Thousands of people choose Mayanot for their Taglit-Birthright Israel trip each year for good reason. We spare no expense to give you an experience of a lifetime!
You will enjoy a high-quality Israel experience that includes ten days jam-packed with activities and attractions together with young Israelis and participants from diverse backgrounds. Wherever you are from and no matter your Jewish background, you’ll feel at home on a Mayanot trip.
On your trip, led by top Israeli guides, you will delve into the historical, political, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of Israel. Mayanot makes a point of tapping into contemporary Israeli life and provide you with the opportunity to make Israeli friends, enjoy the nightlife, and visit beaches, museums, and cafes.
Your passionate and knowledgeable Israeli tour guides make your Mayanot Israel experience memorable with activities that include:
Hiking, kayaking, donkey/camel riding and jeeping. Climbing the ancient fortress of Masada at sunrise. Floating in the Dead Sea and enjoying the Mediterranean beaches. Sleeping in a Bedouin tent. Experiencing a meaningful Shabbat at the Western Wall. Meeting young Jews from all over the world. Touring with young Israelis, including active soldiers in the Israeli army. Meeting with Israeli leaders in politics, the arts, and hi-tech. Tackling contemporary issues that affect young Jews. And, of course, partying and making friendships that will last forever!
Vision Statement
Mayanot’s goal is to provide Taglit-Birthright Israel participants with an unforgettable Israel experience in every sense of the word. Israel is the ideal backdrop for bringing Jewish history, ideas and culture to life and as past participants attest, the sights and sounds of Israel impact everyone on Mayanot tours in unique ways. Through learning Jewish and Israeli history and engaging in dialogue with Israelis, questions are raised about Jewish identity that challenge the participants throughout their lives.
Mayanot strives to find the delicate balance in presenting the ancient and modern history of Israel, contemporary Israeli culture and Jewish tradition, and the vexing political divisions and ideologies all in an open and pluralistic environment. Mayanot is built upon a love for Israel, the Jewish people, our common history and the Jewish tradition. Mayanot draws inspiration from Chabad spirituality.
Mayanot alumni relate that the best aspect is the lasting ties that bind the group on the trip. It is our overall goal that students return from Israel with a deeper connection to the country, a respect for Jewish life and community, and with the inspiration to continue their life journey as an individual yet integral part of the Jewish people.
Affiliation
Orthodox
Our Company/Organization
Mayanot is affiliated with the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies, located in the heart of Jerusalem, and offers a highly academic Judaic Studies curriculum taught by dynamic staff in a welcoming atmosphere. Mayanot Institute offers annual, semester, winter, summer and post Taglit-Birthright Israel study programs for women and men ages 20 and over.
Jews have always been known as the “People of the Book”. Independent study of our great classics bind us to the past, inspire us in the present, and prepare us for the future. At the Mayanot Institute, a strong emphasis is placed on textual study giving students the skills necessary to access great works in their original Hebrew and Aramaic. In an open academic environment students are encouraged to question, challenge and explore five thousand years of Jewish wisdom and apply it to contemporary society.
The Mayanot Institute's curriculum is the only one of its kind, encompassing both the intellectual and inner spiritual dimensions of Jewish study. Studying at the Mayanot Institute extends beyond the classroom as students experience Israeli and Jewish culture as well as volunteer and go on excursions exploring the land of Israel. The result is a fascinating journey of self-discovery and personal and spiritual growth.
The Trip Staff Team
The Mayanot trip has five staff members on each bus. Mayanot’s Israeli tour educators are young, passionate guides that bring the history, geography, politics and culture to life in an experiential manner. Israel is the Jewish homeland, so all Mayanot groups are also staffed by professional Jewish educators, often campus rabbis, who provide the spiritual element to your Israel experience, and endeavor to challenge you as an individual.
We partner with the Chabad on Campus International Foundation through their 100 + centers across the States.
Our on-bus logistical/social guides are young Israelis and Americans, your age, who provide for all your needs and each group also has its own guard and medic. We encourage you to challenge all your staff to get the most out of your trip, and most importantly hope that you’ll forge new, long lasting friendships!