jewish israel tour

What’s new?

• Our Jewish World
• Be Inspired

Why Gil Travel

• Jewish Cruises
• Family Experiences

Israel Tours

• Senior Travel
• Special Programs
• Virtual Travel
• Meet our Team
• Partnerships
• In the News
• Testimonials
• Awards & Accolades

be inspired

why gil travel

Middle East

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Latin America

Asia / South Pacific

North America

Main › Israel Tours

For over 50 years, Gil Travel has been the leading travel management company specializing in Custom Jewish heritage tours of Israel. Our deep-rooted passion and expertise in high-end Jewish-related Israel travel have made us the go-to choice for those seeking a profound connection to their Israeli Jewish heritage.

Jewish tours to Israel are not just trips; they are unique opportunities to connect with your roots. Imagine a Jewish heritage trip to Israel where you can lounge by the sea, play matkot, and soak up the sun. Envision the excitement of counting down the days until you stand before the Dead Sea Scrolls in the architectural marvel of the Israel Museum which you have been talking about for years with colleagues or family.

Share stories from your guided fully custom heritage tour of Masada with your congregation, or express to your coworkers the profound impact you felt while visiting Yad Vashem.

Beyond the popular sites, Gil Travel can also introduce you to off-the-beaten-path experiences, like visits to ancient settlement ruins or museums celebrating the musical history of the Jewish people, and even locating your own family heritage to visit in Israel. In addition, for those that keen on diving into contemporary Israel, we’ve got you covered, from meeting locals to understanding the essence of The Startup Nation.

With decades of experience, we craft custom luxury heritage tours in Israel that cater to diverse groups, always keeping your unique Jewish heritage needs at the forefront. Our extensive knowledge of Israel and fleet of professionals ensures a meticulously planned itinerary, tailored just for you.

We’re proud to have collaborated with esteemed Jewish organizations like Birthright and Maccabi USA. Whether it’s all-inclusive Israel tours custom packages or private journeys , we send thousands on their dream high-end Jewish heritage trip to Israel annually. 

Our dedicated staff is committed to curating transformative Jewish tours, and we’re confident in helping you plan your ultimate Jewish heritage tour in Israel.

From $2,599

5 Days/4 Nights

From $2,939

13 days / 11 nights

Multiple Departures

From $3,797

15 days / 14 nights

From $4,625

12 Days/11 Nights

From $2,391

10 Days / 9 Nights

From $3,336

13 days / 12 nights

From $6,282

From $2,054

10 Days/9 Nights

From $3,351

15 Days/14 Nights

From $1,769

8 Days/7 Nights

From $2,649

11 Days/10 Nights

Suitable for: Family

GIL TRAVEL NEWSLETTER

Receive inspiration in your inbox

Our Destinations

Middle East Eastern Europe Western Europe Asia / South Pacific Latin America North America

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Israel Travel Private Tours Jewish Heritage Travel Senior Travel Family Experiences Holyland Christian Tours

Our Story Meet the Team Partnerships In the News Testimonials Awards & Accolades

Our Magazine Our Newsletter Virtual Experiences Travel Protection Map of Israel Weather in Israel

1-215-568-6655 Send us a message

Copyright © 2024 Gil Travel Inc. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Tabuzzco

Search for something…

Contact us by sending a message

We always aim to reply within 1 business day.

Sign up for our travel newsletter!

Get updates on new programs, travel tips, and new inspirations!

• Conferences
• Travel Insurance
• Travel Tips
• Group Leader Guide
• Helpful Links
• Terms and Conditions

Meet The Experts

• GET INSPIRED

Israel Awaits

• Ayelet’s World Latest Issue
• Ayelet’s World Past Issues
• Call Us: 1-800-237-1517
• Account Login

Ayelet Tours, Ltd.

About Ayelet Tours

Ayelet Tours is best known for our Israel and Jewish heritage tours around the world. We offer group, congregational and custom Jewish tours to Israel, as well as specialized tours for Bar/Bat Mitzvah families and Christian Pilgrims. We create Heritage tours to destinations worldwide through our scholar-led Traveling University program. Our Best-Day Adventures provide unique travel opportunities for active Jewish Singles in their 40s, 50s and 60s. In addition, we provide Conference Management Services for a number of leading organizations. The name Ayelet means gazelle in Hebrew, and is part of the phrase Ayelet Hashachar – the morning star (literally “gazelle of dawn”). Ayelet Tours takes its cue from this star, leading the way each day with itineraries and exciting programs connecting our travelers to the best of Israel and the Jewish world. Ayelet Tours started as an idea. Back in ancient times (aka the mid 1980s), founder Diane Rubtchinsky saw a gap in the Israel travel market and a real need for a niche company. Working from her kitchen table, she took a leap of faith and founded a start-up, focusing on religious-based travel to Israel. Diane escorted her first Israel tour in 1984 – an interfaith journey led by Rabbi Martin Silverman and Bishop Howard Hubbard from her home-town of Albany, NY. It was on this tour that Diane’s dream of an agency specializing in Israel and open to every faith and nationality was first conceived. Ayelet Tours moved out of the kitchen and into real offices in 1986. Since then Ayelet has continued to lead the market. Along the way, we’ve accomplished so much as a company – creating a trusted reputation for innovation and excellence in travel, and fostering relationships with both vendors and clients that continue to this day. There are congregations with whom we have now coordinated tours to Israel across four decades! Besides congregational and private tours worldwide, we proudly continue to coordinate the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), American Conference of Cantors (ACC) and Cantors Assembly (CA) conferences and missions. We’ve run missions for hundreds of participants at a time – such as with the CA missions to Poland and Germany. And of course our long term partnership with Hadassah has put literally thousands of dedicated Zionists in touch with the best of Israel’s potential – each returning home as an ambassador on behalf of the country and the organization we love so deeply. We’ve been at the forefront of Jewish travel. Our first tours to Eastern Europe traveled shortly after the fall of the iron curtain, when ideas of customer service in the formerly communist regions were tenuous at best. But we stepped into the gap to provide top level experiences, while opening up relationships with the region’s Jewish communities that flourish to this day. We continue in that tradition of breaking new ground with our recently added People to People tours to Cuba, now in overwhelmingly high demand. Cliché or not, Ayelet Tours is as much family as company. Diane’s son Jeff grew up immersed in the business. After a few years working in finance, and traveling extensively throughout the world, Jeff joined us full time in 2001. And the feeling of family extends further – our staff includes long time team members, providing our clients and partners with continuity, deep knowledge and destination expertise. For example, native Israeli Seffie Epstein has been part of Ayelet’s Management team since the 1990s, and Operations Manager Caralie Cole has been part of our “family” since 1987! On behalf of all of us at Ayelet Tours – the operators, support staff, guides, drivers and partners in countries around the world – we thank you for the opportunity to fulfill our mission, and to share our love for Israel and the wider world with you – our clients, our partners, our friends. Now…let’s go!

Ayelet’s World – Past Issues

• Ayelet’s World 2005
• Ayelet’s World 2007
• Ayelet’s World 2009
• Ayelet’s World 2011
• Ayelet’s World 2012
• Ayelet’s World 2013
• Ayelet’s World 2014
• Ayelet’s World 2015
• Ayelet’s World 2016
• Ayelet’s World 2017
• Ayelet’s World 2020

Your Full Name (required)

Your Email Address (required)

Your Phone Number

Your Subject —Please choose an option— Israel Community / Congregation Trips B’nai Mitzvah Europe Cuba South America Morocco Other

Join the Ayelet Tours email list:

• Israel Sites
• Travel Blog
• Happy Clients
• Pricing Promise
• 2024 Weekly Group Israel Tours!
• Deluxe Small Group Tours
• Private Israel Tours
• Sample Itineraries

15 Day Jewish Heritage Israel Tour & Petra Group Tours

• Tour Itinerary
• What's Included?
• Dates & Pricing

15 Day Jewish Heritage Tour Runs Every Wednesday! Learn about modern Tel Aviv, travel the Mediterranean, Sea of Galilee, ancient Holy Jerusalem, float in the Dead Sea and visit the Lost City of Petra!

Day 1 wednesday (assist & transfer), welcome to holy israel, arrival assistance at ben gurion airport.

After clearing passport control a Shalom Israel Tours representative will be waiting to welcome you, assist with your luggage, and escort you to your waiting chauffeur for transfer.

