RAMAH ISRAEL INSTITUTE
Sample Itineraries
Family Trip Itinerary
The following program is an example of an itinerary for a group visiting Israel during the summer. It is intended as a sample, as each itinerary is unique, customized to the needs and backgrounds of the group and reflecting the overall theme of each trip.
Day 1 – Bruchim Habaim-Welcome!
- Arrive in Israel and kick off your trip with orientation and a welcome ceremony
- Enjoy an evening in Jerusalem
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 2 – In the Footsteps of Patriarchs and Priests
- Explore the Kotel Tunnels and see the sites of the First and Second Temple
- Relax and swim at the hotel
- Visit the Israel Museum
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 3 – Roots
- Explore the Jewish Quarter with games
- Experience an archaeological dig in Beit Guvrin
- Enjoy a program and hospitality at a local Masorti/Conservative synagogue.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 4 – Foundations, New and Old
- Visit Yad Lakashish – a non-profit that offers creative work opportunities for the elderly
- Explore the Knesset Menorah
- Enjoy a camel ride and Bedouin hospitality in Kfar Hanokdim
Overnight in Ein Bokek on the Dead Sea
Day 5 – Freedom Fighters or Fanatics?
- Hike up Masada
- Take a dip in the Dead Sea and splash in the fresh waterfalls of Ein Gedi
- Enjoy the melodies of Kabbalat Shabbat services in the Jewish Quarter or at the Kotel
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 6 – Shabbat in Jerusalem
- Walk to Shacharit services at a local Jerusalem synagogue
- Experience a walking tour of Jerusalem neighborhoods
- Enjoy a free evening on Ben Yehuda Street
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 7 – 1948 to Today
- Visit Latrun, the Ayalon Institute, and Tel Aviv’s Independence Hall
- Swim in the Mediterranean
- Explore Old Jaffa
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 8 – Living as a Minority
- Begin the day at Beit Hapalmach in Tel Aviv
- Go to Beit Shearim, the home of the Sanhedrin
- Visit a Druze village in Northern Israel
Overnight in the Galilee
Day 9 – Mystics and Realists
- Explore Tzippori, one of Israel’s major archaeological sites, and Tzfat
- Boat or swim in the Kinneret
- Enjoy a celebratory dinner at Decks overlooking the Kinneret
Overnight in the Galilee
Day 10 – The Northern Border
- Hike and walk at Tel Dan, a picturesque trail along one of the sources of the Jordan River
- Experience the majestic views of the Golan Heights
- Kayak along the Jordan River
- Finish the day at a chocolate factory
Overnight in the Galilee
Day 11 – Layers of History
- Participate in a Ramah-designed activity in the Kinneret courtyard
- Experience a charming multi-media program at the ancient Bet Alfa
- Enjoy a refreshing dip in the natural spring water at Sachne. Return to Jerusalem via the Jordan River Valley
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 12 – Those Who Made a Difference
- Visit Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl
- Enjoy a group dinner and Oneg Shabbat
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 13 – This Shabbat, Next Shabbat
- Walk to Shacharit services at a local synagogue
- Hear a guest speaker discuss current events
- Engage in “This Shabbat, Next Shabbat,” an activity that encourages participants to reflect on their Israel experience and directly relate it to their lives at home
- End the trip with a closing ceremony
- L’hitraot!
Bnei Mitzvah Itinerary
The following is a sample itinerary. Locations and activities are subject to change.
