Mission Statement

Yuval Yisrael’s mission is to make the Israel experience an integral part of the individual’s Jewish journey. Our program allows participants to intimately connect with Israeli society and culture by creating an immersive Jewish experience that speaks to participants of diverse backgrounds. Powered by Ramah Israel and USY, Yuval Yisrael benefits from over six decades of experience designing and running exceptional, safe, and meaningful Israel programs with a focus on building egalitarian Jewish communities. Approaching Israel as a dynamic arena in which various expressions of Judaism intersect, participants engage in both intellectual and experiential exploration of Jewish tradition. Yuval Yisrael encourages the development of a personal understanding of one’s Jewishness and an individually meaningful relationship with Israel and the Jewish people.

 

The basics

Yuval Yisrael: July 7-July 30

Europe add-on: June 30-July 8

Price: Israel- $8,400*

Early Bird Discount: Save $500 if you register before November 29, 2025

Europe add-on- $4,500

Cost for Yuval Yisrael with discounts  – $4,900 (not including Poland/Prague)

*Most participants residing in North America are eligible for a RootOne Voucher (R1V) subsidy in the amount of $3,000 this coming summer! This significant reduction to our price allows Yuval Yisrael to be more financially accessible, enabling us to connect, explore, and grow all together in Israel.  By opting into this voucher, participants will be expected to participate in online RootOne-related assignments prior to the summer. More information regarding this subsidy will be shared with applicants.

Who is this for?

All Jewish teens who are current 10th, 11th or 12th graders, regardless of prior Ramah, USY, or Jewish educational experience, who are looking for a journey of a lifetime filled with fun, community, Zionist and Jewish values, and Jewish experiences and living! Yuval Yisrael offers many opportunities for teens to customize the program to fit their interests.

What's Included

✈️ International Flight from NYC

🚌 Land Transportation

🏨 Accommodations

🥙 Kosher Meals & Snacks

🎫 Programming & Entry Fees

🧺 Laundry Services

Itinerary

The itinerary in Israel is designed to take participants through their own journey of discovery in Israel enabling them to find their own personal connection to the country. The first chapter of the program, based in Jerusalem, focuses on the Jewish past in the land. The second chapter of the program focuses on the beauty of the land itself in the Galil and the Negev. The final chapter gives a deep dive into contemporary Israeli society and culture, in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Therefore by the end of Yuval Yisrael each participant can work for themselves which is their personal connection to the land. Is it through the richness of the Jewish past in Israel, the magnificence of the land, or the beautiful and complicated tapestry that makes up Israeli society and culture? Or is it all three?

Please note, this is subject to change due to extenuating circumstances.

* Our plans for the summer are continuing and adapting to the new reality of Israel. All of our plans are subject to the authorization of security authorities in the US, Europe, and Israel. We have an impeccable safety record and work in close collaboration with international security authorities to ensure the safety of our participants. During the trip, our team will be in touch with the Jewish Agency on an hourly basis to assess risk and ensure safety.

Poland/ Prague add-on

Before our Israel journey, you may opt to join us for a 8-day experience in Prague, and Poland. Through this experience, we carry the memory of those we have lost, while actively renewing and returning Jewish voices to the communities we visit. This Eastern Europe Experience leads seamlessly into the Yuval Yisrael trip to create the ultimate summer experience. 

  • Complete 8-day program, including travel days and sessions for Eastern Europe participants in Israel
  • Room and board, with kashrut observed according to Yuval Yisrael’s standards
  • All airfares and taxes, with departures from the New York area to Poland
  • Security guard throughout the duration of the trip
  • All entrance fees
  • Medical insurance
  • Tour guides and counselor staff

FAQs

Yuval Yisrael provides full room and board throughout the trip and three kosher meals a day. Participants will stay in either quad or double rooms. Throughout the program, participants will stay in a variety of accommodations including hotels, kibbutzim, host homes, and the Agron Guest House.

Laundry services will be available once in the middle of the program. Participants should pack clothes for 10-11 days.

