November 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.
• We’ll 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 Yossi Klein Halevi, an author and leading thinker on Israeli and Jewish issues, including coexistence efforts. He is the author of the book Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor. All November participants will receive a copy of the book prior to the trip.
• Dinner on your own.
• In the evening, we’ll come back together for Koolulam to experience a musical journey together around our shared purpose.

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 Chaya Gilboa on Israeli civil society and protest movements.
• We will meet for Honeymoon Israel Conversation #2 “The Couple” at the hotel.

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 North or 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: North or South

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• 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 a meaningful day of volunteering, we’ll enjoy an evening in community.
• Cohorts in the north will enjoy a special Israeli-style Dinner Party at the Dubrovin Farm.
• Cohorts in the south will experience Bedouin hospitality in the desert with a delicious shared meal, music, and stargazing.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: North or South

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out
• Groups will hear from multiple non-Jewish voices during their time in the north or south of Israel. Thanks to our partner, the Task Force on Arab Citizens of Israel, groups will have interactive experiences in each area featuring Arab culture (Druze, Bedouin, Arab-Israeli) and challenges. Sample activities include an evening Bedouin experience with cooking workshops & learning about sustainability in the desert, a food tour in Nazareth, and an art museum tour.
• Groups in northern Israel will explore the mystical city of Tzfat to learn about its role in Jewish spirituality and shop from local artisans. Afterwards, we will travel to Umm El Faham Art Gallery, a leading Arab art institution which showcases contemporary Palestinian and Arab art and cross-cultural dialogue in Israel. Our museum tour will be lead by local leaders.
• Groups in southern Israel will have the opportunity to hike Ein Avdat, a canyon in the Negev Desert, and visit meaningful sites in southern Israel including the grave of David Ben Gurion, the founder and first prime minister of the Jewish state of Israel. Southern Israel was forever changed on October 7, 2023. Groups will have the opportunity to bear witness of those lost and taken at the Nova music festival site and in the city of Sderot.
• Lunch en route.
• We’ll head to Tel Aviv — Israel’s vibrant, coastal city where tradition meets modern energy. After we check into the hotel we will meet for Honeymoon Israel Conversation #3 at the hotel.
• Dinner on your own and evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Tel Aviv

• Breakfast at the hotel 
• In the morning, we’ll meet Naftali Aklum, who was born in Ethiopia in 1979 and made Aliya to Israel with his parents in 1980 as part of what became known as “Operation Moses.” The youngest of 12 siblings, Naftali’s late brother Ferede Aklum played a pivotal role in this history—his letter from Sudan in 1978 reached Prime Minister Menachem Begin and helped spark the secret operation that brought thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
• 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 will meet and hear from Gili Roman, an advocate for the Israeli hostages during the war and whose family was personally impacted by the hostage crisis. Gili’s sister, Yarden Roman was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 and released after 54 days. Tragically, Gili’s sister in law, Carmel Gat, was also kidnapped and murdered by Hamas in August 2024. Gili is an educator, an author, and an activist whose perspective is informed by his personal story and cross-sector career in coexistence/peace-building, education, and leadership.
• 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 Honeymoon Israel Conversation #4, 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