We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better feel for this experience. The actual program will vary. An updated itinerary, including confirmed accommodations, is distributed three to four weeks prior to the start of the program.
DAY #1 | The Journey Begins
- Meet at airport in departure city
- Orientation and meeting the group
- Depart on our group flight to Israel
Overnight: Departure Flight
DAY #2 | Baruch Habah—Welcome to Israel!
- Arrive at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, meet our staff team, and ascend to Jerusalem
- Shehecheyanu—Welcome to Israel blessing and ceremony overlooking the unique topography of Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade
- Check in, dinner, and orientation at our accommodations in the Jerusalem region
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY #3 | Foundations of Jewish History in Jerusalem
- Walk the Rampart Walls of the Old City from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate
- Enter the Old City at Zion Gate and explore the ancient neighborhoods of the Jewish Quarter
- Free time to explore and shop in the Jewish Quarter, including a pizur lunch
- Reflections at the Kotel—the Western Wall—and explore the Western Wall Tunnels
- City of David Excavations—discover the foundations of Jerusalem dating back to King David's time—then cool off in the spring-fed Hezekiah's Tunnel below Jerusalem
Overnight: Jerusalem
Day #4 | Forming a Traveling Community
- Travel to Neot Kedumim Biblical Park for a tree planting ceremony, pita baking experience, and leadership training workshop
- Dig-for-a-Day Archaeological Seminar at Beit Guvrin National Park and explore the Bell Caves
- Sde Boker—visit David Ben Gurion's hut and learn about Israel's first Prime Minister and his vision for Israel thriving in the desert
- Head south to the Negev Desert and prepare for our community Shabbat
- Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner at our accommodations
Overnight: Negev Desert
DAY #5 | Shabbat in the Desert
- Staff-led Shabbat programming and group lunch at our accommodations
- Enjoy a relaxed Shabbat with pool, sports, and free time
- Dinner at our accommodations, followed by Havdalah
- Guided desert stargazing experience led by a professional astronomer
Overnight: Negev Desert
DAY #6 | Discovering Beauty in the Desert
- Hike to the hidden desert pools at Ein Avdat
- Travel to the desert community of Yerucham, where we'll explore Israel's Mizrahi (Sephardic) culture with a Moroccan tile art project and a traditional lunch
- Continue south to explore the world's largest erosion crater at the Ramon Crater Visitor Center
- Arrive in the Arava Valley and check-in to our desert kibbutz accommodations
- BBQ dinner and pool time on the kibbutz
Overnight: Arava Valley
DAY #7 | The Red Sea and Israel's Southern Borders
- Scale the Kasui sand dunes in the Arava Valley
- View of the Red Sea and Israel's border with Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia
- Arrive to Eilat—guided snorkeling in the Red Sea at Coral Beach National Park
- Beach time and adventure water sports on the Red Sea
- Dinner at our accommodations
Overnight: Arava Valley
DAY #8 | Making the Desert Bloom
- Kibbutz workshop—learn how Israel thrives in the desert and protects its ecology
- Pool time and lunch on the kibbutz
- Travel up to the Judean Desert via the Arava Valley–shared by Israel and Jordan
- Experience effortless floating at the Dead Sea's Ein Bokek beach—the lowest point on Earth
- Arrive to Kfar Hanokdim encampment where we embark on a camel trek followed by a traditional Bedouin tent dinner feast and bonfire experience
Overnight: Judean Desert Tents
DAY #9 | Masada: Jewish Heroism, Dilemmas, and Leadership
- Pre-sunrise hike up the Roman Ramp to the summit of Masada
- Tour of Herod's desert mountaintop fortress and the bastion of an ancient Jewish rebellion
- Descend Masada via the Snake Path or cable cars and stop for breakfast at the base of Masada
- Nature walk in Ein Gedi National Park and cool off under the desert waterfalls at Nahal David
- Learn about the Dead Sea's environmental challenges for Israel and Jordan with an expert from the EcoPeace initiative
- Return to Jerusalem, check in, and rest time at our accommodations
- Dinner at our accommodations, followed by a t-shirt design project for a cause with NU Campaign
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY #10 | Mystics of the Galilee
- Stroll through the ancient city of Tsfat—The historic center of Judaism's Kabbalah movement
- Meet Kabbalistic artists, with free time to browse the Tsfat artists' colony
- Free time for exploration and pizur lunch in the Tsfat artists' quarter
- Cool off rafting down the upper Jordan River followed by a fresh-cooked pizza dinner
Overnight: Galilee
DAY #11 | Perspectives From the Golan Heights
- Get wet hiking down Nahal Jilaboun Canyon in the Golan Heights
- Explore the history and terrain of the Golan Heights on an off-road jeep tour
- View Israel's neighbors and navigate former IDF bunkers at the summit of Mt. Bental
- Return to our accommodations and prepare for a community Shabbat
- Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner experience at our accommodations
Overnight: Galilee
DAY #12 | Shabbat by the Beach
- Staff-led Shabbat programming and lunch at our accommodations
