Take part in all that EPIC Israel has to offer… plus more! In addition to the travel you will have the ability to experience a track that you choose based on your personal interests—either a seminar on politics, Israeli art and culture, or environmental volunteering. Whatever your interests, you will experience Israel your way.
✈️ International Flight to Israel
🚌 Land Transportation
🏨 Accommodations
🥙 Kosher Meals & Snacks
🎫 Programming & Entry Fees
🧺 Laundry Services
Experience Israel your way: with purpose, intention, and community. Hit all the must-sees for your first trip to Israel and customize your journey with tracks catered to your interests. Feel the powerful ruach (spirit) of davening at the Kotel (Western Wall), swim in the Dead Sea, explore the Old City, and so much more. USY in Israel is an incredibly powerful, meaningful, and fun way to spend your summer!
USY’s Epic Israel trip is for Jewish teens in 10th-12th grades who want to deepen their Jewish experience with an immersive experience in Israel.
Each participant will be gifted a travel-sized siddur on the first day of the program. Every day, participants gather for prayer services in the Conservative Judaism movement tradition. Each Shabbat, practice your Tefillah Goals and learn to lead Torah services. Participants will also have the opportunity to daven in the egalitarian section of the Kotel (Western Wall).
Our four-week itinerary is packed with meaningful activities for a taste of the best Israel has to offer. Most days will include multiple activities. The itinerary is designed to take participants through their own journey of he discover in Israel enabling them to find their own personal connection to the country. The first chapter of the program, based in Jerusalem, focuses on the Jewish past in the land. The second chapter of the program focuses on the beauty of the land itself in the Galil and the Negev. The final chapter gives a deep dive into the contemporary Israeli society and culture, in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. By the end of Epic Israel, each participant can work out for themselves which is their personal connection to the land. Is it through the richness of the Jewish past in the land, the magnificence of the land, or the beautiful and complicated tapestry that makes up Israeli society and culture? Or is it all three?
Please note, this is subject to change due to extenuating circumstances.
* Our plans for the summer are continuing and adapting to the new reality of Israel. All of our plans are subject to the authorization of security authorities in the US, Europe, and Israel. We have an impeccable safety record and work in close collaboration with international security authorities to ensure the safety of our participants. During the trip, our team will be in touch with the Jewish Agency on an hourly basis to assess risk and ensure safety.
Land at Ben Gurion International Airport to begin the summer of a lifetime in the Holy Land. Traditionally, Jews arriving in Israel take a moment to kiss the ground.
Known as the “Land of a Thousand Caves,” this national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ruins of the ancient city of Tel Maresha and see the incredible bell cave. 
Hike through forest and olive groves in one of Israel’s most beautiful natural areas, nestled in the Jerusalem Hills. 
Engage in hands-on tzedakah through community service to assemble food packs for the hungry in Israel and beyond. 
Take in stunning views of Jerusalem from this scenic overlook. You will see modern Jerusalem, the Old City, Mount Zion, the Mount of Olives, and the three valleys surrounding ancient Jerusalem. 
Walk in the footsteps of kings and prophets in the place where it all began. Explore the ancient City of David, see a model of the Second Temple, and experience a flashlight tour of the famous Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a marvel of ancient engineering. 
The excavation of the Southern Wall is the largest archaeological dig project in Israel. Walk down a first-century street and imagine what life was like for ancient Jews.
Explore the beautiful tunnels and caves excavated by Shimon Bar Kochba’s army in preparation for the Jew’s guerilla revolt against the Roman Empire over 1,800 years ago. 
Camels were a key part of ancient life in Israel. Experience a remnant of history with a camel ride through the iconic Judean Desert Hills (known in the Torah simply as “the wilderness”). 
The lowest place on Earth and the deepest hypersalinity lake in existence, the Dead Sea should be on every Israel itinerary. Float in the salty waters and enjoy the medicinal properties of the mud. 
