Welcome to the 2017 November Naomi Boutique Kosher tour to 4

fascinating countries, all (almost) contiguous but all SOOOO

different one from the other: Morocco, Spain, Gibraltar and Portugal.

Morocco Spain Gibraltar Portugal

The tour is divided into two parts:

part I – Morocco; part II - Iberia, each of 8-9 days’ duration.

You are welcome to book for the entire tour, part I only, part II only, or for any other partial combination you prefer…. all subject to availability.

Obviously, those booking the entire tour have priority.

The tour is as close as we at Naomi Boutique get to a Jewish heritage tour. As

always, we insist on the very best accommodations, authentic local cuisine and

as many fun activities as we can include time-wise. OTOH we are moving around extensively and taking, for efficiency, some local flights, including lo-cost, and

therefore BEG you to come as unencumbered luggage-wise as possible. The

weather will be different too…..

A word about Morocco - the ONLY Arab country we visit.

Is it safe? Do they like Jews? How about Israelis? Read on……

Two years ago, King Mohammed V of Morocco was honored posthumously for protecting his country’s 250,000 Jews during World War II. Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco received the award at a ceremony in B’nai Jeshurun synagogue in New York City. During World War II, King Mohammed V kept the lives and property of the country’s Jews under his protection and did not subject them to the discriminatory laws set down by the pro-Nazi Vichy government in France; Morocco was then under French rule. Later, in response to anti-Jewish rhetoric in the wake of the creation of the State of Israel, Mohammed V warned Muslims not to hurt Moroccan Jews, reminding them that Jews had always been protected in Morocco.

A statement was read on behalf of the country’s current king, Mohammed VI: “Today, we need, more than ever, to ponder the lessons and relevance of this part of history in order to stand up more forcefully to the deadly aberrations of those who are hijacking our cultures, our faiths and our civilizations. We are living at a time and in a world in which the collective imagination of our societies is too often impaired, not to say poisoned, by regression and archaism. By capitalizing on the depth and resilience of the legacy left by my revered grandfather His Majesty Mohammed V, we can, together, set out to recover the lost

expanses of reason and mutual respect which have vanished from many parts of the world.” Some surprising facts:

45,000 Israelis visit Morocco each year. Casablanca has a Jewish population of 5000. There are at least 7 shuls with DAILY minyanim. The Batei Din of Morocco sit in the civil courts’ buildings.

The Dayanim have the same rights as civil judges to enforce judgments!!

Part 1: Morocco – Fez, Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains & Marrakesh

Monday Nov 6 arrive to Fez (flights from BRU arr 21.40 on Air Arabia, from Paris ORLY on

Royal Air Maroc arr 14.05) or we’ll meet you in Casablanca, 3 hours’ drive away

Fez is the spiritual capital not only

of Moroccan Islam, but also Judaism. RaMBaM lived here….

In 1900, Fez, then the imperial capital, had 10,000 Jews out of a population of 100,000 and 20 synagogues.

This is the oldest, first established in the 17th century in the old Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The synagogue had fallen

into disrepair and had been closed since the 1960s.

With funding from Morocco and

abroad, Slat al Fassiyine has now been restored to its former glory.

A riad is a

traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior

garden or courtyard.

We prefer to offer you this

truly Moroccan experience over a regular hotel.

o/n FEZ Riad Sheherazade www.sheheraz.com 2 nights Tuesday Nov 7 FEZ whole day tour

A day is only 24 hours long but we will maximize our stay here to visit as many as possible of the general and Jewish sites that make this city so special. o/n FEZ Riad Sheherazade

Wednesday Nov 8 Fez to the Sahara Desert

It’s a long drive through the mid-Atlas which we’ll break up into smaller trips, stopping at towns and villages along the way… and for a picnic lunch….. until we reach our destination, one of a very few luxury camps in the Moroccan Sahara, for dinner by candle and starlight..

o/n sahara luxury camp www.saharaluxurycamps.com 1 night Thursday Nov 9 Sahara Desert day to Ouarzazate; Friday Nov 10 Ouarzazate –

Marrakesh; o/n luxury riad Ouarzazate

These two days will be spent enjoying

the many beautiful sights and sounds (including silence)

that the desert has to offer as well as enjoying some fun

activities along the way.

As our hosts tell us…… “Just like our nomad friends, you will wake at dawn to see the sun paint its shape across a vast sky as it rises between a sea of sand waves, with a mist of sand; ever rolling, ever shaping and changing the layout of the desert. It's this scene that has inspired writers and photographers for centuries. Now it's your turn to be inspired and mesmerized. The chaos of the world ends in the heart of the desert. This is where you'll find your peace and quiet, realign your chakras, and be one with your universe. We encourage those who love yoga, to bring yoga mats. For those who meditate, the stillness of your environment will be music to your ears.

There will be time to walk in the stunning valley of Todra, and afterwards, lunch on top of the canyon. After the ritual of Moroccan tea, we will visit a Berber family who live in the caves of the Atlas Mountains.

