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
The journey featured on this page is open to all & the trip leader welcomes your participation!
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.
Archaeology 
Art & Culture 
Expert Scholar 
Heritage 
Food & Wine 
Innovation - Local Specialists
THE EXPERT
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
ON THE WAY
Wed. Jun 14, 2023
- Depart the USA.
DAY 2
THE START OF A SPECIAL JOURNEY
Thu. Jun 15, 2023
- Group arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport. Our representative will be on hand to assist with all formalities and ensure your journey has the smoothest of starts.
- Meet your tour educator who will accompany you on this journey of education and inspiration.
- Group transfer to Tel Aviv, also known as “the city that never sleeps.” A place of sun and fun, its centers of culture and history are complimented by great beaches, stores, and entertainment.
- Check into the hotel.
- From Hebrew City to Hebrew State: Walk along the Independence Trail and embark on a remarkable journey that begins with the founding of Tel Aviv in 1909 and ends with the establishment of Israel in 1948.
- Opening dinner at a local restaurant that will include an orientation for your trip by Rabbi Ari Nathan Margolis and your tour educator.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
FOUNDATION OF A CITY & STATE
Fri. Jun 16, 2023
- Breakfast at an Israeli hotel is an experience in itself. Start the day with a bounteous buffet.
- Beginnings: Modern Tel Aviv grew out of ancient Jaffa. Gaze out over the Mediterranean Sea; learn why Jaffa, mentioned in the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale, is so historically important; and see how its Old City reflects the present as well as the past.
- Walk through Jaffa’s famous flea market – Shuk Hapishpeshim.
- Neve Zedek was one of Tel Aviv’s first neighborhoods as the city grew outside of Jaffa. Stroll through this stylish area with its boutiques, galleries, and the Suzanne Dellal Center, Israel's world-class home of contemporary dance.
- Calling Boutique-Loving Hipsters: Browse your way through Nachalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv’s arts and crafts market before we check out the hustle and bustle at the Carmel Market.
- Return to the hotel.
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at Kehillat Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv, led by Rabbi Meir Azari.
- Blessings, Challah, and Friends: Friday night is the traditional highlight of the Jewish week and the Jewish stomach. Enjoy a Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Shabbat Dinner
DAY 4
INNOVATION NATION
Sat. Jun 17, 2023
- Arming for Independence: Visit the Ayalon Institute near Rehovot and uncover its role in the establishment of the State of Israel. This secret ammunition factory produced millions of bullets for Jewish forces fighting for a Jewish State and the end of British rule over Palestine.
- Return to Tel Aviv.
- Visit ANU the Museum of the Jewish People: You’re invited to join a fascinating journey that portrays the story of the Jewish people through the generations and up to the present time.
- Enjoy time at the Sarona Market. Through the smells, flavors, and tastes of this renovated historical Templers town, explore the range of cuisine – from local street food to fine dining by world-renowned Israeli chefs.
- Three Stars in the Israeli Sky: At nightfall, we will mark the end of a special Shabbat with a communal Havdallah ceremony.
- The City at Night: Tel Aviv’s food scene is on fire with world-class chefs and a huge range of happening restaurants. See and taste for yourself during a free evening with dinner. Afterwards, those who love the nightlife can sample the city’s bar, club and café culture or stroll along the refurbished promenade and port.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY 5
A MOSAIC OF THE NORTH
Sun. Jun 18, 2023
- Check out of the hotel.
- Continue to Caesarea, one of the Land of Israel's most important cities during the Roman Period. Explore life 2,000 years ago with its ancient theater, palace, and bathhouse.
- A Way Forward in the North: Visit Sindyanna of Galilee and sample some of their awardwinning olive oil. We’ll learn how this nonprofit organization is producing fine, fair-trade products and creating economic opportunities for Arab women, one of Israel’s most underemployed sectors. The tour will include a za’atar workshop. Mix some za’atar leaves, sesame seeds, sumac, olive oil, and sea salt, and presto, you’ve produced one of the great spices of local Arab cuisine. We’ll then combine our za’atar with Sindyanna olive oil and pita bread for a delicious manakish munch.
