Jewish Journal
Connect. inform. inspire., taking a virtual trip to israel with jnf.
- By Kylie Ora Lobell
- Published July 24, 2020
Kylie Ora Lobell
Tourism is a huge part of Israel’s economy and it has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The Israel Hotel Association predicts the tourism industry will lose $1.6 billion this year.
In an effort to help struggling Israeli tour guides, as well as educate people about Israel, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) is offering virtual tours of the country via Zoom through its program JNF Virtual Travel & Tours. During the week of July 20, JNF held a tour for the Valley Beth Shalom Sisterhood. The daily, hourlong tours ran from 4-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, followed by a cocktail hour. On Friday, participants were invited to a pre-Shabbat gathering.
“This tour is a unique opportunity to engage people in the United States, while at the same time helping the economy in Israel,” said Louis Rosenberg, executive director of the JNF in Greater Los Angeles. “I’ve heard from people who have visited Israel many times that they found out new information they never knew before.”
He added that to date, JNF has run about 100 tours around the U.S, and more than 2,500 people have participated.
The VBS Sisterhood’s tour started in Jerusalem, where 25 participants “landed” at Ben-Gurion Airport, visited the Kotel, heard the story of the city’s reunification at Ammunition Hill, visited the religious neighborhood of Mea Shearim, and saw Hadassah Medical Center’s Chagall windows. Throughout the week, they toured with guide Jacob Shoshan and visited Tel Aviv, Akko, the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, Jaffa and Be’er Sheva.
Additional stops on the tour included visits to JNF projects including the Sderot Indoor Playground, a 21,000-square-foot space that doubles as a bomb shelter; the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza in the Arazim Valley of the Jerusalem suburb of Ramot (the only memorial to 9/11 outside of the U.S.); and The Boys Promenade in Gush Etzion, dedicated to yeshiva students Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach who were kidnapped and killed by Hamas in June 2014.
JNF’s Greater Los Angeles Board President Alyse Golden Berkley and VBS member was the lay leader for the tour. She told the Journal, “We need to maintain the connection between us and our homeland and a political connection to the country and ensure its growth, health and safety.”
“This tour is a unique opportunity to engage people in the United States, while at the same time helping the economy in Israel.” — Louis Rosenberg
The latest tour was the second one for VBS, and it sold out within 24 hours. “On the tour, you have the opportunity to jell with other guests,” Berkley said. “I can’t tell you how many people from my tours are not only interested in returning to Israel, but going on a JNF mission as well.”
Grace Mitnick said she learned things she never knew, including the history of Jaffa and how the historical society got involved to preserve buildings there. “It’s these little details you don’t learn when you’re roaming the streets on your own,” she said.
Rosenberg said that there are people on the tours like Mitnick who are very familiar with the country, while there are others who haven’t visited since the Six-Day War, and some who have never set foot in the country. The cocktail hour at the end of each day is the perfect opportunity for people to share their experiences, he said. “It’s become an awesome networking thing with people since we can get together with friends and experience unique opportunities to visit Israel. The discussion part is the most interesting.”
Mitnick added she is excited to hopefully go back to Israel next year to see her extended family. “When [my family and I] visit Israel, we don’t usually go on a tour,” she said. “But now, we’re going to go back and see all these places we never knew existed.”
The tours cost $50 per person for the entire week. All monies go directly to the guide who runs the tour.
For more information or to book a tour visit JNF.
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Mission Pricing - February - May: $2,000 per person for single OR double occupancy; the price is the same regardless of room occupancy. If you are traveling alone you will automatically be placed in your own room. JNFuture Sabra and Root Society Members**: $1,000 per person. **Donors aged 22 - 40 who have made a gift of $360+ to the 2024 ...
About Jewish National Fund-USA's Travel & Tours. ... Israel Office Jewish National Fund-USA C/O WeWork King George 20 Jerusalem, Israel 972-2-563-5638 Find Local Office. Jewish National Fund is listed by the IRS as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit with a Federal Tax ID of 13-1659627. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of ...
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA TRAVEL & TOURS Volunteering Day Trips. All Ages. Families with kids. Ages 30s-40s. Ages 55 + Summer. Winter. ... Israel Office Jewish National Fund-USA C/O WeWork King George 20 Jerusalem, Israel 972-2-563-5638 Find Local Office.
In light of recent events, Jewish National Fund-USA tours have been postponed to 2024. We look forward to returning home; visiting our communities in the Negev and Galilee, meeting the special people that make Israel the incredible land it is, and taking a behind-the-scenes look of how vision comes to life with Jewish National Fund-USA's work on the ground.
Jewish National Fund-USA builds a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives and Zionist education. As a leading philanthropic movement, the organization supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel's north and south as it develops new communities in the Negev and Galilee, connects the next generation to Israel, and creates ...
Alternative Break Yavneh. December 25, 2022 - January 1, 2023. Spend a week making an impact by volunteering in Israel with children, the environment, people with special needs, and minority communities. JNF-USA has been running Alternative Break trips to Israel for over 15 years. We have brought 2,700 college students and young adults ages 18 ...
an exceptional chance to volunteer in israel now. Israel needs us now more than ever! Join one of our Volunteer for Israel Missions as an opportunity to provide immediate relief to the land and the people of Israel.
The volunteer effort is staffed mainly by English-speaking immigrants and visitors. To volunteer at Citizen's Kitchen, contact Aliya Fastman, [email protected] or +972-53-334-6861. Pantry Packers of Jerusalem ordinarily provides Meals on Wheels to 37,000 families every month, and also runs soup kitchens.
The Israel Hotel Association predicts the tourism industry will lose $1.6 billion this year. In an effort to help struggling Israeli tour guides, as well as educate people about Israel, the Jewish ...
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On March 1, Jewish National Fund-USA, in partnership with Tel Aviv-based Kenes Tours, announced it is launching " Come Home for a Visit: Bring your Congregation to Israel ," a new initiative that aims to help rabbis revive their relationships with congregants while restoring members' connection to Judaism and the Jewish homeland.
From Bar Mitzvah trips and student travel to missions and day tours, come home to Israel with JNF. Learn more read more close. GET SOCIAL Join the conversation and spread the word. JNF has a growing, active and engaged social media presence online but we need your voice, too. ... Israel Office Jewish National Fund-USA C/O WeWork King George 20 ...
Since Oct. 7, Israel Bonds has raised more than $1.5 billion worldwide—part of the $51 billion it has raised over the past 73 years. Last year alone, Israel Bonds surpassed $2.7 billion in worldwide investments, a record-breaking total that was more than double its average annual sales.
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Mission Pricing - February - May: $2,000 per person for single OR double occupancy; the price is the same regardless of room occupancy. If you are traveling alone you will automatically be placed in your own room. JNFuture Sabra and Root Society Members**: $1,000 per person. **Donors aged 22 - 40 who have made a gift of $360+ to the 2024 ...
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