First Israel Tour groups arrive in Tel Aviv after 3-year break

British teens were kicking off a summer of sun, sea and iced coffees this week as the first Israel tours for three years touched down in Tel Aviv.

Four groups of 16-year-olds from Bnei Akiva landed at Ben Gurion on Tuesday, the first of 36 groups from 12 youth movements comprising 1,300 teens set to take part in what has become a rite of passage under the auspices of UJIA Israel Experience.

Israel tours had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021 amid the pandemic, with UJIA instead giving grants to projects to keep youngsters entertained over the summer.

“It’s amazing to be here. We didn’t always know it would happen but to finally be in Israel is a dream come true,” said a British participant at Ben Gurion.

Moriah Feiglin, an Israeli madricha who will be leading one of the tours, said: “It’s so exciting to bring people who have never been here, or even if they have been here before, they’ve never experienced Israel this way.”

UJIA chair Louise Jacobs said she was thrilled to see tours resume. “It is not only a trip of a lifetime for teenagers – it is the start of a journey into Jewish engagement and leadership. I am so excited that we can get back to giving young people this opportunity to connect with Israel and develop as future leaders.”

UJIA Israel Experience is also supporting immersive educational trips to Israel for older age groups, such as Birthright Israel.