Day 1 – Welcome ברוכים הבאים
- Begin in Ne’ot Kedumim Biblical Landscape Reserve where you will plant a tree, try your hand at sheep herding, and deepen your understanding of the Land of Israel
- Walk through the winding streets of Old Jaffa
- Learn about the making of Israel as a modern state along the Independence Trail in downtown Tel Aviv
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 2 – The First Hebrew City
- Tie tzitzit in an activity with the Masorti Movement
- Explore the Ayalon Institute underground bullet factory
- Stroll through the Nachalat Binyamin crafts fair and Shuk HaCarmel
- Discover the streets of Tel Aviv through an interactive Graffiti Tour and Workshop
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 3 – Israel in Modern Times
- Visit Rabin Square
- Learn about the modern heroes of our nation at the newly remodeled ANU Museum
- Experience the interactive exhibits at the Holon Children’s Museum (Dialogue in the Dark and Invitation to Silence)
- Continue on to Jerusalem to view a panoramic lookout over the city
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 4 – Bnei Mitzvah in Jerusalem
- Celebrate Bnei Mitzvahs in the Old City
- Visit the Davidson Center
- Experience a Virtual Reality Tour of the Second Temple
- Explore the Jewish Quarter
- Tour the City of David and walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel
- Enjoy dinner and a Bnei Mitzvah Party
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 5 – Yizkor יזכור
- Tour Yad Vashem (Zoo alternative for children)
- Experience the vibrancy of Shuk Machane Yehuda
- Enjoy the melodies of Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Kotel
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 6 – Shabbat in Jerusalem
- Walk to Shacharit services at a choice of local synagogues
- Visit local sites on a walking tour
- Enjoy an optional pizza dinner at local legendary eatery Bardak
- Join in an optional tour of the Western Wall Tunnels
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 7 – Masada
- Ride a camel at Eretz Bereshit
- Ascend Masada and learn about the heroes of the era
- Swim and relax at the Dead Sea
- Drive south to Kibbutz Ketura for a BBQ dinner and orientation
Overnight in Kibbutz Ketura
Day 8 – Beauty of the South
- Take a short desert hike in the Eilat Mountains
- Snorkel in the Red Sea at the Coral Beach Nature Reserve
- Slide down the Kasui Sand Dunes at the Desert Solo Experience
- Enjoy a dinner of Middle Eastern fare and a campfire kumsitz
Overnight in Kibbutz Ketura
Day 9 – Ben Gurion’s Vision
- Take a walking tour of Kibbutz Ketura, including its algae factory and solar field
- Bike to Ketura’s experimental orchards for a tour and tree planting
- Explore Makhtesh Ramon in a jeep tour, and walk along the rim of Israel’s largest crater
Overnight in Mitzpe Ramon
Day 10 – Start-Up Nation
- Hike into the canyon of Ein Avdat
- Visit Ben Gurion’s hut and grave at Sde Boker
- Taste your way through the fields and greenhouses of Shvil Hasalat
- Enjoy a Goodbye Dinner at a local restaurant
Departure. L’hitraot! להתראות!
Poland Journey For Adults Itinerary
The following is a sample itinerary. Locations and activities are subject to change.
Day 1 – Departure to Poland
Day 2 – Beginnings
- Explore 1000 years of Jewish life and culture in the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery
- Tour the new POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
- Visit the only remains of the Warsaw Ghetto Wall
- Dinner in a local restaurant
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 3 – The Shtetl: What Was Lost
- Drive to Tykocin and pray Shacharit in the refurbished synagogue, before exploring the shtetl
- Continue to Lopuchowo Forest to honor those murdered and buried in mass graves by the Einsatzgruppen – mobile killing units
- Finish the day at the infamous Treblinka Death Camp and the memorial, and pay our respects to the hundreds of thousands gassed there
- Dinner in a local restaurant
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 4 – Hope is the Last to Die
- Pray Shacharit in the Nożyk Synagogue
- Explore the haunting Majdanek Concentration Camp
- Travel to Krasnik and visit the crumbling double synagogue
Overnight in Lublin
Day 5 – Galicia: There Once Was a World
- Pray Shacharit at Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin, one of the most important Talmudic academies
- Explore towns and shtetls in Galicia
- Discover Lancut and Tarnow, cities with rich Jewish history and beautiful architecture
- Visit Zbylitowska Gora, the Children’s Forest, where even babies were murdered for the crime of being Jewish
Overnight in Krakow
Day 6 – The Banality of Evil
- Walk through Auschwitz and nearby Birkenau (referred to as Auschwitz II)
- Return to Krakow and prepare for Shabbat
- Take part in Kabbalat Shabbat services at one of the synagogues in Krakow
- Join in Shabbat dinner with members of the local community at the JCC
Overnight in Krakow
Day 7 – Shabbat in Krakow
- Walk to Shabbat Shacharit services at one of the synagogues in Krakow
- Tour the Old Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz
- Discover the Wawel Castle in an optional walking tour
- Final group dinner in a local restaurant
- Visit more Krakow sites on a night tour – Ghetto Plaza, the remains of the Ghetto Wall, and Schindler’s Factory
Overnight in Krakow
Day 8 – Departure. L’hitraot! להתראות!
Morocco Experience Itinerary
The following is a sample itinerary. Locations and activities are subject to change.
Day 1
- Arrive at Casablanca Airport in the morning
- Travel north and tour Meknes – the Agdal Basin, the Royal Stables, and the magnificent Bab Mansour Gate
- Travel to Fes
- Dinner at a local kosher provider
Overnight in Fes
Day 2
- Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Borj Sud Fortress
- Explore the Mellah (old Jewish Quarter), including the Jewish cemetery, and Ibn Danan and El Fasian Synagogues
- See the grand entrance of the Royal Palace
- Explore the Medina and its winding alleyways
- Visit some of the many artisan guilds of the city – ceramics, tannery, weaving, and carpets
- Dinner at a local kosher provider
Overnight in Fes
Day 3
- Travel south. crossing the mid-Atlas mountain range.