We cannot guarantee that there will always be Wifi available throughout the program. If you plan to bring a smart device, we recommend that you either purchase a cell phone plan or SIM card. If you do not intend to purchase a local plan, please review procedures to prevent data roaming in Israel as it can lead to very high costs.

Yuval Yisrael will make every effort to provide options to those who require special diets. Vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options are provided at every meal for participants who sign up for them. Please provide this information in your medical forms.

Yuval Yisrael is not a nut-free environment, however, we request that participants refrain from eating any food with nuts in closed areas including on the buses, in the dormitories, and in the moadonim (common rooms).

We believe every teen deserves the opportunity to participate in USY summer travel regardless of financial restrictions. Please visit our Ways to Save page to learn about various venues for scholarship, including through USY.

As in years past, USY is once again applying for funding from RootOne LLC., an organization aimed at helping teens travel to and experience Israel. RootOne may help offset costs for eligible trip participants only. USY is actively applying for our RootOne grant, and we encourage you to take part today! Learn more at RootOne.org and be in touch with us directly with any questions. (Note, Vouchers are subject to participant eligibility and are not guaranteed. USY’s prior RootOne funding is no guarantee of future funding.) * Not available for graduating seniors or students of orthodox day schools.

Check out Plant Your Way – an innovative program that will help you save money for a trip to Israel and, at the same time, raise money for the greening of Israel.

All passports must be valid for six months following your return flight. Obtaining a new passport can take weeks, or sometimes months. Please check your passports now and apply for a new one if necessary to ensure your ability to participate in Yuval Yisrael.

  • Click here for our full Yuval Yisrael packing list 
  • Click here for our full Eastern Europe Experience packing list 
  • Yuval Yisrael highly recommends that each chanich/a either 
    • a) have a cell phone plan that provides data and/or cell service in Israel 
    • b) purchase a SIM card from Talk n’Save. Should you purchase a SIM card, you will need to ensure that your phone is unlocked by your cell provider. 

Yuval Yisrael is a Ramah and USY program. The Ramah Camping Movement is the camping arm of the Conservative movement and USY is the youth movement for United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We offer an egalitarian, Shabbat observant, joyful and spirited Jewish community. This program is for Jewish teens looking for a program with an egalitarian Jewish framework that is Shabbat observant.

All participants are fully covered for medical care, including doctors’ visits, medications, x-rays, and hospitalization. This coverage extends from the time of arrival in Israel until the end of the program, but does not cover diseases, illnesses, or medical problems resulting from pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, or self-inflicted injuries. In addition, we will be purchasing a Coronavirus add-on that covers COVID-19 testing (provided pending approval of the Ministry of Health) and all medical treatments, doctors’ visits, medications and hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19 infection. Yuval Yisrael staff will ensure that all students receive the medical treatment recommended or prescribed by our health care professionals. Our Mirpa’ah (infirmary) is open 24/7 and is staffed by a paramedic and support staff. A doctor comes to our base for visits, as needed. Counselors accompany students to all medical appointments or tests.

The medical coverage does not include dental, orthodontic, optical, or psychological care. However, Yuval Yisrael staff will facilitate such appointments, if needed, at the participant’s expense. We recommend a complete dental check-up before departure for Israel.

Families are highly encouraged, but not required, to sign up for travel insurance to plan for the unexpected. More information on this option can be available here.

The mental health of our participants is extremely important to us. All of our participants will have access to a camper care professional throughout the entirety of the program as needed. This professional will work with each participant and their family before Yuval Yisrael to ensure that their mental health needs will be cared for and met on the program. All applications will be screened by the Yuval Yisrael staff.

  • Ramah Israel and USY have earned the reputation of maintaining the highest level of safety and security for all of our trips. 
  • Yuval Yisrael strictly adheres to the security policies established by Israel’s Ministry of Education governing all field trips and activities.
    • All field trips are cleared prior to each day’s program, with the appropriate authorities (including full coordination with the Safety and Security Situation Room, Chadar Matzav, of the SPNI and Israeli police).  
    • Transportation to all programmed activities is handled by chartered buses
    • All Yuval Yisrael participants are given complete security/safety procedures and protocols.