JLI Begins Five-Star Israel Trip

Photos by Mendy Hechtman

The biennial “Land and Spirit” mission to Israel of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) began this week with close to 200 participants from 38 cities across the U.S. to be wined, dined and more importantly, inspired and educated.

The 8-day tour of the Holy Land was created to provide an opportunity for Chabad Shluchim to share with their communities the memorable and often life-altering experience of being a Jew in the Jewish homeland.

Rabbi Chaim Mentz of 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.

They visited major historical and holy sites and places of striking natural beauty and met 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 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.

On Friday they heard from Sherri Mandell, mother of a teenager who was killed by terrorists in 2001. Mandell 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 Chevron with Shliach Rabbi Danny Cohen, davening at Kever Rochel, tours of Jerusalem including an exclusive meeting with Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz.

“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, NJ; Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein, Wilmette, Ill.; Rabbi Levi Klein, Memphis, Tenn.; and Rabbi Avi Richler of Mullica Hill, NJ.

The tour is organized through Zev Jacobson of 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.