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.
Art & Culture 
Current Affairs 
Heritage 
Innovation 
Local Specialists 
Social Justice 
Special Access 
Food & Wine
THE EXPERT
Hillary grew up in Philadelphia and spent her college years and half of her 20’s living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She was first introduced to the world of informal Jewish education at Camp Ramah in the Poconos and in her late twenties volunteered on trips run by educational organizations. Hillary obtained a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Barnard College, Columbia University, and an associate’s degree in Graphic Design from Parsons School of Design. After making Aliyah in 2008, she decided she wanted to become a tour guide and Israel educator, and began her training immediately. Her background in anthropology expands her understanding of history, religion, archaeology, and culture, while her life-long love for art and design helps her connect her travelers with architecture, street art, and public works of art. She takes special pleasure in guiding in locations where nature, history, geopolitics, and/or religion combine. When not working, Hillary enjoys traveling to new countries, exploring Israel on her own, and working on her art.
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
ON THE WAY
Sun. Oct 15, 2023
- Depart the USA.
Overnight: Flight
DAY 2
THE START OF A SPECIAL JOURNEY
Mon. Oct 16, 2023
- Pre-arrivals meet Hillary Menkowitz, our tour educator, in the lobby of the Hilton to view the "eclectic" early architecture and the Bauhaus buildings from the 1930s that gave Tel Aviv the nickname the "White City". We'll also see Tel Aviv's 21st century skyscrapers and ask what they reveal about modern Israel.
- Continue on to Jaffa for lunch and meet the morning arrivals.
- Morning arrivals at Ben Gurion Airport. Our representative will be on hand to assist with all formalities and ensure your journey has the smoothest of starts. Group transfers to Tel Aviv, also know 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.
- Continue on to Jaffa for lunch with the early arrivals.
- Peace AND Prosperity? The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation was created by the late Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister and President of Israel, to develop peacebuilding programs based on innovation and optimism. Our visit will include a tour of the Israeli Innovation Center, which celebrates the people and companies that are making Israel the "innovation nation."
- Check into the hotel with time to unpack, rest and refresh after your journey.
- Experience a taste of Tel Aviv at our opening Welcome Dinner at Tetto Restaurant, located in Sarona.
- Return to the hotel.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
A TASTE OF TEL AVIV
Tue. Oct 17, 2023
- Breakfast at an Israeli hotel is an experience in itself. Start the day with a bounteous buffet.
- Dialogue with Dan Feferman, author, speaker, and researcher, and Director of Communications and Global Affairs at Sharaka, an NGO that works to build people-to-people peace between Israel and the Arab world.
- Experience the dynamism of Jewish life at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People, dedicated to telling their story and representing their diversity, highlighting the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities in different periods of history until the present day.
- Enjoy a tasting tour at the Carmel market before exploring Nachalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv’s arts and crafts market where over 200 artists sell their creations.
- Optional afternoon tour of Jaffa, one of the most ancient port cities in the world.
- Return to the hotel.
- Evening on own to enjoy a cultural event or dinner in Tel Aviv. Our staff and J² representatives will be available to make suggestions and help with reservations.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 4
BEYOND THE HEADLINES
Wed. Oct 18, 2023
- Briefing by Miri Eisin, retired colonel of the Israel Defense Forces with a background in military intelligence.
- Understand the realities of crossing between Israel and the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority at Checkpoint 300, also known as the Bethlehem Road Checkpoint.
- Bethlehem, now a predominantly Muslim town in the West Bank. We'll tour the city with Rami Nazal, an internationally-published Palestinian journalist for an understanding of Palestinian life, including a visit to a refugee camp in the area.
- Continue on to Efrat, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank and meet with Mayor Oded Ravivi.
- Return to Tel Aviv and enjoy a cocktail reception at an art gallery.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Breakfast & Cocktail Reception
DAY 5
CELEBRATING PARTNERSHIP
Thu. Oct 19, 2023
- Check out of the hotel.
This day is sponsored by the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of Jewish Federation of St. Louis. - Drop luggage in the hotel lobby to be loaded onto a luggage truck. It will be waiting for you in your room at the Inbal Hotel when we arrive in Jerusalem.
