Ramah Israel Institute

Ramah Nyack and Berkshires Volunteer Mission

Israel needs you right now. There is enormous volunteer work to be done in the fields, rebuilding homes, and working with displaced families. We hope you will consider joining your fellow Ramahniks on one of our upcoming solidarity and service missions. This is your opportunity to be counted and to let our family in Israel know that we stand alongside them.

Ramah Nyack and Berkshires Volunteer Mission*

Trip Date Options:
January 15 -18, 2024

Lodging:
Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem

Land Cost (excluding flight):
$2,370 per person single occupancy
$1,750 per person double 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 Staff, we will leave for a morning in the fields. The agricultural communities have been decimated, and the entire country has been volunteering to help save this fall’s crops. We will be picking and packaging vegetables, and participants should prepare for a physically demanding morning. 

The entire country has been working hard to ensure that soldiers serving on the frontline are taken care of and nourished. On our way to Jerusalem, we will spend a couple of hours at the Aroma in Beit Shemesh, where we will get to work making sandwiches and preparing food for our chayalim. 

Then we will continue on to Jerusalem. After free time for dinner (we will recommend small restaurants that need our support), we will gather together for our evening program and speaker.


Day 2: Supporting our Soldiers

The day will begin with tefillot and breakfast, and then we will depart for a day volunteering at an army base through Sar-El .

After returning to Jerusalem and free time for dinner (we will recommend small restaurants that need our support).

Our evening program will feature members of the Ramah Nyack, Berkshires, and Ramah Israel community.


Day 3: To Build and Restore

The day will begin with tefillot and breakfast, we will travel to the South and volunteer at Rahat, a Bedouin city, and Ofakim, a neighboring Jewish city. Possible activities include packing boxes, painting homes, and repairing playgrounds, and we will have the opportunity to work alongside residents and hear about the war’s opening days. 

After returning to Jerusalem and free time for dinner (we will recommend small restaurants that need our support), we will gather together for our evening program and speaker.


Day 4: To Share Chizuk and Receive Chizuk

After breakfast and checkout, we will start with tefillot at the Masorati Kotel.

Our final morning will be volunteering in Jerusalem in one of many places that are doing this.

In the late afternoon, we will travel to Tel Aviv and visit Kikar Hahatufim, the Hostages Square. The 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 sing, daven, speak with families, and observe the dozens of art installations, including the Empty Shabbat Table.

Following a closing dinner together and reflection time, we will depart for Ben Gurion Airport in time for late evening flights. 

  • Three hotel breakfasts and four 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. 
  • There will be opportunities in the evenings to meet with Ramah shlichim/Alumni, to hear about their experiences over the past few months and show your support personally

  • Unless stated, every day has a departure time of 8:30 am and a return time of 5:30 pm.

  • There may well be displaced people staying in the hotel; if so we will possibly include meeting with them as a part of our program.

  • Not included are items to donate to soldiers/evacuees

  • Porterage at the hotel is included.

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