Welcome to Tel Aviv

Stretching along a beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv is considered the face of modern Israel. Nicknamed “The White City” for its abundance of Bauhaus style architecture, Tel Aviv was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2003.

Overnight: Tel Aviv Hotel Options

Day 2 thursday (guided touring), establishing israel – a nation is born, weizmann house museum.

Dr. Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952), was the first President of the State of Israel. He was the head of the Zionist movement for over 30 years, an outstanding scientist, and one of the founders of two leading academic institutions – the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot.

Latrun Police Station & Tank Museum

Numerous significant battles took place here during the 1948 War of Independence. In 1967, Latrun was liberated from Jordanian rule. Today, it houses a memorial for fallen armored corps soldiers. Some 110 armored vehicles are displayed and can be climbed on.

Underground Bullet Factory Museum

This secret factory was established by the Haganah in 1945. While it appeared as a kibbutz laundry above ground, down below, 45 members of an underground mission were producing bullets in preparation of the War of Independence. The British never suspected.

Day 3 Friday (Guided Touring)

Tel aviv – the modern city.

ANU – Museum of the Jewish People

The story of the Jewish people is a story of constant renewal. The new core exhibition reflects the Jewish world of today. ANU – Museum of the Jewish People celebrates the multiculturalism of Jewish diversity and adopt an inclusive, pluralistic approach.

Rabin Square & Memorial

Visit the spot where the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzchak Rabin, was assassinated. The remodeled memorial square in central Tel Aviv is home to a monument dedicated in his memory. Learn about the assassination and Rabin’s resonating impact on the State of Israel.

Old Jaffa Port & Market

Built 4,000 years ago, the Jaffa Port is the oldest in the world. The prophet Jonah embarked on his ill-fated journey from this port, and building materials for the First and Second Temples were delivered to Jaffa. The metropolis of Tel Aviv is largely an extension of Jaffa.

Nachlat Binyamin Arts & Crafts Fair

The first and biggest of its kind in Israel, this average street comes alive every Tuesday & Friday. Displaying Israeli-made crafts, jewelry, home décor and art, all goods on display are hand made and sold by the artists, making a visit to this market a memorable experience.

Day 4 Saturday (Free Day)

Tel aviv – free day at leisure, day at leisure in tel aviv.

Visit the “Soho” of Tel Aviv and stroll Dizengoff St., Shenken St. & Rothschild Blvd. Filled with funky street vendors, boutiques and coffee shops alongside simple kiosks and local fast food stalls, Tel Aviv brings out the urban hipster in anyone who walks down these streets.

Day 5 Sunday (Guided Touring)

Israel’s coast – ancient ports, ancient city of caesarea ruins.

The Caesarea National Park contains the remains of a prestigious city established by King Herod the Great. Prepare to be amazed when you visit the mighty Roman Amphitheatre, the Hippodrome, a 20,000 seat horse racing arena, as well as the impressive Roman Aqueducts!

Haifa Bahai Gardens Lookout

Haifa is Israel’s main port city, the 3 rd largest city in Israel and home to the famous Bahai Gardens. We’ll take a few minutes to enjoy the spectacular views before continuing…

Acco Fortified Walls & Market

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Akko dates back to the time of the Pharaoh Thutmose III and was a central city of the Ottoman Empire. Stop by the market and stroll along shoreline walls built by the Ottoman governor using old Crusader stones.

Rosh Hanikra Grottos & Cable Car

Formed over a period of thousands of years from waves hitting the soft chalk rock on Israel’s coast, the beautiful Grottoes (sea caves) of Rosh Hanikra are truly a wonder of creation. Ride via cable car from the mountain top down to sea level to walk within its gorgeous walls.

Dinner & Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Northern Israel

Day 6 monday (guided touring), the galilee and tzfat – city of kaballah, tzfat old city & artist quarter.

Tzfat is one of the four holy cities in Israel. It has served as a spiritual center since the 1600s, when famous Kabbalists roamed here. Tzfat awaits art lovers, soul-seekers and historians to cobblestone alleys, medieval synagogues, galleries and mystical atmosphere.

Golan Heights Jeeping

Jeep tours take you off the road to hard-to-reach places, such as streams, fields and mud tracks. The Golan is green and lush, with small villages nestled into the hills. Learn about the biblical and historical importance of the Golan sites while enjoying a bumpy jeep ride.

The Battle of Tel Chai Court

Step into the exact spot where the battle of Tel Chai took place and hear the story through an audio-visual presentation. Continue on to a museum tour and view the memorial for the soldiers who fell in the Trumpeldor-led 1920 battle to defend the Upper Galilee’s Zionists.

Mitzpe Gadot Lookout

From Israel’s Independence in 1948 until the 6-Day War in 1967, Syrian troops stationed in the Golan Heights fired relentlessly on communities below. Jewish farmers plowed fields from behind tanks and children played, studied and slept inside shelters.

Kibbutz Tour & Evening Talk

During your stay at Kibbutz Lavi, you’ll get the chance to meet one of the Kibbutz residents for a mini tour and discussion about Lavi; a unique glimpse into the life of a “kibbutznik!”

Day 7 Tuesday (Guided Touring)

Tiberias and the jordan valley – highway of kings, tiberias & the sea of galilee.

Tiberias was founded in the first century and is located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  Here is the burial place the Rambam (Moshe Ben Maimon), world renowned codifier of Jewish law. It is written “from Moshe to Moshe, there arose none like Moshe.

Beit She’an National Park

It is here that King Saul was defeated by the Philistines in a vicious historical battle. Later, Beit She’an was reestablished as a Greek city with colonnaded streets, temples, theaters and fountains. The city was devastated by an earthquake in 749 CE; now only remnants remain.

Ancient Beit Alfa Synagogue

Built during the Byzantine era, this excavated synagogue is most well known for its miraculously preserved mosaic. The mosaic vividly portrays the Binding of Isaac, the Temple of Jerusalem and the Zodiac, demonstrating Roman influence on Jewish culture.

Gan HaShlosha National Park

Chosen by Time Magazine as one of the world’s 20 most beautiful parks, relax and rejuvenate at one of the natural pools or Jacuzzis that are idyllically situated below a flowing waterfall. Located in the hot Beit She’an valley, the cool water can be a welcome diversion.

Mount Scopus Jerusalem

End the day with a beautiful drive through the Jordan Valley and ascend to Jerusalem. We’ll stop at Mount Scopus as you enter the city to say the blessing of “Shehechiyanu” to celebrate the joyous occasion of entering the holy capital. Welcome to Jerusalem, our eternal Capital.

Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 8 wednesday (guided touring), jerusalem’s old city – the eternal capital, king david’s tomb.

Located on Mount Zion in a 1,000-year-old building, people come here to pay tribute to the great King David, who is most notably famous for composing the Book of Psalms and establishing a unified capital for Israel. A medieval tradition places his tomb at this location.

Old City Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter remains one of the single most-visited spots in all of Israel. Nestled within one square kilometer of land lay millennia of ancient history. The Old City dates back to the 8th century BCE and is home to numerous landmarks of historical significance.

The Four Sephardic Synagogues

During the War of Independence, residents of the Jewish Quarter found cover here for two continuous weeks. After the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, these four synagogues were rehabilitated, and today they are frequented by the residents of the Jewish Quarter

Jerusalem Archaeological Park

Experience Second Temple-era Jerusalem on the eve of its destruction by the Romans. See a virtual reconstruction of the Temple, visit the stores and walkways of the surrounding city and see the remnants of the staircase that led to the Temple Mount and the Holy of Holies.

Western Wall Tunnels Tour

These famous underground tunnels contain remnants of entire rooms from the Second Temple period. At Warren’s Gate, you’ll stand just a few feet away from where the Holy Ark stood, and feel the yearning of the Jewish people for the Temple for thousands of years.

Tower of David Museum

The Tower of David served a military purpose until 1967, when it was re-captured by Israel and turned into a museum of Jerusalem’s history. Now you can view the most thorough collection of Jerusalem artifacts, from the Canaanite period 4,000 years ago up to today.

Day 9 Thursday (Guided Touring)

Jerusalem new city – the modern capital, israel museum & dead sea scrolls.

Founded in 1965, this is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and one of the world’s leading art and archaeology museums. Here you will find the oldest existing biblical manuscripts in the world, the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are housed in the Shrine of the Book.

Mount Herzl National Cemetery

A burial place for prominent Zionist figures such as Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin, here you will also find an expansive military cemetery; one quite full for a country so young. The loss of the soldiers who fought for the land of Israel is palpable.

