Who runs the URJ KESHER Trip?
The URJ KESHER Trip is the Taglit-Birthright Israel program run by the Israel Education Department of the Union for Reform Judaism in cooperation with the KESHER department. KESHER, which is also the Hebrew word for “connection”, connects Jewish young adults to each other and to the Reform Movement in order to promote continuous engagement in Jewish life. The gift of the Taglit-Birthright Israel URJ KESHER Trip is a free 10-day tour of Israel, open to 18-26 year olds who have never been on an educational study program or organized peer group tour of Israel and welcomes young adults from all backgrounds of Jewish faith, education, and involvement.

About the Trip
From touring spiritual Jerusalem and visiting modern Tel Aviv, to climbing Masada and swimming in the Dead Sea, the URJ KESHER Trip offers an amazing opportunity to travel and experience Israel within a progressive perspective. Participants will explore ancient and modern Jerusalem, trek across the beautiful desert, ride camels, ascend to the top of Masada at sunrise, visit mystical Tzfat and experience the Northern part of Israel in the Golan and Galilee. Our experts in Israel fill each day with opportunities for exploration and growth, learning and fun. The mifgash (interaction) with visiting Israeli soldiers, who join our groups for a portion of the program, is a highlight which allows our program participants to develop strong personal connections with their peers in Israel. Interactions with Israelis, egalitarian prayer and song sessions, and social, community-building evening programs will provide opportunities for each person to wrestle with contemporary questions about Israel, Jewish identity, religious pluralism and tradition.

The URJ KESHER Trip offers a unique and intense Israel experience including touring, activities, discussion and exploration. Traveling throughout the country, you will have opportunities to connect to the Land of Israel, the people of Israel, and the history of our nation. The program offers a unique opportunity to glimpse into the changing dynamic of the Jewish nature of our modern State of Israel from a liberal progressive perspective.  Examining issues such as social justice, a commitment to pluralism in Israel and the Diaspora, and our personal connection with historical and modern Israel through hands-on activity and discussion, you  will have a transformative experience and open a dialogue to discuss your relationship with Israel.

Each URJ KESHER Trip bus has 40 participants and 2 North American staff members, who are often professionals in the Reform Jewish Movement, 1 English speaking Israeli tour guide, and 1 guard/medic. Participants are welcome to come with their friends and to meet new ones during this unparalleled experience. Groups are assigned according to participants preferences, which may include college-aged groups and groups for young professionals.

Sample Itinerary
Taglit-Birthright Israel URJ KESHER Trip

DAY ONE	Depart hometowns and New York City for Israel!
DAY TWO	Theme: Welcome to Israel! After arriving at Ben-Gurion airport, meet your Israeli staff and join together for an opening ceremony. Afterwards, experience a real Archaeological dig at Beit Guvrin national park. Finally make your way toward Jerusalem's "tayelet", for an overview of city on the Jerusalem Promenade and a moment to say "shehechiyanu" to commemorate the beginning of your amazing trip. Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY THREE	Theme: Pluralism Spend the morning visiting Jerusalem's Old City including the Southern Wall Excavations (the site of our Temple), the Western Wall (the kotel), Jewish Quarter to discuss the various approaches to Judaism in the ancient world and today. In the afternoon, continue on to do some camel riding in the Judean Desert before spending the evening in a Bedouin Tent. Overnight: Bedouin Tent
DAY FOUR	Theme: Heroism Start your day with a sunrise climb up Masada. After learning about the heroic fight of the Jewish people, continue on to hike in the nearby Ein Gedi Oasis. Afterwards, swim and float in the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem for Taglit-Birthright Israel's MEGA EVENT. Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY FIVE	Theme: Challenges Spend the morning touring the Security Fence and discussing the challenges facing modern Israeli society. Later on visit a local Arab- Israeli village to meet an Imam and some local residents. After a Falafel Lunch, spend the afternoon preparing for Shabbat. In the evening you will join an Israeli Progressive Synagogue for Shabbat Services. Afterwards have Shabbat dinner and a program with your group. Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY SIX	Theme: Shabbat After a relaxing morning sleeping in, join your group for Shabbat Services. In the afternoon you will hear an Israel Update from a noted scholar before joining together for Havdallah at HUC (Hebrew Union College). In the evening, you will have a free night in Jerusalem and have an opportunity to go to an Israeli dance club. dinner and a program with your group. Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY SEVEN	Theme: Connections This morning you will meet the Israelis soldiers who will join you for the rest of your trip. After getting to know each other, you will visit have a Druze feast in the village of Usifya. Later on, you will travel to the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret) to spend some time at the beach. In the late afternoon, walk through the alleyways of Tzfat and visit some of the unique synagogues in this mystical town. In the evening, get together for Israeli Movie Night . Overnight: Kibbutz Hotel in the North
DAY EIGHT	Theme: Dilemmas Spend the day looking at some of the dilemmas in the Golan Heights. You will hear the stories of heroes like Eli Cohen and the courageous Israeli fighters that conquered and held on to this area. You will discuss the tensions surrounding the area, the fight over the water and ecology and voice your own opinion as to the future of this beautiful land. In the evening, continue to Tel Aviv for a night out at a play in an Israeli theater. Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY NINE	Theme: Holocaust and Modern Israel In the morning you will visit Yad V'Shem, the Holocaust Museum and Memorial, including hearing from a survivor. Afterwards, you will walk through Har Herzl, Israel's national Military Cemetery to get a sense of the triumphs and tragedies of modern Israel. Finally you will return to Jerusalem's Old city for a last visit to the Kotel (the Western Wall). In the evening, spend a free night on Tel Aviv's waterfront boardwalk. Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY TEN	Theme: Jewish City, City of Jews On your final day in Israel, you will take a walking tour of Tel Aviv to discuss whether this is a Jewish city or a city of Jews. Continuing on to have a dialogue about pluralism in the modern state of Israel you will visit some of Tel Aviv's busiest neighborhoods. After a final stop at Rabin Square, the site of the assassination of the former Prime Minisiter, you will have time for a closing ceremony and discussion before you depart for the airport, and return to North America.