December 2026

Travel day! We’ll make our way to Israel, where an exciting week of exploring, connecting, learning, celebrating, and experiencing Israel together awaits.

We’ll arrive in Tel Aviv and settle into the hotel before gathering in the afternoon to officially begin our HMI experience.

At 3 PM, check in at the hotel and get settled.

At 5 PM, we’ll gather for Shecheyanu, a special moment to mark the beginning of our time together. We’ll welcome you with light bites, including sufganiyot, and hear from Ashager Araro about the tapestry of the Jewish story and the many communities and experiences that make up Jewish life.

In the evening, we’ll light our first Hanukkah candles together before heading out for dinner on your own. We’ll provide guiding question cards to help spark conversation as you explore Tel Aviv and get to know your fellow HMI couples.

Overnight: Tel Aviv

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before beginning our exploration of Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

We’ll start with Israel 101, including an interactive activity centered on Israel’s Declaration of Independence, before exploring the historic neighborhood of Jaffa and the streets of Neve Tzedek.

Then we’ll make our way through Shuk HaCarmel for a food tour, tasting our way through one of Tel Aviv’s most vibrant markets.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, an interactive museum exploring Jewish history, culture, and identity across generations and around the world.

Throughout the day, we’ll use our bus time for icebreakers and opportunities to get to know the other couples in our group.

In the evening, we’ll gather for HMI Conversation #1, along with Hanukkah candle lighting. This will be our first chance to pause, reflect on the day, and begin exploring some of the bigger questions we’ll carry throughout the week.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Tel Aviv

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll travel south to visit the Nova memorial site. We’ll have time to honor those whose lives were lost and then gather for a facilitated processing session, creating space to reflect together on the experience.

We’ll continue to communities in the south and Otef region with Yahel, where we’ll volunteer alongside local partners and learn more about the people and communities rebuilding and moving forward.

After returning to Tel Aviv, we’ll gather for Hanukkah candle lighting before enjoying dinner on your own.

Then we’ll experience another side of Tel Aviv with a nightlife tour led by members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, including a musician and graffiti artist. We’ll explore the people, creativity, and culture that make Tel Aviv such a vibrant and expressive city.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Tel Aviv

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and making our way to Jerusalem.

On the bus, we’ll begin getting to know our mifgash couples and take part in an activity designed to spark conversation and connection along the way.

Once we arrive in Jerusalem, we’ll visit the Tower of David Museum and hear from a panel of two speakers representing different religious and cultural perspectives, offering insight into the many communities and narratives that shape Jerusalem.

You’ll then have lunch on your own in the Old City before joining a guided tour through its historic streets and neighborhoods, ending at the Kotel.

At 4 PM, we’ll gather at the Kotel for Hanukkah candle lighting.

Afterward, there will be an optional Hanukkiot tour, offering a chance to see Jerusalem’s beautifully lit homes and streets on the way back to the hotel.

We’ll check into our Jerusalem hotel at 5:30 PM before gathering for HMI Conversation #2, another opportunity to reflect, ask questions, and connect with your group.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before beginning the morning at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial and museum. Through its exhibits and memorial spaces, we’ll learn about the history of the Holocaust and reflect on how this history continues to shape Jewish life and identity.

We’ll then visit Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery, for a processing session featuring stories from Israeli couples and a moment for Mourner’s Kaddish.

Afterward, we’ll head to the shuk for lunch and free time. Take the opportunity to explore, grab something delicious, shop, or simply enjoy Jerusalem at your own pace.

As evening approaches, we’ll gather for Kabbalat Shabbat and our final Hanukkah candle lighting together.

We’ll end the day with a festive Shabbat dinner at Heichal Shlomo, gathering around the table to celebrate Shabbat and our growing community.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Jerusalem

After breakfast, we’ll gather with Avraham Infeld for a session on his Five-Legged Table, a framework for thinking about Jewish identity, belonging, and the different elements that can make up a meaningful Jewish life.

At noon, we’ll come together for Kiddush before enjoying an afternoon with choices. You can visit the Israel Museum, join a MEJDI dual narratives tour of the Old City, or have free time to explore Jerusalem on your own.

We’ll come back together in the late afternoon for Five-Legged Table processing, Havdalah, and Ask the Rabbi, creating space to reflect on the ideas we’ve explored and bring your questions to our Jewish educator.

Our mifgash couples will depart after the program.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading south to Masada, where we’ll explore one of Israel’s most iconic historic sites and take in the dramatic landscape of the Judean Desert.

From Masada, we’ll continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. We’ll have lunch in the Dead Sea area before beginning our drive north.

After checking into our hotel in Northern Israel, we’ll come together for a special HMI Party, inspired by the joy, energy, and celebration of an Israeli wedding.

It’s a chance to let loose, dance, celebrate the week we’ve shared, and enjoy one more night together before we head home.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Northern Israel

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before spending the morning experiencing different communities and perspectives in Northern Israel.

The group will split into smaller experiences:

One group will visit Sindyanna of Galilee followed by a Bat Shlomo wine experience, connecting with local producers and learning more about the region.

Another group will visit an organization such as the Israeli Arab Task Force, Givat Haviva, or Beit HaGefen, followed by a visit to a local winery.

In the late afternoon, we’ll come back together for HMI Conversation #3, our final opportunity to reflect on the people we’ve met, the questions we’ve explored, and the experiences we’ve shared throughout the week.

We’ll close our time together with a closing dinner at one of the region’s wineries, celebrating the community we’ve built and looking ahead to bringing the experience home with us.

After dinner, we’ll transfer by bus to the airport for our flights home.

Overnight: In transit