8 MAGICAL NIGHTS OF CHANUKAH
IN ISRAEL
December 4-12, 2026
only $4,999
Highlights
Light all eight nights Chanukah candles across Israel, from Old Jaffa to the Western Wall and the Golan Heights
Visit Tel Aviv Museum of Art, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, National Library of Israel, Yad Vashem, and Mount Herzl
Witness the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum
Taste your way through Carmel Market and Machane Yehuda
Wander Tel Aviv’s first neighborhoods
Participate in a culinary demo with Adeena Sussman
Enjoy a live cultural performance in Tel Aviv
Tour the Baháʼi Gardens and celebrate Haifa’s “Festival of Festivals”
Explore ancient Akko
Press olives in the Galilee
Discover mystical Safed
Marvel at the Festival of Lights at Jerusalem’s Botanical Gardens
Dates and Pricing
December 4-12, 2026
Cost:
- $5,000 per person (double occupancy)
- $1,500 Single occupancy supplement
Cancellation Policy: A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 per person is due upon registration with the balance due by July 2, 2026. No refunds after July 2, 2026.
Notes:
- Some activities rely on local hosts, suppliers or sites and are subject to change.
- Minimum age for participation is 21.
- This is not a kosher trip and there will be travel on Shabbat.
Includes:
- 8 night accommodations (+ late check out on last day)
- Private, licensed tour guide
- All transportation, activities, sights, admission fees and programs as per itinerary
- All meals, with exception of 2 dinners and 1 lunch per itinerary
- All tips
- An exclusive Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center trip photo book
Not included:
- Airfare to/from Israel
- Transportation to/from airports in Israel
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Select items on itinerary
Accommodations
Itinerary
Day 1 • Friday, December 4 • Jaffa •
First Chanukah candle lighting, with a view of old Jaffa
- Begin with a welcome drink at 2:00 PM in hotel lobby (hotel check in at 3:00 PM)
- Chanukah Cooking Workshop and Candle Lighting with Adeena Sussman: an intimate culinary experience for Chanukah with music
- Tour Old Jaffa and port, where the ancient meets the hip
- Sufganiyot Tasting Challenge: a fun countdown to sample and rank a variety of sufganiyot to determine the absolute best!
- Candle making workshop
- Shabbat Dinner at Popina (Neve Tzedek neighborhood): savor a delicious meal at this renowned local spot
- After dinner drinks (not included)
★ Overnight: Ink Hotel, Tel Aviv
Day 2 • Saturday, December 5 • Tel Aviv •
Second Chanukah candle lighting in the Sarona Tunnels
- (Optional) Morning guided walk on the beach
- Historical Tel Aviv walking tour: Guided walking tour of Rothschild Blvd, Neve Tzedek and Lev H’a’ir (the Heart of the City), where the roots of Tel Aviv were first planted in 1909
- Artistic discovery at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art: Explore groundbreaking exhibits and modern masterpieces, led by Shirel Horwitz
- Street food lunch
- Chanukah Festival at Kikar Habima
- Baking workshop with Avihai, our Via Sabra lead guide, at his house in Hod HaSharon with a light dinner
- Late night Ice cream (not included)
★ Overnight: Ink Hotel, Tel Aviv
Day 3 • Sunday, December 6 • Tel Aviv •
Third Chanukah candle lighting with the family of a fallen soldier
- Morning talk with a speaker (not included)
- Dreidel Scavenger Hunt and Tour of ANU, the Museum of the Jewish People
- Tasting tour at Carmel Market (lunch): Dive into a vibrant culinary adventure with a tasting tour through the bustling Carmel Market, sampling local flavors and hidden gems
- Free Time
- Dinner at Teder.fm
- Cultural show/concert at Habima (two options, not included)
★ Overnight: Ink Hotel, Tel Aviv
Day 4 • Monday, December 7 • Haifa + Akko •
Fourth Chanukah candle
lighting on the shore of the
Mediterranean Sea
- Morning Journey: head North to begin your day of exploration
- Journey north
- Experience Haifa’s “Holiday of Holidays Festival”
- Private tour of the Baháʼi Gardens
- Drive to Akko
- Akko’s Hidden History and Market Delights: visit the ancient city of Akko, exploring the breathtaking Knights’ Halls, followed by a vibrant tasting tour through the local market
- Drive to hotel, check and rest
- Group dinner at the hotel
★ Overnight: Merom Golan Resort
Day 5 • Tuesday, December 8 • North (Golan Heights) •
Fifth Chanukah candle lighting overseeing the Golan Heights
- Olive picking or olive oil presentation and tasting
- Avtalion Olive Oil Visit and Tour: discover the ancient and modern process of olive oil production right at the end of the harvest season, with an optional opportunity for hands-on olive picking
- Lunch and Knaffe Workshop at a local Druze village with a family
- Jeeps tour through the Golan Heights
- Winery visit and dinner
★ Overnight: Merom Golan Resort
Day 6 • Wednesday, December 9 • Jerusalem •
Sixth Chanukah candle lighting at the Western Wall
- Morning Journey: Begin the day heading through the north towards Jerusalem
- Delve into the mystical city of Safed (Tzfat): meeting a local Hassidic family in Sefad, a center of Kabbalah, and gain an intimate understanding of local life and traditions
- Journey south
- Short guided tour of two Monasteries in the Judean Desert with Shai Bitner
- Arrival in Jerusalem and a Shehecheyanu blessing and candle lighting at the Kotel (Western Wall)
- Check into hotel
- Dinner on own
★ Overnight: Theatron Hotel
Day 7 • Thursday, December 10 • Jerusalem •
Seventh Chanukah candle lighting at Jerusalem’s Botanical Gardens
- Morning Options:
- Tour of The Israel Museum, the country’s largest cultural institute, to explore both modern art and ancient artifacts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Tour of the newly renovated National Library of Israel, the collective memory of Israelis of all backgrounds and the Jewish people worldwide
- Machane Yehuda tasting tour: dive into the heart of Jerusalem’s culinary scene with a vibrant tasting tour through the bustling market
- Lunch at Azura: enjoy a delicious and authentic lunch at this renowned local institution
- Tour of Thinkers Distillery: Explore the craft of local spirits with a tour and tasting
- Time to rest at the hotel
- Festival of Lights at the Botanical Gardens: visit the botanical gardens for the evening, including dinner on-site and a special candle lighting ceremony
★ Overnight: Theatron Hotel
Day 8 • Friday, December 11 • Jerusalem •
Eighth Chanukah candle lighting with a local family in the Old City
- Morning options:
- Private tour of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center
- Tour of Mount Herzl, honoring the leaders and fallen soldiers of Israel
- The Ancient Streets: guided tour of the Old City, exploring its historical and spiritual quarters. Lunch on own
- Chanukah at Sunset: experience the unique chanukiot tour at sunset, seeing the beautiful menorahs lit in the Old City alleys
- Intimate Candle Lighting: participate in a special candle lighting ceremony with a local family in the Old City
- Dinner Options:
- Conclude your day with dinner at Karma Satya restaurant
- Shabbat Dinner in a home in the Old City
★ Overnight: Theatron Hotel
Day 9 • Saturday, December 12 • Jerusalem •
- Morning Speaker
- Tour of the picturesque and historic Ein Kerem neighborhood
- Lunch of Jachnun and Kubana in Ein Karem
- Processing Session: “Bringing Israel Back Home,” guided session to reflect on the trip
- Rest of the day off with late check out
- Evening: Festive Havdallah at Mishkenot Sha’ananim with a closing session
- Festive Farewell Dinner
- Departure to the airport (7 PM)