Discover the life-long value of a trip to Israel
From new friendships to a new appreciation of Jewish culture and history, see for yourself how special every IsraelNow trip is for participants—and the Jewish community as a whole.
The perfect Israel experience for Jewish eighth graders
IsraelNow is a pluralistic, inclusive Jewish experience whose mission is to introduce or further connect 8th-grade teens to the land, people, and State of Israel. Teens will build their Jewish knowledge/confidence and expand their Jewish social networks through a week-long, immersive, educational travel program. This taste of Israel will lead to a desire for more Jewish and Israel-related knowledge and experiences, a desire to see Jewish friends, and ultimately a desire to enroll in both formal and informal Jewish education and programming during high school and beyond.
7 Reasons to Visit Israel with IsraelNow
- Firsthand experience resists simplification– Teens return home confident and thoughtful, better prepared to engage in real conversation about Israel and not just speak in slogans
- People to people connection matters-IsraelNow puts teens face-to-face with real people and lived experience, helping them understand Israel as a society.
- Israel is more than its government-We help teens understand that Israel, like any country, contains multiple ideologies, both political and religious, that are constantly shaping what kind of country Israel is and will become.
- Physical presence strengthens Jewish peoplehood-By strengthening Jewish identity and increasing participation in Jewish life, teens return more connected, more curious, and more engaged in their Jewish communities.
- Engagement Builds Stronger, More Representative Leadership- This trip is an early step in cultivating Jews who remain involved, thoughtful, and engaged over time—building the pipeline of diverse leaders who will help shape the future of American Jewish life.
- Even if Israel were not the Jewish homeland it would still be our cultural homeland-Seeing Israel first hand matters, especially at an age when identity is forming. This is not about politics, it is about understanding peoplehood, continuity and belonging.
- Opting out doesn’t stop harm—but opting in actually matters!-Teaching teens that showing up matters. By showing up, participating, seeing it firsthand, actually volunteering and interacting make Israel a better place and your teen has a first hand experience in doing so. It isn’t what you don’t participate in that impacts, it is the things you do participate in that is most meaningful.
Committed to safety and security
IsraelNow always puts the safety and wellbeing of our participants first. From qualified trip educators and thoughtfully planned itineraries to trip updates, we want every IsraelNow family to feel confident and assured prior to and during our trips.
Our partners & supporters
IsraelNow works with local synagogues, Jewish community centers, youth programs, camps and other organizations to make our trips possible. We are grateful for every partner and participating family who helps us offer these meaningful experiences at such an unbelievable value to our community.