- Up There Where We Belong: The Agamon Hula (Hula Lake), Israel’s best place for bird-watching, is home to thousands of storks, cranes, pelicans and flamingos. We’ll learn why early Zionist efforts to drain these swamps have been replaced by environmental protection. And for those with a need for speed, there’s bike-riding and golf-carting.
- Check into the hotel, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Upper Galilee
Meals: Dinner
DAY 6
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Mon. Jun 19, 2023
- Paradise Springs is one of the places we’ll visit at the Tel Dan Nature Reserve. We’ll tour the remains of a 5,000-year-old city and find out why water is like gold in the parched Middle East.
- Hit the ground racing as we go off-road for a jeep tour of the Golan Heights that will combine natural beauty with insights into one of Israel's most strategically important areas. Retrace the experiences of Israeli soldiers in their battles here during the Six Day War of 1967 and talk with your jeep drivers about their personal experiences and feelings about the Golan.
- OPTION 1:
- From Little Things, Great Things Grow: The Golan Heights is wine country. Sample some of its best at the Pelter Winery. Nir and Tal Pelter used to run this winery out of the backyard of their family farm. The brothers have proven their expertise since then, but the winery remains a boutique family affair. We're doing the driving, so you're welcome to treat yourself to Pelter's Israeli gin along with the grapes.
- OPTION 2:
- Comfort You Can Eat: Enjoy the culinary delights of a chocolate workshop at the De Karina Chocolate Factory on Kibbutz Ein Zivan. Chocolatier Karina Chepelinski continues her family's tradition of creating handmade premium chocolate. During this tour and workshop, taste various chocolates and learn what makes it so delicious. Then, experiment with quality ingredients to create your own chocolate masterpiece.
- ALL:
- Cool Off Down the Jordan River: With the hot weather, it’s time to take to the water with rafting or kayaking down the Jordan River. This is the parched Middle East rather than the Rockies, so the current is mainly calm and suitable for ages five and up. Water shoes are recommended.
- Return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight: Upper Galilee
Meals: Dinner
DAY 7
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Tue. Jun 20, 2023
- Check out of the hotel.
- Perhaps it’s the combination of mysticism and art, and maybe it’s the mountain air in Israel’s highest city; entering Tsfat, there is a sense of something uniquely Jewish but not quite of this world. Here, you’ll:
- Visit the Ari Synagogue and share in the inspiration and innovation that moved Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Holy Ari) and his fellow mystics. In Tsfat they developed the Kabbalah, the esoteric insights of Judaism and created Kabbalat Shabbat, the prayers sung on Friday evenings to welcome the arrival of the Sabbath.
- Walk through the cobbled streets and alleyways to the Artists’ Colony with its galleries, shops, and studios.
- As we drive south through the Jordan Valley, we’ll discuss the strategic and political situation in this area and consider how Israeli control over it is viewed by some as vital to national security but by others as an impediment to any future agreement with the Palestinians.
- How Fast Can This Thing Go? The patriarch Abraham will welcome us to Genesis Land for a taste of life and travel in biblical times as we take a camel for a test drive and ride into the heart of the desert.
- A First Look at the Holy City: Over the centuries, many have been moved and awed by their first sight of Jerusalem. We'll stop at Mount Scopus for a stunning overview of the city and celebrate our arrival with a special ceremony and the traditional “shehechiyanu” blessing of thanksgiving.
- Check into the hotel.
- High Times in the Holy City: Jerusalem at night provides a very different vision of the Holy City. Check out how the locals let their hair down during a free evening and explore Jerusalem nightlife including:
- The Mamilla Mall, an upscale, open-air food and shopping area located outside the Old City’s Jaffa Gate.
