Achva Israel 2007
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Achva Israel is an incredible 36 day tour of Israel for girls and boys finishing 10th grade. From the Galil to the Negev, see Israel like you have never seen it before and only Achva can bring it to you. With fewer hikes, we can offer a vast array of activities including exploring the ancient caves of Bar Kochva, sliding on the Manara Cliffs, and even ice skating in the Northern town of Maalot. The tour features our BaMidbar Experience (Majesty of the Desert survival course), a rewarding chesed project helping Israelis in need, snorkeling and parasailing in Eilat, kayaking on the Jordan, greeting soldiers at an army base, visiting mystical Tzfat, and much, much more.

Our experienced counselor staff, featuring a combination of Americans and Israelis, will ensure you have the best summer possible. The tour includes educational seminars, learning sessions and uplifting Shabbosim where you can relax and soak up the holiness of Eretz Yisrael. Featuring a theme of understanding Jewish history both ancient and modern, the tour is filled with fun, meaningful and historical sites. The sessions and activities will be designed to increase your connection to Israel and her people. Achva Israel provides top notch supervision, an action-packed itinerary, and a range of enriching experiences just not found anywhere else. So what are you waiting for!!

Here is the tentative itinerary for 2008. A finalized itinerary will be mailed to all registered participants before the summer. Roll your mouse of the links for additional site information.

Jul 13) Depart via New York for Tel-Aviv,Israel
July 14) Arrival, the Road to Jerusalem, Kotel
July 15) Haifa, Atlit, Maapilim
July 16) Nachal Betzet, Rosh Hanikra, Akko, Ice Skating in Maalot
July 17) Zippori, Arbel Donkey Ride, Megido
July 18) Army Base Visit , Naharia Beach
July 19) Group Shabbat
July 20) Kibbutz Lochmei Hagetaot Palmach Museum, Yaffo
July 21) Bar Kochva Caves , Mevaseret Mall
Europe/Israel joins the trip
July 22) City of David, Davidson Center, Kotel Tunnels
July 23) Sde Boker, Rappelling, Machtesh Crater,
July 24) BaMidbar Experience (Majesty of the Desert)
July 25) Complete BaMidbar Experience, Prepare for Shabbat
July 26) Group Shabbat in Mitzpe
July 27) Red Canyon, Eilat Tayelet,
July 28) Eilat - Snorkeling, Parasailing, Banana Boating, Night Jeeps
July 29) Timna, Yotvata, Southern options
July 30) Masada at sunrise, Camals, Dead Sea Spa
July 31) Chessed Project, Paintball
August 1) Travel to Free Shabbat (or Kibbutz Lavi)
August 2) Free Shabbat, Kibbutz Lavi option
August 3) Regroup, Yad Vashem
August 4) Independence Hall, Rabin Square
August 5) Modern Jerusalem, Ammunition Hill
August 6) Sports Day vs. Other Summer Programs
August 7) Chesed Project, Jerusalem options
August 8) Burnt House, Machon Hamikdash
August 9) Group Shabbat in Jerusalem, Erev Tisha BeAv, Eicha,
August 10) Tisha B'Av, Kinot, Second Temple Model, Kotel
August 11) Travel North, Golan, Magrese Water Hike
August 12) Oz 77, Har Benthal, Naot Factory, Jordan River Kayaking
August 13) Tzfat, Meeting with Mystic Zefat Artists Quarter, The Ari's Mikvah
August 14) Golan Options, Return to Jerusalem
August 15) Har Herzl, Rechov Ben Yehuda Street, Shuk/Mea Shearim
August 16) Group Shabbat in Jerusalem, Banquet, Kumsitz, Kotel
August 17) Goodbyes! Fly to USA via New York

Sunday, July 13 to Sunday, August 17, 2008
$5,700

Price includes room, board, all sites and attractions, and round-trip airfare from New York. Even the finalized itinerary will be subject to the security situation and may be changed at any time at Achva's discretion. The safety of every participant is always the top priority for any Achva program. Please give us a call for details on our specific security policies for this trip.

