Christine Col, Joe Luttwak, Dalya and Edward Luttwak invite you to Elias Maximilian Luttwak's Bar Mitzvah!

Program

Kibbutz Eilon, Israel

July 1st

2:45-3:30 Welcome Reception

3:30-5 pm Ceremony

6:30 pm Dinner and celebration

July 1st Complimentary night on the Kibbutz

July 2nd

9:00-11:00 Brunch

Elias, Yona, Yossi, Christine, Dalya and Edward are planning to be at the kibbutz on June 30th, in the beginning of the afternoon. If you are around and would like to join us for fun, informal activities, let Christine know ASAP and I will share more info. Also check below for info about lodging extra nights.

Lodging

You are invited to spend Friday night, July 1st with us at kibbutz Eilon. A kibbutz is an intentional community with roots in agriculture, and Eilon is near the Kibbutz where Dalya, Elias' Grandmother was born. Accommodations for this night is complementary.

At your arrival, the kibbutz you will be assigned a townhouse. Each suite contains Living room, kitchen, dinning room, two bathrooms and four, air-conditioned bedrooms with nice beds which can be combined. To accommodate everyone, it is likely that you will have to share your suite with some family or friends. You will still have privacy in your bedroom. For detailed information on accommodations visit: https://www.keshetei.org.il/en/lodging-2/guest-suites/

Extra nights at Eilon: you are more than welcome to spend more time at the kibbutz before or after the celebration. For non-Israeli resident the price of a four beds, two bedrooms Suite is $300. The passport and entry permit entitles them to a special price without VAT. For Israeli passport holders, the price is $350. Please send Christine an email as soon as possible if you are planning to stay extra nights.

How to get to Eilon

By Car
Kibbutz Eilon is about two hours from Tel Aviv by car and we recommend renting one for most people. Carpooling is recommended so please let us know as soon as possible if you need transportation or if you are able to transport others.

Public transit
Both inter-city and intra-city available via buses and trains, see Tel-Aviv to Eilon via this Google Map

Covid in Israel

Israel has specific and changing rules around Covid, so please click here for the latest updates from the Israel Ministry of Health.

All tourists (regardless of whether vaccinated or not), from all countries will be able to travel to Israel.

As for May 2022, Tourists flying to Israel must take a PCR test 72 before flying to Israel and again on landing at the airport. Then, they must go straight to wherever they are staying, and quarantine for up to 24 hours until they receive a negative result. The results usually arrive in 6-12 hours, meaning that the quarantine is usually much less. From mid-April, quick tests will be available with results provided within 4 hours.

What are Israel current travel rules for Covid link
https://www.touristisrael.com/when-will-travel-to-israel-resume/31963/ok

Book your PCR test in advance via this link

Safety in general

Israel is in the news a lot. BUT is objectively a safe country to travel in. There has been an uptick in violence these last few months, but its still safer than places like France and the UK from terrorist threats (source). Please do take precautions such as guides if you are concerned, specifically in the big cities like Jerusalem.

Driving
Israel is not too different than in the US or Europe which is to say be careful. We recommend staying on the standard tourist destinations and ask for local information before deviating.

What to wear

Etiquette for ceremony: Nice yet comfortable.

The location of the Bar Mitzah, Eilon, is in the Galilean hills of Northern Israel which are cooler and breezier than the deserts to the south. Israel is a coastal desert and will likely be hot, but often a nice dry heat. Great for swimming and spending time of Israel's many beaches.

Bring your swimming trunks as there is a beautiful swimming pool on the kibbutz.

Explore Israel

Northern Israel: Galilee
We will explore the rich geography, culture and history of the region both before and after the Bar Mitzvah, so let us know if you are around so you can join.

Cool Cities/Locales
Haifa - Beautiful city on the hill, best falafel
Acre (Akko) - Old Arab port town
Rosh HaNikra - cliffs, beaches

Sites
Lake Tiberias
Jordan River
Mount Hermon - mountain adventure

Central and South
Israel is a small country, it's even smaller than New Jersey. Jerusalem and northwards, limits the effective tourist area to a couple hours of driving north to south and 30min east to west. The Negev desert south of Jerusalem is full of wonderous hiking, sites (Masada) but in July it will be hot. That said it is manageable with plenty of water (gallon plus per person per day) and Christine even hiked there late into her pregnancy with Elias. The Dead Sea is a good place to soak even in the heat.

Tel-Aviv
Jerusalem
Dead sea
Ein Gedi
Masada
Petra (Jordan)
Eilat (far-ish and on the Red Sea)