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

In 1963, the Yad Vashem Museum was established as the world center for Holocaust research, education and commemoration. With survivor testimonies, powerful displays, artifacts and memorial gardens, this museum embodies one crucial message: Never again.

1967 Six Day War – Ammunition Hill

On the night of June 6 th , 1967, a four-hour battle took place here at Ammunition Hill in which 36 men lost their lives. Today you can view the trenches and reconstructed bunker that serves as a museum and tells the story of the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem.

Day 10 Friday (Guided Touring)

The judean desert – king herod’s fortress, masada mountain & cable car.

Ride via cable car to the top of Masada and explore what remains of King Herod’s palace. See what it was like to live there as you view the preserved baths, cisterns and barracks. It was here that leader Eleazer Ben Yair kept the Roman Legion’s siege at bay for three years.

Dead Sea Float & Spa Lunch

Yam Hamelach, literally meaning “Sea of Salt,” is 417 meters below sea level, making it the lowest place on earth. Its salty water contains unique healing properties, which, combined with the nutrient-filled mud found on its shores, creates one luxurious and healthy day.

Sunset at the Western Wall – Evening Recommendation

Here stand the sacred remnants of the ancient Jewish Temple. On Friday night come to the Wall and join the joyful event together with soldiers and people from all over the world dancing together in lively in celebration of Shabbat, a truly unforgettable experience.

Day 11 Shabbat (Free Day)

Shabbat in jerusalem – day at leisure, shabbat morning.

Finally some time to rest!  Enjoy a morning at leisure at your hotel and relax…

Ben Yehuda Street– Evening Recommendations

Here you’ll find all the character-filled restaurants, shops, street vendors, and street performances you could ask for. Sip a latte at one of Ben Yehuda’s many sidewalk cafes, grab a delicious, chocolate fro-yo, invest in some Judaica, and relax!

Day 12 Sunday (Guided Touring)

Timna & eilat – sea life and geological wonders, timna national park.

Travel back in time when you venture into this geological wonderland! See the ancient copper mines, King Solomon’s Pillars and the huge multi-colored rock formations. A man-made lake in the middle of the desert offers shaded areas to enjoy the panoramic view.

Red Sea Underwater Observatory

Enter the amazing world of the Red Sea, one of the most scenic seas in the world. The Park maintains an extensive exhibition of fish and other living creatures native to the Red Sea, including aquariums, a Shark Tank, Turtle & Stingray Pool and underwater observatories.

Overnight: Eilat Hotel Options

Day 13 monday (guided touring), day at leisure or optional petra tour, petra – the red sandstone city – optional.

Counted amongst the wonders of the ancient world, Petra is an archeological, anthropological and geological phenomenon. Your guide will explain the history, legends, myths and truths of this city carved 2,000 years ago from the red Sandstone Mountains.

Day 14 Tuesday (Guided Touring)

The negev – israel’s flourishing desert, mitzpeh ramon crater.

Enjoy spectacular views of the desert and witness this unique geological phenomenon. Israel’s largest national park, the crater is located at the peak of Mount Negev.  At first sight the crater appears as if it was formed by a meteor impact but in truth is a natural formation.

Ben Gurion Hut

Get an insider’s look at how the first Prime Minister of Israel lived after retirement with a visit to his preserved home at Sde Boker. This hut is a monument to the first leader of Israel, his life as a politician and kibbutznik, and his extraordinary belief in Israel’s Negev region.

Day 15 Wednesday (Chauffeur)

Farewell for now…we’ll miss you, farewell transfer…we’ll miss you.

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure from Israel…Farewell for now!

More Touring in Israel for the Lowest Price Anywhere - Pricing Guarantee!

Hotels included, enjoy your stay at some of israel’s finest hotels.

• 5 nights hotel in Tel Aviv, The Modern City
• 2 nights Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Northern Israel
• 5 nights hotel in the Holy City of Jerusalem
• 2 nights hotel in Eilat & the Red Sea

SERVICES INCLUDED

Ensuring that your visit is easy, comfortable, and fun.

• Welcome & Assist at Ben Gurion Airport
• Arrival & Departure Airport Transfers
• 10 Days Touring in an Air-Conditioned Coach
• All Touring with a Professional Licensed Guide
• Israel Tours Hats/Israel Maps/ Bottle Carriers
• All Group Touring & Sites as per Tour Program
• Optional Petra Tour is $289/ person + Jordan Visa Fee

MEALS INCLUDED

Get a taste of authentic israeli cuisine.

• Daily Breakfast Buffet at each Hotel
• Nightly dinners at the Kibbutz Lavi Hotel
• Dead Sea Hotel Swim & Lunch Buffet

The Below Pricing is the Full Land Tour Package, per Person, Double Occupancy. Email Us for Single Traveler, Triple & Children Rates & Special Group Discounts!

Fill out the contact form below and we'll send over further tour details, upgrade to a 100% private tour, private tour upgrade.

Same great tour, but 100% private! Your own private guide & vehicle work for you!

• Private 2 person tour: $3920 per person supplement
• Party of 4 travelers: $1960 per person supplement
• Party of 6 travelers: $1480 per person supplement
• Party of 8 travelers: $1280 per person supplement
• Party of 10 travelers: $1080 per person supplement
• Party of 12 travelers: $940 per person supplement
• Party of 14 travelers: $840 per person supplement

Book Your Tour Now!

Our Group Israel Tours

which tour interests you:?

• 10 Day Israel Adventure
• 12 Day Israel Experience
• 13 Day Israel Tour & Petra
• 15 Days Israel & Petra Tour
• Classic Israel Group Tours
• Israel Tour Packages
• Jewish Heritage Group Tours

Discover the sites

amazing locations…

• Golan Heights Tour SItes
• Israel’s Coastal Sites
• Jerusalem New City Sites
• Jerusalem Old City Sites
• Judean Desert Sites
• Negev Desert Tour Sites
• Tel Aviv & Jaffa Tour Sites
• Tiberias & Jordan Valley SItes

Explore more!

useful info for your trip…

• Advice on Israel Travel
• Business Terms & Conditions
• Professional Israel Tour Guides
• Recommended Reading
• Restaurant in Jerusalem
• Restaurants in Tel Aviv
• Useful Pre-Tour Info

Let’s Go Touring!

It's YOUR turn to discover the very best of Israel on our signature 8, 10, or 12-day tour designed for active adults – with guaranteed small groups and confirmed tour dates conveniently scheduled year-round.

My Turn brings together active adult travelers to explore Israel’s rich history, modern culture, and stunning landscapes. Experience the highlights of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, the Galilee, Haifa, Golan Heights, and the Mediterranean Coast – with plenty of off-the-beaten-path discoveries and delicious meals to cherish along the way.

Choose from an 8-day or 10-day core itinerary with a 12-day Eilat Extension on the Red Sea with the option to explore the wonders of Petra in Jordan. Our fixed tour dates are scheduled throughout the year, and we guarantee no more than 26 travelers in a group.

My Turn is pluralistically Jewish in approach and welcoming to all. The itinerary is ideal for travelers seeking a complete first-time Israel experience or returning anew. Because My Turn is organized in-house by our own staff and our own caring guides/educators, we provide a higher level of service, a truly authentic journey, and an excellent value.

Early Registration Savings + Risk-Free Terms = Act Now!

Sign up at least five months in advance to lock in your spot and receive a $100/person savings. All payments are fully refundable up to four months in advance, so your savings are commitment-free.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

For a more detailed view of the program, check out the Program Itinerary

Discover the four quarters of the  Old City , explore millennia of history in the  Western Wall Tunnels,  and experience the quiet of  Shabbat in Jerusalem

Descend to the lowest place on earth to float in the Dead Sea at a local resort and scale the heights of Masada  in the Judean Desert

Navigate the Negev Desert  wilderness the old-fashioned way on  camels  and enjoy a delicious  desert tent dinner feast

Experience Israel’s pioneering heritage along the  Sea of Galilee  shores, and ascend the  Golan Heights  on an  off-road jeep trek

Make a solemn visit to  Yad VaShem  World Holocaust Remembrance Center and celebrate Israel’s revival at  Independence Hall

Soak up the cultural riches, browse colorful  street festivals , and enjoy the always lively beach culture of  Tel Aviv

Travel along the Mediterranean coast to view the Bahà’í Gardens  in Haifa, the Rosh Hanikrah ocean caves, and Caesarea palace ruins

Sample Israel’s diverse cuisine at  gourmet restaurants , in a  Druze village , and in  open-air marketplaces

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

Enjoy the Red Sea's tropical beaches and underwater wonders while staying at a resort hotel in  Eilat Included with the 12-day tour

Explore hidden Nabatean Kingdom treasures on a guided  Petra day tour  in neighboring Jordan Add-on to the 12-day tour

MORE THAN A TOUR

Travel to Israel is unlike any other destination, which is why we strive to offer so much more than expected.

