Taking flight

JUF Missions were stalled during the pandemic, but now we’re up and running!

In fact, two Missions already traveled to the Middle East in recent months. In October, a group of 40 top JUF leaders traveled on the Prime Minister’s Mission, chaired by Debbie and Adam Winick, to the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The mission marked the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel, and the UAE and Bahrain.

Then, in December, 15 people joined the JUF Organized Labor Leader Mission to Israel, chaired Tim Drea, President of Illinois AFL-CIO. (Stay tuned for coverage of the Labor Mission in an upcoming issue.)

Here’s what’s coming up for 2023:

Nachshon 19 Mission 

The Nachshon Mission, open to generous men who are JUF donors, is nearing its 20th anniversary. This year’s Nachshon 19 Mission–chaired by Marc Brenner, Stefan Teodosic, and Brad Zaransky–is just returning from Israel. The delegation met with everyone from IDF commanders to high-tech executives to recipients of JUF-funded services, including refugees who have fled Ukraine.

First-ever Mission to Mexico City

Coming up next month, JUF will launch its first-ever Mission to Mexico City. JUF Women’s Philanthropy is headed south of the border from March 2-6. The Mission, chaired by Lori Goldberg and Randee Romanoff, requires a minimum women’s contribution of $1,200 to the 2023 JUF Annual Campaign.

Participants will explore Mexico City’s vibrant Jewish community, including learning about Shabbat with local kindergarteners and visiting the city’s Israeli community center. The group will also take a cooking class, do a mezcal tasting, meet Mexican artists, and visit a bazaar brimming with handmade jewelry, textiles, and artworks. Plus, fans of artist Frida Kahlo will get to visit her famous Blue House and her neighborhood of Coyoacán, with its beautiful murals.

Tailor-made for you

If there is a certain aspect of the Jewish world you want to explore, Missions also customizes private trips for individuals, couples, or families who donate a minimum of $10,000 to the JUF Annual Campaign.

Just for the day

Those going to Israel on their own can incorporate a “JUF Day Option” into their itineraries. Some options include an exclusive briefing with Ofer Bavly, a JUF Vice President and Director General of JUF’s Israel Office, or a visit to JUF’s Partnership Region to learn how your contributions to JUF enhance life in the heart of Israel.

Giving back

For those who want to give back during their visit, eclectic volunteer opportunities await. Through our JUF Israel Office, volunteers can make care packages for IDF lone soldiers–those without family living in Israel–or deliver food to families in need. More active options include playing basketball with at-risk youth, painting equipment for a playground at a bomb shelter, and building huts in an Ethiopian Jewish village. 

There are so many ways to explore–and help–the Jewish community in Israel and beyond, while also creating indelible memories. Missions can take you to where it all happens.

To learn more, please contact Lindsay Weiss, Director of JUF Missions, at [email protected] or 312-357-4813. 

Sylvie Siegel is JUF Missions Associate.