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.
Once you have registered for the main trip, you can also register for the pre-trip. Click here for details.
Art & Culture 
Local Specialists 
Food & Wine 
Archaeology 
Heritage 
Innovation 
Social Justice
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
DEPARTURE
Sun. Oct 22, 2023
- Depart the USA.
DAY 2
THE START OF OUR JOURNEY
Mon. Oct 23, 2023
- 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.
- Individual transfers on own to Tel Aviv and check into your hotel.
- Gather in the hotel lobby to begin our special journey, and depart with your tour educator, who will accompany you on this journey of education and inspiration.
- Opening dinner will be at a local Chef ‘s restaurant.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
TEL AVIV UNTANGELD
Tue. Oct 24, 2023
- Breakfast at an Israeli hotel is an experience in itself. Start the day with a bounteous buffet.
- A Tale of Two Cities: Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are only forty miles apart but often appear to belong to different worlds. In this presentation, Rachel Korazim will show how in the eyes of Israeli writers such as Naomi Shemer, Nahum Gutman, and Yehuda Amichai, the two cities represent two very different visions of what Zionism is all about.Dr. Korazim is a renowned educator who uses song, poetry, and literature to shine a light on Israeli life and society.
- The Innovation Nation: The newly opened Israeli Innovation Center celebrates the people and companies that are making Israel the “innovation nation.” Located at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, it includes continually updated, high-tech exhibits on everything from artificial intelligence to the latest developments in water use.
- From Shuk to Chic: Take a tasting tour through a local favorite: Shuk Hapishpishim - the Jaffa Flea Market. Combining traditional dishes from the Bulgarian, Bukharan, Middle Eastern, Persian, North African, and Eastern European kitchens with offerings from hip new cafés and restaurants, the market is a delicious illustration of the diversity of the Israeli culinary scene.
- Jaffa Stories and Coffee: You're warmly invited into the home of Doris Hiffawi to hear about her life as a Christian Arab in Jaffa. Over coffee brewed by her family and Arabic sweets, she'll talk about whether the area's Jewish, Muslim, and Christian population mix or merely make do. We'll also find out how female entrepreneurs like Doris are bringing change to this socio-economically deprived neighborhood.
- The City at Night: Israel's food scene is on fire with world-class chefs and a huge range of happening restaurants; see and taste for yourself. We'll be happy to make reservations and recommendations so that you can enjoy a night out at the ideal Israeli restaurant for you.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY 4
ALTNEULAND: DREAMS & REALITIES
Wed. Oct 25, 2023
- An Avenue for Art: Walk down Bialik Street, home to many of Tel Aviv's finest early artists and authors. We'll see where cultural leaders, including Israel's National Poet Haim Bialik, lived and created, and examine the street's outstanding, eclectic architecture including Beit Ha'ir (the old municipal center), before taking a guided tour of Rubin House, the home and studio of the painter Reuven Rubin.
- Strangers in a Strange Land: South Tel Aviv is now "home" to thousands of migrant workers, asylum seekers, and refugees from war-torn and impoverished African countries. BINA, The Jewish Movement for Social Change will lead us on a tour of the Neve Sha'anan neighborhood as we explore what life is like for non-Jews seeking a new start in the Jewish state. The tour will include:
- Talking with African immigrants about their experiences in Israel and what brought them here.A visit to one of the crowded, “unauthorized” kindergartens where migrant parents, lacking finance and access to official daycare facilities, leave their children.
- A look at what the traditional Jewish sources, including the Talmud, have to say about Jewish obligations to non-Jewish newcomers in our midst. An educator from BINA, a secular yeshiva and educational institute dedicated to social action, will lead the discussion.
- Ethnic Tasting Tour: Eat, drink, and learn at the Levinsky Market, where we’ll sample food and sweets from all over the Mediterranean and the Middle East and try to figure out what is Israeli about Israeli food. This multi-cultural tasting tour will double as a delicious lunch.
- What’s Going on in Bohemian Tel Aviv? Join an expert on Tel Aviv’s alternative scene for an urban adventure and graffiti tour. Explore the latest street art and find out what it reveals about life, ideas, and ideology in Israel’s cultural capital.
- Enjoy free time to explore on your own.
- Dinner at Kandinof House: Imagine a table filled with beautiful, colorful foods from surrounding markets, surrounded by art, sitting in a historical Jaffa building situated in one of the oldest Jaffa alleys. The Kandinof Complex is the first of its kind to combine an art center with a restaurant, a center for great food and contemporary art, with five galleries displaying changing exhibitions.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
DAY 5
ALL ROADS LEAD TO JERUSALEM
Thu. Oct 26, 2023
- Check out of the hotel.
- Experience the dynamism of Jewish life at ANU, the newly opened 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.
- 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 lunch.
