Search the Guide:
Aliyah, Travel
* Listings with an asterisk are part of the JUF/JF partnership of agencies serving the Chicago and worldwide Jewish community.
American Zionist Movement |
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Chicago Region |
Umbrella organization of Zionist member groups to strengthen the connection of American Jews with Israel; encourage travel, long-term visits and Aliyah to Israel; and to facilitate dialogue, debate and collective action to further Zionism. |
Amirim Israel Summer Programs |
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Young Judaea |
Offers volunteer and internship opportunities in Israel with social action oriented organizations. Four- or eight-week programs for ages 18-27. Includes weekly trips, insightful speakers, social events and learning opportunities. |
Birthright Israel Foundation * |
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Midwest Regional Office |
Organization for raising tax deductible funds sending young Jewish adults, ages 18-26, on a free 10-day trip to Israel from the Chicago area and Midwest region. |
Birthright Israel: Shorashim * |
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1415 N. Dayton St., 4DE |
Shorashim is a cutting-edge, non-profit organization focused on education & bringing people together while offering a personalized experience in all that we do. We have dedicated more than 35 years to building long-lasting bridges between Americans and Israelis through innovative, immersive adventures. On Shorashim trips, Americans and Israelis explore Israel, together, for the entire Birthright Israel experience. Through authentic encounters & local connection, our participants gain new perspectives by experiencing the culture, people, sites, scenes, outdoors, cities, history, & more in the way that connects to each participant. Since Birthright Israel's inception, we have worked in valued partnership with JUF to offer tailored Birthright Israel adventures to 18-to-32 year olds in the Chicagoland area with all of our Chicago community trips departing from Chicago. |
El Al Israel Airlines |
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Phone:
(800) 223-6700
, (312) 516-3525
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The national airline of Israel. |
Gift of Israel * |
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Jewish United Fund |
: Monetary gifts from relatives and friends can be saved to help young people participate in an approved Israel program during high school or college or as a young adult*. JUF establishes a special interest-bearing savings account in the participant's name and will provide a one-time $180 gift when a minimum of $1,000 is deposited into the account. *Families may use a portion of their Gift of Israel funds for 8th grade Israel programs, such as IsraelNow or day school trips. |
Israel Discovery Tours, Inc. |
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4957 Oakton Street |
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Israel Government Tourist Office |
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205 N. Michigan Ave. |
Order maps, brochures, video and other information. |
JCC Chicago Travel * |
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Travel with the J |
Travel with the J is more than just a trip. It's a unique and exciting opportunity to experience cultures and countries through thoughtfully designed, guided vacations paired with off the beaten path adventures. Our extraordinary guides and experienced tour leaders bring a richness and context to everything you see and do. Intimate group sizes provide personal attention, a chance to engage and connect with family and fellow travelers, and the ability to create your own story. |
Jewish Agency for Israel * |
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10 S Riverside Plaza, Suite 875 |
Regional office for all Jewish Agency services and programs throughout the Midwest. Works with people who want to make Aliyah (immigration to Israel), serves as the regional office for all Shlichim (Israel emissaries) serving in the Midwest as well as the central office for all other Jewish Agency programs. |
Jewish United Fund Missions * |
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Jewish United Fund |
Offers special missions to Israel and other worldwide destinations. Participants experience intensive five- to 10-day adventures in Jewish history, culture and everyday life, and see firsthand what has been accomplished by the Jewish people. |
JUF Bar Bat Mitzvah Israel Experience Certificates * |
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Jewish United Fund |
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Israel Experience Certificate program is designed to encourage every bar/bat Mitzvah to pursue his or her Jewish education by traveling to Israel with an Israel Experience program. At participating synagogues, a $120 certificate toward an Israel Experience program (between the ages of 15-23) is presented as a gift from JUF at the bar/bat Mitzvah service. |
JUF's Israel Experience Program * |
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Jewish United Fund |
Bring Jewish identity and history to life with a trip to Israel! High school students, college students, and young adults are eligible for dozens of Israel Experience Programs arranged by age group, personal interest,and duration of travel. Each trip offers the opportunity to make new friends, connect to the Jewish homeland and visit historical and holy sites. Choose from 10-day trips, summer adventures, and semester- or year-long study programs. The Jewish United Fund also offers various Israel Experience savings and incentive programs as well as financial need-based and merit-based scholarships toward approved Israel Experience programs. |
JUF's Kefiada * |
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Jewish United Fund |
JUF's English-immersion, American-style day camp in Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir, Israel. Kefiada campers are 4th-6th graders and the counselors are college students from Chicago or go to school in Illinois. Kefiada serves as a bridge over the summer for Israeli students to retain the English that they have learned during the school year and expand on it. This is a great way for college students to get back to Israel, really become a part of Israeli life, and help Israelis in a meaningful way. There is no program cost, plus free room and board and $1,200 flight stipends for all counselors. The camp runs from late June to late July. Summer 2019 dates are June 20-July22. |
