• Travel to Israel
• Meals not listed on the itinerary
• Hotel incidentals

Local medical insurance or travel insurance, strongly recommended.

Itinerary draft as of 4/2/2025 – Subject to change.

DAY #1 | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3

• VIP airport greetings and transfer to our hotel in Tel Aviv
• Included for all travelers arriving between 6:00am and 5:35pm
  Guaranteed hotel check-in is available starting at 3:00pm (luggage can be stored earlier)
• Orientation with our staff team and welcome dinner at Florentina Restaurant with a geo-political briefing from analyst Neil Lazarus

OVERNIGHT: CARLTON HOTEL, TEL AVIV
Meals Included: Dinner

 

DAY #2 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

• Breakfast is served at the hotel
• Volunteer at the Jaffa Institute in support of Israeli communities in need
• View the “Wall of Hope” street murals in Tel Aviv’s Florentin neighborhood
• Channel the spirit of Tel Aviv at the Nahalat Binyamin Street Fair and Carmel Market
• Express your solidarity with families of the kidnapped victims, meet families, and spend time at Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square”
• Evening: Cooking class and dinner experience

OVERNIGHT: CARLTON HOTEL, TEL AVIV
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

DAY #3 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5

• Breakfast is served at the hotel
• Travel south to the Gaza border region
• Stand in solidarity with the people of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, one of the many communities in the Western Negev devastated on October 7^th that has since become part of the Jewish Federation’s Partnership community along with Yokneam and Megido through JAFI’s Communities2Gether initiative. C2G was designed to foster direct support and collaboration between U.S. communities and Israeli communal towns that suffered the greatest losses in the October 7^th St. Louis, along with Atlanta, has proudly partnered with Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
• Volunteer Project – Make sandwiches for soldiers serving in the region at Shuva Junction
  Lunch is provided
• Bear witness at the besieged city of Sderot, at the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre, and at the Takuma “car grave” (time permitting)
• Return to Tel Aviv – Processing session followed by a free evening and dinner on your own

OVERNIGHT: CARLTON HOTEL, TEL AVIV
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

 

DAY #4 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

• Breakfast is served at the hotel
• Sort and package produce at Leket Israel – Israel’s national foodbank
• Break for lunch on your own
• Head north along the Mediterranean Coast to Yokneam-Megiddo, our St. Louis Partnership Region. Participate on a volunteer project
• Evening: Meet members from the Partnership over dinner.
• Return to Tel Aviv

OVERNIGHT: CARLTON HOTEL, TEL AVIV
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

 

DAY #5 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

• Breakfast is served at the hotel
• Volunteer: Harvest produce that would otherwise go to waste due to post-October 7th workforce shortages in Israel
• Travel to Jerusalem, breaking for lunch on your own along the way
• Check-in to our central Jerusalem accommodation
• Optional Kabbalat Shabbat at the Western Wall followed by Shabbat dinner at the historic Sephardic House in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City

OVERNIGHT: HERBERT SAMUEL HOTEL, JERUSALEM
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

 

DAY #6 | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8

• Breakfast and Shabbat lunch are served at the hotel
• Afternoon: Guided off-the-beaten-path walking tour of Jerusalem neighborhoods in the Old City and beyond (optional)
• Evening: Free evening and dinner on your own in downtown Jerusalem

OVERNIGHT: HERBERT SAMUEL HOTEL, JERUSALEM
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

 

DAY #7 | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9

• Breakfast is served at the hotel
• Volunteer at Tachlit in support of Israeli communities in need of support
• Lunch on your own at Mahane Yehuda marketplace
• Afternoon Options:
  • Visit to the Yad VaShem World Holocaust Remembrance Center
  • Explore treasures of Jewish intellectual history at the new National Library of Israel
• Evening: Wrap-up session and closing dinner together at Piccolino Restaurant in Jerusalem
• A transfer is provided to Ben Gurion Airport in time for flights departing between 11pm-1am Travelers staying on for the extension program will be returned to our Jerusalem hotel this evening

OVERNIGHT: HERBERT SAMUEL HOTEL, JERUSALEM (Extension Travelers)

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

 

