TMI final final

THE MUSSAR INSTITUTE
ISRAEL EXPERIENCE
Led by Dr. Alan Morinis
and Rabbi Avi Fertig

Day 1, Sunday, February 19, 2017
Departure
Departure from the United States
Day 2, Monday, February 20, 2017
Arrival
Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport,
with assistance from Makor Educational
Journeys representative.
Head north to Kibbutz Lavi, with its mountain
top views, situated close to the Kineret.
“Ice Breaker” and Festive Welcome Dinner at
the Kibbutz.
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel

Day 3, Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Observing Rav Yisrael Salanter’s Yartzeit with an Orientation
Kallah and Special Visit to Acco
MUSSAR KALLAH (1) led by Alan Morinis and Avi Fertig:
“Meditations and Reflections on Rav Yisrael Salanter”.
Lunch at the Kibbutz.
Special Visit to Acco and the Synagogue of the RAMCHAL (Moshe
Chaim Luzzatto). Learn the stories and study the words of the
RAMCHAL, especially his influential Mesilat Yesharim and hear
the story of the synagogue from the Shamash, as it has
come down to us through the centuries.
Time for meditation and prayer.
Return to the Kibbutz for dinner and an optional
opportunity for home hospitality with
kibbutz members to hear about
changing life on kibbutz
today.
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi

Day 4, Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Magical City of Tsfat
Guided visit through Tsfat, exploring the
alleyways and stories that have made Tsfat the
city of mysticism and secrets, including a
dialogue with a kabbalistic artist. Free time to
wonder around the artist colony and market
with its unique Jewish art.
Hour of Reflection in the Abohav Synagogue
On the life and work of Yitzchak Abohav, author
of Menorat Ha’Maor.
Short nature walk up part of a tree-lined trail
on Mt. Meron with a chance to hear stories
about the sages connected to this area.
Boat ride and dinner on the Kineret.
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi

Day 5, Thursday, February 23, 2017
To Jerusalem…
Depart for Tiberias.
Visit the graves of the Rambam, Rabbi Akiva, his wife Rachel, and the Ramchal. Explore how their teachings
have become some of the most significant anchors of Jewish tradition.
From Rachel to Rachel….Continue to the Kineret Farm Cemetery, where the great Zionist pioneer thinkers and
poets lived, are buried, comparing Rachel of Akiva’s life story with that of Rachel the Zionist Poet.
Drive through the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem.
Welcome to Jerusalem ceremony at Mt. Scopus for an overview of the city and an opportunity to recite the
traditional shehechianu prayer.
Straight to the Kotel to experience the site the Jews longed for during 2,000 years of exile. Alan Morinis and
Avi Fertig share some reflections and give everyone a chance to take in this most sacred location.
Check into the Mt. Zion Hotel in Jerusalem.
Dinner at the Mamilla Mall.
Jerusalem Night Spectacular (sound and light show) at the David Citadel Museum
Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 6, Friday, February 24, 2017
Out and About in Jerusalem
Short teaching after breakfast to begin Shabbat preparations: “Shabbat Through the Lens of Musar,” with
Rabbi Bill Berk.
Choices:
• Visit Yad Vashem, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million victims of the Holocaust,
including the Historical Museum for first time visitors and the Holocaust Art Museum and Archives
for return visitors.
• Head back 3,000 years with a visit to the City of David and take in the newest excavations. Walk
through the newly discovered tunnel linking the City of David to the Kotel.
Lunch at Macheneh Yehudah, Jerusalem’s famous outdoor market.
Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel or one of Jerusalem’s synagogues.
Festive Shabbat Dinner at the Hotel.
Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 7, Saturday (Shabbat), February 25, 2017
A Jerusalem Shabbat
Choice of free morning, davening in a local synagogue,
“shul hopping—trying out various synagogues in
Jerusalem,” or a guided walk through Jerusalem, exploring
the multi ethnic Jewish weave of the city, especially in
Nachlaot, Israel’s most pluralistic neighborhood.
Return to the hotel for Shabbat lunch.
Free time for rest and relaxation.
Afternoon Shiur with Alan Morinis or Avi Fertig.
Home hospitality: Seudat shlishit and havdalah at the
home of Rabbi Bill and Batya Berk.
Dinner on your own and free evening in Jerusalem.
Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 8, Sunday, February 26, 2017
MUSSAR KALLAH (2)
Study with some of the greatest living Mussar
teachers in Israel: Rav Reuven Leuchter, Rav Naftali
Kaplan, Rabbi Tzvi Miller, Rabbi Yehudah
Mendelson. Sessions moderated by Alan Morinis
and Avi Fertig.
Free evening and dinner on your own.
Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 9, Monday, February 27, 2017
Yeshiva Day
Visit the famous Mir Yeshiva, again meeting faculty and students and hearing about Mussar in the
21st century.
Lunch en route.
Drive to the Reishit Yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, an English speaking yeshiva which has a strong focus
on traditional and contemporary Mussar in the curriculum and which is located in a very
impressive modern campus, learn with students and rabbis.
Discover which Middot can be learned from the animals with a guided tour of the “Biblical
Museum of Natural History” which is part zoo and part museum
Visit the home of Rabbi Avi Fertig in Beit Shemesh for cocktails and home hospitality dinner.
Overnight: Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 10, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Before Heading Home…
Morning Processing Session—What Have We
Learned? A chance also to hear any of the Mussar
teachers unable to make our earlier Kallah.
Choice:
• Tour the Israel Museum—one of the
world’s finest museums.
• Return to the Old City for a walk along El
Wad St. (Rehov HaGai) to the Austrian
Hospice and ascend to the roof for a bird’s
eye view of the Temple Mount, intricate
alleyways of Jerusalem’s Muslim Quarter
and the skyline of the Jewish Quarter.
Return to the hotel to refresh and prepare for the
trip home.
Festive Concluding Dinner and opportunity to share
the impact of this experience.
Depart for Ben Gurion Airport
Overnight: Flight