by david a. chodack
correspondent
The Israel Travel Initiative is not just another travel agency or tourism group. It’s a group with a mission.
A joint venture launched by the Israel and Overseas Committee of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and the JCF’s Israel Center, it is designed to provide a one-stop center to help the local Jewish community connect with its roots in Israel.
Due to security issues surrounding the second intifada, travel to Israel was going down — many American Jews were afraid to go to Israel. Others were going, but not necessarily taking advantage of all a trip to Israel should offer: They were not sure where to go or whom to contact to make their visit more than a casual tourist experience and really connect to the land and the people.
The board and lay leaders of the federation began to think of ways to increase both the frequency and the quality of local travel to Israel. They wanted a way to not only encourage more Bay Area Jews to visit the Holy Land, but to encourage them to see projects that the federation was sponsoring there.
The conclusion? A central address was needed where people could go to help plan and coordinate travel to Israel and offer tailor-made programs that people could not get on their own.
Caron Tabb, South African-born and Israeli raised, a Bay Area resident for the past seven years and former director of Israel in the Gardens, was chosen to head the new Israel Travel Initiative.
That was a year ago. Since then, many more teen groups have been traveling as part of the program. The idea is “touring Israel through the eyes of Judaism” and it is designed to give overviews of the political, social and economic situation in Israel, and to raise awareness of the importance of tourism dollars.
“Many people have their eyes opened by travel to Israel,” says Tabb. “They come back and they want to remain connected to the organized Jewish community. This is why the federation decided that this initiative was so important.”
The federation has its own nongovernmental organization operating in Israel, and a sister area in Galilee where visitors are shown local projects sponsored by the federation.
As a result of the Israel Travel Initiative, new missions to Israel have been launched, including the Women’s Mission to Israel, a six-day journey designed for women to explore the impact women are having on Israel; the Israel at 60 Mega-Mission; and the National Young Leadership Mission to Israel for Singles and Couples. There are also half-day tours that show Bay Area Jews what the local community is doing there.
A concerted effort has been made to involve local congregations and organizations, particularly youth groups.
Although they work with the Israeli government and Israeli tourism officials and arrange things like visits to the Knesset while it is in session, this is strictly a grassroots initiative by federation.
It’s also aimed solely at Jews; although many evangelical Christians and others support and visit Israel, “outreach to the Christian and other communities is handled primarily by the Jewish Community Relations Council,” Tabb explained. “The Israel Travel Initiative is aimed at the local Jewish community and particularly the young people.”
The travel initiative also attempts to make travel possible for those of limited financial means, providing information about financial aid, to help make trips to Israel possible for everyone.
For more information on the Israel Travel Initiative, visit www.sfjcf.org/israelandtheworld/israel-travel.
CopyrightJ, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California