- Experience the Ein Hod artists' colony in the foothills of the Carmel Mountains. Founded by a leading Dadaist painter, Ein Hod is now home to artists working in every cultural medium imaginable. Sculptor and painter Dan Ben-Arye will be our guide as we explore the galleries and studios and talk with artists about their techniques and inspiration, after which we will join Lea Ben-Aryeh for an art workshop to prepare individual silk screen designs.
- As we drive south on the Trans-Israel Highway, there will be an opportunity 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.
- 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 the Haas Promenade for a stunning overview of the city and celebrate our arrival with a special ceremony and the traditional shehecheyanu.
- Check into the hotel.
- Enjoy Jerusalem's nightlife. We'll be happy to make reservations and recommendations so that you can enjoy a night out at the ideal Israeli restaurant for you.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Lunch
DAY 6
A MOSAIC OF JERUSALEM
Fri. Oct 27, 2023
- See the beautiful campus of the Reform Movement's Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), the seminary and graduate school training Reform rabbis, cantors, and educators for North America and Israel.
- A brief shiur (lesson) at HUC with Rabbi Michael Marmur, Associate Professor of Jewish theology at HUC in Jerusalem. Until July 2018 Rabbi Marmur served as the Provost of HUC, having previously been dean of the Jerusalem campus.
- The Geopolitics of Jerusalem: Drive through the city of Jerusalem and explore some of its political and diplomatic complexities.
- Nahlaot Walking Tour: Experience the feeling of Jerusalem as it prepares for Shabbat with a journey through the courtyards of Nahlaot, where dozens of synagogues and Jewish traditions from around the world are maintained within a radius of just a few blocks.
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at Kehillat Mevasseret in Mevasseret Zion, led by Rabbi Alona Nir-Keren.
- Home hospitality Shabbat dinner with local congregants at Kehillat Mevasseret.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Meals: Shabbat Dinner
DAY 7
SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM
Sat. Oct 28, 2023
- Shabbat services at Azarat Israel, the pluralistic section of the Kotel (Western Wall).:
- Explore the streets of Jerusalem through the eyes and words of its poets and authors, including Yehuda Amichai and Y. Agnon.
- Explore on your own 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. Your tour educator can provide a suggested list of not-to-be-missed exhibits for a brief visit to the museum.
- Three Stars in the Jerusalem Sky: At nightfall, we will mark the end of a special Shabbat with a communal Havdallah ceremony overlooking the Old City. Three Stars in the Israel Sky: At nightfall, we will mark the end of a special Shabbat with a communal Havdallah ceremony.
- When the Shutters Go Down: When the stalls close at night, a different sort of Jerusalem springs into life as the city's hipsters come out to play and to paint. As you wander through the Mahane Yehuda Shuk (market) at night, notice the graffiti portraits of local celebrities from Rabbis to rockstars that have been painted on shop shutters and find out what they tell us about life, art, and ideology in the Holy City. To help you get into the night-market mood, sample the drinks that are popular with the city's trend-setter.
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY 8
EARTHLY JERUSALEM
Sun. Oct 29, 2023
- Challenges and Triumphs of Religious Pluralism and Social Justice in Israel: Meet with the director of the Israel Religious action Center (IRAC), the social justice arm of the reform movement in Israel.
- The People of the Book: The National Library of Israel contains more than five million books, including the world's largest collection of Hebrew-language and Jewish books. We'll look through the stacks and reading rooms, explore some special collections, and see the famous Ardon windows, the stained-glass windows expressing Isaiah's image of Jerusalem as a city of everlasting peace. We'll also talk with library curatorial staff about how technology is changing the way that Israel's literary heritage is protected and made available to all.
- Cinema as a Window into Israeli Life: Examine Israeli society through cinema at the Ma’aleh School of Film and Television, with special screenings and discussion. Ma’aleh is producing many of the country’s most talented directors and scriptwriters while using film to inquire into questions of Jewish and Israel identity. It has also created a groundbreaking program using video therapy for youth at risk, Ethiopian immigrants, terror victims, and adults with special needs.
- Late check-out from the hotel.
- Our Thoughts, Our Journey: Reflect on your trip with your group leader and tour educator.
- Farewell dinner at Chakra, where food made with love and a good atmosphere make for a delightful experience.
- Group transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport and check in for your flight.
Meals: Dinner
DAY 9
HOME SWEET HOME
Mon. Oct 30, 2023
- Return to the USA.
RATES & LODGING
participants
30+
Cost p/p in double room
$4,559
Cost p/p in single room
$6,349
Tel Aviv: Sheraton
- Nights: 3
- Room Category: Deluxe
- Hotel Website
Jerusalem: David Citadel
- Nights: 3+LCO
- Room Category: Superior
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 6 nights' accommodations. Late check out on the day of departure is included.
- 7 days of touring with a tour educator (guide), 8 days of touring in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
- 1 Group departure transfer & assistance at the airport.
- Daily breakfast, 2 lunches & 4 dinners.
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the airport & hotels.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- Arrival transfers & assistance at the airport.
- 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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