Educational Touring

Thoughtful educational touring with a focus on more experiences and fewer museums

Passionate Staff

Led by passionate 24×7 staff and backed by an organization you can count on

Fantastic food! 

Enjoy more authentic genuine local flavor and fewer hotel meals

Shared Journey

A focus on creating a sense of community and connection as part of a shared journey

Small Groups

Guaranteed small group tours with confirmed travel dates – plan with confidence

Program dates are confirmed, however, Authentic Israel reserves the right to consolidate or cancel trip dates in extraordinary circumstances.

No Hidden Costs 

Absolutely no hidden costs, no surprises, and a near   all-inclusive package

REAL REVIEWS FROM REAL TRAVELERS

We know you’ll cherish the My Turn experience, but don’t just take our word for it. Check out these real reviews from past travelers who have completed the journey.

Looking for even more reviews? See what our travelers say about us on TripAdvisor!

• Plant Trees
• JNF In Your Area
• Visit Israel

Stay on top of the latest Jewish National Fund news

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA TRAVEL & TOURS

Volunteer in israel.

Rebuild Israel With Us

We Stand With Israel

TOUR ISRAEL WITH US IN 2024

Jewish National Fund-USA is currently running much-needed volunteer missions in Israel for variety of ages and groups, from teens to adults. JNF-USA Volunteer in Israel Missions are your opportunity to build Israel now and make a difference for the future. Rebuild communities with us by planting, cleaning, painting, and repairing to prepare them for returning evacuees.

Spend 4 meaningful days with us providing hands-on support to our beloved friends from communities across the Israel Envelope and the Galilee. When you help a community move back, watch a child walk into their school, dance with an IDF soldier, see the gratitude in a farmer’s eyes, you will never be the same. You will be part of history.  First there was Herzl. Then there was Ben-Gurion. Now, there’s you .  Make history. Volunteer in Israel. 

Volunteer in Israel With Us

“Our experience on the Jewish National Fund-USA volunteering mission was so meaningful. “ - Zachary Narrett. 

Read more about our mission participants’ experience here.

UPCOMING TOURS

Volunteer in israel: 4 day mission.

An exceptional chance to volunteer & build Israel now.

Upcoming Tours

VOLUNTEERING DAY TRIPS

Volunteer for a day with Jewish National Fund-USA in Israel

WE CHOOSE LIFE – OCT 7 SOLIDARITY MISSION TO ISRAEL

Stand in solidarity with the land and the people of Israel

SOLO TRAVELER MISSION (30S & 40S)

Experience, volunteer, and make a difference in Israel. Join other like-minded solo travelers in their 30s & 40s.

PARENT-TEEN VOLUNTEER IN ISRAEL MISSION

Bond with your teen on this meaningful experience helping the land and the people of Israel.

TEEN VOLUNTEER IN ISRAEL MISSION

An exceptional chance for high school students to volunteer in Israel now.

AMHSI ALUMNI VOLUNTEER IN ISRAEL MISSION

Join fellow AMHSI alumni on an experience volunteering & rebuilding in Israel.

COLLEGE STUDENTS VOLUNTEERING TRIP - ALTERNATIVE BREAK

Volunteering opportunity for college students with JNF-USA's Alternative Break

EDUCATORS' MISSION

An International Educators’ Seminar in Israel powered by Keren Kayemet L'Israel

• July 09, 2024 - July 16, 2024

FAMILY TOURS

A meaningful family trip with Jewish National Fund-USA.

• December 22, 2024 - December 29, 2024

WOMEN FOR ISRAEL VOLUNTEER MISSION

Women's Mission - An exceptional chance to volunteer in Israel now.

SUNSHINE TOURS

Specially designed tours of Israel for active seniors.

• May 04, 2025 - May 13, 2025

2ND ANNUAL BROTHERHOOD MISSION TO ISRAEL

Bond with your Israeli brothers & raise money for the land and the people of Israel.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FOR ISRAEL MISSION

One-of-a-kind opportunity exploring Israel’s healthcare system and innovative medical breakthroughs.

• February 16, 2025 - February 20, 2025

SUKKOT, PASSOVER, AND HOLIDAY DAY TOURS

Join Jewish National Fund–USA’s holiday day trips in Israel.

• October 21, 2024
• October 21, 2024 - October 21, 2024

PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY MISSION

Experience Israel like never before on a tour reserved for our members of President’s Society. New mission dates coming soon.

LEADERSHIP MISSIONS

Exclusive experience for leaders and JNF-USA ambassadors.

QUEEN OF SHEBA - WOMEN'S MISSION TO ISRAEL

Embark on a journey with fellow women supporting Israel. New mission dates coming soon.

SOUTHERN ROOTS TOURS

Travel to Israel with friends old and new from the South. New tour dates coming soon.

TASTE OF ISRAEL TOURS

Experience the rich flavors of Israel’s north through food, wine, and cooking. New tour dates coming soon.

INTERFAITH TOURS

Discover the diverse cultures, communities, and religions that were born in Israel and coexist today. New tour dates coming soon.

CONGREGATIONAL TOURS

Come home for a visit.

Join our weekly day tours once resumed. Volunteer day trips are currently running regularly.

Jewish National Fund-USA is a living, breathing organization and it's part of building the future of Israel. On every trip, they show me something I've never seen or heard of or shine a new light on a place I've been to and loved before. They have the connections to offer a perspective on Israel that most tourists never get to see. – Dr. Kenneth Fried

About Jewish National Fund-USA's Travel & Tours

Jewish National Fund-USA is currently running volunteer missions in Israel. Additional tours have been postponed to late 2024 and early 2025. We look forward to returning home; visiting our communities in the Negev and Galilee, meeting the special people that make Israel the incredible land it is, and taking a behind-the-scenes look of how vision comes to life with Jewish National Fund-USA's work on the ground. 

Discover the magnificence of southern Israel and the Negev, take in breathtaking views of the Galilee, experience the rich culture and multi-layered history of the old city of Jerusalem, visit the iconic neighborhoods of Tel Aviv, enjoy authentic cuisine, but most importantly, make memories that will last a lifetime. Start your adventure by exploring Israel’s iconic sites including the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv's sunny beaches, Masada's grand views, and more. From there, take the path less traveled to explore Israel’s north and south. Travel to southern Israel with us; get glimpses of blooming fields in the Negev desert, taste delicious local fruits and vegetables, and meet the farmers who are making innovative agri-tech advancements. Get to know the people who have made new lives all across the region, and see how we inspire the transformation of the sand dunes into vibrant communities. Northern Israel brings with it a change of scenery. Travel through the lush green mountains, experience local wineries, enjoy an authentic kibbutz experience, and connect with local artisans, businesses, and entrepreneurs who make the region into a thriving community. Join us on our exclusive, curated, high-end tours that will take you off the beaten path. Find the trip that's right for you. We've got your backstage pass to Israel.

Read about our travelers' experience  here.

Israel-Premier Tech kicks off post-Oct. 7 Tour…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)

Daily e-Edition

Evening e-Edition

• Hurricane Tracks
• Election 2024
• Restaurants
• Real Estate
• Things To Do

Florida Jewish Journal Palm Beach Jewish News

Israel-premier tech kicks off post-oct. 7 tour de france.

The team was founded by Ron Baron in 2014 and is co-owned by Sylvan Adams. Its squad for the Tour features riders Pascal Ackermann (Germany), Guillaume Boivin (Canada), Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark), Derek Gee (Canada), Hugo Houle (Canada), Krists Neilands (Latvia), Jake Stewart (Britain) and Stevie Williams (Britain).

“We have a very good squad, high goals and expectations and I hope we excite our fans,” Adams told JNS. “The people of Israel are the wind in our backs.”

Twenty-two teams are taking part in the 21-stage race (2,174 miles), which ends in Nice on July 21 (for the first time, it will not end in Paris, due to preparations for the upcoming Summer Olympics in the French capital).

