Ramah Israel Institute
Family and Community Trips to Israel

A Ramah Family Trip to Israel is ...
... The most meaningful way to see Israel with a group
... An unbeatable opportunity for family fun
... An investment in the future of your community

What Makes Up a Ramah Family Israel Experience?

A Ramah family trip can best be described by analyzing the worlds that make Ramah Family Israel Experience.

Ramah:

Ramah stands for excellence in programming and education, ensuring that you enjoy and grow as you are immersed in a "Jewish environment on wheels". Every aspect of the itinerary - educational, recreational, logistical - is carefully thought out with your needs in mind. Age-appropriate sourcebooks provide texts, maps, literature and activity sheets to help each traveler delve deeper into the ideas and concepts we will be discussing.
Family:
The opportunity to visit Israel with friends, spouses, parents or children is truly a gift. Aware of the numerous needs families have when travelling, we at Ramah plan trips that balance relaxation and educational touring, and provide opportunities for travelers to be with the group as a whole, with their own age group, and together as a family unit. More than anything, we strive to ensure that each participant returns home more closely connected to his or her family, synagogue and second homeland - Israel.
Israel:
When in Israel one simultaneously experiences the past and future challenges of the Jewish State. You will see Israel from a number of perspectives:
  • Ancient history comes alive via sites such as the Southern Wall Excavations, where we go back to Temple times, the Kotel area, with its underground tunnel and excavations, interactive programs at Masada and Tzippori that help you feel part of the ancient saga of the Land of Israel.
  • Recall the heroic pioneering efforts of the early zionists that led to the creation of the State. Walk in their footsteps and share their dreams.
  • Israel of today - the place where about 5 million Jews try to live normal lives in a special country - will set the stage for our exploration. The Jewish State is in the throes of determining so many issues: its relationship with the Palestinians; who will have control over conversion to Judaism; the future of the Golan Heights. We will examine these and other current dilemmas as we travel throughout Israel, visiting key sites and hearing from guest speakers.
Experience:


At Ramah we do a lot more than just 'tour' the country. We look for opportunities for participants to engage in hands-on activities through which they gain greater insights into Israeli society, and often, into their own Jewish identity.

 

 

 

 


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A Sample Family Program

The following program is a sample family itinerary for a group visiting Israel in the summer. It is only intended as a sample, as each itinerary is unique, built specially for the needs and background of the group and reflects the overall theme of each trip.

"Arise, Walk About the Land".
Daily Schedule Comments
Day 1 "Returning"
  • Arrival
  • Tree Planting and welcome ceremony
  • Orientation and settle in
  • Free evening in Jerusalem
Tree planting in the Ramah Forest in the Jerusalem Corridor is a great way for families to begin their Israel experience, to plant their 'roots' in Israel and to connect to previous generations.
Day 2 "In the Footsteps of Patriarchs and Priests"
  • Views of Jerusalem
  • First and Second Temple sites
  • Kotel Tunnels
  • Relaxation and swim time
  • Israel Museum - family activity
The interactive family activity in the Israel Museum allows families to explore the Judaica and Ethnography sections of the museum, in the context of their own Judaica collections.
Day 3 " Roots"
  • "Roving the Rova" game in Jewish Quarter
  • Dig for a Day
  • Evening program of hospitality and meeting members of a Conservative synagogue
"Roving the Rova" is a special Ramah interactive activity based in the Jewish Quarter, which focuses on issues of Jewish community in Israel and abroad.
Day 4 "Foundations: new and old"
  • Yad Lekashish: Lifeline for the Old
  • Depart for the south
  • Float in the Dead Sea
  • Camel Rides and Bedouin Hospitality
Storytelling around the bedouin campfire with family legends. There is an option for those who wish to sleep at the bedouin encampment, while other group members can return to a hotel nearby.
Day 5 "Freedom Fighters??!!
  • Masada
  • Ein Gedi Oasis
  • Group services at Jewish Quarter and Kotel
Many people like to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony and/or re-confirmation at Masada (or at other locations). We are happy to arrange this.
Day 6 "Shabbat in Jerusalem"
  • Services at Local Synagogues
  • Separate educational programs for adults and children
  • Late afternoon walking tour
  • Murder Mystery at the Tower of David Museum
Shabbat is a time for relaxation and also for enjoying the atmosphere in Jerusalem. Our walking tour of Yemin Moshe ends with a picnic in the park including singing, storytelling and Havdalah.
Day 7 "1948-2001"
  • Latrun
  • Ayalon Institute
  • Independence Hall, Tel Aviv
  • Swim in the Mediterranean
  • Evening in Old Jaffa
The day focuses on the places that played a role in the establishment of the State. The Ayalon Institute, which served as a secret ammunition factory, is a fun place for all the family.
Day 8 "Living as a Minority"
  • Diaspora Museum
  • Beit Shearim, home of the Sanhedrin
  • Visit to a Druze town
The visit to a Druze town exposes participants to Druze hospitality and culture and touches on the issues of co-existence.
Day 9 "Mystics and Realists"
  • Tzfat - a spiritual exploration
  • Tzippori
  • Afternoon Swim in the Kinneret
  • Boat ride on the Kinneret
Tzippori is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Israel today and was the place where the Mishna (Jewish oral law) was codified and developed by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.
Day 10 "The Northern Border"
  • Tel Dan
  • Golan Overlooks
  • Kayaking in the Jordan River
Tel Dan is a lovely walk along one of the sources of the Jordan, and also is a rich source of Biblical history.
Day 11 "Layers of History"
  • Kinneret Cemetery Activity
  • Acco - the city of 3 religions
  • Atlit prisoners camp
  • Final Banquet in Jerusalem
At the Kinneret cemetery each family uses the inspiration of the dreams of the early pioneers to reflect on their dreams and aspirations for their family, their community and Israel.
Day 12 "Those Who Made a Difference"
  • Yad Vashem
  • Har Herzl (including Rabin's grave)
  • Preparation for Shabbat
  • Group Dinner and Oneg
At Har Herzl the group is able to understand the foundations of Israeli society, to participate in the 'pilgrimage' to the grave of Yitzchak Rabin as well as many others who have fought so hard for Israel.
Day 13 "This Shabbat, Next Shabbat"
  • Services at local synagogues
  • Guest speaker about current events in Israel
  • 'This Shabbat, next Shabbat' activity
  • Closing Ceremony and depart for airport.
"This Shabbat, Next Shabbat" is an activity which encourages participants to reflect on their Israel experience and directly relate it to their lives at home; how will this experience in Israel affect them? What do they take home with them?


