A tour for the forever young at heart and mind

A life-changing excursion to Israel you don’t want to miss

By Matt Bernstein, CFP, JNF Chief Planned Giving Officer

Thirty strangers from the U.S. met in Tel Aviv on a Sunday evening last November. Many were firsttime travelers to Israel, with little connection to Jewish National Fund. Others had visited many times before; years had passed since their last trip. The reasons for their visit varied, but the common denominator was clear: to reconnect with their childhood memories, Judaism and Israel. Jewish National Fund’s 10-day Sunshine Tour provides that opportunity, and most of the participants characterized the trip as “life-changing.”

Jewish National Fund’s Sunshine Tour is unique in that it is designed for people ages 55+ who lead active lives, and it offers more time to explore and experience Israel.

Our trip started in Tel Aviv, the modern metropolis home to Independence Hall, the historic location where, in 1948, David Ben-Gurion announced Israel’s establishment as a modern state. We visited sites throughout the city, learning about the pioneering men and women who helped build the country. We felt enormous pride in this tiny country doing remarkable things.

In Jerusalem, we walked the ancient cobblestone alleyways of the Old City and met with lone soldiers from the U.S. We visited Yad Vashem (Israel’s national Holocaust museum), where the group formed a bond while partaking in an emotional journey to better understand this tragic period of our collective Jewish history.

We visited the Galilee and learned about Jewish National Fund’s Go North initiative that is growing regional tourism and providing new economic opportunities in the north.

In the Negev, we saw the effect JNF's contributions are having on the revitalization of Be’er Sheva, the crown jewel of JNF’s Blueprint Negev initiative. We also visited JNF’s Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, a signature JNF project, designed to provide a safe playing environment for children against rockets from Gaza.

We went back to Jerusalem and welcomed Shabbat at the Kotel. After dinner, we shared our experiences and, while many were aware of JNF’s history of planting millions of trees, they were in awe at Jewish National Fund’s role in making Israel a strong part of all our lives.

Join us in 2021 and help Israel’s economic recovery. We have three tours planned for 2021: April 18–27, May 2–11 and Nov. 7–16.

For more information, contact Joshua Mellits, Western Florida Director, at jmellits@jnf.org or call 941-462-1330 x865.