Israel
Jerusalem, Masada, Tel Aviv, Galilee,
Haifa, Tiberias, Golan Heights,
Safed, and more!
Folk Dancing, Folk Music, Culture, History, Art, and Adventure!
Dancing with the Kurds in Jerusalem
When: March 2-13, 2025
Led by Lee Friedman
Guided by Joe Freedman
Featuring:
★ See the new-old, multi-faceted culture of Israel!
★ Meet the Israeli people, learn their songs and dances, visit historic sites.
★ For dancers, non-dancers, and anyone with a love of travel and culture.
★ Folk dancing with Israeli choreographers, Balkan dance with Dunav.
★ Meet Yemenite, Bedouin, and Druze cultural groups.
★ Attend Arab and Druze Debka dance workshops.
★ Price includes city tours, private deluxe motor coach, folk dance workshops, entrance fees, professional tour guide, breakfasts, most dinners.
★ Note: Our tour is appropriate for people who keep kosher and observe Shabbat
I can’t wait to go! Reserve my place with my $200 deposit per person.
Price: $4995
(To see our 3 choices of payment method, click here.)
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Dancing with the Yemenites
OUR ITINERARY:
Day 1: Sunday, March 2: Depart on airline of your choice.
Day 2: Monday, March 3 Arrive in Israel: Land transfer on your own to the Dan Panorama Hotel. In the afternoon, an optional guided walking tour of the nearby, quaint neighborhood of Neve Tzedek. Dinner provided at the hotel. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Avi
Day 3: Tuesday, March 4: TEL AVIV: Following breakfast and an orientation meeting we explore the Independence Trail, focusing on the founding and growth of Tel Aviv. Enjoy walking through the arts and crafts fair on Nahalat Binyamin street. On the campus of Tel Aviv University we visit the ANU Museum of the Jewish People, a state-of-the-art museum which tells the story of the Jewish people, including music, dance and the arts. Late afternoon/evening enjoy Israeli dancing at Dizengoff Center with Yaron Meishar. Free for dinner. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel.
Yemenite women of Kiryat Ekron
Day 4: Wednesday, March 5: Northern Exposure: We head north along the coast to explore the amazing ruins of the ancient city of Caesarea. In Haifa we stop for a breathtaking view of Haifa Bay and the Bahai Gardens. After a lunch break we travel to Deir el-Asad, an Arab village in the Western Galilee, where we will tour and have a dance workshop with the inimitable Yihye Abu-Juma, a world-renowned instructor in Debka dances. We continue crossing the Galilee to check in to our hotel. Dinner and overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel on the Kinneret Sea (Sea of Galilee).
Yihye Abu Juma. (front) leads our group us in a debka
Day 5: Thursday, March 6: To the Heights: In the mystical city of Zfat (Safed) we visit one of the
colorful, historical synagogues and meet with a Kabbalistic (mystical) artist. Free time for shopping and lunch, followed by wine tasting at the Old Zfat Winery. Ascending to the Golan Heights we arrive at the Druze village of Majdal Shams and hear from a resident, Fauzia, about the life of the Druze religo-ethnic group, followed by a unique view into Syria. Return to the hotel. Dinner and Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel on the Kinneret Sea.
Lake Kinneret
Dancing with the Kurds in Jerusalem
Day 6: Friday, March 7: From the Galilee to Jerusalem: Driving along the shore of the Kinneret Sea we pause to sing and dance to the songs of the poetess Rahel and of the song writer Naomi Shemer. In the charming village of Kafr Kama we learn Circassian dances and hear about the history of the local ethnic Moslems whose origins are in the Caucasus mountains. Traveling down the Jordan River Valley we arrive in Jerusalem. After checking into the hotel, we will be transported to the Western Wall (the Kotel) to observe Shabbat (Sabbath) services there. “Shabbat” dinner provided at the hotel. Overnight: Cassia Hotel (formerly, the King Solomon hotel), Jerusalem.
Western Wall: The Kotel
Circassian Dancers
Circassian couple dance
Day 7: Saturday ( “Shabbat”), March 8: Saturday (“Shabbat”), March 9: Day of leisure. Optional tour to Bethlehem (at Additional details and cost, TBA). On your own for lunch and dinner. Evening: optional Israeli dancing at one of a variety of folk dance clubs. Overnight: Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem
Day 8: Sunday, March 9: The Old City of Jerusalem: Introduction to the walls around the Old City at the Jaffa Gate. In the Christian Quarter we briefly visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and other sites, as time permits. Moving on to the Jewish Quarter we tour ancient remains as well as the rebuilt Hurva Synagogue. Following a lunch break we descend to the Kotel (Western Wall) and participate in a tour of the Kotel Tunnel. Return to the hotel. Dinner on one’s own. Evening: optional Israeli dancing with Mimi Cogan (see also tomorrow). Overnight: Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem.
Yemenite dancer
Day 9: Monday, March 10: Remembering and Celebrating Life: Drive through Jerusalem’s Cultural Mile to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum for a thorough visit. Afternoon: Enjoy lunch on your own, and walking around the colorful Machaneh Yehuda Open-Air Market. After returning to the hotel, an Israeli folk dance seminar with Mimi Cogan – choreographer and folk dance teacher par excellence! Dinner on one’s own. Overnight: Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem.
ay 10: Tuesday, March 11: To The Lowest Place on Earth: We check-out of the hotel and
descend to the area of the Judean Desert, with a brief stop at the beautiful oasis of the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. We visit iconic Masada (ascending and descending via cable car) to admire its incredible remains and to learn about its controversial history. Afternoon: transfer to the Dead Sea hotel for use of the spa facilities and to float on the Dead Sea. Group dinner and overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Ein Boqeq, Dead Sea.
