Program is tentative and subject to change. Connect with our Customer Care Team by calling: (888) 230-6008 Mon.-Thur. from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
YOUR journey
J² crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. We are guided by a simple but powerful concept: No two trips are the same; each experience should be personal, meaningful, and backed by superb service. Travel is not just about the places you visit, but the connections you make along the way.
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THE EXPERT
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
WELCOME TO ISRAEL
Tue. Jan 7, 2025
- 10:45 a.m. At the hotel, meet your J² Expert Educator who will accompany you on this journey. [Please note: Check-in is from 3:00 p.m., but you can always leave your bags with the front desk.]
- Soul of the Jewish State: Why Are We Here? Program orientation led by Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch.
- Enjoy a light lunch at the hotel.
- Meet with journalist Haviv Rettig Gur, political correspondent and analyst for The Times of Israel.
- Hear from Dr. Einat Wilf, former MK and leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy, and education.
- Meet with founder Reut Karp at Cafe Otef, a community-focused cafe that employs survivors of the October 7 massacres at Kibbutz Reim.
- 5:30 p.m. Return to your hotel and enjoy a free evening.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Lunch
DAY 2
MOSAIC OF JERUSALEM
Wed. Jan 8, 2025
- 6:45 a.m. Shacharit (optional).
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
- 8:15 a.m. Depart Tel Aviv for the day.
- Visit the Magen David Adom HQ in Ramle with the opportunity to check out the new cutting-edge blood bank.
- Drive to Jerusalem and spend the afternoon at Kol Haneshama, a leading Reform congregation.
- Dialogue with journalist-scholar and author Yossi Klein Halevi.
- Lunch (on own) in Jerusalem on Emek Refaim Street in the German Colony.
- Hear from a panel of local Rabbis and learn about their community's challenges and achievements in the past year of turmoil.
- Presentation with journalist and author Matti Friedman, who will discuss why the media’s eyes are fixed so firmly on Israel and will argue that the extensive coverage is leading to less, rather than more, understanding of the situation.
- Processing session and reflections led by your trip leaders.
- 6:00 p.m. Depart Jerusalem and drive to Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3
LIVING ON THE EDGE
Thu. Jan 9, 2025
- 6:45 a.m. Shacharit (optional).
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
- 8:00 a.m. Depart Tel Aviv for the day and drive south.
- Lookout to Gaza from Givat HaTaspitaniot and learn about the role of women in the army, and those who were abducted and killed on October 7.
- Spend time at Kibbutz Nachal Oz. We'll meet the head spokesperson of the kibbutz to hear about the events of October 7 and the daily challenges and threats that the community still faces.
- Visit the site of the Nova music festival next to Kibbutz Re'im and meet with survivor Shye Klein Weinstein.
- Explore the "Burnt Vehicles Compound," where 1,560 vehicles, evacuated from the roads and communities of the Gaza Envelope, stand as silent witnesses to the fateful events of October 7. Hear the extraordinary story of courage and resilience from Rami Davidian, a farmer from Moshav Patish, who risked everything to save lives amid the chaos.
- Last stop at Sderot, a resilient city on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Meet with a local police officer and mayor Alon Davidi to gain first-hand insights into the challenges and perseverance of this community in the aftermath of October 7.
- Processing session and reflections led by your trip leaders.
- 6:30 p.m. Depart Sderot and return to Tel Aviv.
- Optional Dinner with IDF reservists.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Breakfast, Packaged Lunch
DAY 4
PEOPLE, CHANGE, AND SPIRIT
Fri. Jan 10, 2025
- 7:30 a.m. Shacharit (optional).
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
- 9:15 a.m. Gather for morning sessions at the hotel.
- Meet with Orly Erez Likhovski leader of IRAC (Religious Action Center) to learn about social justice initiatives in Israel.
- Meet with Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, an expert on international law, human rights, and feminist theories, to discuss the experience of women in times of emergency.
- Solidarity is about lending a hand. Devote time to volunteering at one of the many sites where especially today extra hands are needed.
- Free time and lunch in Tel Aviv (on own).
- Return to the hotel to freshen up for Shabbat.
- 3:45 p.m. Depart hotel.
- Meet with MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv.
