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Shalom & Welcome
June 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome to the mid-year newsletter. It's packed with exciting information about the most inspiring and magical destination in the world - Israel. We hope you enjoy reading this edition which is also full of great SPECIALS. We want to provide you with many options for travel in Israel, including tours and experiences that will be sure to tempt and inspire, and our expert team is ready to assist in providing you with an unforgettable Israel experience. Please also visit our website that features all our latest tours, information and specials www.israeltravelcentre.com.au. Remember, we are the ONLY travel centre in Australiasia specialising in travel and tourism to Israel with over 25 years experience and we are able to tailor-make your trip to your specific individual or group needs. We are passionate about your time in, and journey to Israel and look forward to servicing you soon. CALL US NOW on 02 9371 8166 or via email sales@israeltravelcentre.com.au.
With best wishes, Vicky and the ITC Team
Pope Benedict XVI visits the Holy Land
Pope Benedict XVI recently visited Israel with an historic pilgrimage through the Holy Land visiting Christian and Jewish holy sites. He spent several minutes in silent prayer, standing before the ancient stones of the Western Wall.
Israel's Tourism Minister welcomed the Pope "to the Holy City of Jerusalem, the spiritual center of all nations on earth, and the eternal Capital of Israel. The Minister noted that the visit of the Pope has "historical significance for Jews and Christians everywhere.
"Your call to all the faithful to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem carries great significance for us and will help promote the very peace to which you have referred in your speeches here in Israel." The Pontiff, like his predecessor John Paul II on his pilgrimage to Israel in 2000, recited Psalm 122 (in Latin) - a prayer which was traditionally said by pilgrims who would come to Jerusalem three times a year. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."
Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Holy Mass in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Kidron Valley to an audience of several thousand faithful, including Catholics from the Holy Land and pilgrims and tourists from around the world. Gethsemane, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives and beneath the city's 400 year old walls, is known as the place where Jesus and his disciples prayed the night before his crucifixion.
Speaking from a vast stage specially erected for the Holy Mass, the Pontiff pursued his theme of seeking peace in the Holy Land: "Jerusalem...has always been a city whose streets echo with different languages, whose stones are trod by people of every race and tongue, whose walls are a symbol of God's provident care. As a microcosm of our globalized world, this city ... must be a place where prejudice, ignorance and the fear that fuels them are overcome by honesty, integrity and the pursuit of peace."
Spend Summer in Israel - ITC Accommodation & Tour Specials
Our latest s
pecials for summer in Israel - call us now for further details:
David Intercontinental - Tel Aviv: Weekend Rates from June 1 - July 5 · July 18 - 30 - US$141p/p double room - US$263 p/p in single room - US $107 p/p in triple room Rates are based on superior type rooms and include full Israeli breakfast.
Sheraton Tel Aviv and Tower
The following rates will apply for the period August 1 - 23, 2009
Per person in a Double Room from US$196
Per person in a Single Room from US$362
Per person in Triple Room from US$150
Rates are based on deluxe type room and include full Israeli breakfast
Apartments in Tel Aviv
We have a selection of serviced apartments and apartments available for rent as an option to hotel accommodation - perfect for longer stays or for larger families.
Discount on a selection of ITC Tours*
We are offering a 10% discount on the Bible Tour, Israel Splendours Tour & Israel Wonders Tour for June/July/August - *conditions apply on these tours which have weekly departure dates.
Specials at the Mt Zion Hotel - Jerusalem's most unique boutique hotel - Special reduced rates for minimum 4 nights for June - October stays - Family plan available and Infants aged 0-2 stay FOC when sharing a room
Petra - Jordan Tour Special - Valid till 31 December 2009* - from US$275 p/p
Includes: Return airfares from Tel Aviv - Eilat, with full Petra day tour including lunch
Excludes: Accommodation, Border crossing fees and tips Excludes dates 1 - 30 August and 1 - 10 October where high season supplement and minimum nights will apply*
Isrotel Tower Tel-Aviv - All Suites Hotel - Valid until 31 December 2009
USD$280.00 per night for Tower Suite AND 10% discount for guests staying a minimum of 3 nights, OR Stay 7 and pay 6 for guests on board arrangements.
CALL US NOW ON 02 9371 8166 FOR FULL DETAILS ON THE ABOVE
FEATURE VISITS - The Inn of the Good Samaritan Site & The Caesarea Night Bazaar
The Museum of the Good Samaritan opens to the public - Israel's first mosaic museum
and one of the largest in the world. This is the only mosaic museum in Israel, displaying mosaics and other finds discovered in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. The site, located on the main road between Jerusalem and Jericho, is identified with the biblical Ma'ale Adumim, which was located at the junction between the lands of the tribes of Benjamin and of Judah (Josh. 15:7; 18:17). In the Byzantine period it was identified with the inn mentioned in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). This parable includes men of three different faiths: Jesus, the founder of Christianity, Jews, and a Samaritan who performs a merciful deed. Accordingly, the museum exhibits mosaics and artifacts from both Jewish and Samaritan synagogues, as well as from churches.
The Caesarea Night Bazaar - Caesarea is joining the countrywide trend and w
ill be holding a night time bazaar during the summer months. The bazaar will be held at the Southern Business Park in a specially prepared enclosure, with room for stalls offering local produce, such as fruit and vegetables (cherries), prepared dishes, cakes and cookies, olive oil, wine, spices, and health snacks, original crafts, jewelry, art objects, flowers, gifts, and even towels and linens. The event will be accompanied by live music until late at night, coffee and beer and close after midnight.
