DISCOVER ISRAEL FIND YOURSELF inisrael Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler Summer Travel Adventures for Teens nftyisrael.org 212.452.6517 New in 2017 Sci-Tech Israel
Our daughter had a fabulous summer on NFTY in Israel. She is a changed person, comfortable in her skin, wild about traveling, curious about the world, and passionate about her Jewish identity. Susan & Jeffrey, Maryland
NFTY DOES TEEN TRAVEL BETTER THAN ANYONE Since 1958, thousands of families have chosen NFTY for more than just a thrilling summer experience. For over 30,000 young people, NFTY programs have turned a spark of interest into a summer of exciting challenges, wonderful new friends and lifelong Jewish involvement. NFTY OFFERS A UNIQUE ITINERARY AND EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM Participants learn about Israel and Judaism in an experiential, fun and immersive program. Their connections to Judaism and to the land and people of Israel are strengthened and nurtured by caring and experienced counselors and educators from North America and Israel. NFTY S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SECURITY NFTY has been a leader in the field of outstanding summer and semester programs in Israel since 1958, and has earned a well-deserved reputation for providing the highest standard of health, safety and security. Much has been learned in six decades about how to operate a program that always places the welfare of young people entrusted to our care above all other considerations. We take extreme care in designing and implementing our summer programs. NFTY staff and senior group leaders are available 24 hours a day throughout the program. All itineraries are reviewed daily to ensure safety. We only travel on private chartered air-conditioned buses and all of our accommodations and routes are chosen carefully. We use English speaking doctors and nurses to care for our teens. The NFTY Brit Kehilah (Code of Conduct) is signed by all teens and their parents before they leave their hometowns. For more information, visit www.nftyisrael.org/about/safety. NFTY S DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL STAFF MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE North America Paul J. Reichenbach Dan Lange Daniel Garwood Rebecca Bigman Ilana Schear Robin Kulwin Elise Englander Denise Bulnes Rabbi Reuven Greenvald Director, URJ Camp and Israel Programs Director, URJ Youth Programs North American Coordinator, NFTY in Israel Coordinator, URJ Israel Programs Registrar, NFTY in Israel Director of Admissions, NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Marketing & Communications Coordinator, URJ Israel Programs Bursar, NFTY in Israel and NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Director of Israel Engagement PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE Adventure 4 weeks Explore Israel and your place in the Jewish world L Dor V Dor 5 weeks Spend your first week in Europe, then continue on to Israel NFTY-EIE Summer Session 6 weeks Earn high school credit by diving deep into Jewish history Sci-Tech Israel 3 weeks Shape the future, inspired by Israel s leadership in science & technology Mitzvah Corps Israel 3 weeks Engage in social action and service learning in the Jewish homeland Israel Rabbi Richard Kirschen Rabbi Loren Sykes Ruby Sommer Rabbi David Wilfond David Solomon Oshrit Karity Director, NFTY in Israel Principal, NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Associate Director Director of Education Assistant Principal, NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Coordinator, URJ Kesher Birthright NFTY did a great job helping us feel safe. I never once worried about my safety; the thought never even entered my mind. Lisa, Colorado REGISTER AT NFTYISRAEL.ORG
2017 PROGRAMS ADVENTURE 4 Weeks in lsrael The NFTY Adventure program is a unique and challenging experience created especially for teens who seek a meaningful journey to Israel filled with amazing memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. From ancient Jerusalem to modern Tel Aviv, from the beautiful Galilee to the stunning Negev Desert, you will become part of an immersive Jewish community of teens travelling from all over North America. With NFTY s renowned tour-guide educators leading the way, you will: Meet Israeli teens Visit the Kotel (the Western Wall) Ride a camel Explore the modern city of Tel Aviv Float in the Dead Sea Work on a real archeological dig Snorkel in the Red Sea Raft on the Jordan River