Galvanized and inspired, nearly 700 Jewish teens travel to Israel again with BBYO this summer

 


WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week marked the rekindling of the magic of a summer experience in Israel, with the first group of BBYO teens arriving in Ben Gurion Airport on June 14 to embark on Israel Journey, BBYO’s flagship travel experience in the Jewish Homeland. Like the rest of the world, BBYO’s travel programs were put on hold in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this summer, nearly 700 teens will travel to Israel with on a BBYO summer experience, a 52 percent increase over 2019.

For teens who were eager to journey to Israel this summer, BBYO was thrilled to offer a select number of $3,000 RootOne travel vouchers, powered by The Jewish Education Project. These vouchers provided an incredible opportunity to minimize cost as a factor in helping Jewish teens and their families access the many opportunities available for teen travel each summer. Additionally, BBYO expanded its Israel program offerings this year, with new experiences, enhanced flexibility, and variable dates to fit multiple interests and schedules. Whether participants want to hike through desert canyons, swim in the Mediterranean, explore Israeli society and culture, or build their own electives-based experience, BBYO is offering “something for everyone” with a rich and varied Israel summer 2021 program lineup. This approach has attracted a significant number of public school attendees, an audience that is sometimes challenging to reach.

“I’m so excited to reconnect with my Jewish faith on this trip, because during COVID I struggled finding what I believe in, “said Allie A., a teen participant from Michigan. “Going to Israel has given me a new sense of gratitude and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to come here with Jewish teens from across America. It’s a unique experience I would not get anywhere else.”

The investment made by the RootOne Initiative was essential in enabling BBYO to ramp up its capabilities during an uncertain time. Gaining clarity from the Israeli government on their travel policies was a key milestone that came only days before the violence that broke out in early May. The urgency of securing staff, finalizing itineraries, and communicating with families offered the kind of excitement the team was waiting for after a year of planning and hoping for the best. As of now, nearly 20 buses have been secured, 60+ staff members have been trained, and more than 700 plane tickets have been booked to Israel.

“For the past seven decades, we have delivered on the promise to provide fun and innovative summer experiences in Israel at the highest standards of health and safety, and we are confident that we developed an ideal plan to safely resume our trips that best meets the needs of our teen travelers,” said Robyn Judelsohn, Senior Vice President of Immersive Experiences at BBYO. “We know that this summer, more than ever, teens are craving programs that allow them to unwind, explore, get outdoors, travel, and have fun, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that nearly 700 of them are choosing to experience Israel with BBYO.”

The RootOne Initiative is seeded through the generosity of The Marcus Foundation, and is powered by The Jewish Education Project. Vouchers may be combined with need-based scholarships and community funds to help defray the cost of travel even further for families.

 

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