Starting our tour at Syntagma (Constitution square), next to the parliament building and its famous guards, we head for the Jewish Museum of Athens. We walk in the alleys of Plaka, passing the ancient Agora, where the ancient Synagogue once was, and heading for the eternal Jewish neighborhoods, Monastiraki, Thissio and Psiri…
Among our walks and stops in the winding alleys of those charming neighborhoods, you will see the houses and shops and feel the ambiance of some of the oldest regions in the city of Athens. You will hear the history of the Jewish population in Athens and Greece and you will see old photographs of the places we visit, making it easy for you to visualize the everyday life of the Greek-Jews, on those very alleys. We will visit the old Jewish market, still named after the Jewish family who opened the first antique shop there. We will of course visit the Synagogues of Athens, and the Monument of the Holocaust.
The classical Athenian archeological sites are also included! We will pass by some Roman monuments, the remains of the Ottoman Mosques, Byzantine churches and beautiful neoclassical constructions of the 19th century.
Furthermore, we can stop for coffee under the Acropolis, where we will rest, getting the best view of the Parthenon.
This unique Jewish Walking Tour in Athens really does include ALL the Jewish sites of the city, plus many important non Jewish sites. All in one morning!
There is always the possibility (optional) of ending the tour with a nice Mediterranean kosher lunch of traditional Sephardic recipes and some new ones by the Rabbi’s wife!
This journey takes place in a stunning setting that evokes questions we never imagined we would ask in our lifetime. What internal changes needed to take place to turn a previously hostile nation into a warm and welcoming environment where Jews and Israelis now flourish? During our time in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we will learn how the impact of the Abraham Accords has changed local thought processes while meeting with Jewish community leaders and entrepreneurs who are forming new partnerships. Transitioning to Israel, we will visit Arab-Israeli towns to learn about their growth and challenges post-Abraham Accords and meet with Israelis – both Jewish and Arab – who work together to overcome bias and stereotypes. Along the way, we will hear from various experts and students regarding current perceptions of the Abraham Accords in Israel’s majority and marginal communities, and learn how new ventures in business, art, music, and cultural endeavors are slowly moving the needle.
January 8-16, 2024
Shalom Y’All! Join us in Charleston and Savannah, two of the South’s most charming destinations. Cobblestone roads, unique architecture, and Southern hospitality await us. Jews arrived here as early as the late 17th century marking these cities with the distinction of being home to two of the oldest Jewish communities in the U.S. Southern Jewish life has a rich history, which we will see and feel during our visits at a Colonial synagogue and Jewish cemeteries. No trip to the South would be complete without discussing the institution of slavery and the Civil Rights Era, which we will do at different points over this trip.* Price does not include flight or hotel.
November 5-10, 2023
Dating back to 16th-century Crypto-Jews, today’s Jewish community reflects a diverse population of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Levantine Jews. This tight-knit community is galvanized by a single and transcendent vision — to unite Jews from all sectors to build a strong and unified Jewish community. This seminar to Mexico City promises to delight and surprise the mind and senses, as together we explore its Mesoamerican roots and mystical past.
Dates: August 23-27, 2023
Among the thousands of college students who flock to Israel each year for study or travel, many are looking for a reason to be Jewish. But it isn’t easy to tap into Israel’s vast world of Jewish learning. It isn’t easy for a student from New York or Philadelphia to look beyond the stones of the Western Wall and sense their history.
UJA offers trips year-round to fantastic destinations – including many you wouldn’t expect. Join a local Jewish community for Shabbat dinner in Havana, Amsterdam, or Mumbai; experience the vibrancy of Israel and other breathtaking destinations in the Middle East, including Jordan and Egypt; form lasting friendships over drinks in Moscow, in the mountains of the Balkans, or in the warm night air of South Africa.
Get in touch with your Jewish philanthropy by learning from experts on the ground: local rabbis, foreign dignitaries, aid workers. Explore new communities with a freedom of access that only UJA’s resources can provide. Make lifelong friends as you discover a new country and open new doors in your relationships. Traveling with UJA means becoming a more active member of the global community.
When you travel with CJP, you’ll find adventure, explore your Jewish heritage and see the transformative impact of your support – in Israel and beyond. Our missions connect you with Jewish life worldwide through local residents, community leaders, and political personalities. We expose you to incredible food, art, culture, and natural beauty. And most importantly, our missions inspire your heart and mind to consider issues of Jewish history, survival, and community in new ways.
JDC events and trips offer a rare window into corners of the global Jewish community that often go unseen, and an opportunity to witness firsthand the life-changing impact JDC makes every day.
Immersive Summer Trips For Teens Filled with Fun
Yallah! Israel is an organization offering summer programs for teens to learn about current events, social justice, and culture in Israel. Each trip offers teens the chance to spend time with local Israelis their age, discuss the social and political challenges in Israel, and learn about the history of the land and its people. The mission behind Yallah! Israel is to connect Reform Jewish teens with Israel through travel experiences that spark personal growth and strengthen Jewish identity.
The trips offered at Yallah! Israel include: Tikkun Israel, a hands-on volunteering experience; L’dor v’dor, a journey through Poland and Israel; Journey Europe, a trip through the Jewish culture of Central Europe; and Adventure Israel, an immersive trip through Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Galilee, and the Negev Desert. Through fun and exciting activities, like riding a camel’s back through the desert and snorkeling in the Red Sea, teens bond with one another and the land of Israel.
Yallah! Israel is targeted toward teens in high school between the ages of 15 and 17. Over the course of three to four weeks, teens have the chance to create lasting friendships and a stronger sense of belonging to Israel. Through a Reform lens, the programs at Yallah! Israel bring meaningful ways of engagement while also prioritizing the safety and emotional well-being of every participant.
The long-term value teens gain from a summer program with Yallah! Israel is priceless. Designed to nurture a sense of community and shared values along with self-discovery, a trip with Yallah! Israel can make an impact that will last a lifetime.
Entwine Insider Trips provide unparalleled access to global communities and the work of JDC, the leading Jewish humanitarian organization. Experience cultural immersion and global exchange, complemented by dynamic conversations around the value of global Jewish responsibility.
Whether dancing tango in Argentina, engaging with elderly community members in Georgia, sampling biryani rice and samosas in India or reveling in Dubai’s gravity-defying architecture, Insider Trips will show you the Jewish world as you’ve never seen before.
