HUC Board Mission Trip to Israel

November 9–15, 2022

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR ELECT AND PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

 

We hope you are as excited as we are for our November Board Meeting in Israel.  There is no better way for us to come together as a Board and remind ourselves why we serve this vital institution than to spend time together in Israel.

 

The trip starts on Wednesday, November 9th with a dinner in Jerusalem and ends with a dinner in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, November 15th. We will spend four nights in Jerusalem (November 9-12) and two nights in Tel Aviv (November 13-14). Spouses and partners are strongly encouraged to attend. As you will see from the itinerary below, highlights of the trip include a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renovated Taube Family Campus, our unforgettable Israeli rabbinic ordination and academic convocation ceremony, and many specially designed activities to help us get to know HUC-JIR’s work in Israel more fully.

 

Our Board meeting in Israel will focus primarily on strategic issues related to our work in the Jewish state.  We are One HUC: a global institution of Jewish higher learning, developing leaders, ideas, and scholarship to enrich Jewish life and build strong communities. And yet we operate in two very different ecosystems: North America and Israel.  A primary goal of this trip, our first board meeting in Israel since 2017, is to immerse us in the work we do in Israel to drive our own strategic thinking and visioning about the role of our Israel programs in the years to come.

 

Our work in Israel has two clearly defined objectives:

 

  1. To cultivate strong connections between our students and Israel, strengthening their commitment to the Jewish People, liberal Zionism, and the State; and
  2. To strengthen Israel’s own commitments to its founding values — that it be a modern nation state, home for all Jews, built on democratic principles that guarantee political equality and human rights for all its citizens.

 

Moving forward, we will also consider our opportunities to develop a platform to provide Jewish professional education to communities around the world who are seeking to benefit from the depth of knowledge and experience that our extraordinary faculty and staff in Jerusalem can offer.

 

These objectives will guide the direction and development of our Israeli programs.  As a board, we have a responsibility to work with our administration and faculty to develop a comprehensive strategy about how we achieve them. 

 

During this trip, we will deepen our knowledge and ask critical questions through a series of programs, experiences, meetings, and discussions that will also serve the purpose of bringing us closer together. We will see firsthand the impact HUC-JIR is having on Israeli society and, perhaps more importantly, the tremendous opportunities and challenges ahead.

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Andrea Kann or Serena Young.

 

See you in Jerusalem!

 

David Edelson

Chair, Board of Governors

HUC-JIR

 

Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D.

President

HUC-JIR

Contents

Macro Day-By-Day Itinerary

(Subject to change)

TOUR EDUCATOR - TBD

Day 1

Bruchim HaBaim and Welcome to Israel

Wednesday, November 9

6:00 pm – Opening Shechecheyanu at HUC-JIR Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem followed by Welcome Dinner at a Jerusalem rooftop restaurant joined by our senior leadership in Jerusalem, and guest speaker, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Alumni of HUC-JIR’s Israeli Rabbinic Program, Executive Director of the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism, and Member of Knesset.

Topic: One HUC – Two Ecosystems: The Landscape of Reform and Progressive Judaism in Israel 

Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 2

Thursday, November 10

  • Breakfast at the hotel 

Topic: Cultivating connections: North American Students, the Jewish People, the Jewish state, and a commitment to liberal Zionism

  • A day of celebration, inspiration, and connections on our HUC-JIR Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem:
    • Join in prayer and learning with our North American Year-in-Israel Students and program leadership, Rabbi Reuven Greenvald and Cantor Sarah Grabiner, for a meaningful Tefilah & Beit Midrash
    • Campus Facilities Tour with Dean Naamah Kelman and Dganit Jenshil, Chief Operating Officer, to learn about our dynamic history and exciting capital projects and programs of today
    • Celebratory Luncheon in honor of the Israeli Rabbinic Ordination with students, their families and faculty
    • Break/Optional walking tour in local Jerusalem neighborhoods
    • 6:00 Ordination Ceremony 
    • 8:00 Celebratory Reception
  • Dinner on own (concierge service will be available to assist with reservations for all meals on your own and free time recommendations)
      •  

Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 3

Friday, November 11

  • Breakfast at the hotel 

Topic: HUC-JIR in the Field: A dynamic day with alumni in Jerusalem

    • Morning small group tracks: (additional options being explored)
    • Engage in local social justice projects with an organization led by an alumni.
    • Connect with leadership and participants of HUC-JIR signature programs including:
    • Healing Hatred−Spiritual Conversation in Situations of Conflict with Ruhama Weiss, Ph.D., Director of Blaustein Center for Pastoral Counseling
    • Teachers Lounge−Advancing Tolerance in Jerusalem with Michal Muszkat-Barkan, Director of HUC-JIR’s Department of Education and Professional Development
    • A Taste of Shuk Life: nosh your way through Machane Yehuda and experience the pre-Shabbat energy through the eyes of our Year-in-Israel Students as they share their favorite spots!
    • Break and prepare for Shabbat
    • Kabbalat Shabbat services at Kehilat Kol HaNeshama, an active and thriving Reform congregation in Jerusalem, with alumni and special musical guests. 
  • Private Shabbat Dinner with alumni and local congregants from Kehilat Kol HaNeshama

Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 4

Saturday, November 12

  • Breakfast at the hotel 
  • Leadership and Learning Retreat Day on Campus
    • Shabbat Workshops & Lunch with world-class faculty on Campus
  • Free afternoon or optional Archeological walking tour of the Old City with Dr. David Ilan, Director, Nelson Glueck Biblical Archeology 
  • Havdalah with Ambassador Thomas Nides, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, followed by Cocktails and Conversation
  • Dinner on own 

Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 5

Sunday, November 13

  • Breakfast at the hotel & Check-out
  • Private pre-ceremony meet and greet with President of Israel, Isaac Herzog (subject to change)
  • Opening Ceremony and Celebration of The Taube Family Campus with invited dignitaries and guests, including President of Israel, Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Safdie, members of the Taube family, and representatives from The Jerusalem Foundation
  • Depart Jerusalem for Tel Aviv 
  • Special visit and lunch at Beit Daniel with Rabbi Meir Azari, HUC-JIR Alumni, and students; learn about the vibrant Daniel Centers of Progressive Jewish Life in Tel Aviv founded by Governor Emeriti Gerald Daniel z”l and his wife Ruth z”l, the parents of Governor Miriam Daniel. 
  • Local themed walking tour of the Neve Tzedek neighborhood (Graffiti, Bauhaus, etc.) 
  • Group Dinner at Celebrity Chef Israeli restaurant with guest speaker

Overnight: Royal Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

Day 6

Monday, November 14

  • Breakfast at the hotel 
    • Creative art workshop and conversations with HUC-JIR Rikma Program (MA in Education) alumni and students with special guest, Hanoch Piven, world-famous mixed-media artist and creative instigator.
    • Tasting tour lunch of Levinsky Spice Market
    • VIP Tour of Beit Hatfutsot/Museum Anu
    • Private Reception with Jerusalem Board of Advisors and alumni
  • Dinner on own

Overnight: Royal Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

Day 7

Tuesday, November 15

  • Breakfast at the hotel and check out
    • Private visit to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation with special welcome from Peres family members.
    • Coffee and Conversation with Israeli philanthropists and entrepreneurs engaged in progressive Judaism
    • Lunch and afternoon on own 
  • 5:00 pm – Hotel Check-out
  • Closing Session and Dinner at a scenic vineyard
  • 8:00 pm – Depart for the Airport or bus back to Tel Aviv/Jerusalem 

Rates (Land Only)

$ 5,185 USD

Price per person sharing a double room

$ 1,625 USD

Single Supplement to reserve a room for individual occupancy

Accommodation

David Citael Hotel, Jerusalem

4 nights

David Citadel

Royal Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

2 nights

ROYAL BEACH HOTEL

Included

Excluded

Guidelines for Payment and Cancellation

Payment policy:

  • Payment 1: A deposit of $1,000 is due upon registration per registrant. This amount if fully applicable to the total price of the tour package.
  • Payment 2: A Second payment of $2,000 per registrant is due by August 9th, 2022. If you register on or after this date, you will be required to pay the full $3,000 upon application.
  • Full balance due in full no later than October 28, 2022, at which time payment is due in the amount equivalent to the Full Amount less the total amount actually paid by you prior to this date. For each registrant separately, the Full Amount is comprised of the total of:
    • the Price of the Package you have chosen plus
    • the Single Supplement if applicable plus
    • the charges for any supplemental services you may have requested.
  • Supplements for additional services are due upon confirmation of the selected services

Cancellation policy:

All cancellations must be made in writing and addressed to: [email protected]. The   applicable cancellation fee is determined based on the date when Operator receives written notification of Customer’s request to cancel Customer’s booking. The term “all amounts owed for the tour’ includes the basic Tour Price, Single Supplements, where applicable, and the cost of any additional services requested.

  • Until July 15, 2022, inclusive, any deposit paid is fully refundable
  • From July 16 – September 9, 2022, $1,000 is non-refundable
  • From September 10 – October 28, Inclusive, and an additional $2,000 becomes non-refundable
  • After October 28, the entire cost of the program becomes non-refundable

Non-Operation of Tour:

Rates are based on a minimum participation of 50 full fare participants. In the event the number of full fare participants is less than 50, and at the Operator’s sole discretion, (1) the Tour will either be canceled and all payments received will be refunded; (2) the Tour will be rescheduled for a later date; (3) or the Services included will be adjusted in order for the Operator to operate the Tour at the rates published herein.

VAT (Value Added Tax)

Israeli VAT not applicable to non-Israeli tourists for a variety of services and is therefore not included in our prices. In this connection, please note the following:

  • Should any members of your group be either holders of an Israeli passport or residents of Israel, they are subject by Israeli law to Israeli VAT (Value Added Tax) which is 17%, a tax which is not included in the above prices since non-Israeli tourists are exempt from this tax on key services. If we are informed of the participation of Israeli citizens/residents in advance, we can bill accordingly from the outset. Otherwise, any Israeli passport holders and/or residents regardless of where they reside, will be charged VAT by the hotel reception.
  • With respect to tourists, although current regulations continue to exempt them from VAT on key services, this could change at any time, in which case VAT would have to be added by law to the services provided.

Travel Protection

More than ever, Travel Insurance is a vitally important feature of any planned travel and safeguards against unexpected developments. Comprehensive travel insurance helps to protect you from many otherwise unavoidable financial implications which could result from cancellations, illness, and/or other causes. In view of the Covid pandemic, it is particularly important to cover as many pandemic related events as is possible including the various travel, financial and medical consequences of sickness and/or quarantine prior to, during or following the planned tour. We very strongly urge you to travel with appropriate and comprehensive travel and medical insurance. For more information about travel insurance, please contact us.

Additional Notes Regarding Covid

Throughout the world, human lives have been dramatically impacted by the Covid pandemic, nowhere more so than in the realm of international travel. 

As always, Routes maintains as its highest priority the safety, health, and welfare of its clients. Our tours adhere to all measures instituted by Israeli government authorities and our professional teams go to lengths to ensure as smooth and seamless a travel experience as is possible within the context of ever-changing realities. 

It is important to remember of course, that fluctuations in country policies affect procedures for departure from one’s own country as well as for entry into destination countries. As we have learned over the past two years, the fluidity involved in travel-related situations requires all parties to continue to be aware of circumstances as they develop. At Routes we are in constant touch with all relevant regulatory bodies including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Interior Ministry to comply with any mandated procedures for entry to and travel within Israel. We will of course make you aware of Israeli requirements and limitations which are known prior to your travel so that you can be as fully informed as possible, whether in connection to testing, vaccination, quarantine and so on. Aside from checking any local travel advisories which may be applicable to you, please consult the most current Covid related guidelines for entering Israel on Israel’s Health Ministry Portal

We urge all our clients not only to doublecheck procedures on their end but also to secure comprehensive travel and medical insurance which covers as many pandemic related events as is possible including the various travel, financial and medical consequences of sickness and/or quarantine prior to, during or following the planned tour.