United Jewish Federation
Community Jewish Heritage
Mission to Greece

Led by Diane Sloyer and Beverly Stein

Oct 27, 2025 - Nov 5, 2025

  • DESTINATION Greece
  • Who's Going Adults Only
  • Trip Type Mission
  • Duration 10 DAYS
  • Group Size 15+
  • Price From $6,530
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.

  •   Archaeology
  •   Heritage
  •   Special Access
  •   UNESCO Heritage Sites

Program Itinerary

DAY 1
ON OUR WAY
Mon. Oct 27, 2025
  • Depart the US.
Overnight: Flight
DAY 2
WELCOME TO GREECE
Tue. Oct 28, 2025
  • Arrive in Athens and transfer to the hotel.
  • Ohi Day (pronounced "Ohi" meaning "No" in Greek) is celebrated as a National Holiday in Greece on October 28th to commemorate the country's rejection of the Italian ultimatum in 1940, which led to Greece's entry into World War II. It symbolizes national pride and resistance, marked by parades and patriotic events across the country.
  • Lunch on your own.
  • 1:00 p.m. Meet in the hotel lobby to officially begin our program.
  • Meet Scott Copeland, your J² Expert Educator, who will accompany you on this journey of education and inspiration, along with your local guide.
  • Afternoon Walking Tour: Sacred Stones and Civic Foundations.
  • Visit the Acropolis, an ancient citadel located above the city and the most well-known landmark of Greece.
  • Explore the Parthenon, the iconic temple dedicated to Athena and enduring symbol of classical Greece.
  • The elegant Temple of Athena Nike.
  • The Erechtheion, renowned for its Caryatids, the sculpted maidens supporting its porch.
  • Guided visit to the Acropolis Museum, a striking modern space housing original artifacts from the site.
  • Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Athens, Greece Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
JEWISH ATHENS
Wed. Oct 29, 2025
  • 8:45 a.m. Depart the hotel for the day.
  • Traces of Jewish Life in the Heart of Athens:
  • - Visit the nearby Beth Shalom Synagogue.
  • - Then into Monastiraki, where the historic “Yusurum” market reflects the once-thriving Jewish antique trade.
  • - Conclude the tour in the vibrant Psyrri District, a former center of Jewish commerce, now known for its eclectic mix of culture, creativity, and street art.
  • Integrated, foundational, vibrant, and inspiring—all describe the profound history of Greece's Jewish community. At the Jewish Museum, immerse yourself in this rich heritage and deepen your understanding of its legacy.
  • Enjoy lunch on your own, with free time to explore local flavors.
  • Deep Roots Uprooted: The painful loss felt throughout Greece as a result of the attempted destruction of the Jewish community is still acute. Stop at the Holocaust monument and participate in a memorial service.
  • Enjoy a free evening to explore Athens and have dinner (on own).
Overnight: Athens, Greece Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4
THE WONDERS OF MOUNT OLYMPUS
Thu. Oct 30, 2025
  • 8:30 a.m. Check out of the hotel and depart.
  • Visit Chalkida (or Chalkis), possibly the oldest Jewish settlement in Europe, dating back to the destruction of the 1st Temple in the 6th century B.C.E.
  • Continue driving north and pass by Thermopylae, taking in a view to Mount Olympus.
  • Stop on the way for a quick bite (lunch on your own).
  • Enter Thessalonki and explore the area by bus before checking into the hotel.
  • Enjoy a free evening in Thessaloniki.
Overnight: Thessaloniki, Greece Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5
IN THE CITY
Fri. Oct 31, 2025
  • 8:00 a.m. Depart the hotel for the day.
  • Painful Memories: Visit the old Thessaloniki railway station, a poignant site that serves as a haunting reminder of the thousands of Jews deported during the Holocaust, many of whom were taken to concentration camps, forever marking the station as a symbol of loss and tragedy in the city’s history.
  • Visit the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki for insights into the history and heritage of the local community.
  • Tour the Monastirioton Synagogue of Thessaloniki.
  • Visit Hagios Demetrious Church, Thessaloniki’s most important Byzantine basilica and a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its mosaics and spiritual significance. During restoration in the mid-20th century, stones from the city’s former Jewish cemetery were used in reconstruction, a reminder of how histories intersect in complex ways. Visitors can reflect on these layers as they explore one of Thessaloniki’s most iconic landmarks.
  • Free time for lunch (on own).
  • Visit the Upper City, Ano Poli.
  • Kabbalat Shabbat services at Yad Lezicaron Synagogue followed by dinner with the community.
Overnight: Thessaloniki, Greece Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6
SHABBAT IN THESSALONIKI
Sat. Nov 1, 2025
  • 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. Optional morning services at Yad Lezicaron Synagogue.
  • 11:00 a.m. Depart the hotel for walking tour.
  • Patron Saints, Dragon Slayers, and Victory Arches: All of these will come alive as you travel and gain perspective of the multi-layered and historically rooted city. These sites include the White Tower (the city’s symbol), the long seafront promenade, the Agios Demetrios or Agia Sophia Byzantine churches, the Rotunda, which started out as a Roman temple of Zeus, and the Arch of Triumph of Galerius and the ruins of his palace.
