Our mission offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from leading experts working on the front lines of trauma recovery in Israel, to engage with the complexities of trauma response, and to participate in profound, meaningful dialogue. Participants will gain insight into the nuanced challenges of healing in a conflict zone, while also experiencing firsthand the resilience and innovative approaches that define Israel's response to trauma. This journey is not centered around learning, but also designed to foster deep connections, expand perspectives, and cultivate a shared commitment to support Israelis affected by trauma.
It is also hoped that participants will share the knowledge gained upon their return. By helping others understand how Israelis are responding to the challenges they face, participants can play a key role in fostering greater support for Israel during these challenging times.
Finally, this mission is envisioned as the first in a series of ongoing opportunities for professionals to engage with Israel in meaningful ways—building long-term connections, offering support, and deepening understanding.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of trauma and resilience through expert-led presentations, discussions, and immersive experiences.
Beyond acquiring knowledge of Israel’s cutting-edge approaches to healing trauma, participants will build a sense of connection and shared purpose over the course of the mission. Through shared experiences, firsthand exposure to the realities on the ground, deep conversations, and connections that form along the way, participants will leave with greater insight, a strengthened commitment to Israel, and the inspiration to contribute in meaningful and impactful ways.
The mission is not limited to mental health professionals. While we welcome social workers, nurses, psychologists, and their spouses, it is also open to others—regardless of profession—who have a deep commitment to Israel. Credentials are far less important than the ability to engage with respect and sincerity.
Certain sessions will be intense and emotionally challenging, so it is essential that all participants have the capacity to approach moments of conflict, discomfort, and pain with calmness, respect, and a shared sense of purpose, without contributing to polarization or division within the group or with others. For this reason, we cannot accommodate individuals who may be antagonistic, disruptive, or disrespectful toward speakers or fellow participants. Our mission is about support, learning, and solidarity in a highly sensitive environment.
Yes, the mission will be documented via video to support future learning. Participants will be asked to sign relevant waivers.
Many opportunities to volunteer therapy services are available through various organizations in the US and in Israel. This trip, however, is designed as an information and empathetic listening mission on trauma management for participants to study with the top trauma experts in Israel about their work and their discoveries in the post-October 7 context. It was the hope of Ilene Serlin z”l, who crafted our itinerary, to forge connections so that participants might be of future support to Israeli clinicians and/or patients. This would take place as an emergent outcome, rather than through currently established infrastructure.
A trained security guard will accompany our group at all times (with the exception of Shabbat when everyone will be on their own). Your safety is a top priority. Our trip is organized in partnership with Makor Journeys, an organization with extensive experience planning group travel in Israel that coordinates closely with Israeli security authorities to ensure the highest standards of safety.
It's generally fine. If you go, it's always better to go with someone else. And there's a concerted effort made to make sure that it stays quiet. With regard to the Arab Market that goes from Jaffa Gate down toward the Christian Quarter, it's not a great idea to go there at night. But between 10am and 4 or 5pm, it's generally pretty safe. Obviously it's important to pay attention to the news, and listen to any kind of guidance. We've had people in the Old City on a regular basis now for the past four or five months without any difficulty or problems. That doesn't mean there haven't been issues, but it really is a fine place to go.
It's perfectly fine. Jerusalem has been very quiet, especially in areas like the Jewish Quarter, the Kotel, Western Jerusalem. That said, it never hurts to keep your eyes open a bit. But things are really quite normal on a daily basis. Not psychologically, but practically.
The perception is that since the war began a year and a half ago, we're kind of in a serious lockdown all across the board. The exact opposite is true.
There are places where there is fighting; that's inside Gaza, and in the north.
The reserve officer in charge of intelligence for the Golan Heights, who served there for 450 days, reported that the thought of things flaring up in the north is almost non-existent. In Gaza, it's not clear exactly how things are going to evolve.
Makor recommends the HomeFront Command app, and will offer it for download when participants arrive so they can explain how it works. This app used to go off when there was a siren. Now, with the sporadic missiles that have been coming from Yemen, the app sends a message in advance saying there probably will be a siren in your area. And then sometimes it goes off, and sometimes it doesn't. With missiles coming from Yemen, there's plenty of time, throughout the entire country, to get into a safe room or shelter. Of the close to 100 missiles that Yemen has launched since the renewal of the war, only one has made it through, and that was the famous one that hit near the airport. But it's really seen as a very low chance of any danger. The siren goes off on a very well-organized basis.
We recommend the HomeFront Command app rather than the Tzofar app, since the HomeFront information comes straight from the IDF, and identifies where you are through your GPS. If you're in an area where the sirens will go off, the app goes off on your phone.
Registration will remain open until we reach our maximum of 30 participants, or until early June—whichever comes first.
Yes, the single occupancy supplement is $1,630.
Please notify us if you are interested in being paired with a roommate. We’ll coordinate that information and do our best to connect you if possible.
We have arranged a private luxury bus for our group. We will travel together on the same bus throughout the trip.
Yes. Makor recommends cancellation insurance and supplemental medical coverage to cover preexisting conditions. Arrangements have been made with SMS-Travel Insurance Center of Omaha, Nebraska. Contact Yonah Engel and use promo code IGT-MAKOR.
Participants are responsible for booking their own flights and should email their itineraries to Harel Rosengarten at Makor. Makor will provide one group arrival transfer from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on June 17, and will provide one group departure transfer from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport on June 24. These group transfers will be scheduled to accommodate the largest number of arrivals and departures. Outside of these group transfers, participants will need to cover the cost of their own airport transportation. Makor can arrange other paid airport pickups with optional VIP service to get you through airport security, or you can take a taxi. You can also take the train from the airport, which is cheaper and likely faster. Please write to Harel at harel@igt.co.il if you would like Makor to reserve paid transportation options for you.
If more than six or seven people need transportation to the airport that evening, Makor can arrange for the group bus to take them to the airport after dinner on June 24, stopping first at the hotel to get their luggage. Dinner will end at approximately 9pm that night. For departing flights on other dates, Makor can arrange drivers for transfers to the airport. In general, you should arrive at the airport three hours in advance.
Yes.
On certain dates, which are indicated on the itinerary, there will be group lunches and dinners. On other dates, you’ll be on your own.
Tips are not included. In Israel, it’s customary to tip guides $8 per day and drivers $4 per day. For our journey, we suggest bringing approximately $100 US or 350NIS (Israeli shekels) to cover this expense. We will collect contributions at the end of the mission and distribute tips on your behalf, so there’s no need for you to manage tipping unless you prefer to express your appreciation personally.
Makor has sent participants a link that participants can use to invite their Israeli guests to register for certain events, along with a paragraph describing the opportunities. Once a certain event has the maximum guests its venue can accommodate, the system will not accept further guest registrations.
Makor is happy to arrange any additional hotel nights for participants at the mission hotels (or any hotels of their preference). Please contact Harel Rosengarten.
As of January 1, 2025, all travelers to Israel who do not hold an Israeli passport are required to obtain a valid Electronic Travel Authorization - ETA-IL - prior to departing for Israel. You must complete the online application and payment (approximately $7 U.S.) before your flight to Israel. Your registration will be valid for two years, and each visit to Israel can last up to 90 days. Please visit these sites to learn more and apply for your ETA-IL:
Be sure to keep the blue B2 visa form you receive at passport control.
Present it when you check in to hotels—it exempts you from paying 17% VAT.
Take a photo of the form to ensure you have a copy in case it gets lost.