Your summer will be filled with new friends, fantastic sites, and meaningful experiences that you will treasure for the rest of your life. For more information, please send us an e-mail or call us at 212 929-1525 ext. 181. You may also download a registration form. Limited space still available, call now. Thanks!

See some photos from Achva Israel 2007 (including some from Achva Europe Israel.)

Dates and prices are tentantive and subject to change based on flight, hotel availability, unexpected surcharges and the security situation.


Links to all sites not on the youngisrael.org web server, like tour destinations, are provided purely for informational purposes only and are not checked for accuracy, timeliness or inappropriate material. Achva is not in any way responsible for offensive or objectionable content found on those sites. If any problems are discovered, please e-mail us immediately so we can remove the link. Thank you.


Copyright© 2007, National Council of Young Israel
All Rights Reserved.

Tayelet Lookout, and start Israel off right with some prayers at the Kotel
After a late wake up (heck yeah!) we head out to see historic sites in Tel Aviv including the Palmach Museum.
Hike Nachal Betzet and enjoy the incredible views of Rosh Hanikra.
Take a break from the summer heat and enjoy Achva on Ice!
Visit an Israeli army base and maybe some sports before Shabbat.
Bar Kochva Caves- Crawl around and explore for yourself thousands of years of Jewish history- you may even dig up an artifact yourself.
City of David- Start your Israel experience right with a meaningful minyan at the Kotel.
Begin BaMidbar Experience (Majesty of the Desert)- Desert heat, hiking, sleeping bags, no bathrooms- just you and nature. The BaMidbar Experience will toughen you up, give you character, and enable you to bond with new friends in a whole new way.
Complete BaMidbar Experience- You may never appreciate another shower as much as the one you take today.
Machtesh Crater- You are in for some serious rappelling! How serious? If you decide to hike to the top of the crater, the ONLY way down is to rappel.
Eilat snorkeling, parasailing, Banana Boating- Guys, just make sure your bathing suite is on tight because you dont want to lose it while you’re parasailing.
Masada at Sunrise- Yes, we do get up incredibly early to climb Masada to see an amazing sunrise, but if you are really tired we can build you a bus hammock:
Yad Vashem- As the fast approaches you will get into the proper mindset as we tour through this most memorable and interactive museum.
Chesed Project- Working with Ethiopian Children- For many, the most touching and inspiring day of the trip. You will feel uplifted after spending time with the wonderful people at the Ethiopian center.
Group Shabbat in Jerusalem- Zmiros, Kotel Dovening and dancing, an uplifting oneg, and plenty of time to rest. The perfect Achva Shabbos.
Erev Tisha BeAv, Eicha- We go high into the hills and overlook Har Habayit, seeing first hand what we lost and why we are in mourning.
Tisha BeAv, Kinot, Second Temple Model, Kotel- We end the fast by the Kotel, and many participants find enough strength to sing and dance with hundreds of other Jews. An experience you will never forget.
Jordan River Kayaking- If there are no rapids to get you wet, you can create your own!
An incredible water hike, a holy Kever, and a relaxing night at sea- the perfect Achva day.
Tzfat, Meeting with Mystic- See the sights of one of the holiest cities in Israel...a lot of participants love meeting this mystical dude!
Real men go to the mikvah!
Rechov Ben Yehuda, Meah Shearim, Shopping- Have some time to chill out, buy some souvenirs, or just get something to eat at one of Jerusalem’s cafés.
Banquet, Kumsitz- We go to the Kotel late at night, there you will spend your last few hours on Achva reminiscing about all the incredible moments of the summer.
Kotel, Goodbyes! Flights to USA via New York- You may be excited to go home, but you will also be sad that Achva is over...even some of the boys cry...but we will not embarrass them by putting up that picture.