  • Shabbat Lunch at a local restaurant.
  • Afternoon free to explore Athens on own.
  • Mark the end of Shabbat with a communal Havdalah ceremony.
  • Free time to enjoy dinner and experience live Greek music!
Overnight: Thessaloniki, Greece Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7
ON THE ROAD FROM THESSALONIKI
Sun. Nov 2, 2025
  • 8:00 a.m. Check out of the hotel and depart Thessaloniki.
  • Depart Thessaloniki and drive down to the breathtaking rock formations and get our first glimpse of the surreal landscape of Meteora, where towering sandstone cliffs rise dramatically from the valley below, crowned with monasteries perched high on the rocky peaks. Visit one of its most famous monasteries.
  • Stop on the way for a quick bite (lunch on your own).
  • Continue to Ioannina, once the largest Romaniote Jewish community in Greece, and check into the hotel.
  • Have a lakeside dinner in a local restaurant.
Overnight: Ioannina, Greece Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8
THE MOSAIC OF IOANNINA
Mon. Nov 3, 2025
  • 9:15 a.m. Depart the hotel for the day.
  • Journey through the gates of Ioannina Castro, home to half of the city's Jewish population at the beginning of the 20th century.
  • Explore the historic Jewish quarter of Ioannina and delve into the rich heritage of the Romaniote Jewish community, established 300-400 years after the destruction of the Second Temple. Here, you'll discover a unique cultural legacy, where residents spoke Greek and Hebrew and were known as Romaniotes.
  • Visit the local synagogue, Kahal Kadosh, and meet llegra Matsa, the life force behind the dwindling Jewish community in Ioannina.
  • Discover Ioannina’s atmospheric Old Town. Walk the imposing lakeside fortifications and step inside two Ottoman-era mosques that echo the city’s multicultural past. A journey through Ioannina revealing overlapping influences of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Jewish heritage in one afternoon.
  • Free time in town to have lunch (on own).
  • Cross the shimmering waters of Ioannina's Lake Pamvotida to the island to encounter the dramatic history of Ali Pasha. Inside a centuries-old monastery, the museum unveils tales of ambition and intrigue —history whispered through artifacts and echoes of a bygone era.
  • Free evening to have dinner (on own) and explore Ioannina.
Overnight: Ioannina, Greece Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9
DISCOVERING DELPHI
Tue. Nov 4, 2025
  • 7:30 a.m. Check out of the hotel and depart Ioannina.
  • Journey to Delphi, once revered by the ancient Greeks as the very center of the world, where you'll tour the remarkable site anchored by the Omphalos—a sacred stone monument symbolizing the navel of the earth.
  • Stop on the way for a quick lunch (on own).
  • Drive through Greece’s mainland, passing through the fertile plain of Boeotia and the historic towns of Thebes and Levadia.
  • Return to Athens and check in to the hotel.
  • Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Athens, Greece Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10
HOME AGAIN
Wed. Nov 5, 2025
  • Check out of the hotel and transfer to Athens International Airport.
  • Depart Athens and return to the US.
Overnight: Flight Meals: Breakfast

RATES & LODGING

Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
participants
15+
Cost p/p in double room
$6,530
Cost p/p in single room
$7,690
Hotels are subject to change. Registration closed

Athens: Royal Olympic

Thessaloniki: Monasty, Autogeaph Collection

Ioannina: Grand Serai

Athens: Royal Olympic

Choose Your Way

VOYAGER
  • Carefully selected accommodations, offering comfort and quality.
  • A seamless, fully curated experience, as outlined below.
  • J² Customer Care available by phone and email.
  • $50 travel credit per person for your next J² journey.

What to expect

  • 8 nights' accommodations.
  • 7 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator and local guides, 7 days of touring in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.
  • Daily breakfast, 1 lunch & 4 dinners.
  • The J² adventures App available on the App Store & on Google Play (active 30 days before your departure and throughout your trip).
  • Water on the bus.
  • Porterage at the hotels.
  • All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
  • Credit card fees.
  • Flights to & from Greece.
  • COVID related expenses, including tests.
  • Late check out on the day of departure.
  • Gratuities: Recommend guidelines for tipping are provided in the terms section.
  • 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.
  • 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 $1000 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 120 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 120 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 119 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.
  • Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
  • 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.

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. 

Stuff.

We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.