Eat falafel, shawarma, and olives Enjoy traditional Bedouin desert hospitality Climb Masada at dawn Sleep under the stars in the Negev Desert Choose your own adventure on our Chavaya choice experience With an extraordinary summer of shared fun and friendship as a backdrop, you ll return home with an intense personal connection to the land, history and people of Israel, proud of yourself, and proud of your heritage. NFTYISRAEL.ORG/ADVENTURE 212.452.6517 NFTY-EIE HIGH SCHOOL IN ISRAEL SUMMER SESSION 6 Weeks in Israel Need-based scholarships available Dig deep into our shared Jewish story with real archeological sites, stunning mountain vistas, and exhilarating desert hikes serving as your classroom. This extraordinary program incorporates our unique Jewish History curriculum, alongside quality Hebrew instruction. You will develop deep, lasting connections to the land, people, and history of Israel, all while earning high school credit for following your passion for Jewish community and learning. NFTYEIE.ORG/SUMMER 212.650.4073 L DOR V DOR 1 Week in Prague and Poland 4 Weeks in Israel (Adventure Itinerary) Experience the epic story of the journey of the Jewish people from Prague and Poland to Israel. Together with NFTY friends from all over North America, you ll begin your adventure in Europe, exploring more than one thousand years of our rich European Jewish heritage. You ll come to appreciate the beautiful community and culture our ancestors created and its virtual destruction during the Holocaust. For two intense days you will explore our roots in Prague before traveling to Poland. Visit Auschwitz and Birkenau where you will take part in a memorial ceremony to those who were lost in the Holocaust. Continuing on, you will visit the Warsaw Ghetto before making your way to Israel. Once in Israel, you ll spend four weeks experiencing the land, people, and culture of this extraordinary nation. From ancient to modern, border to border, and sea to sea, you ll do it all and see it all, following the Adventure four-week Israel itinerary. NFTYISRAEL.ORG/LDORVDOR 212.452.6517 The summer was an experience of a lifetime. I feel so privileged to have gone! Jonathan, Georgia I can now put a picture, a memory and a feeling with the place I ve been hearing about for my entire life. My connection to Israel is much stronger now. Heather, Ohio REGISTER AT NFTYISRAEL.ORG
SCI-TECH ISRAEL New for 2017 3 Weeks of Science & Technology Exploration in Israel Explore Israel as a living laboratory where science and technology meet the Jewish past, present, and future. You ll engage in an interactive learning environment that seamlessly incorporates Jewish values and history, while exploring Israel s role as a global innovator in science and technology. Discover the history of how our people came to Israel as merchants, craftsmen, and traders, and became entrepreneurs, researchers, and inventors. Sci-Tech Israel offers the best of two worlds: visit iconic sites like Masada, the old city of Jerusalem, and modern Tel Aviv, while also meeting with global experts in fields such as renewable energy and computer tech. You will return understanding the deep connection that we have to our land, and how one small country with limited resources turned science and technology into its biggest success story. NFTYISRAEL.ORG/SCITECH 857.246.8677 MITZVAH CORPS ISRAEL Back by Popular Demand 3 Weeks of Service Learning in Israel Immerse yourself in in a three week Israel journey through social action, service learning and exploration of Israeli culture. You ll form relationships with Israelis and learn firsthand about Israel s multifaceted society, while engaging in a variety of meaningful hands-on service projects in Israel s modern and progressive communities. Spend time on a travel adventure through Israel s amazing and historic sites with your new friends, taking in all of Israel s beauty. MITZVAHCORPS.ORG/ISRAEL 212.650.4071 MORE ISRAEL JOURNEYS NFTY-EIE HIGH SCHOOL IN ISRAEL 4 Month Fall & Spring Semesters 6 Week Summer Session Generous need-based scholarships available The Eisendrath International Experience (EIE) is an outstanding fully accredited high school semester in Israel (fall, spring or summer) for young leaders of Reform Judaism. Immerse yourself in the history, people, culture and language of Israel while keeping up with your studies from home. Visit our website for a detailed course catalog and to apply. Students will receive an official transcript from NFTY-EIE for full