- Option A:
- On-site visit to Leket Israel's logistic center. Leket Israel is the leading food rescue organization in Israel. Unique among all other organizations that serve the poor in Israel and food banks worldwide, Leket Israel's sole focus is rescuing health, surplus food and delivering it to those in need through partner nonprofit organizations.
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- Visit Caesarea, one of the Land of Israel's most important cities during the Roman Period.
- Option B:
- Depart for a visit and tour of Kibbutz Mishmar Ha'Emek, one of the wealthiest kibbutzim in the country. Located in the western Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Megiddo Regional Council. The kibbutz is one of the few that have not undergone privatization and still follow the traditional collectivist and socialist kibbutz model.
- All:
- Meet and enjoy lunch as we Celebrate Israel @ 75 and Federation's 27 year partnership with the Yokneam-Megiddo region.
- Delve into the Ethiopian and Ukrainian Aliyah stories and meet with members of each community.
- Enjoy dinner "Israeli style" as we are welcomed into homes of host families from the partnership community.
- Depart for Jerusalem.
- Check into the hotel in Jerusalem.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 6
THE POWER OF MEMORY
Fri. Oct 20, 2023
- Visit Yad Vashem, the national memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, an essential emotional and educational experience:
- Option A: Avenue of the Righteous, the Historical Museum, and the Children’s Memorial.
- Option B: View the world’s largest collection of Holocaust art.
- Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the atmosphere of Jerusalemites hurriedly preparing for Shabbat.
- Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat.
- Depart for the Old City.
- Private Kabbalat Shabbat experience in the home of Abba and Pamela Fox Claman in the Old City overlooking the Kotel (Western Wall).
- Return to the hotel by bus or on foot.
- Festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 7
SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM OR AT THE DEAD SEA
Sat. Oct 21, 2023
- Option A:
- Take the cable car to the top of Masada, float on the Dead Sea and enjoy lunch at a hotel by the Dead Sea.
- Option B:
- Explore the Israel Museum, housing more than 5,000 years of cultural treasures, lunch at the hotel and then discover some hidden gems in one of the nearby picturesque neighborhoods.
- At nightfall, we will mark the end of Shabbat with a Havdallah ceremony.
- Optional: Night Spectacular at the Tower of David Museum. The walls of the Citadel serve as the stage for this cinematic celebration of sight and sound depicting the story of Jerusalem.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 8
HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY JERUSALEM
Sun. Oct 22, 2023
- Option A:
- Explore the Old City’s Jewish Quarter, climbing to the rooftops for a bird’s-eye view of the diverse, yet closely bound communities, walking through the Cardo, the main street of Roman-ruled Jerusalem. Then through the market (shuk) to the Kotel (Western Wall).
- Option B:
- Meet with students and teachers from the Ma’aleh Film School, where we will learn about Israeli society through the prism of film.
- Take a ride on Jerusalem's light rail and experience the mosaic of the Jerusalem population.
- Tour and farewell lunch at the newly opened Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem to celebrate the end of the mission. Our tour and lunch have been sponsored by Michael Staenberg. Our guest speaker is Rachel Azaria, former Member of Knesset and deputy mayor of Jerusalem.
- Return to the hotel with free time for last-minute shopping and packing.
- Optional: 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.
- Evening on own for those with departing flights on Monday.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 9
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Mon. Oct 23, 2023
- 9:00 a.m. Group transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure flight.
- Return to St. Louis.
Meals: Breakfast
RATES & LODGING
participants
30+
Cost p/p in double room
$4,875
Cost p/p in single room
$6,575
Discount of $75 for travelers who haven't been in Israel for at least 18 years, or first timers. Registration closed
Tel Aviv: Hilton
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Deluxe Sea View
- Hotel Website
Jerusalem: The Inbal
- Nights: 4
- Room Category: Standard
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 7 nights' accommodations.
- 7 days of touring with a tour educator (guide) in a luxury, air-conditioned bus. (Extra Guide & Bus on October 19th, Extra Guide on October 21th & Oct 22nd )
- Daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the airport & hotels.
- All gratuities.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- Guests at Meals.
- Flights to & from Israel.
- COVID related expenses, including tests.
- Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
- 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 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. 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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