SUKKOT IN JERUSALEM - PLAN NOW
Dan Boutique Jerusalem - Sukkot Promotion
The following will apply for the period 1 - 11 October for 1 - 6 nights US $130 per person in double room - US $248 per person in single room
OR Minimum 7 nights - US $114 per person in double room - US $215 per person in single room
Rates are based on standard type rooms and include full Israeli breakfast. Standard rooms can accommodate up to 2 adults.
David Citadel Jerusalem - Sukkot Promotion
This package is ba
sed on a stay of 8 consecutive nights during the period 2 -10 October
US $2,500 per person in double room - US $4,350 per person in single room
US $2,284 per person in triple room - US $775 child 3-12 years, sharing room with parents
Rates include: Full Israeli breakfast and the following meals: October 2: Friday Dinner, October 3: Saturday Lunch, October 9: Friday Dinner & October 10: Saturday Lunch
8 nights accommodation in a superior new city view room.
Check-in: October 2 and late Check-out: October 10
Israel (Unattached) Jewish Singles Tour to Israel - 24 Dec - 2 January
For the first time ever, the Israel Travel Centre, is organising a 10 day, inclusive tour to Israel for Australian & New Zealand Jewish Singles, with highlights:
amazing itinerary with activities all over the country
fantastic day & night programmes with pub hopping in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem & Haifa
meaningful Shabbat Programme in Jerusalem & camel trekking in the desert
overnight in a Bedouin tent in the Negev with a Hafla feast & dancing all night
wine tasting in the Golan heights
New Year's Eve Party in Jerusalem with local Israelis
Two Groups departing (27 - 39) & (40 - 55)
Be part of something amazing and get ready for the best Jewish singles party of your life!
Call Michelle now for further details & full itinerary on 02 9371 8166
The ITC ANZAC & Beersheba Light Horse Tour - Australia's Proud Past In Israel
The ITC is now offering a unique ANZAC & Beersheba Tour package all ye
ar round 4 days & 3 nights and includes highlights of Jerusalem and also a very special day in Beersheba. Enjoy a memorable day in Beersheba commemorating the achievements of the Australian soldiers in World War One. Visit Tel Sheva and the main battlefield sites in the area. Review the Charge of the Light Horse that took place in October 1917. A major highlight is the the Late Richard Pratt's, magnificent park of the Australian Soldier and the new Beersheba ANZAC memorial. Return to Jerusalem. This is a highlight for any Australians visiting Israel - a MUST SEE
Holy Land Tours 2009
Join our life-changing, unique, Holy Land tours with confirmed group departures in 2009. Now is the time to experience the splendour and wonders Israel has to offer. We have over 25 years of dedicated experience in tours to the Holy Land and invite you to contact the Israel Travel Centre for personalised, friendly and expert advice for our fully inclusive tours - (excludes airfares & based on twin share**).
Holy Land Catholic Tour 9 Days - 17 - 27 November 2009 from (USD) $1,550 p/p**
In the Footsteps of the Bible Tour 18 Days - 8-27 November 2009 - Israel, Egypt and Jordan from (USD) $2,495 p/p**
See Israel like never before with the experts at the ITC
ELAL Israel Airlines - www.elal.co.il
El Al is Israel's largest airline and has regular flights from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Beijing and Mumbai. El Al provides a superior service and has wonderful connection times for Australian passengers. Their business and first class service is second to none and we invite you to contact us for further details regarding flight times, options and pricing. With the flexibility and now increased flights from Asia to Israel, there is no better way to travel to Israel.
Two new Archeological Findings discovered in Jerusalem
We are delighted to inform you of two new findings in Jerusalem - A First Temple Era bone seal from the City of David and an Ancient Handle with the name Menachem in Ras El Amud Neighborhood.
The Bone Seal was found in an excavation that is being conducted in the Walls Around Jerusalem National Park. The seal, which is made of bone, was found broke
n and is missing a piece from its upper right side. According to Professor Reich, "This seal joins another Hebrew seal that was previously found and three Hebrew bullae (pieces of clay stamped with seal impressions) that were discovered nearby. These five items have great chronological importance regarding the study of the development of the use of seals. It seems that the development in the design of the seals occurred in Judah during the course of the eighth century BCE. At the same time as they engraved figures on the seal, at some point they also started to engrave them with the names of the seals' owners.
The Ancient Jar Handle bearing the Hebrew name, Menachem is the first handle with this name found in Jerusalem. The name Menachem is known from the corpus of Hebrew or Ph
oenician names and seals that bear this name were found in Israel, Assyria, Cyprus and Egypt. The name Menachem Ben Gadi is mentioned in the Bible. He reigned as king of Israel for ten years in Samaria and was one of the last kings of the Kingdom of Israel. According to Kings 2 Menachem Ben Gadi ascended the throne in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah, king of Judah. Menachem, king of Israel, is also mentioned in the texts of the king of Assyria, Tiglath-Pileser III, as Menachem of Samaria and as one of the kings from whom he received tribute.
The Israel Travel Centre
www.israeltravelcentre.com.au
To provide the optimum Israel travel experience to the Australasian market, that will have a lasting impact on each individual as an unforgettable and inspiring journey
We hope to provide you with an unforgettable Israel experience, so please call us directly on
02 9371 8166, via email sales@israeltravelcentre.com.au or visit our website
Israel Travel Centre and experience unprecedented service, professionalism, expertise and knowledge.
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