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.
Active 
Heritage 
Food & Wine 
Home Hospitality 
Nature Walks
THE EXPERT
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
Pre-Arrival
Thu. Mar 23, 2023
- Multiple arrivals to Ben Gurion Airport (transfers as per pre-arranged bookings)
Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY 2
THE START OF A SPECIAL JOURNEY
Fri. Mar 24, 2023
- Breakfast at an Israeli hotel is an experience in itself. Start the day with a bounteous buffet.
- Meet your tour educator who will accompany you on this journey of education and inspiration.
- Welcome to Israel: Stop at the Jaffa Overlook for an introduction to Tel Aviv and to our journey in Israel.
- Shabbat candle-lighting at the hotel.
- Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach.
- Blessings, Challah, and Friends: Friday night is the traditional highlight of the Jewish week and the Jewish stomach. Enjoy a Shabbat dinner together in Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Shabbat dinner
DAY 3
A CITY TO EXPLORE
Sat. Mar 25, 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.
- From Hebrew City to Hebrew State: Walk along the newly-opened 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.
- Check out local murals and graffiti led by a local expert.
- Return to the hotel.
- 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 4
COMMUNITIES PAST AND PRESENT
Sun. Mar 26, 2023
- Check out of the hotel and depart north.
- Pioneers and Martyrs: Encounter the successes, struggles, and sacrifices of the Zionist pioneers during a tour of Zichron Ya’acov, one of the first settlements created by the modern Zionist movement. Here, we’ll: Learn about the Nili spy ring, the first underground Zionist movement, and their tragic fate outside Aaronsohn House – the Nili Museum and experience the changing face of Zionism as we walk through the cobblestoned boulevards of Zichron Ya’acov and explore how a place that was initially a malaria and poverty-stricken village is today a picturesque center of wineries, eateries, and art.
- Visit Kfar Kedem in the Galilee for a hands-on family experience, exploring Jewish life of 2,000 years ago, including donkey rides, costumes, pita baking and more.
- A Taste of the Galilee: We’ll be welcomed into the home of an Israeli Arab family to hear about their lives and to enjoy a mini-workshop on the culinary traditions of the Galilee. Our GalilEat host family will prepare some delicious local delicacies and provide expert advice as we whip up a classic local dish for dinner.
- Drive to the kibbutz and check into the hotel.
Overnight: Upper Galilee
Meals: Dinner
DAY 5
NATURE AND SECURITY
Mon. Mar 27, 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.
- 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.
- Visit a village on the Golan Heights for a glimpse into the lives of Israel’s Druze community. We’ll learn about the background and beliefs of this minority group as we look at their complex but close relationship with the State of Israel.
- OPTION 1: The Golan Heights is also wine country. Sample some of its best during a tour of the boutique Odem Mountain Winery at the foot of Mt. Hermon on the Golan Heights for wine tasting. L'chaim and cheers!
- OPTION 2: Visit Odem Freedom Farm Animal Rescue Center and learn about their efforts to make the world a better place
- ALL: Return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight: Upper Galilee
Meals: Dinner
DAY 6
SPIRTUALITY AND MORE
Tue. Mar 28, 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.
- See the Caro Synagogue, built originally, like the Ari Synagogue, in the 16th century. It is where Rabbi Joseph Caro, one of the greatest of all Jewish legal authorities, taught and lived. Hear the story of how he was viSited here by a maggid, an angelic messenger, who revealed secrets of the Torah.
- Drive through Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Visit Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, numbered among the four Jewish holy cities in the land because of its connection with the codification of the Talmud some 1,600 years ago.
- 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.
- 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 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.
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY 7
THE DEAD SEA BASIN
Wed. Mar 29, 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: Climb via the Snake Path OR 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 weightless feeling 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.
- 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. Afterward, see how you would have managed living in the wilderness during the time of the patriarchs and matriarchs with some fun, family-friendly activities.
- We'll kick back in a spacious, cool desert tent and enjoy a traditional "hafla" dinner.
- Return to Jerusalem and to the hotel.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Dinner
DAY 8
PASSAGES IN TIME
Thu. Mar 30, 2023
- Depart the hotel and head to the Old City for a group celebration.
- B’nai Mitzvah ceremony at Azarat Yisrael (the Egalitarian Kotel). Mazal tov!
- 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:
- 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.
- Depart Jerusalem and drive towards Beit Guvrin.
- 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, 2300 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
DAY 9
MEMORY AND RENEWAL
Fri. Mar 31, 2023
- 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.
- 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.
- Experience the sights, smells, and tastes of Jerusalem while walking through the Mahane Yehuda open-air market.
- The City of Shabbat: Join Jerusalem in welcoming the Sabbath, the high point of the Jewish week, with Kabbalat Shabbat services at Mishkenot Sha’ananim (weather permitting).
- Festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel with Lone Soldiers – young men and women who have come to Israel without their families to serve in the IDF – and hear about their experiences.
Overnight: Jerusalem Meals: Shabbat dinner
DAY 10
SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM
Sat. Apr 1, 2023
- Guided walk through the streets of Jerusalem, using the writings of Jerusalem’s poets and authors, such as Yehuda Amichai, S.Y. Agnon, and others.
- One Mountain, Three Religions: An inter-denominational exploration of Mount Zion, the traditional burial site of King David, the Room of the Last Supper, and a mosque – all sharing a single building.
- Explore the wonderfully creative Israel Museum, with its eclectic collection, ranging from archaeology and the Dead Sea Scrolls to Jewish life and art, European art, contemporary Israeli art, and the open-air model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period.
- Late check out from the hotel, followed by farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Ben Kodesh Lechol: Havdallah overlooking the Old City.
- Group transfer to Ben Gurion Airport and check in for your departure flight.
Meals: Dinner
DAY 11
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Sun. Apr 2, 2023
- Return to the USA.
RATES & LODGING
participants
20+
Cost p/p in double room
$4,830
Cost p/p in single room
$6,150
Child As 3rd (Reduction)
- ($725)
Tel Aviv: Dan Panorama
- Nights: 2
- Room Category: Tel Aviv
- Hotel Website
Upper Galilee: Hotel HaGoshrim nature
- Nights: 2
- Room Category: Classic
- Hotel Website
Jerusalem: Dan Panorama
- Nights: 4+LCO
- Room Category: Jerusalem
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 8 nights' accommodations. Late check out on the day of departure is included.
- 9 days of touring with a tour educator (guide) in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
- Group arrival transfer & assistance at the airport.
- Group departure transfer & assistance at the airport.
- Daily breakfast & 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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