Minneapolis & Saint Paul Jewish Federations Bring Honeymoon Israel to Twin Cities

YALA and the Jewish Federations of Minneapolis & Saint Paul are pleased to announce Honeymoon Israel (HMI), a program providing immersive trips to Israel for committed couples with at least one Jewish partner, is launching in the Twin Cities. Honeymoon Israel aims to create communities of couples who are building families with deep and meaningful connections to Jewish life and the Jewish people. HMI currently operates trips from 18 cities across North America and has brought more than 1,100 couples to Israel since May 2015. The inaugural Honeymoon Israel trip from the Twin Cities will take place November 29-December 9, 2018.

The first of two informational sessions to learn more about Honeymoon Israel will take place on April 16 at Lynlake Brewery. The second session will be held on May 15 at a location TBD in Saint Paul. The informational sessions are free to attend and all interested couples are welcome.

The application process for the late November trip will be open April 9-May 23. This enriching, provocative, fun, and inspirational nine-day experience has an affordable price tag of $2,200 per couple, which includes flights and ground costs. Participants contribute approximately 20% of the total cost of the trip (valued at approximately $10,000/per couple) and the remaining costs are highly subsidized by the Jewish Federations of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and national HMI funders.

To be eligible to apply and participate for HMI, couples must have at least one Jewish partner, be in a lifelong committed relationship and/or married for five years or less, have at least one partner who is between 25-40 years old (with neither over the age of 45), and have at least one partner who hasn’t participated on an organized, Jewish Israel trip experience as a teen or adult. Honeymoon Israel is an inclusive program and highly encourages interfaith couples, couples with a partner who has converted, Jewish couples and LGBTQ couples to apply.

The Trip

On a Honeymoon Israel trip, participants experience Israel’s culture, economy, politics, and nature in a way they could never do on their own. The 20 selected couples from the Twin Cities will spend nine days in Israel touring Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, hiking Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, sampling local cuisine, and exploring Israel’s diversity and complexity. They’ll also have the opportunity to meet Israelis of all backgrounds, participate in Shabbat experiences, and visit sites important to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim history.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this program further please be in touch with Charley Smith, Twin Cities Young Adult Engagement Manager and local Honeymoon Israel coordinator at [email protected].

This article is sponsored content provided by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and Jewish Federation of Greater St. Paul.