The Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County is planning a "magical" travel experience in which participants can sip a fine vintage in one of the oldest wineries in Israel or wield a shovel in an archeological dig, all while celebrating the 60th anniversary of Israel.

The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow mission, which will first head to Poland March 26, will be in Israel from March 30 to April 7.

"There is no place in the world like it," said Brenda Tanzman of South Brunswick, who with her husband, Roy, is one of the six chairs of the trip. "We've been all over the world and most places I probably wouldn't go back. But, we go back to Israel because it just feels like home."

Another chair, Arlene Frumkin of Kendall Park, said while a trip to Israel is always special, going on a federation mission is particularly memorable.

"Not only are you seeing the sights and experiencing the land itself, you are seeing the places that benefit from federation money," explained Frumkin, who is a chair with her husband, Mitchell. "It's really touching, heartwarming, moving to see how the money we raise here helps the people who live in Israel or made aliya from other countries."

The mission is also chaired by Monte and Linda Block.

The optional four-day Polish trip will arrive in Cracow, where participants will be offered tours of the Jewish quarter, including stops at synagogues and museums. Also on the itinerary is a Shabbat dinner and visit to the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau, where mission members will take part in a Yizkor service. The Polish portion of the journey will finish in Warsaw, where highlights include walking the former Warsaw Ghetto and dinner with the Israeli ambassador to Poland.

In Israel, participants will have a whirlwind of activities from which to choose, including blending the past and present at an old Roman aqueduct, dining with residents of kibbutzim, and hiking to the falls or relaxing in the nature preserve at the Banias. Mission members can become archeologists at a dig at the site of the Beit Guvrin caves, which date back to the second-century Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans. A full tour of Jerusalem, working as volunteers alongside Israelis, and experiencing Shabbat at the Kotel will be included as well as a visit to Tel Aviv and dinner in Nitzan with community members relocated from the Gaza Strip. An optional extension to Eilat is also offered.

"The federation always supports people going to Israel not only because we support Israel, but because it creates that link that strengthens the Jewish community here," said Gabriela Sadote Sleppin, director of the federation's Jewish Community Relations Council. "We urge people in the community to seriously consider going to Israel on a federation mission, which is a unique experience in this milestone year of Israel's anniversary."

The trip costs $2,899 per person. There is a subsidy for first-time participants on a Federation mission to Israel. For more information, email the federation or call 732-432-7711 or visit their web site.