In Imilchil, we will find beautiful lakes stretching for miles. Our overnight stay and dinner will be in Ouarzazate.

After breakfast in our hotel, before we leave Ouarzazate, we will stop at one of the largest and most famous caravans of all Morocco. Here you can make purchases of arts and crafts, jewelry, rugs, furniture and antiques brought in directly from the artisans themselves.

We will be”H arrive before Shabbat to Marrakesh……. and after being nomadic ourselves

we will welcome the 4 nights in the same bed in our magnificent Riad Nashira

Shabbat Nov 11 Marrakesh SHABBAT touring on foot; evening entertainment

Sunday Nov 12 and Monday Nov 13 …. Marrakesh and surrounding area – touring and activities program – from the Medina to the mellah to the souks…….

There’s soooo much to do here we’ll save you the time

reading – just click Marrakesh (or Marrakech) “things to

do” online ….. and we’re going to try to do them all. We have a full 2

days here and we believe you’ll just want to come back again and again!! On Tuesday morning Nov 14, we’re taking a lo-cost flight – not so much for the lo-cost but because it saves HOURS!!!!! We get to enjoy a relaxing final morning with a full brunch in Marrakesh before setting off for a short flight mid-day to Seville, Spain….

Part 2 Spain and Portugal

Tuesday Nov 14 fly Marrakesh RAK – Seville SVQ (Ryan air)

Arriving late afternoon we’ll still have time to visit much of Seville before dinner. We’ll start with a panoramic overview, and then walk through the historical, including Jewish part, of the city.

The imposing Cathedral is one of the largest in the world and the resting place of Spanish Kings and Queens, as well as that of Christopher Columbus, although no one knows if his remains are really there.

Then there is the Alcazar Palace, still used as a residence for the Spanish Royal Family and the grand Plaza Espana, site of the pavilion of the great 1929 exhibition. Last but not least, we'll visit the Barrio de Santa

Cruz - the former Jewish Quarter. Today, it is one of Seville's most charming areas. What we don’t manage today, we’ll complete tomorrow morning!! o/n Seville (Alfonso XIII) www.hotel-alfonsoxiii-sevilla.com/ 1 night – the gorgeous hotel whose style influences will be obvious after a week in Morocco!!!!

Wednesday Nov 15 Seville - Cordoba - Loja

Once the biggest city in all of Europe, Cordoba thrived and expanded with its unique

blend of cultures. These are beautifully expressed in the 8th C Mesquita, the most significant Muslim architectural achievement in the Western world. This 8th century structure was a church, then a mosque, and today has a cathedral oddly placed in its center. We’ll walk up to the Juderia, with its white-washed houses

and colorful courtyards. Though not Jewish in its current expression, a few signs hint of the Golden Age of Jewish life. We’ll visit the tiny, gem-like Synagogue, as well as the statue of the RaMBaM, Maimonides, born in the city. o/n Loja (La Bobadilla)

www.barcelo.com/es/hoteles/espana/andalucia/loja-granada/la-bobadilla-a-royal-hideaway-hotel/ 2 nights Thursday Nov 16 Granada - Loja (if time, also Malaga pm)

Once known as Granada of the

Jews, the site of Shmuel HaNagid's Yeshiva is now famous for the incomparably beautiful Moorish Palace of Alhambra, one of the Wonders of the World. In 1492, the decree of expulsion was

signed here by Ferdinand and Isabella, ending a Jewish presence of over 1000 years…. o/n Loja (La Bobadilla)

Friday Nov 17 Loja - Ronda – Gibraltar: tour of rock

It’s Friday so we’ll make an early departure to Ronda – built atop the famous gorge with the river below.

Ronda is famed for its beauty, its stunning position and for its bullfighting ring, said to be the

oldest in Spain. Less well-known is the Jewish history about which we’ll hear from Pepe,

Ronda’s #1 legendary guide. After lunch we’ll continue towards Gibraltar and visit the famous Rock before Shabbat. The apes are always an attraction but there’s much more than apes on the Rock of Gibraltar.

o/n Sunborn Gibraltar http://www.sunborngibraltar.com/ 2 nights Shabbat Nov 18 GIBRALTAR

SHABBAT Really unique, we’ll spend Shabbat with the Jews of the Rock and be in awe of their strictly observant community and vibrant communal life. Shul? You can choose between 4!!!!

Sunday Nov 19 Fly Malaga - Porto - tour Porto (TAP via Lisbon) A late morning flight means we have to leave early to cross into Spain and drive to Malaga Airport but at least we’ll gain the whole afternoon for a tour of Porto and hear the tragic story of its community in the middle of the last century.

Coimbra - Towards evening we’ll reach our hotel in Coimbra, for our welcome dinner. Hotel Quinta das Lagrimas www.quintadaslagrimas.pt This Relais & Chateaux DLX 4 star hotel is one

of Portugal’s finest and is our home for three nights while we visit the region. The hotel has a huge outdoor pool and a spa with indoor pool. You can choose traditional or modern rooms in its two wings!!

