoy lunch at Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek with international Journalist and Jewish Educator, Lydia Aisenberg.
• Join members of Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek and evacuees from Kibbutz Nachal Oz. Tour the grounds of the kibbutz, learn about the rich history of this historic community and its surroundings. Engage with relocated members of Nachal Oz, listening to their personal stories of assimilating into a new community. The conversation will also include members of Mishmar HaEmek, offering insights into how the absorption of 450 evacuees from the South has impacted their community life.
• Accompany Lydia as we proceed to the renowned Green Line and Wadi Ara (Route 66). Make a stop at the Amir Mountain range, offering breathtaking views over the divided village of Barta'a below and extending across the State of Israel, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
• Drive to Jerusalem & check into the hotel.
• Dinner at leisure

Overnight: Ibis Jerusalem City Center, Elisar Street 4, Jerusalem, Tel: +972 73-222-8888 OR Herbert Samuel Hotel, Shamai Street 25, Jerusalem, Tel: +972-2-5600600

Friday, June 21 – KOL YISRAEL AREVIM ZEH B’ZEH

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Volunteer at Pantry Packers (or) Jerusalem Hamal an organization who helps feed Israelis who face nutrition insecurity. They deliver packages of non-perishable household food items to families in need, including those significantly impacted by the events of October 7.
• Time for lunch and downtime at Machane Yehuda Market - In the heart of Jerusalem sits this bustling, multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor. Immerse yourself in the world of Middle Eastern cuisine in the Machane Yehuda Market. Learn about the market's rich history and meet the vendors who bring this place to life, as you experience the vibrant energy unique to this iconic culinary destination.
• Kabbalat Shabbat at Beit Avi Chai, pending availability - Join the Jerusalem public in a Friday musical tradition preparing for Shabbat. Beit AVI CHAI serves as a center for the creation and expression of Jewish and Israeli culture and education. Established in 2007 with the goal of attracting a diverse spectrum of Israeli society, Beit AVI CHAI focuses on programs geared to Jewish people living in Israel and via its website, around the world.
• Freshen up for a rooftop Shabbat dinner.
• Evening gathering & reflection.

Overnight: Ibis Jerusalem City Center / Herbert Samuel Hotel

Saturday, June 22 – SHAVAT V’YINAFASH

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Shul Options - Join a local community for Shabbat morning services or enjoy a leisurely morning.
• Shabbat lunch
• Post lunch reflection & learning session.
• Explore Musrara, the Israeli "Black Panthers" neighborhood, dating back to the 19th century. It witnessed battles in 1948, with a ceasefire line drawn through it. In the 1970s, Mizrahi Jews founded the Israeli Black Panthers here, fighting discrimination. Proceed to HaNevi'im Street, rich in tales of Zionist aspirations, European romanticism, African mysteries, or Middle Eastern intrigues. Immerse yourself in the narrative of a street that transports you to a bygone era.
• Havdalah
• Dinner and evening at leisure

Overnight: Ibis Jerusalem City Center / Herbert Samuel Hotel

Sunday – June 23 – MOVING FORWARD, FINDING HOPE

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Early morning agricultural volunteer at Kaima Organic Farm in Beit Zayit - Founded in 2013, Kaima is an educational farming network using employment and nature to engage and empower teens and young adults exploring non-traditional education. The farm serves as an outdoor classroom for a multi-layered process, including hands-on organic farming, leadership development, business learning, and community development. Amid the current conflict, Kaima participated in supplying fruits and vegetables to a local caterer supporting evacuees, Holocaust survivors, and those in need.
• Meeting with Zaka if opportunity allows ZAKA, an acronym for "Disaster Victim Identification" in Hebrew, consists of voluntary community emergency response teams.
• Quick stop to shop and support - Yad LaKashish, Lifeline for the Old, a non-profit organization empowering and supporting nearly 300 elderly Jerusalem residents daily by providing them with creative work opportunities in artistic workshops.
• Lunch at leisure in the Old City
• Farewell dinner & final reflection at Hamotzi - Israeli Master Chef winner Avi Levy combines a North African cooking style with a Jerusalem flare to create a rich kaleidoscopic of flavors using local ingredients from the nearby Machane Yehuda market.
• Transfer to the airport for departing flights.

This educational tour will be led by Melton staff. Melton travel is open to adults of all ages.

We are so pleased that you are interested in travelling with Melton! As you may know, Melton provides the educational content for its tours, but is not a travel agency. VIA SABRA is the travel logistics provider for this tour and is responsible for the collection of all deposits and other fees. Because Melton does not collect any travel deposits or fees, it is not responsible for any financial loss associated with a cancellation of this tour for reasons beyond Melton’s control, including COVID.

We encourage you to read Via Sabra’s Terms and Conditions thoroughly, advising that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers both “cancellation for any reason” and for “COVID-related” reasons. Even where your destination does not presently restrict travel due to COVID, we still recommend you purchase a policy with such coverage.

Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to travelling and learning with you,
The Melton Travel Team

Need to Know

• Melton has offered quality educational travel opportunities for over 25 years, but it is not a travel agency and does not handle any payments made towards the tour. We have contracted this tour to Via Sabra  and it is essential that you read their Terms and Conditions prior to your actual registration.
•  Melton is not responsible for cancellation of this program for reasons beyond its control and your travel insurance should cover both "cancellation for any reason" and "COVID-related cancellation". This latter policy is being offered by a number of insurance companies (see Insurance, Health & Safety, on this page). 

Cancellations

Please refer to the Cancellation policy that appears in the Terms and Conditions of the Registration process with Via Sabra.

Terms of Payment

Registration is required to secure the booking. Upon registration, within 48 hours, terms and conditions will be sent and will have to be acknowledged to finalize your booking. Cancellation within 48 hours to ensure no penalty. After 48 hours, an invoice will be sent for the trip's cost and payment will be due upon receipt.

Please note: 

The itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen changes from suppliers, weather, government restrictions, and other changes that may be required due to conditions on the ground. 

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation up to 48 hours from registration without penalty. After 48 hours, full payment due and the client will incur 100% of the cost of the tour without a refund.

All cancellation requests must be made in writing.

After 48 hours (about 2 days), the invoice will be sent, together with full terms and conditions for this tour. Payment due upon receipt of invoice.

Please contact us with any questions.

We look forward to welcoming you in Israel!

• All itinerary planning and implementation will be carried out in conjunction with the guidelines set out by the IDF Homefront Command and Israeli police.
• During all programming and travel, special attention will be given to ensuring that safe and protected spaces are always close.
• All itineraries will be subject to change at a moment’s notice, based on security authorities' recommendations.
• There will be limited free time, depending on the group's location.  
• Although Israel is at war now, free, and open travel is still possible in most areas of the country.  When traveling near the southern or northern borders or in the West Bank, additional security precautions will be taken.
• All participants will be required to sign a waiver of liability pertaining to the state of war and the limits of our ability to keep them safe.

Additional Information

•  Group rates are per person based on double occupancy and a minimum of 15 fully paying participants per bus. Should the number of participants drop below the minimum listed above, we will adjust the cost of the trip to reflect the additional expense of operating the program.
•  Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers, and the tour guide/educator are included.
•  Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available hotels while considering value. Although the level of the accommodations may differ slightly from hotel to hotel, we are committed to your comfort. Two-bed rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bed rooms with a rollaway cot where available and are not recommended when considering the comfort of those in the room. King-size beds are not available in most hotels; what is considered king-size usually consists of two single beds pushed together and made up separately, but with one headboard. Some two-bed rooms may have two twin - not full- or queen-size - beds.
•  Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. In travel beyond Israel, not all communal meals are kosher certified, but fish- and vegetarian options will always be available and kashrut and other dietary requirements of group members will be taken into account. Participants can order additional kosher meals at prices set by our local agents.
•  All tours are led by a Melton educator  who remains with the group throughout the tour.
•  Gratuities: All gratuities for the educators, guides, drivers, and restaurant staff are included.
•  Baggage: The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator shall not be held responsible for any damage to, or loss of, luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of the incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company. With regard to airline baggage allowance, different carriers have different regulations for business and coach. Please check with your individual carrier with regard to permitted number of pieces, weights and dimensions. The tour operator is not responsible for fees levied by any air carrier for the transport of personal belongings of any kind.

• Airline Security Measures: In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket, or you may be denied boarding.
• If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that airport.
• Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.
• Holidays and Museum Closures - Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or religious, state and local holidays observed in the destinations being visited.
•  Photography During Tours: We will occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your tour.

Not Included

• Round trip international flights to and from the US, personal and health insurance.
• Transfers from / to the airport unless as part of an organized group travelling together.
• Personal Expenses, including meals not mentioned above or drinks during meals, unless specified above; or room service.

Melton Travel recommends Forbes Advisor for the most up-to-date travel insurance comparisons. Consider travel protection for:

• Trip Cancellation
• Trip Interruption
• Emergency Medical Expenses
• Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains
• Trip Delay
• Baggage & Personal Effects
• Baggage Delay
  
  

Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 21 days from the time you make your initial trip deposit, the entire non-refundable amount of the trip must be insured, and you must be medically able to travel at the time the premium is paid. However, the travel protection plan itself can be purchased any time prior to departure.

Additional Information

• Airline Security Measures: Your name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket, or you may be denied boarding. If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification are required for that particular airport.
  
  
• Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.
  
  
• Holidays and Museum Closures - Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or state and local holidays observed in the destinations being visited.
  
  
• Photography During Tours: We will occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for promotional purposes. If you prefer your photo not used in any marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your tour.

For more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

T: 1–646–921–0747, Ext. 4