- Enjoy a relaxed Shabbat with pool time, sports, and relaxation
- Dinner at our accommodations, followed by Havdalah
- Cruise on the Sea of Galilee followed by a group night out in Tiberias
Overnight: Galilee
DAY #13 | Electives—Day 1
- Gadna IDF Immersion
- Hava VeAdam Ecological Educational Farm
- Maccabiah Games
Overnight: Elective Sites
DAY #14 | Electives—Day 2
- Gadna IDF Immersion
- Hava VeAdam Ecological Educational Farm
- Maccabiah Games
Overnight: Elective Sites
DAY #15 | Electives—Day 3
- Gadna IDF Immersion
- Hava VeAdam Ecological Educational Farm
- Maccabiah Games
Overnight: Elective Sites
DAY #16 | Electives—Day 4
- Electives conclude following lunch
- Reunite as a group on the Mediterranean Coast for a surfing class, beach time, and BBQ dinner
Overnight: Haifa
DAY #17 | Valuing Israeli Diversity
- Explore Haifa, Israel's most diverse city
- Visit the Stella Maris Monastery, the Bahai Temple Gardens, and the Ahmadiyya Mosque and meet with the Imam
- Encounter with Druze culture and share a traditional meal in the Golan village of Ein Kinya
- Co-existence dialogue with Arab teens facilitated by the Galilee Foundation
Overnight: Haifa
DAY #18 | Adventures in Western Galilee
- Rappelling down Keshet Cave—the soaring natural geological wonder in the Western Galilee
- Rosh HaNikra—descend into the ocean-swept caves on Israel's far northern border
- Explore the ancient seaport of Akko and its Crusader-era history, including the Templars’ Tunnels
- Kabbalat Shabbat at our accommodations
Overnight: Haifa
DAY #19 | Shabbat in Haifa
- Krav Maga—Learn about the traditional Israel Martial Arts style
- Staff-led Shabbat programming and lunch at our accommodations
- Enjoy a relaxed Shabbat with swimming and sports
- Dinner at our accommodations, followed by Havdalah
- Group night out at Haifa's Grand Canyon Mall
Overnight: Haifa
DAY #20 | Tikkun Olam—Repairing the World With Our Hearts & Hands
- Spend the morning volunteering in the region and learn about the Jewish values that inspire our service
- Travel south along the coast to Tel Aviv, Israel's cultural and commercial capital
- Enjoy a traditional Ethiopian meal while learning about the cultural and historical experience of Ethiopian-Israelis
Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY #21 | Resilience and Adaptation
- Machon Ayalon—honor the bravery of the pioneers who helped establish modern Israel at this secret underground munitions facility
- Visit Netiv HaAsara—on the frontier of Gaza—and take part in a peace project on the border wall
- Take in the views from the ancient port city of Jaffa and browse the colorful Jaffa flea market
Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY #22 | Celebrating the Spirit of Tel Aviv
- Learn how Israel became the "Startup Nation" at the Peres Center for Peace & Innovation in Jaffa
- Enjoy the colorful Nachalat Binyamin street festival and explore the Carmel Market
- Return to Tel Aviv for a walking tour of the historic Neve Tzedek and trendy Rothschild Boulevard neighborhoods, including a visit to Independence Hall
- Discover the complexity and beauty of Hebrew graffiti art in Florentin and learn how to make your own graffiti art creation
- Israeli dance workshop
Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY #23 | Loss and Renewal
- Pay your respects at Yad Vashem—The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
- Reflect on your experience over a lunch at Jerusalem’s Mifletzet Park
- Kol HaOt—understanding your journey in Israel through an art-based experience
- Volunteer project preparing care packages for Lone Soldiers at the Michael Levin Center
- Meet with Eylon Levy for a geopolitical overview of Israel and the Middle East today
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY #24 | Navigating Jewish Sovereignty and Jewish Values
- Explore the geopolitical complexity of Jerusalem in the Gilo neighborhood
- Roots Tent—take part in a constructive Arab-Israeli dialogue in the West Bank
- Break for lunch in Efrat—one of the largest settlements and the center of the Gush Etzion Bloc
- Return to Jerusalem for a guided tour of the Knesset—Israel's parliament building
- Learn from Dov Lipman—a former Knesset member—as he discusses Jewish pluralism in Israeli society
- Pizur dinner and group night out at Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY #25 | Defining Zionism
- Visit the Theodor Herzl Museum and explore the grounds of Mt. Herzl National Cemetery—honoring Israel's founders, national leaders, and fallen soldiers
- Experience Mahane Yehuda marketplace and final "shopportunity" on Ben Yehuda Street
- Re-enter the Old City to experience Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel
- Walk back to our accommodations for Shabbat dinner
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY #26 | Shabbat in Jerusalem
- Staff-led Shabbat programming and lunch at our accommodations
- Visit the Israel Museum to discover the Dead Sea Scrolls, Temple Model, and Israel’s most prized cultural and historic treasures
- Spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying a Jerusalem-style Shabbat at Sacher Park
- Wrap-up session, celebration dinner, and final Havdalah ceremony
- Return to Ben Gurion Airport for an overnight flight back to America
Overnight: Return Flight
DAY #27 | Shalom U'lhitraot
- Arrive back from your group flight