The event comes on the backdrop of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparked by the Palestinian terrorist group’s Oct. 7 invasion and massacre of some 1,200 people in southern Israel.

Adams invited to Florence Avida Bachar, from Kibbutz Be’eri, who lost his son, wife and one of his legs in the Hamas assault, and Sharon Shevo, also from Kibbutz Be’eri, who was wounded in the attack while riding his bicycle.

The team co-owner also invited Oded Gelbstein, an Israel Defense Forces combat engineer wounded by a Hamas sniper in Gaza on Nov. 2. Gelbstein is being treated in the Italian city.

Adams, who cycles just ahead of the team for half of each stage, emphasized the need to promote Israel through top sporting events.

“As I drive on the road, there are fans on both sides. Fifteen million spectators are watching the Tour de France live [in person] over three weeks. They see my jersey, they recognize it and they go, ‘Israel, allez, allez, allez,’” said Adams. (Another approximately 3.5 billion people will see the race on television.)

“We have a lot of friends around the world, it feels good. The haters are out there, small in number. They are not cycling fans. Four guys with one [PLO] flag may show up but then we don’t see them again. Let’s hope this year will be the same,” he added.

A group of young Israeli cyclists who survived Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault on Kibbutz Nahal Oz came to cheer on the team along with former IPT cyclist Guy Niv, who in 2020 became the first Israeli to participate in the Tour.

“Unfortunately, in many places in the world we are not getting the right image. It’s important that through big sports competitions we are represented and show our flag and show ourselves,” Niv told JNS.

The trip was organized by Bartali-Youth in Movement, which works across Israel to educate children by taking them to cycling events and practicing with them.

“To see the juniors of Nahal Oz come after probably the hardest moment in the history of Israel, to see what they achieved over the last eight months, it’s amazing and we are proud of them,” added Niv.

Other Israelis came on their own initiative and will be following the riders in caravans throughout the Tour.

Brigitte David, whose daughter-in-law lost her parents, Meni and Ayelet Godard, on Oct. 7, came to support the team.

“We have been coming to the Tour for 15 years. We bring our bicycles and we drive the stages. We see the Israeli team and we are proud and happy,” David told JNS.

“This year, it was difficult to leave the country with everything that was happening. Some of our family members lived in Kibbutz Be’eri and were deeply affected by the attack. It’s very hard for us,” she said.

Meni Godard‘s body is still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

IPT sporting director Dror Pekatch told JNS the pressure usually peaks as the race kicks off. “We are all ambassadors [of Israel] but in the end we are here to win,” he said.

The team has thus far had its best-ever season with 16 stage victories across all competitions.

IPT won two Tour stages in 2022 and last year scored a spectacular win by Michael Woods in stage 9 at the Puy-de-Dôme.

“The team was tactically built based on the profile of the riders. We have climbers like Derek Gee, who proved in the preparation race, the Dauphiné in France, that he can be up there,” Pekatch explained. (Gee came in third overall in the mountainous eight-stage, 737.9-mile 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné that ended on June 9.)

“There are eight flat stages that Pascal Ackermann can fight for as a sprinter; he can also go on hard climbs,” Pekatch added.

“Stage 2 [from Cesenatico to Bologna] fits Stevie Williams well. We also have Jakob Fuglsang, who brings experience, having competed in the Tour de France 12 times. We have a team that combines different characters, we will adapt according to the situation,” he said.

Ackermann, who is racing in the Tour for the first time, told JNS he was itching to go.

“It’s super exciting. It’s the biggest event you can achieve in cycling. It’s one of the most special moments of my career. I hope I can make everyone proud,” he said.

Canadian rider Boivin likewise was champing at the bit.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for quite a few months and it’s finally starting. It’s time to get on our bikes and try to win some stages,” he told JNS.

“It’s my eighth year on the team. I’m really proud to be here representing Israel-Premier Tech in the biggest race in the world. I’m excited to show that jersey in front of the bikers and fans. Come on over and cheer us on as we do our best to make you proud,” said Boivin.

From the equipment they use to their level of hydration and calorie intake, every element of the riders’ routine leading up to and during the Tour is meticulously planned by a team of 40 professionals accompanying them throughout the event.

“The bikes are top of the range, super light and super fast, they’re all set for each rider down to the millimeter,” IPT mechanic Andreas Back Watt told JNS.

“They are calibrated to fit each rider’s specific measurements, the bikes are made of carbon fiber in Taiwan. The frame costs about €5,000 [$5,360]. We have three spare bikes per rider. We hope they use the same bike from start to finish, unless there is a crash,” he said.

While crashes make headlines and could put riders out of the race in a second with a fracture, IPT’s Dr. Joost De Maeseneer said that he takes equally serious sore throats and respiratory tract infections, which could become problematic if left untreated.

“Our goal is to keep riders in the race, and to do so we must stay close to them,” De Maeseneer told JNS.

“You have to visit the riders, go to their room after dinner and check that everything is okay. If there is something, we need to know so we don’t lose time. While a stomach issue can be minor, we have to jump on it immediately,” he said.

To maintain their strength during the grueling three weeks, the riders eat at their own restaurant-on-wheels, in which chef Olga Belenko prepares them healthy and nourishing dishes.

“I prepare three meals, it’s non-stop work from the morning until midnight,” Belenko, who collaborates closely with the team’s three nutritionists, told JNS.

“We build the meals based on stages and how many calories they use in a given day that need to be replaced,” she added, while preparing a white mushroom turkey stew for lunch.

“The riders basically have two breakfasts, the first part being red fruits, juice, cereal and coffee. The second often includes rice, crepes, pancakes, porridge,” said Belenko.

Each day during the race, the riders can consume about three-to-four times the caloric intake of an average adult male.

“In bigger stages, it can be upwards of 7,000 calories a day. A lot of it comes from carbohydrates, which are the main source of energy for the brain and muscles,” IPT nutritionist Vanessa Zoras told JNS.

“We monitor them closely, run medical tests and control calories through the year as well to make sure that when the time comes they are just ready,” she said.

The controlled environment is essential, as something invariably pops up. Just days ago, rider Williams had a toothache, giving the entire team a scare.

“This was quite minor,” recounted Pekatch. “We found a window and fixed an appointment with the dentist, we coordinated it with the help of the local Jewish community.

“Setbacks will come, it may be in the form of a crash, sick riders or a flat tire during the race. As you see, it’s a huge production. Everybody is a link in the chain. Luckily enough, we have the best possible team,” he said.

To read more content visit www.jns.org

More in Palm Beach Jewish News

IDF completes groundbreaking ‘Phase Two’ program for women

Orthodox basketball star Ryan Turell to join Israel’s top league

Global influencers gather in New York City for Jew-hatred summit

Join the search for a lost Jewish library looted by the Nazis

Trending Topics:

• Say Kaddish Daily
• Healing service Mondays at 12:15 ET

Israel Trips

By My Jewish Learning

Amirim A real living and volunteering experience in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem this summer.

Birthright Israel Provides a gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26

The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel A pluralistic, merit-based Israel summer trip for 26 North American high school juniors

Cycling Trips in Israel A website devoted to Cycling trips throughout Israel

Destination Israel Offers study, travel, and work opportunities in Israel

Fine Wines of Israel Offers wine tours of Israel

Israel Eco Tours Consisting of a select tour guides, with an emphasis on nature, culture and heritage

Israel Experts A site made up of a unique group of experienced informal educators, accredited tour guides and logistics experts

Israel Tour Guides Private, Safe & Tailor Made Tours of Israel

Jeff Seidel’s Jewish Student Information Center Provides trips to Israel for Jewish students

The Jerusalem Fellowships Offers several Israel trips

Livnot U’Lehibanot Provides a number of Israel trips for a variety of audiences, including Jewish educators, and 30-somethings

Mayanot In conjunction with Taglit-birthright israel, Mayanot offers free & fun 10-day tours of Israel

Nat-Tours-Israel Offers Israel tours for Jewish families and groups

Nesiya Experience Israel in an environment that reflects the diversity and vitality of the Jewish people today.