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Photos and Comments from Participants

I believe you accomplished the near impossible. You designed a two week odyssey that met the intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical needs of a group that ranged in age from 2 to 77 years ... and you did it flawlessly.
Parent, Spokane, WA		  
The coordination of the Ramah trip program was so organized that we could actually relax while we toured Israel. Our kids' excitement was matched by ours when we didn't hear the standard whining of family travel. The 'whining' was replaced with laughter, fun and learning. They can't wait to go back to Israel!
Parent, Worcester, MA
The Ramah trip was the ultimate in Jewish Family Education. Studying Torah with our children on Har Gilboa, the very site where the stories took place was so meaningful. Discovering the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem with Ramah's self-guided neighborhood game was a lot of fun, and our inter-generational exploration of spirituality in Tzfat was very moving.
Family Educator, San Francisco
Everything about this trip was very special; the group, the organization, the guides and drivers, the opportunity to share - especially with my wife. This was an extraordinary experience.
Trip Participant


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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Ramah family trips different from other group programs?
Ramah custom designs each program to meet the group's specific needs. Whether the group consists of first-time or veteran visitors to Israel, hikers or spiritual seekers, the sophisticated, intellectually curious or those who don't yet know what to ask, Ramah will design an Israel program of any length and at any season that will meet the needs of the group - and show the participants an incredibly good time in the process.

What kind of sites and visits do you include?
Ramah's trips are organized around a central theme. We determine a theme for the group and this is then reflected both in the choice of the sites and the activities included in the itinerary.
Ramah's travelers engage in hands-on learning, exploration and reflection. Ramah has created a number of on-site inter-active programs, using drama, role playing, discussion and simulation to engage the participants and help them reflect on the significance of the experience.

What kind of families come on the Ramah synagogue trips? Do you have to be in a 'nuclear family'?
Many many kinds of people come on Ramah family trips. As well as 'nuclear families' each group usually contains single people of all ages, multi-generational families, single-parent families, and every other family configuration that you can imagine.

What kind of guides and staff work with the trips?
Ramah provides staff who are skilled educators with extensive knowledge of Israel. There is a tour educator and a family educator for each group. Our tour educators function as guides for the whole trip. They combine a commitment to the educational process with a broad and rich understanding of Israel, both ancient and contemporary. Their personal commitments to Judaism, the Jewish people and the Jewish State all come to the fore as they actively engage the group participants in exploring the trip themes, and their personal connections to all that is going on around them.
The family educator is largely responsible for conducting exciting programs both for children alone and for children and parents together. While most of the program activities are designed for the whole group, we try to provide parallel programs for different ages as appropriate.

I am worried that my children are too young? What age do you suggest?
Ramah's trips are designed for children as young as six years old. To that end we provide a sourcebook for the younger children who have at least some reading skills. Our family educator is trained to work with children as young as six.
Clearly each child is different. Parents are probably the best judge of their child's maturity level and readiness for such a trip. Please understand, however, that children under the age of six are the responsibility of the parent, not the staff. If the child can join in with the other children, that is fine. If the child needs special attention, the parent must be the one to provide it (which might mean missing out on an activity).

The program looks great but rather packed. We wanted something a little more relaxing, is this trip for us?
There is no doubt that a Ramah family experience is intensive and intense, but we recognize both the incredible potential and the inherent difficulties in family, and group, travel. Ramah attempts to achieve a balance between leisure and learning. We provide opportunities for rest and relaxation as well as making sure that we accomplish as much as we can in the short time available in Israel.

What is the religious level of the trip?
A concern with Jewish values, Jewish tradition, Jewish texts and the Jewish people is integral to the design of our programs. Shabbat, kashrut and learning are all 'givens' within our framework. Each synagogue decides to what extent formal prayer will play a part in their trip. We also offer opportunities to meet with Israelis, Conservative olim and/or key representatives of the Masorti (Conservative) community in Israel.

How do we find out more details
If you are interested in receiving more details and about joining an existing family trip or creating one of your own, please contact our New York office. Ask for our booklet on "Getting a Synagogue Trip Started".


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List of Synagogue Groups

The following is a partial list of the family and community groups who have enjoyed a Ramah family program since 1998.
If you wish to contact any of the group members, to benefit from their experience and comments, please contact us and we will put you in touch with the appropriate people.


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Back to General Information about Short Term Programs

For more information about these programs:
For additional information and application details please contact:
National Ramah, 3080 Broadway, NY, NY, 10027
Tel.: (212) 678-8883, Fax.: (212) 749-8251
E-mail: New York office
or in Israel, Ramah Israel Institute

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