January 9, 2026
As four more cohorts touch down in Israel today, we’re taking this moment to celebrate the HMI moments that shape lives. The conversations that bring couples closer, the experiences that deepen their connection to Judaism, and the friendships that last long after the trip ends.
One such moment comes from a Nov. 2025 DC alum who reflects on what his HMI journey meant and how it has already transformed life for him and his husband.
Written by Jeremy Weitz, HMI DC November 2025 Alum
An Excerpt…
I’ve just returned from our Honeymoon Israel trip, and it’s hard to put into words how deeply it stayed with me. Visiting a place that Dan, my husband, has held close to his heart for his entire life was incredibly moving.
Before the trip, I carried a quiet question: What does it mean to build a connection to a tradition if you weren’t born into it? Now I see the answer clearly. I have every right to build that connection — and in many ways, I already have.
As someone in the process of converting — or, as I heard in Israel, being “adopted” into the faith — I never once felt like an outsider. I felt welcomed into something alive, beautiful, and full of life. I found pieces of myself in the prayers, the stories, the late-night conversations, and even the quiet moments that said more than words ever could.
And then there were the people. “Honeymoon Israel is just the beginning” turned out not to be a cliché, but a truth with real weight behind it.
We didn’t just go on a trip. We experienced growth, connection, and community — and it changed us.
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