December 2025

• Depart the U.S.

Overnight: Flight

• After group flights land at Ben Gurion Airport, a private bus will take you to the holy city of Jerusalem and we will check into the hotel.
• Check in to the hotel, relax, explore for lunch on your own.
• We will light Shabbat candles and experience a Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcome to Shabbat) service together with your new friends overlooking the Old City.
• We will meet as a group to light Shabbat candles, celebrate our arrival with the shehechyanu (Hebrew for a Jewish blessing of gratitude) and experience a Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcome to Shabbat) service together with your new friends overlooking the Old City.
• Enjoy a delicious Shabbat dinner with other HMI groups.

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.
• A light lunch will be provided at the hotel.
• Four Quarters, Three Religions, One City: Set off for a walking tour through the Old City of Jerusalem, we will explore the various quarters, to witness diverse communities, their history and holiness.
• Honeymoon Israel Conversation #1 “The Individual”: During our journey, there will be four Honeymoon Israel Conversations, which is dedicated time for the group to process our experience, explore big questions, and build a sense of community. This will be followed by a memorable Havdalah (separation ritual to differentiate the week from Shabbat) ceremony to end Shabbat together.
• Dinner on own and evening at leisure. (Refer to HMI’s Eat Your Way Through Israel guide for recommendations).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Overnight: Jerusalem

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Meet peace advocate, Nivine Sandouka, Reginal Director of Alliance for Middle East Peace. She will speak on Palestinian identity and her experiences as an East Jerusalem resident and coexistence leader.
• Return to the Old City for lunch on your own and time to explore the shuk (market), a lively maze of shops filled with spices, crafts, and keepsakes that tell the story of this ancient city.
• In the afternoon we’ll hear from Neri Zilber, a journalist and analyst on Middle East politics and culture. He will speak about the current state of Israeli politics and his hopes for the future.
• Dinner on your own, tour bus is available for transport to the shuk.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

• Breakfast at the 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.
• We’ll hear from Mishy Harmon, host of Israel Story podcast which features true stories about ordinary Israelis.
• We will meet for Honeymoon Israel Conversation #2 “The Couple” at the hotel.
• Dinner on your own and evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Jerusalem

• Breakfast at the hotel
• 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’ll ascend Masada by cable car to explore its extraordinary views and powerful history. Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the final stronghold of Jewish rebels against Roman forces around 74 CE, during the Second Temple period. Together, we’ll reflect on its lasting symbolism in Jewish and Israeli identity.
• Muddy Good Fun: We’ll “swim” (really, float effortlessly!) in the Dead Sea, whose salty waters and mineral-rich mud are famous for their healing properties. Cover yourself in mud — a joyful, time-honored tradition — and feel the magic for yourself. We’ll also enjoy a buffet lunch by the water.
• Head to the South
• 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 at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: South

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out. 
• We 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.
• After lunch on your own, we will continue our service work, deepening our understanding of the communities we are supporting.
• Experience Bedouin hospitality in the desert with a delicious shared meal, music, and stargazing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: South

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Hike the magestic Ein Avdat National Park. 
• Visit Sde Boker kibbutz and visit Ben Gurion’s grave.
• Visit the Nova Festival site and stand witness to the devastating attack of October 7th, then head to Sderot, another town close to the Gaza border that was deeply affected that day.
• Lunch en route.
• We’ll head to Tel Aviv — Israel’s vibrant, coastal city where tradition meets modern energy and check into the hotel.
• Take some time to explore on your own or relax before we gather for a Honeymoon Israel Conversation at the hotel.
• Dinner on your own
• Musical performance by friend of HMI, Gil Tetro, at Guitar Loft bar in south Tel Aviv.
• Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Tel Aviv

• Breakfast at the hotel 
• Israeli society is known for its extraordinary capacity to mobilize around shared challenges. Rachel Azaria, former member of the Israeli Knesset and founder of HaOgen, a nonprofit supporting families of army reservists, will explore how Israelis organize across political and social lines to drive civic action. Drawing on her experience and leadership, she will highlight grassroots initiatives from recent years as well as the powerful wave of mobilization seen on and after October 7.
• Visit the ANU Museum, the museum of Jewish History.
• For lunch, we’ll explore modern Tel Aviv through a tasting tour that highlights the diversity of the city’s cuisine and cultures. We’ll wander through the vibrant Carmel Market, the pedestrian craft market of Nachalat Binyamin, and trendy Sheinkin Street, sampling foods and discovering the melting pot of influences that shape Tel Aviv’s unique vibe.
• Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
• 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.
• 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, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Tel Aviv

• Breakfast at the hotel (don’t miss the special Shabbat bread, jachnun – a Yemenite delicacy!) 
• In the morning, we’ll meet Ashager Agaro, an Ethiopian-Israeli woman born in Ethiopia and brought to Israel as an infant during Operation Solomon. Ashager will share the powerful story of her family and community, as well as her devotion to preserving and celebrating the rich heritage of Ethiopian Jews in Israel.
• Next, we’ll go to the ancient city of Jaffa, one of the oldest ports in the world. From its vantage point overlooking the Mediterranean, we’ll reflect on Jaffa’s rich legacy before enjoying free time and lunch on your own at the famous Flea Market — don’t forget to haggle for a bargain!
• Afterward, we’ll immerse ourselves in the unique Shabbat atmosphere of Tel Aviv and enjoy lunch on our own. As many locals head to the beaches and coffee shops to unwind after the work week, we’ll enjoy the lively yet peaceful ambiance that Shabbat brings to this vibrant city.
• In the afternoon, pick leisure time or one of the optional guided tours, where you can choose to explore:
  • The Independence Trail, a path rich with historical significance as it traces the founding moments of Israel.
  • Railway Park, a beautiful green space with a touch of Tel Aviv’s charm.
• We’ll then come together for our final Honeymoon Israel Conversation, followed by a memorable Havdalah service overlooking the beach and marking our transition back home.
• Dinner at the hotel
• Transfer to the Ben Gurion airport and check in for your return flight 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Flight