- Join Kehilat Ofir for Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner in Givatayim. The community is named after Ofir Libstein who served as the head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council and who was killed on October 7.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5
SHABBAT IN TEL AVIV
Sat. Jan 11, 2025
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
- 9:30 a.m. Join Tfilla at Kehillat Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv, led by Rabbi Meir Azari, followed by kiddush and lunch.
- Meet with journalist Ben-Dror Yemini.
- Mark the end of Shabbat with a communal havdalah ceremony at Hostage Square and express your solidarity with all of Israel and ask what can be done to help.
- optional visit to the center for LGBTQ at the New Gan Meir center.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6
LOOKING NORTH
Sun. Jan 12, 2025
- 6:15 a.m. Shacharit (optional).
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
- 7:45 a.m. Check out of your hotel and head north.
- Meet with research expert Sarit Zehavi, CEO and founder of the Alma Research and Education Center at a northern overlook.
- Tour of Kibbutz Menara, a symbol of pioneering, which was evacuated and partially destroyed in the most recent northern military battles.
- Visit with Adhan Safdi, a first responder from Majdal Shams, a Druze town in the northern Golan Heights bordering Syria. The community was tragically stuck by Hezbollah rockets and 12 children lost their lives in July.
- Stop at the Naot shoe factory, located at Kibbutz Naot Mordehai.
- Check into hotel and eat dinner.
- Meet with HeChalutz Movement members, young people dedicating their time to rehabilitating the Galil.
Overnight: North
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
NEW HORIZONS
Mon. Jan 13, 2025
- 6:15 a.m. Shacharit (optional).
- Enjoy breakfast and check out from your hotel.
- 7:45 a.m. Head out on your final day.
- Meeting with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, a religious Druze leader, and discuss Druze-Israeli relations.
- Spend time with Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav.
- Visit the Leo Baeck School in Haifa, the Israeli Reform Movement’s flagship school, and enjoy a light lunch.
- Meet Prof. Uzi Rabi, specialist on Iran, from the University of Haifa.
- Depart from Haifa.
- Farewell dinner and closing discussion.
- Drive to Ben-Gurion International Airport and check in for departure flight.
Overnight: Flight
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
HOME
Tue. Jan 14, 2025
- Arrive in the US.
RATES & LODGING
Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
participants
22+
Tel Aviv: Carlton
- Nights: 4
- Room Category: Standard
- Hotel Website
Upper Galilee: Hotel Galilion
- Nights: 1
- Room Category: Standard
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- Gratuities to guide and driver.
- 6 nights' accommodations.
- 7 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator (guide), 7 days of touring in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
- Group arrival transfer & assistance at the airport.
- Group departure transfer & assistance at the airport.
- Daily breakfast, 3 lunches & 4 dinners.
- The J² adventures App available on the App Store & on Google Play (active 7 days before your departure and throughout your trip).
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the hotels.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- Flights to & from Israel.
- Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
- COVID related expenses, including tests.
- Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d’hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified.
- US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable.
- Value Added Tax is currently not applicable to tourists visiting Israel. Should the law change, you will be notified accordingly, and VAT will be added to your final invoice.
- Please review our terms & conditions (T&C’s) or request that we send you our full T&C’s. Until you do that, here is the small print, and other stuff you may want to know:
- Validity | All prices quoted are based on exchange rates as of the proposal date and are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and are based on shared twin room occupancy.
- How to Make a Reservation | The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or contact us by email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required in order to complete the registration process.
- For any assistance with this registration process or other trip-related queries, please email Customer Care: [email protected].
- Payments | The balance of your payment is due 90 days before your trip begins, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date. Various payment options are available as follows:
- Credit card | We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online via a credit card or by wiring funds via your bank.
- Domestic bank wire transfer | Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice. Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by email. The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary’s name on the wire transfer.
- J² Adventures reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.
- Cancelation Policy | All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
- Cancelation fees | Cancelations made 90 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 89 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.
- Cancelation fees may also include: Hotel or supplier cancelation fees. J² Adventures reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits.
- Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
- Please click here to view our full terms (T&C’s). These T&C’s apply to all reservations created within J2 Adventures.
DISCOVER NEW WORLDS.
JOURNEYS.
A family vacation to Israel. An adventure of a lifetime traveling with friends to Morocco. A trip to Poland or Portugal with your community. What do these trips have in common? No matter where you go, you will come back with a fresh perspective and appreciation of the place you visited as well as a heightened awareness of your identity as part of the global Jewish community.
Stuff.
We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.
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