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.
Home Hospitality 
Food & Wine 
Archaeology 
Heritage 
Active 
Art & Culture
THE EXPERT
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
ON OUR WAY
Sun. Dec 15, 2024
- Depart the US.
Overnight: Flight
DAY 2
BEN GURION’S DREAM
Mon. Dec 16, 2024
- Arrive at Ben-Gurion International Airport.
- Meet your J² Expert Educator who will accompany you on this journey of education and inspiration.
- Drive south and stop to visit the grave and the house of Israel's “founding father,” David Ben-Gurion, at Kibbutz Sde Boker.
- Continue to the hotel for check-in, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Mitzpeh Ramon
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
FROM CRATER TO CREATIVITY
Tue. Dec 17, 2024
- Experience Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater), the world's largest erosion crater, nearly 25 miles long and between 1-6 miles wide, shaped like an elongated heart. Marvel at the striking red and yellow layers and unique geologic formations. Explore this geomorphic wonder with:
- A two-hour Jeep tour, where we'll start at the edge of the crater for an overview before descending to Wadi Ramon. Learn about the Makhtesh and its formation before continuing our trek to the summit of Mount Gvanim for a stunning view of the entire Makhtesh.
- A walk to the unique natural phenomenon known as HaMinsara (The Carpentry Shop), which looks like a pile of wooden blocks, but are actually black basalt rocks. Along the way, explore the rock formations that were created by thousands of years of erosion.
- Explore the harsh beauty of the desert and the insights of the people who make their home there. Desert experts from local Bedouin clans will accompany us on a camel ride into the astonishing Ramon Crater and reveal some of the secrets of traditional desert life. Our journey will conclude with an authentic local meal, where we'll experience Bedouin hospitality.
- Stargazing on the edge of the Makhtesh (weather permitting). With its lack of light pollution and vast darkness, this is one of the best places in Israel for viewing the night sky. Enjoy the solitude as we identify some of our favorite constellations and perhaps spot a shooting star or two.
OR - Meet Chen Kotler, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Learn with Chen about the events of October 7 and their aftermath.
- Visit Sderot and understand the new realities on the ground.
- Return to the hotel for dinner and a debrief.
Overnight: Mitzpeh Ramon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4
THE NEW HEBREW CITY
Wed. Dec 18, 2024
- Check out of the hotel.
- As we drive north on the Trans-Israel Highway, there will be plenty of opportunities to see the Security Barrier which runs along the seam zone between Israel and the Palestinian territories, and to learn about the barrier’s effects on Israeli security and Palestinian communities.
- 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.
- Explore colorful Neve Zedek, one of Tel Aviv’s earliest neighborhoods, nowadays a cultural mecca hosting small boutiques, galleries, and the Suzanne Dellal dance and theater center.
- Walk through the quaint streets and restored buildings of old Rosh Pina, one of the first communities established at the dawn of the Zionist era.
- Continue to the hotel for check-in, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Upper Galilee
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Thu. Dec 19, 2024
- At the Har Adir lookout point, hear from a research expert from the Alma Research and Education Center about some of the challenges facing Israel on its northern border.
- Visit Kfar Baram synagogue and the ruins of two ancient Jewish synagogues at the site of Kfar Bir'im, an ancient village depopulated during the 1948 Palestinian exodus and learn how ancient history and recent history come alive in one place.
- Join Liz and Shai in their home on the Merom Golan kibbutz for a meal and an occasion to savor. As we feast on Shai's "enchanted soup," smoked entrecote and fabulous vegetarian options, Liz, an actress and raconteur, will explain how this couple's love story came to include providing great food and the warmest of hospitality.
Overnight: Upper Galilee
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6
SPIRITUALITY AND BEYOND
Fri. Dec 20, 2024
- Check out of the hotel.
- Explore Tsfat, a center of Jewish mysticism for hundreds of years and a contemporary artists’ colony, including:
- Guided visit to the Ari, Caro or Abuhav Synagogues, each with its great stories and mystical messages.
- A stroll through the quaint Artists’ Colony, shop in the galleries and crafts shops and engage in dialogues with local artisans inspired by the messages of Kabbalah.
- Drive south past Tiberias, an ancient/modern city located on the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). One of Israel’s four holy Jewish cities, this is where the “Jerusalem” Talmud was codified and where Maimonides is buried.
- Continue to Jerusalem. Enter the vibrant and colorful ancient city of Jerusalem and experience the convergence of the old and the new.
- We'll stop at the Haas Promenade for a stunning overview of the city and celebrate our arrival with a special ceremony and the traditional shehehiyanu blessing of thanksgiving.
- Check into the hotel. Freshen up for Shabbat.
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at Azarat Israel, the pluralistic section of the Kotel (Western Wall).