Day 11: Wednesday, March 12: Life in the Desert: After checking out of the hotel we
make our way to the Negev desert where we visit with Khalil Alamour in the (unrecognized) Bedouin village of Khan alSira. He will show us how his home is self-sustaining and over traditional coffee and tea will talk about the challenges of the Bedouin community. Other sites in the Negev desert as time permits. Travel to Tel Aviv. Check-in to the Dan Panorama hotel (for those not flying late this night). Final dinner at a Mediterranean style restaurant. Return to the hotel or drop-off at Ben Gurion Airport. Overnight (for those who are staying) at the Dan Panorama hotel.
Klezmer musicians in Safed
Day 12: Thursday, March 13: Transfer to airport on your own. Depart on airline of your choice.
Visit www.jimgold.com to see YOUTUBE tour videos!
Registration: I can’t wait to go! Enclosed is my registration deposit of $200 per person. Israel single supplement: $995. Additional charges: $185 for hotel taxes and service charges. Gratuities not included. Program and prices subject to change without notice. Cancellations 90 days prior to departure: Total refund: Less than 60 days: No refund. Travel insurance strongly recommended. Total balance due December 1, 2025.
Make checks payable to: Jim Gold International, Inc., 497 Cumberland Ave., Teaneck, NJ 07666 (201) 836-0362 Email: jimgold@jimgold.com www.jimgold.com
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JIM GOLD INTERNATIONAL: TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Air Transportation: International air not included except as noted. Rates: Tour rates are subject to change in the event of currency fluctuations or increase in costs. Inclusive tour rates are per person in double occupancy. In case of computer or human billing errors, we reserve the right to re-invoice clients with corrected billing. Reservations: Deposits and Payments: Deposit of $200 per person is required at time of reservation. Balance is due 90 days prior to departure date. Changes: Prices and program subject to change without notice Baggage: One baggage per person and a carry on is allowed. Cancellations: Cancellations 45 days prior to departure: Refund 50% of total price. Less than 30 days: No refund. Additionally, any cancellation fees imposed by the respective hotels, airlines, tour companies and cruise lines will be charged. Travel Insurance is non-refundable as are unused services. Gratuities: Tipping to guides, drivers, transfer personnel and hotel staff is left to the discretion of the participants and is not included.
Insurance: Tour participants are strongly recommended to purchase insurance for trip cancellation, trip interruption, accident, sickness and/or loss of baggage and personal effects. Dispute Resolution: The sole and exclusive method of resolving any dispute which might rise under this agreement and any agreement between Jim Gold International, Inc., and another party (ies), the brochure or website and deemed to arise in the United States of America, shall be by arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in New York City pursuant to the Association’s rules then in effect. Any such arbitration must take place in N.Y.C., N.Y. In any such arbitration, the substantive law of N.Y. will apply. In the event a tour participant should find a service or hotel unacceptable, it should be reported immediately to the local representative and to Jim Gold International, Inc. upon their immediate return. No claim shall be deemed legitimate if not reported to the local representative and if reported after the scheduled service or after departure from the hotel. Responsibility: Jim Gold International, Inc. Of 497 Cumberland Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666 U.S.A acts solely in its capacity as marketing agent on behalf of its suppliers such as air carriers, ground operator, taxi suppliers, motor coach suppliers, excursion or tour companies and hotels identified on documents supplied in connection with purchase of the tours. Jim Gold International, Inc. shall not be held responsible for any wrongful or negligent acts or omissions by any supplier or other party not directly owned or exclusively controlled by Jim Gold International, Inc. or by the failure of any equipment operated by any such supplier or other party. Jim Gold International, Inc. shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage to person, property or otherwise, in connection with any accommodations, transportation, or other services, resulting directly or indirectly from any acts of God, dangerous incident to the sea, fire, breakdown of machinery or equipment, acts of government or other authorities, wars whether or not declared, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, defaults, delays or cancellations of or changes to itineraries or schedules, or from any causes resulting from insufficient or improperly issued passports, visas, or other documents passports, visas, or other documents. Neither Jim Gold International, Inc. nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of any of the aforementioned causes. Tour participant agrees that any claim against Jim Gold International, Inc. is subject only to the jurisdiction of the courts of the country in which the cause of action arose. The right is reserved to substitute hotels and to alter itineraries. The right is also reserved to cancel the tour prior to departure. If any tour is canceled prior to departure, Jim Gold International, Inc. will be responsible only up to the amount of monies Jim Gold International, Inc. received less any cancellation fee applied by a supplier as defined above. Travel Insurance is recommended. Jim Gold International, Inc. is not responsible or liable for defaults of those not directly under the exclusive control of Jim Gold International, Inc. All tickets and vouchers issued for transportation and services are subject to the terms and conditions under which such transportation and services are provided to the participant by the owners or contractors. The traveler assumes full responsibility for, and hereby releases Jim Gold International, Inc. from any duty of checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination or other entry requirements for each destination, and all safety and security conditions during the length of the proposed travel. Should any clause contained here in be determined void by any court of law, such a finding shall not affect the other clauses contained herein; each clause is a covenant which stand on its own. The receipt of your deposit and/or final payment will indicate that you have read these Terms and Conditions, and that you have agreed to them. Prices are subject to change.
Jim Gold International, Inc. 497 Cumberland Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666 U.S.A. Phone: (201) 836-0362 www.jimgold.com e-mail: jimgold@jimgold.com