Passport to Israel A summer trip to Israel provided by the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO)

Project Otzma A 10-month volunteer program in Israel

Shalem Offers teens a trip which is divided into periods of volunteering / living experiences in different Israeli community settings, and a period of study in Jerusalem

Tikun Olam in Tel Aviv An opportunity for English-speaking college graduates to spend 10 months as a community volunteer in Tel Aviv

Tlalim Tours Their team works hand-in-hand with institutions, groups, and families across North America and Europe to organize innovative travel programs in Israel and beyond

Touring Israel Offers you custom tailored tours of the Land of Israel with your own private, expert tour guide

WUJS Institute International program for Israel and Jewish learning

Young Judaea Summer Programs Summer in Israel for teens with a multitude of options

Young Judaea Year Course A freshman year program of life experiences and learning

Join Our Newsletter

Empower your Jewish discovery, daily

Discover More

How to Say the Shehechiyanu Blessing

This blessing is traditionally recited upon doing something for the first time.

Simple Spatchcocked Chicken and Roasted Root Vegetables

Spatchcock is a method of splitting (butterflying) a chicken.

Roasted Potatoes for Shabbat

A Friday night staple.

• LET'S TALK
• LIFE & CULTURE
• LET'S EAT
• FAMILY & EDUCATION
• SOCIAL & PERSONAL
• THE SCHMOOZE
• JEWISH WORDS
• JEWISH HOW TOS
• RABBI I HAVE A PROBLEM
• EDUCATIONAL
• PROFESSIONAL
• THE FRESSER

Sign up to The JC newsletter

Parents worry, but israel tour keeps going.

Post-16 Israel tour takes off but with 50 per cent fewer participants than in previous years

BY Jane Prinsley

• Israel Tour

A Bnei Akiva Israel Tour in Jerusalem (Photo: Bnei Akiva and UJIA Israel Experience)

Five hundred Jewish teens travelled to Israel this week for the annual post-16 Israel tour.

A rite of passage for many young Jews, this year’s three-week tour sees 50 per cent fewer teens participating in tour compared to last year as they travel to a country which is still at war.

Fewer youth movements are going to Israel, but groups with planned trips include Bnei Akiva, Ezra, FZY, Habonim Dror, Sinai and Tribe. Habonim-Dror have altered their usual trip to include some time in Europe.

Safety concerns are always paramount to the organisation of tour and every eventuality is planned for – from health scares to rocket barrages, said UJIA, which oversees all the groups.

An Israel Tour group (Photo: Bnei Akiva/UJIA Israel Experience)

Speaking to the JC , UJIA’s head of external relations, Jonathan Roland, said: “The security procedure is not new but it has been developed. All groups will have a guard with them as normal and a tracking device.”

He said that parents would be kept well informed via the UJIA status page on their website.

Madrichim (leaders) have been given additional support in their training to enable them to speak about the war with their groups, he said.

On a normal year, 60 per cent of Jewish 16-year-olds from the UK travel to Israel on tour, according to Roland. This year sees half that number taking part.

“Last year was a big year, we had approximately 1,250 young people, but a standard year will be between 1,000 and 1,100,” Roland said, adding that UJIA’s counterparts in America were operating at a similar level of uptake this year.

Parents had been divided over whether to send their children to Israel, with many citing security concerns and a feeling of discomfort about their child holidaying in Israel during wartime.

An Israel Tour lands in Ben Gurion (Photo: Bnei Akiva/ UJIA Israel Experience)

Some parents whose children landed in Israel this week said they felt nervous.

One parent who wished to remain anonymous said, “I feel a tad anxious but trust the youth group will look after them. I can’t worry forever, and I’m pleased that the kids are able to be in Israel and experience that ‘life goes on’ mentality.”

Another said: “I’m excited for them at the same time as being worried about the situation. It was a difficult decision when we signed up and, of course, we hoped that things would be better by now, but I wouldn’t want to stop them going.”

UJIA chair Zvi Noé said: “After months of careful planning by UJIA Israel Experience, youth movements and ground providers, we are delighted that the first Israel tours have arrived.

“The safety and security of the programme has been of the utmost priority, and we are confident that 500 of our community’s teens will have an educational, powerful and meaningful summer in Israel that reflects the unique moment of Jewish history that we are living through.”

A Bnei Akiva Israel Tour group after arriving in Israel (Photo: Bnei Akiva/UJIA Israel Experience)

With the fight against Hamas in Gaza and the escalation on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, the tour schedule has been adapted in line with Israel’s guidance.

Groups will not be visiting the north, nor will they travel to the areas surrounding Gaza. All groups will visit Kikar HaChatufim, Hostage Square, in Tel Aviv, the key site of memorial for the October 7 massacre in Israel, where the teens will be shown the empty Shabbat tables set for the hostages.

Thank you for trusting us to keep the community safe

Wolfson Hillel shoots, scores and wins the Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament

Naima pupils are top of the class at Etgar 2024

Faith must play a role in policy-making, says interfaith group

The key to a 70-year marriage? Laughing and keeping schtum

Have the JC delivered to your door

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details....

©2024 The Jewish Chronicle

• Advertising
• Terms & Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Privacy policy

Deals of the Week   Must-haves for 2025   Up to 50% OFF

Israel Tours & Trips from Jerusalem

53 israel tour packages from jerusalem with 48 reviews.

In-depth Cultural Family Sightseeing Historical Christmas & New Year +3

Jewish Israel Tour Package, 7 Days

"Great tour that visits all the main sites. Guides were friendly and knowledgeable." Brandon, traveled in May 2023

In-depth Cultural Family Christmas & New Year +1

Mini Jewish Tour Package, 6 Day

"Had a fantastic tour. Bein Hareim tours were really flexible and facilitated a change we asked for." Liesl, traveled in March 2019

Explorer Family Historical Christmas & New Year +1

Biblical Lands 5 star - 8 days

Tailor-Made Best Israel Tour with Daily Departure & Private Trip

• Book With Flexibility View tour Download Brochure

In-depth Cultural Family Historical Christmas & New Year +2

Jerusalem & Tel Aviv Adventure 7D/6N

• 10% deposit on some dates

Jewish Israel Luxury Tour 10 days (Single, 5* Hotel)

Jewish Israel Luxury Tour 10 days (2+Travelers, 4* Hotels)

Explorer Historical

Israel Uncovered (Summer, 7 Days)

Explorer Coach / Bus Historical +1

Israel Uncovered (Winter, 7 Days)

Jerusalem & Dead Sea Experience 4D/3N

Bibleland Tour

• $75 deposit on some dates

In-depth Cultural Coach / Bus Sightseeing Historical Christmas & New Year +3

Israel Explorer - 6 days

Explorer Family Christmas & New Year +1

Israel and Jordan Discovery (Private Bespoke)

"This was the most amazing trip! Trip of a lifetime! They made it so easy and affordable." Tanya, traveled in January 2023

Christian Jerusalem, 3 days

"Great 3 day tour." Lynsey, traveled in December 2018

Christian Jerusalem & Masada, 3 Days

"Basically, everything was very good. I'm a very sociable, social person and felt a bit alone..." Christiane, traveled in January 2023

What people love about Israel Tours from Jerusalem

Very knowledgeable and pleasant guides. Made the days interest and showed a lot of care. Great ambassadors of the company.

Had a fantastic tour. Our guides were really fantastic and knew their stuff. Bein Hareim tours were really flexible and facilitated a change we asked for. Would definitely recommend.

We have taken private tours three times with Odynovo. I can’t help but say it is the best organized and helpful tour company you could ever use. My wife and I have traveled to 21 countries, but the best have been with this company.

Tours starting from Jerusalem

• Jerusalem to Tel Aviv tours (20)
• Jerusalem to Jerusalem tours (13)
• Jerusalem to Cairo tours (7)
• Family from Jerusalem (50)
• In-depth Cultural from Jerusalem (47)
• Private from Jerusalem (8)
• Explorer from Jerusalem (7)
• Coach / Bus from Jerusalem (6)
• Israel Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

Discover TourRadar

• North America Tours
• France Tours
• Negombo Negombo In-depth Cultural tours
• Jebel Toubkal Trek February 2025 tours
• Southwest USA Las Vegas tours
• 10 day Arusha tours
• Wild Kiwi - Ask a Question

Advertisement

Israeli Military Must Draft Ultra-Orthodox Jews, Supreme Court Rules

The court ruled there was no legal justification for the ultra-Orthodox exemption from service, a decision that threatened to split Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime government.

• Share full article

Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Must Serve in Military, Supreme Court Rules

The exemption for the ultra-orthodox has long been a source of contention for secular israelis..

