Spoiler alert: If your Israel trip could belong to just any synagogue, something’s off.
At Kenes Tours, we believe every community deserves an experience that feels purposeful, personal, and profoundly its own. That’s why our planning process begins with one core question:
What do you want your travelers to take away from this trip?
For some, it’s a fostering a deeper connection to the land and its people. For others, it’s finding a sense of spiritual renewal, cultural inspiration, or even deriving the satisfaction of having tried every shawarma stand in the country. (We support that goal, too!)
Some rabbis envision a trip centered around tikkun olam—packing food at Leket Israel, rebuilding the Gaza envelope, volunteering with pre-school children in the north, or meeting with leaders of shared society projects in the Galilee and Lod. Others want to explore Zionism in all its complexity through encounters with IDF officers, anti-occupation activists, Israeli Arabs, new olim, and evacuees returning home.
You might want to take your group into the world of Israeli high-tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship, touring places like Start-Up Nation Central, meeting with climate-tech innovators in Kiryat Shmona, or learning about what’s happening in food tech and agri-tech labs on the ground.
Some rabbis ask us to shape their trip around creativity and culture: intimate concerts with local musicians, graffiti tours in Tel Aviv with artists, behind-the-scenes workshops with Israeli dancers, poets, chefs, or storytellers.
Others come with a theological vision in mind—spiritual moments of reflection woven throughout the itinerary, like Shabbat in Jerusalem, Mincha in the desert, or Yizkor overlooking a valley in the North.
Sometimes it’s a blend of all of the above, and other times it’s something entirely unique, shaped by the spirit and story of your community. The list goes on.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to travel with Kenes Tours. And no matter who you work with, there never should be.
We believe in travel that reflects pluralism, nuance, and intention. This means working with guides and speakers who complement and share your values. This means curating itineraries that respect the diversity of belief and practice within your community—whether you’re traveling with interfaith couples, young families, empty nesters, or lifelong learners. This means orchestrating moments of connection, not just content.
You lead the vision. We bring it to life.
Your trip should reflect who you are as a rabbi, and what you’re building as a community. So let’s make it unforgettable, and unmistakably yours.
Let’s talk.
Contact: Sarah Cytryn – Sarahc@kenes-tours.com
