The NFTY Adventure program is a unique and challenging four week summer experience created especially for teens who seek a meaningful and exciting journey to Israel filled with amazing memories and friendships which will last a lifetime.

From ancient Jerusalem to modern Tel Aviv, from the beautiful Galilee to the stunning Negev Desert, you will create and be part of an intense traveling Jewish community of teens from all over North America.

You’ll have opportunities to meet Israeli teens, ride a camel, snorkel in the Red Sea, mountain bike, join in a real archeological dig, swim in the Mediterranean Sea, celebrate Shabbat in Jerusalem, buy some sandals, eat a falafel, and have the most amazing time of your life. With a great summer of shared fun and friendship as a backdrop, you’ll return home with an intense personal connection to the land, history and people of Israel…proud of yourself and your people.

With NFTY’s renowned tour guide-educators leading the way, you’ll walk on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, make a pilgrimage to the Kotel—The Western Wall—travel back 2000 years in time to explore the ancient tunnels around the foundation of the Temple Mount, and see the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book.

As the sun rises over the mountains of Jordan, you’ll ascend the summit of Masada at dawn. You’ll float in the Dead Sea, cover yourself with the famous black mud, and cool off in the refreshing waters of the Nahal Arugot Waterfall near Ein Gedi.

You’ll dig into your roots on an archeological expedition, unearth ancient pottery with your own hands, and crawl through the caves of the Maccabean Revolt by candlelight. Together with your Israeli peers, you’ll explore the Galilee and Golan, swim the headwaters of the Jordan River, wander through the alleyways of the mystical city of Safed, and “conquer” Crusader castles.

As you travel with your friends spend three unforgettable days and nights hiking and exploring the Negev Desert. You’ll ride camels across sand dunes, sip tea in a Bedouin tent, snorkel the crystal clear blue waters of the Red Sea, relax on a sandy beach, and sleep under a peaceful blanket of stars.

Before you leave for Israel you’ll select a “Chavaya”—special interest—module and during your stay. You’ll spend four fun-filled days pursuing your own interests while also making new friends from other NFTY groups. Chose from Yam L’Yam (Sea to Sea), Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World in Israel), Indiana Jones in Israel (Archeological Dig), Gadna (Army Training), and Tel Aviv’s Tarbut (Arts & Culture)

Before you depart for home, you’ll be amazed by the modern city of Tel Aviv, swim in the Mediterranean, shop on famous Dizengoff Street, and return to spiritual Jerusalem for one final visit as you prepare to conclude your spectacular summer of adventure, personal discovery, challenge and growth. When you do return home to family and friends, you’ll have wonderful memories of your once-in-a-lifetime journey of friendship and fun. More important, you’ll have newfound pride in yourself, your people and your land.

 

The 5 week program is called NFTY L'Dor V'Dor (http://www.nftyisrael.org/programs/ldorvdor/)

Experience for yourself the epic story of the journey of the Jewish people. Together with NFTY friends from across North America, begin your adventure in Europe, exploring more than 1000 years of our rich European Jewish heritage. Truly appreciate the beautiful community and culture our ancestors created and its virtual destruction during the Shoah—Holocaust. With the Czech Republic and Poland as an introduction, you’ll arrive in Israel with an intimate understanding of the importance of Eretz Yisrael – the Land of Israel in our time, ready to enjoy four wonderful weeks discovering your personal connection to our people and our history.

 

For 1000 years Prague was home to a thriving Jewish community. Here you’ll visit the Alt-neu Shul, the oldest continually used synagogue in Europe, and wander through the Jewish Quarter, absorbing the creativity and culture that shaped Jewish lives for more than a millennium. Wander through the Jewish Quarter, stroll across the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River, explore and shop in Old Town Square, visit the historic St. Vitus Cathedral and have an ice cream in the shadow of the famous Astrological Clock.

 

You’ll travel to the medieval Polish city of Krakow, where you’ll visit the ancient Remuh Synagogue and the newly rededicated Reform “Temple” Synagogue, as well as Oskar Schindler’s factory, made famous in the movie “Schindler’s List,” and the inspiring Coronation Cathedral. Together with other NFTY teens, you’ll make a moving pilgrimage to the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps where we will gather to remember and rededicate ourselves to building a Jewish future. En route to Israel, you’ll visit Warsaw and discover for yourself how courageous Jewish heroes led the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

 

Once in Eretz Yisrael, you’ll spend four weeks exploring the land together with teens from across North America. From ancient to modern, from border to border, from sea to sea, you’ll do it all and see it all. For the highlights of our 4 weeks in Israel, see the NFTY Adventure program details or our highlights page.