academic credit for two semesters of Jewish history, one semester of Hebrew, and one semester of physical education. Fall and Spring semester students will also take and receive credit for their regular high school courses. EIE is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. NFTYEIE.ORG 212.650.4073 BIRTHRIGHT BY URJ KESHER Free 10 Day Post-High School Trip to Israel URJ Kesher is the only Birthright Israel provider sponsored by the Reform movement. This program is a free 10 day trip for 18-26 year olds that offers a unique opportunity to experience Israel with other young adults. NFTY in Israel alumni are now eligible for the gift of Birthright Israel! Traveling with URJ Kesher is an not only a fun adventure, but a meaningful and inspiring trip, guided by our shared progressive values. Travel with friends from NFTY, camp, and your URJ community! GOKESHER.ORG 202.370.4026 The amazing thing about the trip is that it allows you to experience Israel as opposed to hearing about it in the classroom... These are tangible experiences, they are hands-on experiences, they are memories that you come back with and can articulate to your friends and family: this is what I experienced, this is why my relationship with Israel is so strong. Alex, New Jersey
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Desert Exodus Adventure Hosted by Kibbutz Yahel, the first Reform kibbutz in Israel, the Desert Exodus Adventure is dedicated to understanding the ancient roots of our people. Explore the desert, where we first started our journey and where we evolved into Am Yisrael. Snorkel in the Red Sea, hike and camp amidst beautiful backdrops of black and red granite mountains and deep blue seas, ride a camel, and sleep under the cover of the most amazing star-studded skies. Go off the Beaten Path Ascend to Masada s summit for an unforgettable sunrise. Float in the Dead Sea and cover yourself with its famous healing mud. Crawl through ancient caves where Jews hid in times of rebellion. Relax in the waterfalls of a desert oasis. Galilee, Golan and Kinneret Together with Israeli Teens For one week, seven to ten Israeli teens will join each bus group. Together, you ll explore the Galilee, Safed and the Golan Heights during your stay at a guesthouse in a kibbutz along the coast of the Sea of Galilee. Experience the Magic of Jerusalem, the City of Gold Make your pilgrimage to the Kotel (the Western Wall), the ancient city of David and the Southern Wall excavations. View sunset over a striking view of Jerusalem. Stay at comfortable accomodations in and around the city. Explore Modern Israel Learn about the creation of the State of Israel with a visit to Tel Aviv s Independence Hall, and understand the connections Israel and the Jewish Diaspora share. Engage in challenging conversations about what Israel s recent past means for its future. Returning to Jerusalem, you will visit Yad Vashem (Israel s Holocaust memorial and museum), walk through the Mt. Herzl national and military cemetery where Israel s great leaders are buried, and plant a tree in the soil of Israel with your own hands. As you prepare to fly home, you ll reflect on your spectacular summer of adventure, discovery, growth and friendship. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Before leaving for Israel, you will select a Chavaya, a special interest module. During Chavaya, you will spend four days pursuing your own specific interests with new friends from other NFTY groups. Yam El Yam (Sea to Sea) Join this four day trek from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean. Gain experience climbing, orienteering, hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) Explore critical social issues facing modern Israel and make your own personal contribution. Projects may include working with new immigrants, children with special needs, or the elderly. Upon completing this option you will receive a certificate for 15-20 hours of community service. Indiana Jones in Israel (Archeological Dig) Discover the art and science of archeology, get in touch with our people s roots, and uncover the history of Israel under the supervision of professional archeologists at an authentic dig. Gadna (Army Training) Experience what it s like to prepare for service in the Israel Defense Forces. Participate in simulated basic army exercises while living on an Israeli Army base. Experience first hand the unique culture of the IDF. Completion of this basic training program is an accomplishment second to none.
