A recent Times of Israel article questioned whether rising challenges signal the end of the golden age of American Jewish travel to Israel.
But on the ground—and in the hearts of our community, we see something very different.
At Jewish National Fund-USA, the answer is clear: not only is this golden age not ending—it is growing stronger, deeper, and more meaningful than ever before.
Across the country, families, students, and leaders are answering a powerful call:
Our family is waiting for you. Come home for a visit.
In the coming years, more than 10,000 participants will engage in Jewish National Fund-USA’s life-changing Israel experiences at our Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss) Semester abroad and summer sessions.
Many are traveling far from their families for the first time, yet what they discover is something extraordinary: a second home, an extended family, a sense of belonging that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
Even in challenging moments, that bond only strengthens. Students don’t just visit Israel—they become part of it. They build friendships that feel like family, rooted in shared purpose and shared identity.
This is the story of a new generation of Zionists—confident, resilient, and deeply connected. Anyone who thinks we are retreating simply hasn’t met them.
And this story extends far beyond high school students.
This year, we launched the “Israel Leadership and Service Cohort,” an innovative eight-month experience for young adults, including high school and college grads, and early career professionals seeking purpose, direction, and impact. Combining leadership development, service, career exploration, and immersive time in Israel’s South, it reflects a growing demand among young people for truly meaningful experiences that enrich their souls and resumes.
At the same time, our Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel and Caravan for Democracy Student Leadership Fellowship to Israel have brought more than 1,000 non-Jewish student leaders and educators to Israel. They return home more informed and inspired to stand with their Jewish colleagues and peers on campus. Not with assumptions, but with understanding.
Our Alternative Break programs continue to attract college students after their birthright experience who choose to spend their time in Israel learning, volunteering, and building lifelong connections with the people of the land.
Through all of this, one truth remains constant:
No screen, no social media platform, no classroom, no article can replace being in Israel.
The momentum is undeniable. Yet it’s not all about young people.
Our Jewish National Fund-USA trips this fall are already sold out—including our Sunshine Tour for Active Adults 55+, proving that one’s connection to Israel only deepens with time.
Why? Because Israel is not just another destination. It’s our home.
Feel and watch the sun rise over Masada.
Have a conversation walking the streets of Jerusalem, Akko, or Be’er Sheva.
Stand in the place where your story began.
Every student boarding a plane.
Every family encouraging them.
Every adult choosing to return.
Every family planning on going.
Every donor who wants to see their investment at work.
They are all sending the same message:
We are still coming. We are still connected. We are still one family.
So we say it clearly:
The golden age of Israel engagement is not ending.
It is evolving.
It is expanding.
And most importantly—it is calling you.
Your family is waiting.
Come home for a visit!
Book your next Israel experience today at jnf.org/travel or call 877.563.8687.
Russell F. Robinson is CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA.