- The First Station. Jerusalem’s rail link from the late 19th century has been transformed into a center of restaurants, shops, and culture.
- Joining the crowds strolling through the Ben Yehuda and Nahalat Shiva Pedestrian Malls.
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY 8
THE LAYERS OF JERUSALEM
Wed. Jun 21, 2023
- Take a walking tour through Jerusalem’s Old City and the Jewish Quarter and experience the center of Jewish life, history, and holiness. Among the highlights will be:
- A climb to the rooftops to see and discuss the ties and tensions between the different faith groups and communities of the Old City. From this one spot, we’ll look out over the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, venerated by Christian groups as the burial place of Jesus; the golden Dome of the Rock, which is sacred to Islam; and the Jewish Quarter’s famous Hurva Synagogue.
- The Cardo, the main street of Roman-controlled Jerusalem and its spectacular Byzantine-era columns.
- King Hezekiah's Broad Wall, a massive wall built to protect Jerusalem from invasion 2,700 years ago.
- Hurva Square, the center of modern-day life in the Jewish Quarter.
- No visit to Israel is complete without experiencing the Kotel (Western Wall), widely considered Judaism’s holiest site. Each year, over one million notes containing prayers and wishes are placed in the cracks of the wall. We’ll discuss the wall’s historical and contemporary importance and experience its unique atmosphere.
- Going Under, Going Deeper: Explore the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Kotel, and examine important archaeological discoveries that are revising our understanding of daily life in ancient Jerusalem.
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY 9
SEARCHING FOR JEWISH ROOTS
Thu. Jun 22, 2023
- B’NAI MITZVAH DAY! A Special Celebration: Celebrate with pride and togetherness a B’nai Mitzvah ceremony at Azarat Israel, the pluralistic section of the Kotel (Western Wall). Mazal Tov!
- Making Our Mark: Plant a tree at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory and gain insight into the urban wildlife of Jerusalem through birdwatching and bird-banding.
- Street Vendors and Fun Food: Enjoy the unique local market atmosphere in the Mahane Yehuda Shuk (market), a great place for people-watching. Choose from one of our recommended restaurants and eateries, then use your Yamishuk voucher to enjoy lunch in the Shuk.
- Diggin’ for Roots: We’ll literally get in touch with the land and history of Israel during an archaeological dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves. Get your hands dirty uncovering pottery from the Hellenistic period 2,300 years ago, before crawling through the Maresha Cave Labyrinth. The non-crawlers among us will visit a more spacious part of the cave complex in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Return to Jerusalem and to the hotel.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Lunch
DAY 10
THE POWER OF MEMORY
Fri. Jun 23, 2023
- ADULTS AND CHILDREN OVER 10:
- Visit Yad Vashem, the national memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, an essential emotional and educational experience. Your guided tour will include:
- The Avenue of the Righteous, where trees symbolic of the renewal of life have been planted along with plaques honoring brave non-Jews who saved Jews during the Shoah (Holocaust).
- The Historical Museum, a state-of-the-art interactive display reflecting decades of research and educational expertise. The story of the Holocaust, with an emphasis on individual victims, is told through survivor testimonies, original artifacts, and personal possessions saved from the ghettos and camps.
- The Children’s Memorial, commemorating the 1.5 million children lost during the Holocaust.
- A memorial service, where we will pay tribute to those who were lost.
- CHILDREN UNDER 10:
- But Jerusalem Has No Ocean! Jerusalem may be one of the few great cities without access to the sea, but it does have the recently opened Israel Aquarium. Highlights include the shark tank, feeding the stingray, and an exhibition showcasing the marine life of Israel’s “four seas.