“The army asks for thousands of soldiers now, and we must bring the religion Orthodox — they are not going to the yeshiva to learn. They must go to the army, and do what all the other kids in their ages are doing. If my kids can go to the army, so everybody can go to the army. There is no other options.” “This ruling actually doesn’t have any implications, any practical implications. It’s more of a declaration more than anything else. It doesn’t add anything to the defense issue at this time. So it’s very hard to give any credit to this ruling. It doesn’t mean much. In fact, the high court shouldn’t have interfered at all in this issue.”

By Aaron Boxerman

Reporting from Jerusalem

• Published June 25, 2024 Updated June 26, 2024

Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, a decision that threatened to split Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government amid the war in Gaza.

In a unanimous decision, a panel of nine judges held that there was no legal basis for the longstanding military exemption given to ultra-Orthodox religious students. Without a law distinguishing between seminarians and other men of draft age, the court ruled, the country’s mandatory draft laws must similarly apply to the ultra-Orthodox minority.

In a country where military service is compulsory for most Jewish Israelis, both men and women, the exemption for the ultra-Orthodox has long prompted resentment. But anger over the group’s special treatment has grown as the war in Gaza has stretched into its ninth month, requiring tens of thousands of reservists to serve multiple tours and costing the lives of hundreds of soldiers.

“These days, in the midst of a difficult war, the burden of that inequality is more acute than ever — and requires the advancement of a sustainable solution to this issue,” the Supreme Court said in its ruling.

The decision threatened to widen one of the most painful divisions in Israeli society, pitting secular Jews against the ultra-Orthodox, who say their religious study is as essential and protective as the military. It also exposed the fault lines in Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition, which depends on the support of two ultra-Orthodox parties that oppose their constituents’ conscription, even as other Israelis are killed and wounded in Gaza.

Israeli courts have ruled against the exemption before, including Supreme Court decisions in 1998, 2012 and 2017 . The top court has repeatedly warned the government that to continue the policy, it must be written into law — though that law would be subject to constitutional challenges, as previous ones were — while also giving the government time to hammer out legislation.

But for seven years, since the last law was struck down, successive Israeli governments have dragged their feet in drafting new legislation. In 2023, the law finally reached its expiration date, leading the Israeli government to order the military simply not to draft the ultra-Orthodox while lawmakers worked on an exemption.

On Tuesday, the court indicated that its patience had finally run out, striking down that order as illegal. It did not set a timeline for when the military must start conscripting tens of thousands of draft-age religious students. Such a move would likely prove a massive logistical and political challenge, as well as be met with mass resistance by the ultra-Orthodox community.

Gali Baharav-Miara, Israel’s attorney general, in a letter to government officials on Tuesday, said the military had committed to draft at least 3,000 ultra-Orthodox religious students — out of more than 60,000 of draft age — during the coming year. The letter noted that the number would come nowhere near to bridging the gap in military service between the ultra-Orthodox community and other Israeli Jews.

Instead, the ruling included a means of pressuring the ultra-Orthodox to accept the court’s judgment: the suspension of millions of dollars in government subsidies given to religious schools, or yeshivas, that previously supported the exempted students, striking a blow to revered institutions at the heart of the ultra-Orthodox community.

The court’s ruling threatens Mr. Netanyahu’s fragile wartime coalition, which includes secular members who oppose the exemption and ultra-Orthodox parties that support it. Either group breaking ranks could cause the government to collapse and call new elections, at a time when popular support for the government is at a low. The opposition in the Israeli Parliament largely wants to end the exemption.

The Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7 — which ignited the eight-month war in Gaza — somewhat loosened the ultra-Orthodox stance on the draft, with some leaders saying that those who could not study scripture should go to the military.

“Still, the maximum that the ultra-Orthodox community is willing to give is far less than what the general Israeli public is willing to accept,” said Israel Cohen, a commentator for Kol Barama, an ultra-Orthodox radio station.

But the ultra-Orthodox parties, with few palatable options, might not be eager to bring down Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition, he said. “They don’t see an alternative, so they’ll try to make it work for as long as they can,” said Mr. Cohen. “They will compromise more than they might have been willing to a year ago in an attempt to preserve the government.”

For now, the military must devise a plan to potentially welcome to its ranks thousands of soldiers who are opposed to serving and whose insularity and traditions are at odds with a modern fighting force.

The court’s decision creates a “gaping political wound in the heart of the coalition” that Mr. Netanyahu now must urgently address, said Yohanan Plesner, chairman of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based think tank.

In a statement, Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party criticized the Supreme Court for issuing a ruling when the government was planning to pass legislation that would render the case obsolete. The government’s proposed law, the party said, would increase the number of ultra-Orthodox conscripts while recognizing the importance of religious study.

It was unclear whether Mr. Netanyahu’s proposal would ultimately hold up to judicial scrutiny. But if passed by Parliament, a new law could face years of court challenges, buying the government additional time, said Mr. Plesner.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday immediately sparked outrage among ultra-Orthodox politicians. Many ultra-Orthodox view military service as a gateway to assimilation into a secular Israeli society that would lead young people to deviate from a lifestyle guided by the Torah, the Jewish scriptures.

“The State of Israel was established in order to be a home for the Jewish people, for whom Torah is the bedrock of their existence. The Holy Torah will prevail,” Yitzhak Goldknopf, an ultra-Orthodox government minister, said in a statement on Monday.

After the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, Israelis united in determination to strike back. But as thousands of reserve soldiers were asked to serve second and third tours in Gaza, the fault lines in Israeli society quickly resurfaced.

Some Israeli analysts warn that war could spread to additional fronts in the West Bank and the northern border with Lebanon, leading the government to call for more conscripts and further straining relations between secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Already many Israelis — secular, religious and ultra-Orthodox alike — see the draft issue as just one skirmish in a broader cultural battle over the country’s increasingly uncertain future.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have been exempt from military service since the founding of Israel in 1948 , when the country’s leadership promised them autonomy in exchange for their support in creating a largely secular state. At the time, there were only a few hundred yeshiva students.

The ultra-Orthodox have grown to more than a million people, roughly 13 percent of Israel’s population. They wield considerable political clout and their elected leaders became kingmakers, featuring in most Israeli coalition governments.

But as ultra-Orthodox power grew, so did anger over their failure to join the military and their relatively small contribution to the economy. In 2019, Avigdor Lieberman, a former ally of Mr. Netanyahu, rebuffed his offer to join a coalition that would legislate the draft exemption for the ultra-Orthodox. The decision helped send Israel to repeated elections — five in four years.

Last year, after Mr. Netanyahu returned to power at the helm of his current coalition, he sought to legislate a plan to weaken the country’s judiciary, setting off mass protests. For the ultra-Orthodox, who backed the judicial overhaul, a major motivation was ensuring that the Supreme Court could no longer impede their ability to avoid the draft.

Ron Scherf, a lieutenant colonel in the Israeli reserves, said many soldiers were frustrated to be serving multiple tours of duty during the war, even as ultra-Orthodox Israelis are “never called up in the first place.”

An activist with Brothers in Arms, a collection of reserve soldiers who oppose Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Scherf asked, “How can Israel just allow an entire community to be exempt from its civic duties?”

Gabby Sobelman , Johnatan Reiss and Myra Noveck contributed reporting.

Aaron Boxerman is a Times reporting fellow with a focus on international news. More about Aaron Boxerman

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

Israeli forces killed a senior Hezbollah commander  in a drone strike in southern Lebanon, prompting the Lebanese militia to retaliate with a heavy rocket barrage across the border.

Israel issued a new round of evacuation orders  for a large swath of southern Gaza, sending thousands of Palestinians fleeing once again for relative safety.

Israel’s top generals want to begin a cease-fire in Gaza  even if it keeps Hamas in power for the time being, widening a rift  between the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Feeling Little Sympathy:  Despite being aware of the devastation in Gaza, many in Israel blame Hamas for the suffering of Palestinian civilians  in the enclave.

‘A Hellscape’ for Amputees:  Doctors say they have been stunned by the sheer number of amputations in Gaza , which put patients at risk of infection in a place where access to medical care and even clean water is limited.

Pregnant With Nowhere to Go:  As the war in Gaza killed all hope around her, Nevin Muhaisen, a middle-school teacher and mother of four, fought to bring a new life into the world .

