Travel
After years of guiding travelers across Israel, Issy Hertzog has seen it time and again: No matter how often people return home for a visit, there is always something new to see.
“There is no better experience than being on the ground,” says the veteran Jewish National Fund-USA tour guide. “Nothing can replace the actual visits, the dialogues, and the person-to-person meetings.”
For Hertzog, that is the difference: Jewish National Fund-USA trips are about experiencing Israel not as tourists, but rather as active participants stepping into its ongoing story. Travelers meet regional leaders, innovators, and residents whose stories shape modern Israel, connecting with the people building the country’s future.
One particularly powerful moment came during a Jewish National Fund-USA Volunteer Mission’s visit to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, where Hertzog’s group met Dr. Zvi Perry, head of the hospital’s trauma department, who was responsible for mobilizing teams to treat many of those wounded after the October 7 attacks.
“Hearing from the person who had to manage all of this, confronting a level of trauma never before experienced in Israel, was deeply impactful,” Hertzog says. “Opportunities to meet individuals like him, to speak with regional leaders, and visit unique army bases, are why so many participants call these trips life-changing.”
Those kinds of transformative experiences are for every stage of life. For active adults ages 55 and older, one such opportunity is the Sunshine Tour, next taking place October 11–20, 2026, and May 16–25, 2027. Designed at a slightly more leisurely pace, the tour gives participants more time to engage deeply at each site— from enjoying an exclusive tasting at Tishbi Winery, one of Israel’s oldest family-owned wineries, to savoring the flavors of authentic food in Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda Market, to strolling through Be’er Sheva River Park, an oasis of recreation within the desert thanks to Jewish National Fund-USA. Together, these experiences create lasting bonds among participants.
“I had no idea I’d come home with a lifelong friend,” says Jeanie Siegel, a past participant of the Sunshine Tour. Paired with a roommate by Jewish National Fund-USA before departure, they went from strangers to sisters in just 10 days. “We shared so many new experiences, and I brought home the best souvenir: a dear new friend.”
For Hertzog, this is familiar territory. “Travel through Jewish National Fund-USA brings together people who are passionate about Israel,” he reflects. “It’s beautiful to see. Together, they become part of this amazing joint venture we call the Land of Israel—a partnership between Israelis and Jews from around the world.”
You belong here. To find your Jewish National Fund-USA trip, visit jnf.org/travel, call 877-563-8687, or email travel@jnf.org
Interested in the Sunshine Tour? Take a look at our itineraries at jnf.org/sunshinetours
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