November 2026

4pm Program Start

• Welcome to modern Tel Aviv! The theme for our first day is Hebrew. We’ll meet at 4pm at the hotel for an opening program and meal to welcome you to Israel and the HMI journey.

Overnight: Tel Aviv

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• First up, we will hear from a speaker who will share their perspective on the Ethiopian Jewish experience in Israel.
  
• Next, you will have time to explore Shuk HaCarmel – Israel’s largest market, and Nachalat Benyamin Market – a craft market one street over. Nachalat Benyamin Market is one of the best places to find original and handmade art in TLV.
• Now that you’re in the mood for art, we will head to ANU – the Museum of the Jewish People. ANU celebrates the multiculturalism of Jewish diversity and adopts an inclusive, pluralistic approach. The mission of the museum is to display the unique and ongoing 4,000 year-old story of the Jewish people – past, present, and future.
• Back at the hotel, we will convene for HMI Conversation #1. During our journey, there will be four Honeymoon Israel Conversations. The intention for these conversations is to have dedicated time for the group to process our experience, explore big questions, and build a sense of community.
• Dinner on your own and evening at leisure. Check out our Restaurant Guide for ideas!

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Tel Aviv

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast, we will head south for our volunteer day! Our volunteers will join our partners at Yahel, a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible and sustainable volunteer experiences in Israel, for a day of volunteering and service learning that addresses real needs in Israel. Tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a core value in Judaism. Volunteering – working to repair the brokenness in our world – is a powerful outward expression of Jewish values.
• While we are in the south, we will visit the Nova Festival Memorial Site in Re’im and have a chance to process the experience as a group.
• Then we will return to Tel Aviv for dinner. Be sure to grab something to eat before we embark on our nightlife tour of TLV!

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Tel Aviv

• Breakfast at the hotel, then check out before we depart for Jerusalem!
• We will set off on our tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and its four quarters: the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Armenian Quarter, and the Jewish Quarter.
• While we’re in the Old City, you will have the chance to find a delicious place to eat lunch.
• Next, we will check into our hotel in Jerusalem.
• We will hear from our speaker of the day, who will be providing their perspective on the Palestinian experience.
• Following that, we will separate into cohorts for HMI Conversation #2!
• Dinner on your own. 

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

• Breakfast at hotel
• Our morning will be spent at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust museum and memorial. Here, we’ll honor the memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust (Shoah in Hebrew) and reflect on how this history shapes the Jewish story — and the world — today.
• Lunch on your own at Mahane Yehuda Market — Jerusalem’s famous shuk (market), now also a hub of lively cafés and hidden eateries.
• As the evening approaches, we’ll come together for Shabbat Candle Lighting and Kabbalat Shabbat (the welcome to Shabbat), marking the transition into a time of rest and reflection.
• Got Questions? Throughout the week, you may have gathered new thoughts, wonderings, or questions about Judaism, Israel, or identity. This is a warm, open space to bring them all. Our Jewish Educator will guide an honest, inclusive group conversation before dinner.
• We’ll gather for a Shabbat Dinner at the hotel with the other HMI groups, sharing a beautiful meal to celebrate the beginning of Shabbat.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Jerusalem

• Breakfast at the hotel 
• The Five-Legged Table: Reflections on the Jewish Family: This session will provide a thought-provoking framework for the trip and for understanding the foundational aspects of Jewish identity and community.
• Afterwards, we will have a picnic in Gan Sacher Park and process the Five-Legged Table.
• We’ll then come together for our third Honeymoon Israel Conversation, followed by a memorable Havdalah service overlooking the beach and marking our transition to a new week.
• Dinner will be on your own.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
• As Low as It Goes: We’ll leave Jerusalem and journey down to the Dead Sea Basin — 1,412 feet below sea level — the lowest place on earth. As we drive, we’ll take in the breathtaking beauty of Israel’s desert landscapes.
• We will get back on the bus and head north to Beit She’an, where you will have lunch on your own.
• After lunch, we will hear from the Israeli Arab Task Force Speaker Fellows – a diverse cohort of young adults with experience in journalism, higher education, art and culture, civil society, economic development, and high-tech. They will share their stories, insights into their work as changemakers, and vision for their communities.
• We will check into our hotel before dinner (at the hotel). 
• Dinner Party with other Honeymoon Israel cohorts

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Northern Israel

• Breakfast at the hotel 
• We’ll travel to Tsfat (Safed), the mystical city nestled in the Galilee mountains and a center of Kabbalah and Jewish spirituality for centuries. As we wander its winding alleys, we’ll explore ancient synagogues, vibrant artist quarters, and breathtaking views that make Tsfat unlike any other place in Israel.
• After the tour, lunch will be on your own.
• We’ll regroup as cohorts for our final meaningful Honeymoon Israel Conversation before our closing dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner