There are three components to The Community Trip, with the pre- and post-trip experiences offered as optional add-ons to the core Israel experience:

• The Israel first timer’s pre-trip: May 16-18, 2027
• The core trip to Israel: May 18-25, 2027
• The post-trip experience to Budapest, Hungary: May 26-30, 2027

*All trip details are subject to change.

The May 2023 CommUNITY Trip brought hundreds of San Diegans to Israel together and left a lasting mark on our community. Many participants still talk about the friendships formed, the shared experiences, and the sense of connection that continued long after returning home.

Traveling with Jewish Federation of San Diego offers an experience unlike a typical tour. The trip is curated to create meaningful moments, provide access to people and places most travelers would not encounter on their own, and bring the San Diego Jewish community together in a powerful way.

The Community Trip is about shared experiences, building a deeper connection to Israel, and strengthening our local community along the way.

*All trip details are subject to change.

The Community Trip is open to adults (18+) in the San Diego Jewish community. Whether this is your first visit to Israel, a return trip, or you joined us on the 2023 CommUNITY Trip, this experience is intentionally designed to be new and distinct, with fresh content, perspectives, and opportunities for connection.

We anticipate a diverse mix of participants, including couples, singles, family members, and friends, all coming together to form this trip community.

We welcome participants of all abilities. Please note that the itinerary includes full days and a significant amount of walking, often on uneven ground, which is typical for immersive travel in Israel, especially Jerusalem. If you have specific accessibility questions or needs, we encourage you to reach out so we can discuss what participation may look like.

*All trip details are subject to change.

We anticipate approximately 250 participants on the core trip, with smaller groups joining the optional pre- and post-trip experiences.

Participants will travel throughout the trip on 6-7 buses of approximately 35 people each. Each bus will include their own dedicated local Israeli guide, Israeli security personnel, Jewish Federation of San Diego staff, and at least one Bus Captain.

A Bus Captain is a trip participant who has volunteered to help create connection within the group—assisting with trip recruitment, facilitating introductions, sharing updates, and helping build the sense of community that makes traveling together so special, even before the journey begins. The Bus Captains will be led by Bus Captain Chair Kira Finkenberg, who will help support and guide this group of community leaders.

Later in the registration process, all participants will receive a bus request form where you may request to travel on a specific bus with others you know or request a particular Bus Captain. While we will always do our best to accommodate requests, placement cannot be guaranteed.

If you are interested in the role of Bus Captain, we’d love to talk to you. Please reach out to Dana Koenig at [email protected].

*All trip details are subject to change.

The subsidized cost of The Community Trip is $5,400 per person, based on double occupancy. A single room supplement is available for an additional $1,700.

If selecting the payment plan, the payment schedule is as follows:

• *$500 – Deposit due at booking
• Payment 1 – September 1, 2026
• Payment 2 – November 1, 2026
• Payment 3 – January 1, 2027
• Final Payment 4 – March 1, 2027

*Deposit refundable through September 1, 2026

This rate is made possible through communal funds and philanthropic partners, helping keep the trip accessible to as many community members as possible.

Additional subsidy support may be available for Jewish professionals and for a limited number of young adults participating in the Budapest extension. If you know someone who may be interested in helping to underwrite these opportunities, we would be happy to connect them with our team.

**All trip details are subject to change.

In some cases, you may be able to book individual components of the trip for less on your own. However, a Federation experience is about much more than flights, hotels, and reservations.

Our journeys are intentionally designed to provide access, insight, and connections that are difficult to replicate independently. Through Federation, you benefit from established relationships, experienced local partners, expert guides, private transportation, curated programming, security support, and opportunities to engage with community leaders, organizations, and perspectives that most travelers would not encounter on their own.

Just as important, every aspect of the experience is coordinated for you. From pre-trip preparation to on-the-ground logistics and support, our team manages the details so you can focus on learning, building relationships, and fully immersing yourself in the experience.

When evaluating the cost, we encourage participants to consider not only the individual travel components, but also the expertise, access, convenience, community, and peace of mind that are included throughout the journey. The value of a Federation trip lies not simply in where you go, but in how you experience it.

The Community Trip is open to everyone, with no minimum gift required to Federation’s annual campaign. At its heart, this is about shared experience, connection, and community.

Participants will be invited to support the annual campaign, though there is no minimum amount. We simply request that each person make a contribution that feels both personally meaningful and comfortable.

*All trip details are subject to change.

Participants will stay in five-star hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Budapest, including:

Tel Aviv

• Royal Beach Hotel
• David InterContinental

Jerusalem

• The Orient
• The Inbal

Budapest

• The Kempinski

Participants will be grouped by bus within their hotels, helping keep each travel group together throughout the experience.

Please Note: Hotel assignments in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will be made later in the registration process after we have completed the bus assignments. For the First Timers Pre-Trip, participants will also have the option to choose a lower-priced hotel if preferred.

*All trip details are subject to change.

Travelers may choose double or single occupancy, with pricing reflecting the room selection. Optional room upgrades may be available for an additional cost and will be shared closer to the trip.

