JLI Mission to Israel Delivers a Five-Star Experience

JLI’s biennial “Land and Spirit” mission began last week with close to 200 participants arriving in Israel from 38 cities across the U.S. to be wined, dined and more importantly, inspired and educated during a unique, in-depth, eight-day tour of the Holy Land.

The Chabad Mission to Israel was created “by shluchim for shluchim,” to provide an opportunity for shluchim to share with their communities the memorable and often life-altering experience of being a Jew in the Jewish homeland.

Rabbi Chaim Mentz, shliach from Bel Air, CA says that the tour keeps getting better and better, providing an unsurpassed experience of Israel even for those who have been on many trips before. “The programs, the spirit, the learning are all exceptional on every level,” he said.

As well as visiting major historical and holy sites and places of striking natural beauty, participants have the opportunity to meet with prominent figures in Israeli life. Earlier this week, the tour met with Chief Rabbis, key figures in border towns and IDF heroes and veterans.

The first day included a visit to Caesarea, Atlit and Rosh Hanikrah. Day Two started with a visit to the northern Golan Heights and the battleground of Tel Faher, where they met with the brother of famed Mossad agent and martyr Eli Cohen. This was followed by a visit to the beautiful Banias Nature Reserve, wine-tasting at the Odem Winery, and a cruise on the Kineret with entertainment by renowned musician Rabbi Asi Spiegel.

On Wednesday, the third day, the group arrived in Meron, where they davened at the Kever of the Rashbi. They went on to explore the mystical city of Tzfat and visited Genesis Land, where events surrounding the Jewish Patriarchs our earliest biblical history come to life across the millennia.

The guest speaker this Friday was Sherri Mandell, mother of Kobi, a teenager who was killed by terrorists in 2001. Sherri has transformed her personal tragedy into positive action by dedicating herself to providing physical and spiritual comfort and support for the families of victims of Arab terrorism.

Other highlights of the tour include a visit to Hevron with shliach Rabbi Danny Cohen, davening at Kever Rochel, tours of Jerusalem including an exclusive meeting with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Kotel.

“This is the third mission, and we are seeing the tremendous impact it has had on the participants, to inspire them to deepen their connection to Yiddishkeit and their connection to the shluchim,” said JLI Chairman Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky.

The JLI Mission is coordinated by Rabbi Boruch Cohen along with JLI’s Mission Steering Committee: Rabbi Sholom Raichik, Gaithersburg, MD., Rabbi Mendy Mangel, Cherry Hill, N.J.; Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein, Wilmette, Ill.; Rabbi Levi Klein, Memphis, Tenn.; and Rabbi Avi Richler of Mullica Hill, N.J.

The tour is organized through Zev Jacobson’s Israel Maven Tours, which provides outstanding service down to every last detail of the trip, from concierge service and first-class accommodations to gourmet meals and comfortable travel throughout.