Masa Israel Journey * |
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30 S. Wells Street |
Provides two to 12-month programs for 18-30 year olds, including gap year, study abroad, and post college internships and volunteer placements. The programs are specifically designed to give each individual an immersive experience complete with interactions in the local communities, intensive Hebrew immersion ulpan and trips all over the country. Many Masa alumni reflecting on their experiences say they connected more to their Jewish identity and the global Jewish community. Scholarships and grants are available to make the experience affordable. |
Onward Israel * |
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Phone:
Email:
iec@juf.org
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Develop your professional future and build your resume through a high-level internship side-by-side with Israeli peers. This Tel Aviv-based internship program places you in a work environment based on your skills, interests and future plans. Intern four days a week while one day a week will be devoted to learning about and experiencing contemporary Israeli society.This program is operated through a partnership between the Beacon and Shapira Foundations and other lead philanthropists, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish United Fund, and is organized by Israel Way. |
Puzzle Israel |
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Phone:
(847) 436-6849
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Israeli tourism company that invites tourists and visitors from around the world to get to know Israel. Puzzle's main goal is to give its travelers an Israeli experience "with a twist," a memorable adventure built around the needs and desires of the traveler. The company focuses on unique and personalized journeys in Israel that do not resemble your standard tour, whether it's the client's first or tenth time visiting Israel. It is Puzzle's belief and experience that exposure to different layers of Israeli society and culture, visits to regions less traveled, and interactive activities will make the journey that much better and more special. |
Send-A-Kid-To-Israel Partnership (SKIP) * |
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Jewish United Fund |
Unites families, congregations, and the JUF in a special savings incentive program, stressing the importance of an approved Israel Experience program for every high school or college student; students in grades 3-6 enroll through participating congregations. |
Shorashim - Tailor-Made Programs * |
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1415 N. Dayton St., 4DE |
Shorashim, meaning roots in Hebrew, is a cutting-edge, non-profit, educational organization devoted to building long-lasting bridges between Israeli and North American Jews on multiple levels for more than 35 years. Catering to the variety of interests, needs of participants, and values of each partnering organization, our bicultural programs are dynamic. They allow each individual in any group to carry out their journey in a way that makes the most sense to them and create a relationship to Israel that's meaningful to them. Our pluralistic Israel experiences and tailor-made programs are crafted to the needs of our partners and participants, including IsraelNow (Ta'am Yisrael), Chicago Jewish Day School, UIUC Hillel, U of Chicago Hillel, MCH Hillel, the Israel Education Center, and more. We've continued our mission of bringing people together through different virtual programs & initiatives. Available for individuals or organizations, 'A Box of Israel' is an immersive Israel experience in a box. This fun, hands-on non-digital kit is a great way for kids (ages 3-9) to play, learn, and interact with Israel. Beyond this, we also offer the opportunity for organizations to work with our team to design customized boxes for their population. 'Connecting @ Home Series' is anything but your average Zoom program. This program brings Americans & Israelis together through a shared virtual experience over the course of four sessions. Chicagoans can participate in community focused groups that concentrate on meeting new people, creating community, connecting through meaningful conversations, and sharing new perspectives. Through our programs, we continue to build bridges between North American and Israeli Jews, ultimately strengthening ties to Israel through strong personal relationships and long lasting connections. |
Ta’am Yisrael: A Taste of Israel - Eighth Grade Israel Experience * |
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Jewish United Fund |
A yearly Israel experience sponsored by the Jewish United Fund. The trip is for eighth grade students from around Chicago, highlighted by visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Masada, the Dead Sea, and more. A special track day includes immersive experiences in politics, high-tech, sports, environment, fine arts, and culinary arts. Pre-trip preparation, engagement with Israeli peers while in Israel, and post-trip follow up are all part of the experience. |
Volunteers for Israel * |
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Park West Finance Station |
Work on a supply base in Israel for one, two or three weeks. Ages 16 to 80. Room and board provided. You pay airfare. Certain to be a most rewarding experience. Programs throughout the year. |
WUJS |
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Young Judaea |
Five-month internship program in Israel for ages 21-35. Intern at a top Israeli company and gain international business experience or find inspiration for your art amidst a thriving art community. Customizes each experience for maximum impact. |
Year Course |
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Young Judaea |
The original Gap Year in Israel, gives recent high school graduates, ages 17-19, the opportunity to step out into the world, gain valuable life experience and skills, and begin the transition into independence. Earn up to 30 college credits while learning Hebrew; living with peers from the United States, Israel, Canada, the United Kingdom, and around the world; participating in volunteer activities; and developing a Jewish identity before heading off to college or university. |