- Stop for a coffee break in the alpine town of Ifrane
- Spot the Barbary Macaques in the Azrou Forest
- After a lunch break in Midelt, drive south
- Dinner at the hotel
Overnight in Erfoud
Day 4
- Take a pre-dawn jeep ride into the Sahara Desert to ride camels up the sand dunes and watch the sunrise
- Return to the hotel for breakfast
- Visit the Jewish cemetery of Erfoud
- Venture into the Todgha Gorge with its majestic cliffs and rock formations
- Travel to Ouarzazate
- Dinner at the hotel
Overnight in Ouarzazate
Day 5
- Explore the picturesque kasbah of Aït Benhaddou
- Cross the Atlas Mountain Range via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass
- Arrive in Marrakesh and prepare for Shabbat
- Join the local Jewish community for Kabbalat Shabbat at the Gueliz Synagogue
- Dinner at a local kosher provider
Overnight in Marrakesh
Day 6
- Join the local Jewish community for Shabbat services at the Gueliz Synagogue
- Lunch at a local kosher provider
- In the afternoon, rest and relax at the hotel or go explore the city on your own
- Dinner at a local kosher provider
- Visit the vibrant Jemaa el Fnaa plaza and its colorful night market
Overnight in Marrakesh
Day 7
- View the beautiful Majorelle Gardens
- Stroll through the gardens beside the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque
- Visit the Mellah of Marrakesh, including the Al Azama Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery
- Tour the Bahia Palace
- Explore the many alleyways and shops in the Souk
- Dinner at a local kosher provider
- Take part in an optional evening program – Fantasia Folklore Show
Overnight in Marrakesh
Day 8
- Visit an Argan oil cooperative
- Travel to the seaside town of Essaouira
- Tour the Mellah and local synagogues
- Explore the Port and the Medina
- Enjoy sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean
- Dinner at the hotel
Overnight in Essaouira
Day 9
- Drive north along the Atlantic Coast
- Tour the magnificent Hassan II Mosque
- Visit the Beit El Synagogue
- Visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism
- Dinner at a local kosher provider
Overnight in Casablanca
Day 10
- Travel to Rabat
- See the grand entrance of the King’s Palace and official residence in Rabat
- Visit the mausoleum of the modern Moroccan kings and see the unfinished Hassan Tower
- Explore the Kasbah of the Udayas
- Visit the Mellah of Rabat, including a synagogue
- Return to Casablanca
- Dinner at a local kosher provider
Overnight in Casablanca
Day 11 – Departure. L’hitraot! להתראות!
Eastern Europe Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change based on dates and availability
Day 1 – Arrival In Budapest
- Take a panoramic bus tour along Andrassy Avenue
- Stroll through Heroes’ Square, adorned with the impressive statues of kings and leaders stretching across a thousand years of Hungarian history
- Enjoy the beautiful sights and lights of the city on an evening cruise on the Danube
Overnight in Budapest
Day 2 – Jewish Life And What Was Lost
- Drive through the city from Pest to Buda and enjoy the panoramic views of Budapest
- Visit the largest synagogue in Europe, The Dohany Street Synagogue, and the Jewish Museum
Overnight in Budapest
Day 3 – Explore Budapest And Vienna, The City Of Music And Culture
- Stroll along the fashionable Vaci Utca (Vaci Street), Explore Margaret Island, an island in the middle of the Danube, overlooking the center of the city
- Visit Budapest’s urban City Park (Varosliget) and walk on the grounds of the Vajdahunyad Castle
- Stroll through the City Park Lake,and spend time in the Budapest Circus or the Municipal Zoo
- Learn about the Széchenyi Bath House or Gellert Bath House
- Enjoy a day cruise on the Danube River
Overnight in Vienna
Day 4 – The Austrian Empire And Its Jewish Roots: Faith and Architecture
- Take a panoramic orientation tour along the Ringstrasse
- Visit the Prater Amusement Park, Peter’s Cathedral, and Stephen’s Cathedral
- Explore the Jewish Museum of Vienna and see the collection of Klimt paintings at the Belvedere Palace
- Stroll through the Judenplatz, the main square of the Jewish community for nearly 500 years
Tour the Vienna Temple (Stadtempel), the only surviving synagogue from pre-WWII daysOvernight in Vienna
Day 5 – Explore Vienna, then to Prague
- Explore the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the former imperial summer residence of the Habsburg monarchs
- Indulge in the best of Vienna’s delights in the city’s most popular food market, Nashmarket
- Visit the Memorial to Austrian Holocaust Victims and learn about its excavations and the miraculous findings of the ancient synagogue of Vienna
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at a local synagogue
- Shabbat dinner with the local community
Overnight in Prague
Day 6 – Shabbat in Prague
- Short walking tour of Jewish sites
- Explore Prague on your own for the afternoon
Overnight in Prague
Day 7 – Memory & Continuity
- Visit Terezin, the town that was turned into the “model” ghetto and concentration camp
- Free time in the late afternoon to explore the city on your own
Overnight in Prague
Day 8 – The Glory Of Jewish And Non Jewish Prague
- Walking tour through Jewish Prague, including the Old Ghetto and the Precious Legacy Exhibit at the Jewish Museum
- Ascend to the Prague Castle for a guided tour of the Castle and a walk along the Golden Lane
- Walk through the Lesser Town and over the Charles Bridge, a historic bridge crossing the Vltava River
- Festive farewell dinner
Overnight in Prague
Day 9 – Return Home and L’hitraot!
