Solidarity & Serve

January 24th - February 4th, 2025

 

We are heading to Israel to obey the command of Isaiah 40:1 -

“‘Comfort, comfort my people,’ says your God.”

 

In the aftermath of the massacre on October 7th, 2023, Israel declared war on Hamas to rescue the hostages and eradicate the terrorist organization from Gaza. Across the globe, there has been an alarming increase in antisemitism and an attempt to delegitimize Israel’s right to defend herself. This trip allows others to experience the reality on the ground, meet with survivors, soldiers, and volunteers, and show them that they are not alone.

What to Expect

As the security situation is constantly changing, we can’t confirm the details of the itinerary as some might have to be adjusted. The following are examples of places we've visited previously to show Solidarity to His people:

• Kfar Aza - a kibbutzim significantly affected by the Oct 7th massacre. Our kibbutz tour guide lost many friends on that Black Shabbat.
• Hostage Square in Tel Aviv - the epicenter of the #BringThemHomeNow movement, featuring art installations and banners highlighting the plight of the hostages and calling for their release.
• An MDA station (Magen David Adom—Israel’s emergency services), hearing their experiences as some of the first targets.
• Shevet Achim is an organization serving pediatric patients with congenital heart defects from Gaza, Iraq, and Syria, whose hospitals/communities have turned into refugee housing.
• Hearing from:
  • Charlotte Korchak of StandWithUs on the global rise of antisemitism.
  • Avraham Levine of the Alma Research & Education Center on the threat of Hezbollah in the region.
  • (Res.) Colonel Danny Tirza of the IDF Strategic Command.
  • Yotam Dagan (former Israeli Special Forces “Shayatet 13” Commander and expert trauma psychologist), on trauma resulting from Oct 7th attacks and subsequent war.

Previous Serve options have included:

• Serving in Ashdod (caring for people isolated in bomb shelters and living under rocket fire):
  • Packing & delivering food boxes, etc.
• Volunteering with Shevet Achim in Ashdod:
  • Painting rooms for pre-and post-op pediatric cardiac patients
  • Taking children out to the park or beach “for a break” from their hospital rooms
  • Caring for mothers of children (all of whom come from nations such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Gaza)
• Feeding IDF soldiers at the Gilat Junction:
  • Barbequing for soldiers actively fighting in Gaza who came to the Junction for “a break” and hot meals.
• Helping at the Aliyah Return Center in Tiberias:
  • Preparing housing for new immigrants
  • Feeding the poor
  • Manning the free clothing store for those who have just made Aliyah and are building their life in Israel

We welcome Friday evening Shabbat by experiencing Kabbalat Shabbat with our excellent Jewish guide. We may also visit the Garden Tomb and the Temple Mount (conditions permitting) and pray at the Western Wall. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about the political and spiritual climates in the region from a Biblical perspective.

Pricing:

• Accommodations at Grand Beach Hotel in Tel Aviv, David's Harp in Tiberias, and Prima Kings Hotel in Jerusalem. Two meals provided daily. 
• Shared double-occupancy rooms.
  • Single-room accommodations are available for an additional one-time fee of $1,500/£1,200*
• Air-conditioned tour bus.
• Entrance fees as applicable.

Rates exclude flights, travel & medical insurance, most lunches (expect to spend $15-$20 per day, plus tips), extra drinks, trip-related tips ($150 for the bus driver and hotel staff—to be paid with trip fees), travel to and from the airport, and personal items.

A one-time non-refundable 2.85% payment processing fee is not included in the trip price and will be listed as an additional item on your billing statement. 

* Non-US Dollar prices are estimates and will likely change according to the daily exchange rate.
 

Travel Medical Insurance: Due to the ongoing conflict, all participants must purchase travel/medical insurance. In preparation for our trips, we purchase an affordable group plan from a reputable agency in the land for everyone on the trip, and you reimburse us. This cost is in addition to the trip price. Email us for more information.

ETA-IL: The Israeli Population & Immigration Authority now requires travelers to Israel from visa-exempt countries (i.e., the USA, UK, Germany, etc.) to obtain an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter the state of Israel. An ETA-IL allows approved travelers to travel to Israel and stay for up to 90 days per visit. Your ETA-IL is generally valid for multiple trips for up to two years from the date your application is approved or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Applications can take up to 72 hours to process. All travelers, regardless of their home country, must apply for an ETA-IL no later than January 10, 2025, to ensure timely approval.

Flights must be booked separately. Please try to arrive at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport by 2 PM on Friday, January 24, 2025, and plan to depart on February 4, 2025. Please email to verify your proposed flights before purchasing your airfares. Due to the ongoing conflict, not all airlines regularly fly into Israel; El Al is the most reliable. Contact us for airline and flight recommendations.

 BOOK HERE

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*** If the trip cannot take place due to unavoidable travel or other restrictions, we will reschedule for a later date. Your deposits will automatically transfer to the new date. If, under these circumstances, you desire to cancel your trip, we will refund the amount paid, excluding payment processing fees. ***