HOW TO APPLY REGISTER AT NFTYISRAEL.ORG The application deadline is May 1, after which applications will be accepted on a space available basis. Register before January 5 and receive an early registration discount of $400. After we receive your application and $500 refundable deposit, we will mail you a package containing program information on packing lists, passports, baggage, etc. You will be billed for the balance due. Please note: the program fees listed include anticipated grants and special subsidies that NFTY has received in the past. If these are not forthcoming for Summer 2017, there may be an increase in program costs. Visit our website for more detailed itineraries, application instructions and instructions to pay program deposits by credit card or by check. Register risk-free until May 1!* ADVENTURE L DOR V DOR EIE SUMMER SCI-TECH MITZVAH CORPS EARLY REGISTRATION (save $400) $7,745 $9,595 $8,995 $6,995 $6,995 FULL TUITION $8,145 $9,995 $9,395 $7,395 $7,395 PROGRAM LENGTH 4 weeks 5 weeks 6 weeks 3 weeks 3 weeks *Risk free registration until May 1: receive a full refund if you choose to withdraw for any reason. I will always know that I am among the elite of American Jewish teens who have traveled to Israel and experienced our homeland. Jonah, New Jersey What s Included The program fee includes round-trip international airfare from New York, three meals a day, hotel accommodations, the complete touring program (including guided tours, admissions, and special programs), basic medical coverage while traveling with NFTY, professional adult supervision, and all departure taxes. All fees listed are based upon round trip airfares and land costs as of October 1, 2016, and are subject to change. What s Not Included Passport fees; pocket money for incidental expense such as snacks, gifts and laundry; expenses associated with chronic disease management or sickness, or continuing medication such as allergy shots; cost of travel to departure point and back to your hometown; and any costs incurred through damage to, or loss of, personal property. Payment Schedule and Scholarships $500 registration fee is required with your application. An interim payment of $1,500 is due by March 1. Final payment is due June 1. Many communities understand that teen travel is a powerful Jewish identity building experience and have allocated unprecedented scholarship funds. Speak with your Rabbi or Educator about scholarship opportunities. Flight Deviations For any deviation from the planned flight arrangements, there will be a $200 administrative fee and you are responsible for any additional transportation costs that are incurred. Transportation rates are calculated on a group basis. Special requests must be made in writing and there is no guarantee that all requests can be accommodated. Requests to be Placed with Friends We will do everything possible to see that you are placed in a group with your friends, provided that the request is made on the application, you are participating on the same program, and you have the same departure date. Refunds and Cancelations Anyone who needs to cancel participation before May 1 for any reason will receive a full refund. After May 1, a non-refundable airline deposit will be deducted from all refunds. No refunds will be made once a program has begun. See our website for full details on refunds and cancelations. Eligibility Participants must be at least 15 years old during 2017. Questions? Call 212.452.6517 or email nftyisrael@urj.org
8,522 square miles of awesome are waiting for you... Photo Courtesy of Alex Scherzer, Lexington MA. 2008 Photo Contest Winner Want to speak with a real, live human being? 1 West 4th Street New York, NY 10012 nftyisrael@urj.org 212.452.6517 nftyisrael.org Ready for another stellar experience? URJ KUTZ CAMP The URJ Kutz Camp in Warwick, NY is the center of Reform Jewish teen life and an incubator for creativity and innovation. Kutz offers aspiring leaders entering grades 10-12 unparalleled skill building in leadership, social justice, Jewish learning, and arts. Set in a beautiful college campus style environment, Kutz brings teens from across North America and around the world together for a month that will forever impact the trajectory of their lives. KUTZ.URJCAMPS.ORG 845.987.6300 URJ MITZVAH CORPS Mitzvah Corps connects Jewish teens with immersive social action opportunities throughout North America, Central America, and Israel. Explore the world alongside a group of peers, learning with grassroots organizations that provide unique hands-on experiences, and a deeper understanding of the major issues facing their communities. Spend your summer building lifelong relationships while obtaining the skills to play an active role in making our world a better place. MITZVAHCORPS.ORG 212.650.4071 NFTY YEAR-ROUND EXPERIENCES NFTY builds strong, welcoming, inspired communities where teens in grades 6-12 make friends, have fun, and impact the world around them. Together, we pursue tikkun olam (repairing our world through justice), personal growth, and youth empowerment. Whether you attend a regional event, serve in a leadership role with your local youth group, or take action on the issues you care about, NFTY is your opportunity to explore and live Reform Judaism with your friends. NFTY.ORG 212.650.4070