Monday Nov 20 Coimbra town and p.m mosaics or relax spa

Coimbra - Coimbra is one of the most ancient university cities in Europe with a richly decorated baroque library that

people travel from far and wide to see. The walls are covered by two storied shelves, in gilded or

painted exotic woods; the painted ceilings blend harmoniously with the rest of the decoration. The

library contains about 250,000 volumes: works of medicine, geography, history, humanistic studies, science, civil and canonical law, philosophy and theology. We’ll visit the Judaria, the ancient Jewish quarter and see the recently discovered mikveh!!

After lunch back at the hotel, you’ll be able to choose whether to visit Conimbriga, just 10 miles away. This was an important Roman city that still preserves many not-to-be-missed mosaics. These valuable treasures are displayed in the museum next to the ruins. Alternatively you may choose to enjoy the hotel’s facilities or to go back to see some more of Coimbra. If you want a massage … so don’t forget to book it before you

go out in the morning!! Following a delicious dinner, prepared by the talented chefs of the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, we will take in an evening of “fado”, a traditional musical genre of voice accompanied by guitar.

Tuesday Nov 21 Belmonte, Trancoso – Jewish life that never stopped…..

Trancoso & Belmonte - Climbing up from Coimbra we reach the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, in many of whose villages Jews were settled. After visiting and being surprised in Trancoso, we will reach the centre of the “lost tribe” of Belmonte.

The history of this community which survived the inquisition and remained in hiding until discovered in the 1920’s is incredible. For only the past 20 years or so, the Jews of Belmonte have been exposed to Judaism as we live it throughout the world and the community in Belmonte, under Rabbinic guidance

through Shavei Yisrael, has become the most active community in Portugal.

Wednesday Nov 22 Coimbra, Tomar, Lisbon and tour

Tomar - Tomar is home to Portugal’s oldest synagogue and the Abraham Zacuto Museum, a national monument. The Sinagoga de Tomar was built in the mid-15th century. Its short history as a Jewish

place of worship came to an end in 1496, when the community was expelled by the Catholic authorities in 1496. Here began the story of the rediscovery of the Jews of Portugal. Samuel Schwartz, a Jewish mining engineer

from Poland, having discovered the presence of Jewish life in Portugal, bought the building in 1923. After lovingly restoring it, he donated it to the Portuguese state in 1939. In return, he and his wife received Portuguese citizenship and protection during WW2.

Driving south towards Lisbon we’ll make a couple of stops and reach Lisbon in time for dinner to be followed by an evening tour with our specialist guide – one of the

highlights of our entire trip. The history of the Jews in Portugal is less known than

that of Spain but no less fascinating.

o/n LISBON Dom Pedro

Thursday Nov 23 Lisbon - home .......

There will be time for independent exploration of the city, recently voted one of the

hot-spots in Europe, for anyone leaving later in the day – so try to book your flights

for the afternoon!! The direct flight leaves Lisbon at 5pm and arrives JFK at 8pm!!! To TLV there are many evening departures …albeit with arrival times at unearthly

hours Friday morning….

Morocco, Spain & Portugal DLX Tour

Part I: Morocco – Nov 6 – Nov 14; 9 days and 8 nights

from $7500 pp sharing

(Suites and SGL supplements available)

Part II: Spain & Portugal – Nov 14 – Nov 23; 10 days and 9 nights

from $7500 pp sharing (Suites and SGL supplements available)

FAQ’s Kashrut: A mashgiach tmidi will represent our Rav Machshir, Rav Hassid, the Chief Rabbi of Gibraltar; glatt meat; regular milk, but chalav yisrael observers can be accommodated, if notified in advance Every day: 3 tefillot, full buffet breakfast, light lunch on the move (except Shabbat), elegant served dinner Dining experience: You will enjoy authentic local cuisine and be informed about some of the dishes you will be eating. If you ask the chefs nicely, you might even receive the recipes for some of your favourites. Fine Spanish kosher wines will accompany every meal, in unlimited quantities, as always!! not included in the price of your trip

international flights (except those in the program, RAK – SVQ, AGP – OPO) spending money for shopping: plenty to choose from, although we limit the time

allocated. However you can always go off on your own and meet us later!! upgrades: deluxe rooms (DLX) and single occupancy are available at an additional price

(see booking form). insurance: all clients should be aware that while all efforts are made to avoid any

problems before during or after your trip, Naomi carries no insurance for your health or luggage. While using the services only of registered suppliers, we highly recommend that you purchase fully comprehensive travel insurance as Naomi cannot be held liable for any mishaps during your stay.

tips: we recommend $250 per half tour per guest total for drivers, chefs, waiters and maids: we will collect and distribute for you.

Contact details:

Eric: +972 (0)52 3860551 info@naomitours.com