The Schmooze
The resurgence of Israel Tour shows Am Yisrael Chai in practice
Within 24 hours of registration opening, sign-ups had already surpassed last summer’s final figures
December 3, 2025 16:37
2 min read
Within 24 hours of registration opening, sign-ups had already surpassed last summer’s final figures
December 3, 2025 16:37Israel educational travel is back. More than 1,000 young people have signed up for Israel Tour next summer.
At the heart of UJIA, there lies a promise that has stood the test of time: that every young Jew in the UK should have the chance to encounter Israel directly, to meet its people and to shape their own understanding of Jewish life in the modern world. Since the beginning of the war, UJIA has made it possible for more than 3,000 teens and young adults to participate in a range of safe educational and volunteering experiences in Israel, proportionally more than almost any other Jewish diaspora community.
However, during these two difficult years, numbers overall have halved. Young Jews now find themselves navigating a landscape where Israel and even Zionism have become pariah words in many public spaces. Some are searching for deeper Jewish meaning and connection; others are turning away, caught between their universalist values and the reality of Israel at war.
These pressures cannot be met with mere slogans or defensive postures. Structured Israel educational experiences provide what the moment demands: nuance over noise, critical thinking over clickbait and first-hand engagement with a diverse Israel.
UJIA’s commitment to Israel educational travel reflects what young people themselves are seeking and showing up for, with the vital support of their parents. Which is why, within 24 hours of registration opening for Israel Tour 2026, sign-ups had already surpassed this past summer’s final total.
This is all only possible because of the partnerships at its centre. UJIA, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the Zionist youth movements are working together with a clarity of purpose that reflects the scale of the moment.
Across the political and religious spectrum, in every youth movement, educators are recruiting, planning and reimagining programmes with remarkable commitment. Madrichim are being trained with new tools to help young people navigate difficult conversations.
Tour is the rite of passage that so many in our community recognise, but it is only one part of a much wider ecosystem
And on the ground in Israel, our partners are building itineraries that balance safety and security, educational depth and the chance to encounter the country honestly and directly. It is a broad communal coalition, united not by uniformity but by a shared conviction that young Jews deserve real access to Israel to help shape how they understand themselves and their future.
And it does not begin or end with Israel Tour. Tour is the rite of passage that so many in our community recognise, but it is only one part of a much wider ecosystem. Hundreds of young Jewish adults every year spend months on long-term programmes, thanks to UJIA’s partnership with Masa. Others choose ten-day Taglit Birthright experiences or multi-week Onward internships that offer both career development and the chance to “live like an Israeli”. These pathways reflect the diverse needs and interests of our young adults and ensure that there is an Israel experience for every stage of their journey, not just for one summer at 16.
Since October 7, when taking several groups of British Jewish leaders to Israel, I’ve been struck most by the people who receive us.
Israelis notice when we show up. They tell us that our presence has offered real comfort and reassurance. And at the same time, they have shown remarkable awareness of what British Jews have been navigating.
They understand the anxiety, the hostility and the sense of vulnerability felt across our community.
These encounters reveal something essential. Israel educational travel is not a one-way journey but a genuine relationship. It is young British Jews meeting peers who have lived through trauma and resilience, and Israelis discovering a Jewish community that has stood with them and our hostages. It is an exchange of curiosity, empathy and shared responsibility. It is, quite simply, Am Yisrael in practice.
Mandie Winston is the chief executive of UJIA
For more information and to explore all Israel experience programmes and financial assistance available – including bursaries, subsidies and the new UJIA Inclusion and Welfare Fund – please reach out to your youth movement, contact info@ujia.org or visit: ujia.org/experiencing-israel
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