Five groups from Bnei Akiva were the first to leave on the 2016 Israel tour programme.

Over the coming weeks, 25 more groups of 16-year-olds from nine other youth organisations will set out on the month-long experience, which will take in the major sights, plus meetings with Israelis from all walks of life and varied educational sessions.

Numbers are up slightly this year - 1,211 participants compared with 1,145 in 2015.

Financial support has been provided to 235 tour-goers from the UJIA Israel Tour Bursary Fund at a cost of £220,000.