DAY #8 | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10

• Rise early and descend below sea level into the deepJudean Desert
• Ascend Masada via the cable cars – Tour of Herod’s desert mountaintop fortress and the bastion of an ancient Jewish rebellion
• Experience effortlessly floating at the Dead Seawith access to the private beach and spa at the Vert Resort (lunch included)
• Nature walk to the Ein Gedi Desert Oasis National Park
• Return to Jerusalem – Free evening and dinner on your own

OVERNIGHT: HERBERT SAMUEL HOTEL, JERUSALEM

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

 

DAY #9 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

• Discover the layered history of Jerusalem at the Tower of David Museum located at the entrance to Jaffa Gate in the Old City
• Enter the Old City via the Armenian Quarter as we wind our way through to the rooftops, alleyways, and ancient squares of the Jewish Quarter
• Break for lunch on your own and personal exploration time in the Cardo area
• Reflections at the Kotel – The Western Wall – explore the Southern Wall Excavationsand go deep under the Old City in the Kotel Tunnels
• Continue into the historic Christian Quarter and Arab Shuk (bazaar), including a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
• Evening: Celebrate the end of our journey at Between the Arches Restaurant
• A transfer is provided to Ben Gurion Airport in time for flights departing between 11pm-1am

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

• A $250/person deposit is due with your registration and is refundable through August 31, 2025.

• The deposit is non-refundable as of September 1, 2025.

• The balance is due no later than September 15, 2025 after which payments are non-refundable.
  Exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

If Jewish Federation or Authentic Israel, the land agent, determines travel to Israel is not feasible due to a change in the security conditions, full refunds will be issued.

The Show Me Israel Volunteer Experience, November 2-10, 2025 is $2,695 per person, double occupancy – land only

Single supplement is an additional $1,020

Through the generosity of the Lubin-Green Foundation, we are able to offer the following subsidies:

• All participants are eligible for a $360 subsidy
• Reserve your spot by 07/31/2025 and receive $125 per person savings
• If this is your first time to Israel or you haven’t been in 18 or more years, you are eligible for an additional $180 subsidy

You can indicate your eligibility on these subsidies during the registration process.

 

Optional Two-Day Extension

The Show Me Israel Volunteer Experience Optional Extension, November 10-12, 2025 is $965 per person, double occupancy – land only

Single supplement is an additional $265

A minimum of 10 participants is needed for the optional extension

The Show Me Israel Volunteer Experience begins with dinner on Monday, November 3.

A VIP airport greeting and transfer to our hotel will be provided for anyone arriving at Ben Gurion Airport between 6:00am and 5:35pm on the program arrival day, Monday, November 3.

Guaranteed hotel check-in is available beginning at 3:00pm (luggage can be stowed earlier).

On the final evening, Sunday November 9, a transfer will be provided back to Ben Gurion Airport in time for flights leaving Israel between 11:00pm and 1:00am.

For those participating on the optional extension, a transfer to Ben Gurion Airport will be provided on Tuesday, November 10 between 11:00pm and 1:00am

Mission participants are strongly encouraged to purchase, at their expense, the level of travel insurance they feel comfortable buying.

Carlton on the Beach, Tel Aviv

Herbert Samuel, Jerusalem

 

How physically strenuous is the volunteering?

Plan to volunteer 3-4 hours each day, apart from Shabbat. Much of the volunteering will involve light manual work, and you should plan to participate in this program if you feel physically capable.

 

Will there still be a need for volunteer support in November?

Sadly, yes, the nature of the volunteering needs may evolve over time, but the need for support in Israel is significant now and will remain significant for some time.

 

Will there be a choice of volunteer experiences?

Volunteering is facilitated based on where there is a need and where groups of volunteers can be accommodated together.

 

Will we visit the communities near the Gaza border?

We intend to include this important experience as part of the Volunteer Experience. Visits to the communities in proximity to the Gaza border are subject to conditions at the time, with safe travel being our guiding consideration.

 

Do I need an electronic travel authorization to enter Israel?

