Havaya Israel | Be you, Adventurously

Trip Overview

Days 1-2 | New York / Galilee

Welcome to Israel

Meet the group at the airport for an overnight flight to Tel Aviv. After you arrive, drive north and then settle in, play some games, and get a good night’s sleep before an amazing four weeks ahead!

Day 3 | Golan Heights

Understanding the Region

Begin the day with a water hike at Tel Dan National Park. Then, drive to Mt. Bental which, at 1,170 meters above sea level, offers a spectacular panoramic view of Syria, Lebanon, and Northeastern Israel. After lunch, raft on the Upper Jordan River and play in the water at AquaKef.

Day 4 | Haifa

Haifa — A Truly Mixed City

Visit Haifa's most striking landmark, the splendid Baha'i Shrine and Gardens, located on the edge of the city center and emphasizing unity across cultures and religions. Together with Israeli youth, visit the vibrant and pluralistic Leo Baeck Education Center. Visit Beit Ha’Gefen Arab-Jewish Cultural Center to experience Haifa’s pride as the most multi-cultural city in Israel.

Day 5 | Galilee

The Faces of Israel — Diversity in the Galilee

Take part in a special encounter program with Arab-Israeli youth. In the evening, have dinner and conversation in a Druze community in Yarka.

Days 6-7 | Galilee

Shabbat in the North

Tour the mystical city of Tzfat, where you will visit a local artist and create your own souvenirs to take home. Celebrate Shabbat on the shores of the Kinneret – relaxing, enjoying the beach, and hanging out with friends before another busy week ahead!

Day 8 | Jerusalem

Journey to Jerusalem

Drive to Jerusalem and get an overview of the city from the Haas Promenade. Join together with thousands of other teens at the RootOne “Big Tent Event.”

Day 9 | Jerusalem

Jewish Heritage in Jerusalem

Visit the Tower of David and walk the Ramparts Path atop the Old City Walls. Tour the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.

Day 10 | Jerusalem

Diverse Faces and Communities of Jerusalem

Visit the Haram El Sharif / Temple Mount. Walk through the Arab Market to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After a hummus lunch, travel to the Educational Bookshop to meet Mahmoud Mouna – known to many as the bookseller of Jerusalem.

Day 11 | Bethlehem / Gush Etzion

Voices and Perspectives on the Conflict

Meet Palestinian guide and drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, walk along the graffiti barrier, and meet with Palestinian youth. In Gush Etzion, meet with Friends of Roots, a unique network of local Palestinians and Israelis who, based on a mutual recognition of each people's connection to the land, are developing understanding and solidarity despite their ideological differences.

Day 12 | Jerusalem

Holocaust Remembrance

Visit the Yad Vashem Museum and Memorial to the Holocaust, situated atop Har HaZikaron (literally, the “Hill of Memory”). While there, meet Rena Quint, a Holocaust survivor, to hear her story. In the afternoon, visit Mt. Herzl, the burial place of Israel's founders, the country's leaders, and the site of Jerusalem's military cemetery. Tour Mea Shearim at night, to feel some of the excitement as Shabbat approaches.

Day 13 | Jerusalem

Welcoming Shabbat

Spend the morning baking challah for Shabbat. Buy lunch in the bustling Machane Yehuda Market, before welcoming Shabbat at the Kotel.

Day 14 | Jerusalem

Shabbat in Jerusalem

After a relaxing morning, take an afternoon walk to Sakker Park. Spend the evening with friends on Ben Yehuda Street.

Day 15 | Negev

What Makes a Pioneer?

Meet local residents near the Gaza border to learn more about the complex history of this area and the implications to everyday life. Visit the Black Arrow Observation Point and have lunch in Sderot. On the “Salad Trail” at Talmei Yosef in the northern Negev, take part in a unique touch-and-taste farm that will turn you into an expert grower for the day.

Day 16 | Negev

Dreaming in the Negev

Hike at Ein Ovdat National Park, a spectacular narrow canyon in the Negev where water of numerous springs descends into a series of waterfalls and a breathtaking desert view. In Sde Boker, visit the grave of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion. “Surf” the sand dunes and have dinner in the desert.

Day 17 | Negev

Exploring the Desert

Visit the Ramon Crater Center. At Kibbutz Keturah, take part in an advanced environmental workshop on topics such as earth building, geodesic dome construction, and efficiency building. Have a BBQ dinner at the kibbutz guesthouse.

Day 18 | Eilat

The Red Sea Bay

Start the day with a sunrise hike. Cool of swimming and snorkeling in the Red Sea at Coral Beach. Spend the afternoon on the boardwalk in Eilat.

Day 19 | Negev

Communities of the Negev

Visit MOP Arava, where they develop agricultural crops that can thrive in the desert. Have lunch with the Culinary Queens of Yeruham. At Huria Palace in the Bedouin community of Laqiya, meet Amal Abu Karen and hear her amazing personal life story about her struggle for higher education. Ride camels in the Judean Desert before eating dinner, gazing at the stars, and spending the night in a Bedouin tent.

Day 20 | Dead Sea

Experiencing the Dead Sea

Early in the morning, ascend the Roman Ramp to visit Masada National Park. Float in the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth – before driving north to Tel Aviv. Join Beit Tefilah Israeli for Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Tel Aviv Port.

Day 21 | Tel Aviv

Shabbat in Tel Aviv

Celebrate shabbat with students from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. After a relaxing afternoon, explore Rothschild Boulevard for dinner.

Day 22 | Tel Aviv

The City That Never Sleeps

Try your hand at sheep herding at Neot Kedumim. Have lunch in the Carmel Market, where you can buy Israeli and Middle Eastern delicacies … as well as foods from across Asia, South America, Russia, and Africa. Walk the Independence Trail, linking ten historical landmarks from the period between the founding of Tel Aviv and the establishment of the State of Israel. Have dinner and a discussion with a member of the Ethiopian community in Israel.

Day 23 | Tel Aviv

Renewal

Tour Anu Museum of the Jewish People, the largest Jewish museum in the world, highlighting the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities in different periods of history. Participate in a workshop with Bina, the Jewish Movement for Social Change. Spend the evening with local family – or hanging out with your Havaya friends.

Day 24 | Tel Aviv

Exploring Tel Aviv

Ride a bicycle on the Tel Aviv boardwalk. Explore LGBTQ+ Tel Aviv. Visit Save a Child’s Heart, an Israeli non-profit working to improve access to life-saving cardiac care for children around the world.

Day 25 | Jaffa

Jaffa and Innovation

Take a walking tour of Jaffa – a beautiful city rich with historical and cultural significance, a wonderful artists colony, and a great Flea Market, where you’ll have lunch. Visit the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. Spend the late afternoon relaxing at the beach, before having dinner at Dr. Shakshuka.

Day 26 | Tel Aviv

Taking Our Experience Home

Learn about a different side of Tel Aviv by exploring its graffiti. Before saying goodbye to your Israeli friends, spend the morning having fun they planned just for you! Enjoy a closing dinner with the group, before driving to the airport for an overnight flight.

Days 27-29 | Camp Havaya

Shabbat at Camp Havaya

After the overnight flight from Tel Aviv to New York, travel together to the Poconos to spend Shabbat at Camp Havaya. On Sunday, head home after a life-changing four weeks.

From the blog

Culture, Camels and Campfire

Another hot morning in the desert started with us saying goodbye to Kibbutz Keturah and loading up the bus. Our first stop was at an agricultural research center, which focused on ways to farm in the desert. We got to play in their interactive museum with sand models, videos and we even found Nemo! We […]

Read Post Posted 9 months ago | July 28, 2023