- Enjoy Friday night dinner with lone soldiers, young men and women who have come to Israel without their families to serve in the IDF.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM
Sat. Dec 21, 2024
- Ascend the Old City Ramparts for a walk along the ancient walls of the city.
- Enter the Tower of David Museum for a walk through the city’s history – with observation points, an animated film, and visual and audio-visual aids – from the time of Abraham to the end of the British Mandate over Palestine.
- Yemin Moshe and Mishkenot Sha'ananim: Get to know the great banker and philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore as you explore the pastoral neighborhoods, famous windmill, and the artists’ colony that he developed and which transformed Jerusalem in the 19th century. En route, view two of modern Jerusalem’s most storied and important landmarks: the King David Hotel and the YMCA building.
- At nightfall, we will mark the end of a special Shabbat with a communal Havdalah ceremony with members of the Kehillat “Shoham” Reform community led by Rabbi Rinat Tzfania.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8
LAYERS COME TO LIFE
Sun. Dec 22, 2024
- J² Salon Talk: A Small Country With Big Questions. Geographically, Israel is one of the smallest countries in the world. However, few landscapes have played such a formative role in human civilization. What are the foundational elements that make up the story of Israel, and what key questions does Israel contends with as it continues to evolve in a shifting regional and international reality?
- Discover the archaeological treasures and other highlights of the Jewish Quarter:
- 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.
- Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Roman-controlled Jerusalem and its spectacular Byzantine-era columns.
- Stop next to King Hezekiah's “Broad Wall,” a massive wall built to protect Jerusalem from invasion 2,700 years ago.
- 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. Continue down the Southern Wall steps used by Jewish pilgrims to enter the Temple 2,000 years ago. But there is much else to see, including Robinson’s Arch and the remains of a major Second Temple-period street.
- 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
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9
THE POWER OF MEMORY
Mon. Dec 23, 2024
- 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.
- A memorial service where we will pay tribute to those who were lost. It will include the opportunity to talk about family members and loved ones who died during the Shoah.
- 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 Israel National Library.
- Jerusalem at night provides a very different vision of the Holy City. Experience Jerusalem nightlife.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10
THE DEAD SEA BASIN
Tue. Dec 24, 2024
- Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before setting out to explore the Dead Sea region.
- We'll drive to the Dead Sea Basin, 1412 feet below sea level and the lowest place on earth. The desert, the landscape, and the views are breathtaking.
- 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.
- 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.
- We'll drive by Qumran, where a separatist Jewish sect from the Second Temple period created an isolated community and where the Dead Sea Scrolls, some of the most ancient and important religious manuscripts in existence, were discovered.
- Return to Jerusalem and to the hotel.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 11
QUESTION OF SOVEREIGNTY
Wed. Dec 25, 2024
- King Herod – Villain, Visionary, or Both? Visit Herodian, where King Herod built an impressive palace-fortress and where he is believed to have been buried in 4 BCE. This archaeological site is the ideal place to explore the clout and character of one of ancient Israel’s most influential and polarizing figures.
- Is Religion the Way Forward or an Obstacle to Peace? We’ll go beyond the Green Line to meet with Ali Abu Awwad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger/ Rabbi Shaul Judelman from Shorashim (Roots), a program bringing West Bank Palestinians and their Jewish neighbors together despite their fears and suspicions.
- Join Professor Reuven Hazan of the Political Science Department at Hebrew University for an introduction into Israel's turbulent political scene where coalition governments and powerful ideological divisions are a fact of life.
- Take a multi-cultural tasting journey through the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda open-air market. This doubles as a delicious lunch.
- Late checkout from the hotel.
- Stop by a local gourmet bakery for a sufgania (doughnut).
- Farewell dinner at a local restaurant and celebrate the first night of Hanukkah.
- Transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport for your departure flight.
Overnight: Flight
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Thu. Dec 26, 2024
- Return to the US.
RATES & LODGING
participants
30+
Cost p/p in double room
$6,100
Cost p/p in single room
$8,407
Price for 40+ participants:
$5,580 - Cost p/p in double room
$7,887 - Cost p/p in single room Registration open
$5,580 - Cost p/p in double room
$7,887 - Cost p/p in single room Registration open
Mitzpe Ramon: Beresheet
- Nights: 2
- Room Category: Classic
- Hotel Website
Upper Galilee: Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel
- Nights: 2
- Room Category: Classic
- Hotel Website
Jerusalem: David Citadel
- Nights: 5 +LCO
- Room Category: Superior New City View
- 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), in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
- Daily breakfast, 1 lunch & 6 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 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.
- Gratuities: Recommend guidelines for tipping are provided in the terms section.
- 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: customercareteam@j2adventures.com.
- 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: customercare@j2adventures.com.
- 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.
J2 STUFF.
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