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Ramah Israel Institute

Ramah Nyack Volunteer Mission with Rabbi Ami Hersh

Israel needs you right now. There is an enormous amount of volunteer work to be done, whether in the agricultural fields, in towns and neighborhoods affected by the war, or meeting with Israelis to hear their story and show our support. We hope you will consider joining your fellow Ramahniks on one of our upcoming Solidarity & Service Trips. This is your opportunity to be a part of the healing and rebuilding process, and to let our family in Israel know that we stand alongside them.

Ramah Nyack Volunteer Mission to Israel

January 20 – 23, 2025

Lodging:
Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem

Land Cost (excluding flight):
$2,000 per person double occupancy
$2,600 per person single occupancy

Please note that all itineraries are subject to change based on speaker availability, volunteer placements, and security restrictions. 

Day 1: To Nourish Those Who Need Nourishment

Participants should plan on arriving at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) no later than 8 am. Our staff will meet participants in the arrivals hall. 

After meeting the Ramah Israel tour leader, we will travel to Tel Aviv and volunteer cooking fresh meals to be donated to soldiers and/or their families or hospital patients in recovery.  We will then have free time for lunch in Lewisnky Market and make a stop at Cafe Otef – Reim, a cafe operated by kibbutz members that features produce from the Western Negev. 

Afterwards we will go visit Kibbutz Reim’s temporary housing solution in a residential tower in Florentin, where we will meet with some of the residents and hear how they have managed over the last year.

Then we will continue on to Jerusalem. After free time for dinner (we can recommend restaurants near the hotel), we will gather together for an evening program and speaker.


Day 2: To Till and To Tend

Following breakfast at the hotel, we depart for a morning volunteering in the fields, with tefillot on the bus en route. The agricultural sector has been hit hard by the war, and across the country people have been volunteering to help save the crops. We will be picking and/or packaging fresh produce, and participants should prepare for a physically demanding morning.

We then continue on to Tel Aviv where we will have free time for lunch at Sarona Market and make a stop at Cafe Otef – Netiv Ha’asara, the sister establishment of the cafe we visited yesterday in Florentin.

Next we will visit the Hostages and Missing Families HQ to meet with an activist and hear more about their efforts to bring the hostages homes. Afterwards we will spend time at Kikar Hachatufim, the “Hostages Square” outside the Tel Aviv Art Museum. This large public square has been set up as a gathering place for families of hostages and draws hundreds of visitors daily. We will have the opportunity to walk around and observe the various art installations, daven minchah (optional) and possibly speak with members of some of the families, to give our support.

In the evening we hope to visit an army base to help prepare and serve a BBQ dinner and spend time speaking with the soldiers. Afterwards we will return to the hotel and the rest of the evening is free.


Day 3: To Build and Restore

Following breakfast at the hotel, we will travel South, with tefillot on the bus en route, to the Western Negev (AKA “Gaza Envelope”) to see for ourselves what the region is going through. We will start by visiting the site of the Nova Festival near Kibbutz Reim, now a moving memorial to those who lost their lives or were taken hostage on Oct 7th, and the ‘graveyard’ of damaged cars near Moshav Tekuma, now a grim testament to the horrors of that day.

From there we continue to the ‘development town’ of Netivot for a home-cooked meal hosted by the head of a local NGO, followed by meeting with a local resident and hearing about their experiences on Oct 7th. We will then do some volunteering, putting together food packages to be donated to those in need.

After returning to Jerusalem and free time for dinner (we can recommend restaurants near the hotel), we will gather together for an evening program and speaker.


Day 4: To Share Chizuk and Receive Chizuk

Following breakfast and checkout from the hotel, we will daven together at Azarat Yisrael (the egalitarian section of the Western Wall) and have some personal time at the Kotel Plaza. We then go visit a local NGO that helps IDF units get much needed supplies through donations, and after free time for lunch in Talpiot we will hear from a speaker.

In the afternoon we will volunteer assembling food donation packages at a NGO, before having a summary session to reflect on our shared experiences over the last few days.

In the evening we will enjoy a closing dinner together at a local restaurant, before departing for Ben Gurion Airport in time for late evening flights.

  • Three hotel breakfasts and two other meals including Thursday’s final dinner are included. Other meals are not included.

  • We advise that the following items be brought: comfortable walking shoes and clothes, including layers in case of rain/colder weather, and an umbrella.
  • This is the basic program that will be adjusted according to what volunteering is needed.
  • Evening speakers will be on the topics of the day and will include personal stories, connections to hostages, rescue services, IDF efforts etc. 
  • Throughout the mission we will be joined by members of the Ramah Nyack mishpacha who will share first hand accounts of their experiences over this past year.

  • Unless stated, every day has a departure time of 8:00 am and a return time of 6:30 pm.

  • Not included are items to donate to soldiers/evacuees.

  • Porterage at the hotel is included.

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