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Some visitors to Israel have a new stop on their tours: Hamas’ destruction in the south

For people visiting Israel, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. This is a new kind of tourism that has emerged in the country in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. (AP Video: Ami Bentov)

A group of Israelis on an educational tour visit the home of the Siman Tov family on Friday, June 21, 2024. The parents and three children were killed and their home was torched by Hamas militants on the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

• Copy Link copied

A group of Israelis visit a damaged house following the Oct. 7 Hamas militants attack on Israel in Kibbutz Beeri, southern Israel, on Friday, Jan. 28, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Israeli soldiers watch a virtual tour of the destruction of the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel near the site of the Tribe of Nova music festival, where at least 364 people were killed and abducted near Kibbutz Re’im, southern Israel, Thursday, May 30, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

An Israeli reservist poses for a picture with a tourist from Mexico, who is holding the soldier’s M16 rifle, at the site of the Tribe of Nova music festival, where at least 364 people were killed and abducted during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, near Kibbutz Re’im, southern Israel on Thursday, June 20, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A group of Israelis on an educational tour visit a house that was torched by Hamas militants on the Oct. 7 attack on Israel in Kibbutz Nir Oz, on Friday, June 21, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

People look at the Gaza Strip through binoculars from an observation point in the town of Sderot, southern Israel, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

FILE - Danny Danon, a member of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, left, and Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, visit a home torched by Hamas in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, Monday, May 27, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

A woman stands next to photos of people killed and taken captive by Hamas militants during their violent rampage through the Nova music festival in southern Israel, which are displayed at the site of the event to commemorate the Oct. 7, massacre near Kibbutz Re’im on Thursday, June 20, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli soldiers look at pictures of revelers killed on Oct. 7, 2023 at the Nova music festival by Hamas militants during a cross-border attack, as they visit the site in Re’im, southern Israel near the Gaza border, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A woman stands next to a shelter at the site of the Tribe of Nova music festival, where at least 364 people were killed and abducted during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, near Kibbutz Re’im on Thursday, June 20, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A group of Israelis on an educational tour visit the dining hall that was damaged during the Oct. 7, Hamas attack on Israel in Kibbutz Nir Oz, on Friday, June 21, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

People look at the Gaza Strip from an observation point in the town of Sderot, southern Israel, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Ultra-Orthodox Jews from central Israel visit a bomb shelter where Israelis were killed during the Oct. 7 Hamas militants attack on Israel, near Kibbutz Beeri, southern Israel, on Friday, June 21, 2024. A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

KIBBUTZ NIR OZ, Israel (AP) — A new kind of tourism has emerged in Israel in the months since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others, no trip is complete without a somber visit to the devastated south that absorbed the brunt of the assault near the border with Gaza .

Jerry Seinfeld, Elon Musk , Michael Douglas, former presidential candidate Nikki Haley , and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are a few who have visited, at times posing for photos in front of burned-out homes. Many Israelis, including soldiers and security officials, are also visiting on organized trips.

“It’s our personal story, but it’s also the story of all of the state of Israel,” said Irit Lahav, spokeswoman for Kibbutz Nir Oz, who gives many of the tours.

A quarter of the approximately 400 Nir Oz residents fell victim to the attack. Hamas militants killed more than 20 and kidnapped over 80. In the dining hall, a wall of post office boxes is plastered with stickers — red for killed, black for kidnapped, blue for released.

While it’s uncomfortable to open the community to visitors, she said it’s important for people to “come here and smell the burned smell of death, to imagine your friends or parents here.”

Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people as they rampaged through southern Israel, and kidnapped around 250. Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war that followed.

Prior to Oct. 7, Lahav ran a tourism company. Now she has turned those itinerary-building skills to the kibbutz where she grew up. Her tour includes the spot in the fence where Hamas militants stormed the kibbutz, along with small details that humanize the scale of destruction, like the candy eggs that melted when the general store was torched.

Many of the kibbutzim and towns that experienced the worst destruction are closed to the public, accessible only via organized tours like those for dignitaries or celebrities, or by invitation from a resident.

A group of Israelis on an educational tour visit a house that was torched by Hamas militants on the Oct. 7 attack on Israel in Kibbutz Nir Oz, on Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Nir Oz decided that the guides must be residents. Rena Bazar, who lives with most of the community in temporary housing elsewhere, is among those giving tours.

At first, it was difficult to return to Nir Oz. She didn’t like the idea of strangers on the lawns and in the dining hall with its bullet-riddled windows. But eventually, she understood the importance of helping visitors understand not just what happened, but also what life had been like before Oct. 7.

“I want to make it less about the combat and more about the personal stories of people who were there,” Bazar said.

For visiting dignitaries and VIPs, trips to Israel have long included stops at famous religious or cultural sites, such as the Western Wall, Masada, the Sea of Galilee or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the national Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem. The visits to the battered kibbutzim and border towns are the latest way to build support and solidarity with Israel’s allies abroad.

Other parts of southern Israel are open to the public and encouraging visitors — both foreigners and Israelis from elsewhere.

People look at the Gaza Strip through binoculars from an observation point in the town of Sderot, southern Israel, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

The city of Sderot runs “resilience tours,” connecting groups with survivors who share their memories of Oct. 7 or highlight cultural or culinary offerings. In contrast to the hardest-hit kibbutzim like Nir Oz, most of Sderot’s residents have returned.

Hen Cohen, the city’s tourism director, estimated that about 200,000 visitors have come during the first half of 2024, compared with 100,000 total in a normal year. Most come via solidarity missions from abroad or are local visitors such as soldiers and police officers on educational tours.

Birthright Israel, an organization that provides 10-day free trips to Israel for Jewish Americans, said that nearly all of the 13,500 participants expected this summer will visit Sderot and the site of the Nova music festival, where at least 364 people died. These visits provide an economic and morale boost to residents, Cohen said.

The Sderot police station, where 10 officers were killed on Oct. 7 in a standoff that left the station in ruins, is a main attraction. Visitors stop at the local museum, and watch security footage of what happened on Oct. 7, then walk to the empty lot where the police station stood. Twisted metal remains. Israeli flags flutter in the wind. A sign says a memorial will be built there.

People look at the Gaza Strip from an observation point in the town of Sderot, southern Israel, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

“In this dark hour, I wanted to do my part to make sure the people of Israel know that the people of the United States are with you,” former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said while visiting the site. Seinfeld later cried while talking about his own visit to a kibbutz, describing it as “the most powerful experience” of his life.

Zehava Ben Zaken, a lifelong Sderot resident, said it has taken time to adjust to seeing visitors every time she walks by. “I’m happy they come to see this place, so they can understand and stand with us,” she said.

Hearing the booms from Gaza a few kilometers (miles) away, she hoped that visitors can finally understand Sderot’s precarious security situation. “We’re totally broken,” she said.

South of Sderot, the site of the Nova music festival has become a pilgrimage site for hundreds of visitors per day. Photos of victims are arranged around what had been the main stage. Loved ones have left candles, sculptures, photos and other mementos.

Israeli soldiers look at pictures of revelers killed on Oct. 7, 2023 at the Nova music festival by Hamas militants during a cross-border attack, as they visit the site in Re’im, southern Israel near the Gaza border, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Standing there helped her understand the enormity of loss of life, said Naomi Hanan, a medical student from San Francisco. “It’s right in front of your face and there’s no denying or ignoring what you’ve been hearing or seeing through the media,” she said.

In a eucalyptus grove near the site, an organization called Triumph of the Spirit offers virtual reality tours of three kibbutzim, including Nir Oz. The tours are currently only open to soldiers on official educational visits, but an English version will be available in the coming weeks for international tourists.

“I feel like I’m in Fortnite!” one soldier said as he slipped on the headset, then went silent as images of destruction appeared.

The videos were created by Miriam Cohen and Chani Kopolovich, who had created such tours of Auschwitz for a Holocaust education experience for people who don’t travel to Poland.

“We’ve made it accessible to go on this tour without damaging peoples’ privacy,” said Pinchas Tosig, who runs the tent and has 300 to 700 soldiers visit per day.

Some residents of southern Israel are looking beyond the visitors to the future.

In the coming weeks, Nir Oz will start demolishing some buildings to make way for new construction. Residents wonder how to preserve what happened while making space for new lives. Some say part of the destruction should remain. Others don’t want reminders — or visitors.

On one tour, Bazar pointed out the safe room where she spent hours hiding on Oct. 7. Her home was mostly spared. Others were burned. She doesn’t want the destruction to remain inside Nir Oz and hopes any future memorial will be elsewhere.

“I don’t want any child to be impacted by the ruins,” she said. “Our cemetery is full. Isn’t that memorial enough?”

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war