If you would like double occupancy but do not yet have a roommate, please let us know and we will do our best to help facilitate a match. However, participants are ultimately responsible for securing their own roommate. Closer to travel, if a roommate is still not confirmed and you registered for double occupancy, you will be responsible for the additional $1,700 single supplement fee.

*All trip details are subject to change.

Participants are responsible for booking their own flights to and from Israel, and airfare is not included in the cost of the trip.

You are welcome to fly on any airline at any time. Flight schedules have not yet been released, but once they are available, approximately 11 months prior to travel, we will share a few recommended flights departing from Los Angeles (LAX).

Participants who choose one of the suggested flights will have the option to take a charter bus from San Diego to LAX and back (space will be limited). Group airport transfers to the hotel in Israel will also be arranged for those arriving on the recommended flights.

If you book a different flight, but your departure or arrival times are similar to the recommended options, and you are traveling in and out of LAX, you may also be able to join the charter bus. Additional details and registration information for the charter bus will be provided later in the registration process.

Participants who choose flights on days and times other than the suggested ones will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport in both the U.S. and Israel.

We recommend waiting to book flights until you have decided whether you will join a pre- or post-trip extension, as those options may affect your travel dates. If you participate in the Budapest extension, the flight from Israel to Budapest is included in the extension cost.

*All trip details are subject to change.

Participants may choose to extend their experience with an optional pre-trip program in Israel or a post-trip extension to Budapest, Hungary. These smaller group experiences explore places and themes not included in the core trip itinerary.

The First Timers Pre-Trip offers a deeper introduction to Jerusalem before joining the larger group in Tel Aviv. Highlights may include walking the Old City ramparts, exploring the Western Wall Tunnels and ancient excavations, meaningful time at the Western Wall, visits to Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl, and experiencing the vibrant energy of Mahane Yehuda Market.

The First Timers Pre-Trip offers a stronger focus on Israel’s history and foundational story, while the core trip highlights contemporary Israel and the dynamic realities of life in the country today.

The Budapest Post-Trip Extension explores the city’s rich Jewish history and vibrant present-day community. The itinerary may include visits to landmark synagogues such as Dohány, Frankel, and Rumbach Street Synagogues; time with local Jewish leaders and community members; Shabbat services and Havdalah on a sunset Danube River cruise; visits to important memorials; and time for personal exploration or optional cultural experiences such as museums, photography, or art. The experience will be led by a local Jewish guide.

More details and pricing for these extensions will be shared with participants as we finalize them.

*All trip details are subject to change.

Yes. Participants are welcome to travel independently before or after the trip. We are also offering an optional pre-trip experience for first-time visitors and an optional post-trip extension to Budapest. Those who choose not to participate in these options may still arrive early or extend their stay, as long as they are present for the official start and conclusion of the core program. 

*All trip details are subject to change.

All group meals will be kosher. During free time, participants will have access to a wide range of kosher dining options throughout Israel. Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Shabbat will include built-in free time for those who wish to attend services. Optional activities will also be available for participants who do not observe Shabbat, allowing everyone flexibility to engage in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful.

*All trip details are subject to change.

The itinerary will be thoughtfully structured and primarily guided, offering access to people, places, and experiences not typically available to independent travelers. Participants will spend most of their time with their assigned bus community, fostering strong connections throughout the journey.

In advance of the trip, participants will also select an interest-based track that will shape certain experiences. While free time will be limited, the schedule is designed to be immersive, intentional, and balanced, with opportunities to rest and recharge.

*All trip details are subject to change.

Yes. A meaningful highlight of the trip will be a full day in our sister city, Sha’ar HaNegev, where participants will spend time with local residents through shared experiences and open conversation. Participants will also see firsthand how Jewish Federation of San Diego’s support has helped strengthen the community since October 7, alongside additional opportunities to meet Israeli leaders and community members from across the country.

*All trip details are subject to change.

Participant safety is our highest priority. Each bus will travel with its own highly trained security professional, and all security efforts will be overseen by Jewish Federation of North America’s Security Director, who will travel with the group. Our teams will remain in constant communication with Israeli security authorities and government partners, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustments as needed. 

*All trip details are subject to change.

We strongly recommend purchasing supplemental, comprehensive travel insurance for this trip. Because coverage needs vary based on individual circumstances and preferences, participants are responsible for selecting a provider and policy that best fits their needs.

Depending on the provider, trip cancellation coverage for travel to Israel may be limited or unavailable. However, many policies still offer important benefits such as coverage for medical emergencies, medical evacuation, flight delays or cancellations, and lost or delayed luggage.

Please note that many travel insurance providers require coverage to be purchased within 10 to 30 days of your initial booking to qualify for certain benefits, especially those related to pre-existing conditions. If you choose to purchase supplemental insurance and later cancel your trip, we are not responsible for reimbursing any premiums or other amounts paid for the insurance policy.

*All trip details are subject to change.

We realize there is a lot of information to take in, and we are here to help.

If you have questions on anything related to registration, please contact:

Hailey Pryce-Shidler – Events and Missions Manager
[email protected]
(858) 737-7136

For programmatic questions, please contact:

Dana Koenig – Director of Global Experiences
[email protected]
(858) 221-5110

*All trip details are subject to change.