- ALL:
- Drive through the Israeli “Capitol Hill”: along the Knesset – Israel’s Parliament and its famous Menorah, the Supreme Court building, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Israeli National Bank, and the future Site of the Israel National Library. Tour the grounds of Israel’s “Capitol Hill”: The Rose Garden, featuring more than 400 species of roses imported from all around the world; The Knesset – Israel’s Parliament building and its famous Menorah – Israel’s symbol monument built from bronze; The Supreme Court – designed to reflect Jewish and democratic values of justice.Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat.
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at Kehillat Yozma.
- Blessings, Challah, and Friends: Friday night is the traditional highlight of the Jewish week and the Jewish stomach. We’ll come together with friends old and new to enjoy the rituals, recipes, and relaxation of Shabbat in Jerusalem with dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Dinner
DAY 11
MASADA & THE DEAD SEA
Sat. Jun 24, 2023
- Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before setting out to explore the Dead Sea region.
- As Low as It Goes: We'll drive to the Dead Sea Basin, 1,412 feet below sea level and the lowest place on earth. The desert, the landscape, and the views are breathtaking.
- The Last Stand: Take the cable car to the top of Masada with its extraordinary views and fascinating archaeological remains. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where Jewish rebels are believed to have made their final attempt to resist Roman invaders (c 74 CE). We'll learn about Masada's importance as a symbol of Jewish defense and discuss its influence on modern Israel.
- The Sea of Salt: Float into happiness at the Dead Sea. Not much can live or swim in what is the saltiest piece of water in the world, nine times saltier than the ocean, but the weightlessfeeling of floating is great fun.
- Hike in Nahal David, part of the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. This is a desert oasis with springs, waterfalls, and freshwater pools, so don’t forget your swimsuits. Featured are the ibex, hyraxes, and other desert mammals that live in this area. Nahal David is named after the biblical David, who fled here to escape from the murderous King Saul.
- Return to Jerusalem.
- Late check-out from the hotel.
- Havdallah ceremony overlooking the Old City, followed by a farewell dinner.
Meals: Dinner
DAY 12
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Sun. Jun 25, 2023
- Return to New York.
RATES & LODGING
participants
30+
Cost p/p in double room
$4,780
Cost p/p in single room
$6,430
Child As 3rd (Reduction)
- ($990)
Cost of accommodations for pre & post nights including breakfast and all taxes:
-Tel Aviv, Dan Panorama $425,- per night per double occupancy room, $400,- per night per single occupancy room
-Jerusalem: Dan Panorama $370,- per night per double occupancy room, $350,- per night per single occupancy room
*All rates are subject to availability. Registration open
Tel Aviv: Dan Panorama
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Tel Aviv
- Hotel Website
Upper Galilee: Hotel HaGoshrim nature
- Nights: 2
- Room Category: Upper Galilee
- Hotel Website
Jerusalem: Dan Panorama
- Nights: 4+LCO
- Room Category: Jerusalem
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 9 nights' accommodations. Late check out on the day of departure is included.
- 10 days of touring with a tour educator (guide), 10 days of touring in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
- 1 Group arrival transfer & assistance at the airport.
- 1 Group departure transfer & assistance at the airport.
- Daily breakfast, 1 lunch & 6 dinners.
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the airport & hotels.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- Flights to & from Israel.
- COVID related expenses, including tests.
- Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
- Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc. are added to the program, an additional fee may be required.
- 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.
- Gratuities: Recommend guidelines for tipping are provided in the terms section.
- 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 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.
- Please use the following information: Citizens Bank: 1 Citizens Drive, Riverside, RI 02915 Routing number: 021313103 (Domestic only) ACH: 036076150 SWIFT Code: CTZIUS33 (International only)
- Beneficiary Instructions: For the benefit of J² Adventures. Account number: 1001858331
- 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. Please refer to the small print tab on your trip’s webpage or in your proposal for your cancelation policy and fees.
- Protect your investment for $495 p/p: Should you cancel your trip up to 5 days before your departure for any reason, our POM program offers you a trip refund. Call 888-230-6008 or e-mail: [email protected]
- 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.
JEWISH 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.
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