What is “The Israel Encounter”?
The Israel Encounter is a program designed to motivate and help interfaith couples to raise their children as Jews. It features a heavily subsidized 12-day trip to Israel, which includes educational touring as well as fun recreational activities and socializing.
Why should we go on this trip?
Do you want to have an amazing vacation? Do you want to learn about Israel’s 3,000 year history as well as its dynamic present, through first-hand experience? Would you like to learn more about Israelis and their culture? Do you want an intensive opportunity to discuss issues of Jewish identity and Jewish family life with trained Jewish educators and other interfaith couples? Are you interested in learning about different approaches to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict? Do you want to build friendships that you can strengthen after you return to Atlanta? If so, come with us!
What are the expectations of the participants?
That you come with an open mind, ready to learn new things and have new experiences. That you be open to sharing your experience with 15 other similarly interfaith couples. That you be willing to complete evaluative surveys, one before the trip, one immediately after the trip, and then follow-up surveys at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after the trip.
Where do we go on the trip?
The itinerary includes Jerusalem (the Western Wall, excavations, the Old City, Mt. Herzl, the Holocaust Museum), Tel Aviv (Independence Hall), northern Israel (the city of Haifa, ancient synagogues, a kibbutz, the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, the center of Jewish mysticism-Kabbala in Tzfat), as well as Masada, the Dead Sea, a Druze village and a Bedouin tent. We visit Christian sites as well, including Capernaum. We eat in a variety of restaurants serving traditional Middle Eastern food, as well as pizza and falafel stands. We’ll also have the opportunity to attend Shabbat services at some very lively synagogues, and celebrate on our own on the Tel Aviv beach.
What is Israel like?
Probably very different than anything you’ve experienced in the US, and certainly different from what you see on CNN! Israel is a vibrant modern society that is extremely advanced technologically. At the same time it contains historical, religious, and cultural attractions that are simply amazing. You will meet Israeli Jews, as well as Israeli Arabs, Israeli Druze, and Israeli Bedouin. There are Jews, Christians, Muslims, and many other religious sects that you’ve probably never heard of (Baha’i, Druze, Samaritans). Israel’s Jews literally come from all over the world, with large communities from many countries in Europe, north Africa, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, and Ethiopia. Israel is a very lively political democracy which gives great value to freedom of speech and expression; just turn on the news, listen to the radio, or sit down in a café and you will have a front row seat to an engaging political debate.
What is the cost of the trip?
The actual cost of the trip is $7,500 per couple, but due to a generous subsidy from The Marcus Foundation, we are able to make the trip available for only $2,500 per couple.
What is the schedule for the payments?
A deposit of $1,000 per couple is due as soon as you are accepted to the Israel Encounter. This reserves your place in our group. The second payment of $1,500 per couple is due January 15, 2010.
When do we go? How do we get there?
We leave Atlanta on April 21, 2010 and return on May 3. We will be taking a Delta flight from Atlanta to Newark and then a non-stop El-Al flight flight from Newark, NJ to Tel Aviv. Reverse trip is the same. Travel time is 12 hours from Newark to Israel, and 13 hours Israel to Newark.
How can we apply for The Israel Encounter?
Just go to www.theisraelencounter.org and fill out the application on-line, or print out a hard copy and mail it to us at The Israel Encounter, P. O. Box 88404, Dunwoody, GA 30356. After we receive your application, one of our trip leaders –Steve Chervin or Mitch Cohen – will contact you for an informal telephone conversation to tell you more about the trip, answer any questions, and determine your eligibility.
Who is eligible for The Israel Encounter?
Couples living in the greater Atlanta area; married or engaged; with one partner who is Jewish and the other partner non-Jewish; with children under the age of ten, or planning to have children; and who are open to the possibility of raising their children as Jews. Interfaith couples who are raising (or planning to raise) their children in two religions, are not eligible for The Israel Encounter, nor are messianic Jews.
Do we need a passport and/or any special visas and vaccinations?
You will need a passport whose expiration date is no earlier than December 2010. You do not need any special visas or vaccinations to go to Israel.
How many couples will be joining us?
We have found that 16 couples is the ideal group size for the trip.
Do the participating couples get together after the trip?
Yes. We have formal get-togethers around Jewish holidays, as well as numerous informal get-togethers planned by the participants (parties, BBQs, concerts, lunch, dinner, etc). Many couples become very good friends with other participants, and plan their own socializing activities.
Who are the staff of The Israel Encounter and who runs the trip?
The staff and tour leaders are Steve Chervin, Mitch Cohen, and Suzette Cohen; all very successful Jewish educators with experience working with interfaith couples, as well as leading trips to Israel. Oranim, (www.jewishadventures.com) our tour operator in Israel, will also provide us with an outstanding tour guide who will explain all of the sites we will be visiting.
Is there any expectation that the non-Jewish spouse/partner will convert to Judaism?
No. Though we have had several non-Jewish participants who did decide to convert after the trip, we honor and respect everyone’s religious identity. There is no pressure or expectation at all to try to convert anyone to anything.
Can we speak to any couples who participated in a past trip?
Absolutely! Our past participants would love to talk to you about their experiences. Just let us know of your interest, and we’ll arrange for a past participant to call you.
What if we have to change our plans after we’ve paid? Can we get a refund?
Yes, you can get a full refund if you cancel before February 5, 2010. After that there are only partial refunds. You should buy travel insurance which will reimburse you for most out-of-pocket expenses in case you need to cancel before the trip.
Will we meet the other participants before we go on the trip?
Yes! We will schedule 3-4 orientation sessions, designed to let everyone get to know one another, in addition to going over travel logistics, and information about Israel.
Who is our tour operator?
Oranim/Jewish Adventures (www.Jewishadventures.com) is one of the largest tour operators in Israel, handling most of the birthright trips as well as many trips for Christian groups. They have been in operation for over 30 years and have worked with thousands of tourists.
What types of security precautions will be taken for our group while we’re in Israel?
Protecting the safety and security of our trip participants is our number one priority. Both our tour guide and bus driver serve in the Israeli army and are trained to protect the security of Israel Encounter participants. They maintain 24/7 contact to Israeli army security and intelligence, who would direct us to re-route our bus if necessary.
It should be noted however that Oranim, our tour operator, has never had to re-route a group in its 30 years of operating trips in Israel. In order to allay any concerns about security, we arrange a conference call before the trip for all participants to speak with the director of Oranim in Israel and ask any questions about security procedures.
The fact is that you will probably feel safer in Israel than you do in the US!
What are The Israel Encounter’s views with regard to different religious and political perspectives?
We are open to Jewish partners who belong to any of the denominations in Judaism (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist) or no denomination at all. We welcome non-Jewish partners of any religion or no religion at all. We do not advocate any particular political position or approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict, but we provide you with information and experiences that will help you make up your own mind about Israel. Our approach is primarily educational.
Will we have any free time during the trip to go shopping, visit friends and relatives, go to the beach, or just explore on our own?
Our first Saturday in Tel Aviv, and the second Saturday in Jerusalem, will have a lot of free time. Evenings are often free as well. We are happy to help with special arrangements for friends and family to visit you at our hotels.
What kinds of hotel accommodations will we have?
All of our accommodations are four-star or higher.
How can we contact you and ask other questions?
Or call us at: (404) 512-0743
Can we see pictures of your past trips?
Go to: http://www.jewishadventures.com/atid/ and click on Photographs