Sephardic Heritage Experience Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change based on dates and availability
Day 1 – Madrid
- City tour of the famous sites of Madrid
- Explore the Prado Museum, the national art museum of Spain
- Tour the Royal Palace of Madrid, the official residence of the Spanish royal family, and the largest Royal palace in Europe
Overnight in Madrid
Day 2 – Toledo
- Visit the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and the Synagogue of El Transito
- Revitalize the synagogues through song and prayer
Overnight in Cordoba
Day 3 – Cordoba
- Explore Cordoba – the city of the Rambam and Yehuda Halevi
- Cross the Guadalquivir, walk on the Roman bridge, and enter the Old City and Jewish quarter
- See the statue of the Rambam and visit the synagogue named after him
- Tour the Mezquita, a cathedral that was once the great mosque of Cordoba
Overnight in Granada
Day 4 – Granada
- Visit the famous Alhambra Palace, the palace in which historic decision were made
- Explore the Ambassadors’ Hall, the Lions’ courtyard, the Hadasim courtyard, and the Nazarie Palace
- Walk in the beautiful Generalife gardens
- See the Gypsy Flamenco Zambra dance show at Sacromonte Cave
Overnight in Granada
Day 5 – Gibraltar
- Travel to Gibraltar, the British enclave known as “The Rock“
- Ascend the Rock and see the Monkey Colony
- Tour the stunning St. Michael’s Cave
- Prepare for Shabbat in Gibraltar
Overnight in Gibraltar
Day 6 – Shabbat in Gibraltar
- Shabbat services in one of Gibraltar’s four active synagogues
- Walking tour of the Jewish areas of Gibraltar – see the synagogues, schools, and Jewish community past and present
Overnight in Gibraltar
Day 7 – Seville
- Visit the Fort of Alcazar, a stunning former royal palace
- See the magnificent Cathedral of Seville
- Take a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter – also known as the Santa Cruz District – and stroll through the ancient lanes
- Free time to walk through the Plaza España Square and the Parque de Maria Luisa
Overnight in Badajoz
Day 8 – Badajoz, Castello de Vide
- City tour of Badajoz
- See the small town of Castello de Vide and the Jewish Quarter, with the oldest synagogue in Portugal, and learn about the ancient community there
- Drive up to Marvão, the city of the hilltop citadel, and experience the magnificent view
Overnight in Belmonte
Day 9 – Belmonte, Troncoso
- Tour Belmonte, the Jewish Museum, and local synagogue Bet Eliahu
- See the Jewish Quarter of Guarda
- Visit the synagogue and Jewish Museum in Troncoso
Overnight in Coimbra
Day 10 – Coimbra, Tomar, Sintra, Cabo de Roca
- Explore Coimbra University, including visits to the Library of King Joao and the Fountains of Love and Tears
- Drive to Tomar and see the ancient synagogue
- Visit the pink town of Sintra with its gardens and palaces
- Stop at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost extent of continental Europe, and enjoy the sweeping views of the Mediterranean
Overnight in Lisbon
Day 11 – Lisbon
- Tour of Lisbon sites in the Juderia – Jewish Quarter: The Alfama district, Avenue Liberdade and Rossio square
- See the beautiful Jeronimos monastery
- Visit the Shaarei Tikvah synagogue
- Final Dinner
Shalom and L’hitraot – Return home