As of January 1, 2025, all travelers to Israel must obtain a valid electronic travel authorization (ETA-IL) before entering the country. The online application only takes a few minutes, and you will want to select “Visit (Tourism)” as the primary reason for your entry. The ETA-IL is valid for up to two years and costs 25 NIS (~US$7.00). Apply for the ETA-IL at least 72 hours before your departure, and we advise you to carry a printed copy during your travels. To obtain your electronic travel authorization, go to https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/. NOTE: The ETA-IL does not pertain to travelers entering Israel with an Israeli passport. 

 

How should I arrange my travel upon arrival to and from Israel?

A VIP airport greeting and transfer to the hotel will be provided for anyone arriving to Ben Gurion Airport between 6:00am and 5:35pm on the program arrival day, Monday, November 3. Guaranteed hotel check-in is available beginning at 3:00pm (luggage can be stowed earlier).

On the final evening of the program, November 9, 2025, a transfer will be provided back to Ben Gurion Airport in time for flights departing between 11:00pm and 1:00am.

For those participating on the optional extension, a transfer to Ben Gurion Airport will be provided on Tuesday, November 10 between 11:00pm and 1:00am.

 

Is travel insurance available for Israel?

Mission participants are strongly encouraged to purchase, at their expense, the level of travel insurance they feel comfortable buying. You may purchase traditional travel insurance, and the land agent recommends Travel Insured International. Costs vary widely and you may want to compare prices before selecting an insurance policy. Also consider purchasing a low-cost local medical insurance policy at least three weeks before your scheduled arrival.

 

What hotels are being used?

Carlton on the Beach, Tel Aviv

Herbert Samuel, Jerusalem

 

Can I arrive early or extend my stay in Israel?

Yes, you may arrive early or stay longer in Israel. You can extend your stay at the Tel Aviv or Jerusalem hotel at the following rates:

Carlton on the Beach, Tel Aviv – Single $395 per night & double $415 per night

Herber Samuel, Jerusalem – Single $290 per night and double $310 per night

Hotel rates include breakfast each morning.

To reserve additional nights, contact Karen Rader, 314-442-3756 or KRader@JFedSTL.org

  

Is it safe to visit Israel now?

While security considerations in the region are ongoing, we take various measures to mitigate concerns. We travel with an armed escort at all times, we use hotels with a saferoom, we brief our volunteers on safe travel best practices, and we exercise common sense decision-making like the people of Israel do every day.

 

What happens if the security situation changes mid-trip?

From Authentic Israel: Trips are guided with professional (and armed) guides who care for our volunteers like family. In the event the security situation in Israel worsens while you are in Israel, we will make adjustments to our approach, including relocation of the group, if warranted. We appreciate our responsibility for your well-being, and our decision-making will be guided by this understanding.

 

What happens if I experience a rocket siren while in Israel?

From Authentic Israel: Travelers will be briefed ahead of arrival on the standard security protocols we follow. Although very rare at this point, travelers should be aware that there is a possibility they will be present for a rocket alert siren during our travels. Fortunately, Israel has sophisticated anti-rocket protections, and we generally travel in parts of the country that are away from the border areas.

 

What’s the cancelation policy if security conditions worsen?

If we assess that security conditions materially change before your arrival, and we do not believe it will be safe or wise to travel to Israel over your scheduled dates, refunds will be issued.

 

Does the program welcome travelers keeping kosher/Shabbat?

Yes, all food served is certified kosher, and a bus will not used over Shabbat for group programming.

 

Are subsidies available?

Through the generosity of the Lubin-Green Foundation, we are able to offer the following subsidies:

• All participants are eligible for a $360 subsidy
• Reserve your spot by 07/31/2025 and receive a $125 per person savings
• If this is your first time to Israel or you haven’t been in 18 or more years, you are eligible for an additional $180 subsidy

You can indicate your eligibility on these subsidies during the registration process

 

I am traveling solo, will you help me find a roommate?

For volunteers traveling solo and interested in seeking a roommate, we will make a good-faith effort to find you one, although we cannot guarantee it. If we are unable to find you a roommate, the single supplement will be your financial responsibility.

 

Who do I contact with additional questions

Karen Rader, Director Israel Center & Travel Initiatives

KRader@JFedSTL.org

314-442-3756