Photo: Honeymoon Israel
If you’re a regular reader of STG, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that I love Israel. From the landscape to the culture to the spirituality to the history to the food (THE FOOD!), it’s a truly incredible country.
Photo: Betsy Biglin / Honeymoon Israel
Being half Israeli myself, it’s a place that’s especially close to my heart – and one I think every Jewish and Jew-ish couple should take the time to get to know a little better.
Photo: Lindsay Arnold / Honeymoon Israel
There’s no question that it’s a fab vacation spot, whatever your interests, and it’s also the perfect place to explore your Jewish (or Jew-ish) identity – whatever your background, connection to Judaism, or political views on Israel.
Photo: Honeymoon Israel
That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about Honeymoon Israel, a fantastic organization on a mission to bring Jewish life and understanding into the home of every Jewish or Jew-ish couple, in a personal, meaningful, and agenda-free way – through highly subsidized couples’ trips to Israel!
Photo: Lara Sparks / Honeymoon Israel
On a Honeymoon Israel trip, the two of you will spend nine exhilarating, romantic, and memorable days exploring Israel in luxury, alongside 19 other couples from your home city. You’ll take in all the classic tourist spots – the Western Wall, Jerusalem’s Old City, the beaches of Tel Aviv – and also catch some unique experiences you wouldn’t get on a standard vacation, like meals with local families and meetings with high-level public officials and business leaders.
Photo: Whitney Kirk / Honeymoon Israel
It’s also a chance for you and your partner to step back, recharge, and take some time to reconnect with each other and with other Jewish and Jew-ish couples at a similar stage in life from your city. A Honeymoon Israel trip will support your exploration of Jewish life and empower you to find your own connection to Judaism, individually, as a couple, and as part of a larger community.
Photo: Adam Greenwald / Honeymoon Israel
To date, Honeymoon Israel has sent 99 trips to Israel from across the United States, and more than 1,900 couples are part of the community – you could be next up on the journey to explore Israel, explore how you and your partner want to incorporate Jewish values and traditions, and find a new community of friends who feel like family!
Photo: Chloe / Honeymoon Israel
Who’s Eligible
- Couples should be committed and/or married life partners between ages 25-40.
- If married, couples must be within the first 5 years of marriage.
- At least one partner must be Jewish (defined broadly).
- At least one partner must have no prior organized Israel experience on a post high school Jewish peer trip (i.e. if both partners have been on Birthright or a MASA program, you are ineligible),
Honeymoon Israel’s community is made up of young couples with diverse cultural, racial, religious, gender, and sexual identities.
Photo: Andrew Leopold / Honeymoon Israel
How to Apply
Honeymoon Israel runs trips out of many US cities. They are currently accepting applications for couples located in:
- Atlanta (applications closing October 28)
- Boston (applications closing October 28)
- San Francisco Bay Area (applications closing November 4)
- Greater MetroWest New Jersey (applications closing November 24)
To apply (or to sign up to be notified when applications open for your city, please visit https://www.honeymoonisrael.org/apply/trips
Deadlines are coming up, so don’t delay!