Trek through a volcanic valley in northern Israel near the border of Syria to explore a region important to multiple world religions. 
Cool off on a hot summer day with a relaxing float down the picturesque Jordan River.
Ascend to the most iconic viewpoint of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) while stopping at the ruins of an ancient fortress and a 4th-century synagogue. 
Take a dip at this white sand beach with turquoise waters. 
Visit the kibbutz founded in 1908 to train Jews making aliyah in the art of pioneering. Today, it operates as an interactive history museum.
Unwrap a piece of delicious history at this third-generation chocolatier in Golan Heights. Enjoy a tour of the factory and taste the iconic sweet treats. 
Discover the winding paths through the mystical old city of Tzfat. Pop into artist studios to see traditional and modern art forms come to life. 
Explore mystic Jewish spirituality in this unique experience. 
This ancient port is now home to a vibrant city with brilliant coexistence of religious diversity. Take a stroll along the sea walls and wander the gorgeous Enchanted Gardens. 
This gorgeous seaside kibbutz is the only place in Israel where the mountains meet the sea. Take a ride on the steepest cable car route in the world to see breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and white-chalk cliffs. 
Experience the world-renowned Druze hospitality with a visit to one of Israel’s famous Druze villages. 
One of the most unique deserts in the world, Negev offers plunging valleys and incredible plateau-top views. Experience all it has to offer with a hike to a natural spring and rappelling off the cliffsides. 
Visit the national library and pay respects to the final resting place of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion. 
Learn about the formation of the incredible Ramon Crater and enjoy spectacular views from this cliffside museum. 
Experience cuteness overload with a visit to one of the largest alpaca and llama herds in the world.
Spend an exhilarating afternoon surfing the sand dunes of the Negev desert. There’s nothing in the world like it! 
Hike your way through the stunning beauty of the Eilat Mountains. 
Dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea to see coral reefs and friendly fish on an unforgettable snorkeling adventure. 
Visit the income-sharing kibbutz Ketura to learn about how they live pluralistic Jewish values and sustainable living in the desert. 
Spend a weekend visiting family & friends in Israel, or have a relaxing weekend at our home base in Jerusalem.
Nurture your Jewish identity with a visit to Tel Aviv’s ANU. More than a museum, ANU tells the extraordinary 4,000-year-long story of the Jewish People in Israel and beyond. 
Explore the sparkling coastline of Tel Aviv and cool off with a dip in the Mediterranean Sea. 
Ancient history meets modern delights in the Old City of Yaffo (Jaffa). 
This bustling open-air market is a must-see for visitors to Tel Aviv. 
For over 60 years USY has taken thousands of teens to Israel, connecting them to the Jewish homeland. By experiencing Israel’s beauty and power alongside their peers, taking part in a variety of adventurous outdoor activities, and engaging in interesting educational discussions, teens gain a new appreciation, understanding, and love for the country.
We also offer EPIC Israel/Eastern Europe where teens can visit part of Europe and explore other significant sights of Jewish history before traveling to Israel. Destinations in Europe include Poland, Prague, and Germany.
Each group includes 20-45 teens.
EPIC Israel programs are open to teens in grades 10-12 at the time of registration.
Groups are led by 3-5 staff members including a group leader, North American counselors, an Israeli counselor, and an Israeli medic. All staff members are qualified advisors, youth directors, teachers, and Conservative rabbis.
Additional support staff in Israel includes various knowledgeable lecturers, tour guides, and other USY personnel. All USY Summer Experience staff participate in an intensive training seminar prior to the trips, including becoming certified in CPR/First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Teens travel on a fully equipped motor coach, driven by professionals. Whenever possible, we maintain the same drivers throughout the summer.
The safety and security of our participants and staff is our highest priority. Our programs operate under the security umbrella of the Jewish Agency and their Cheder Matzav, or Situation Room. Our team is consistently in touch with their team as they check and recheck our itinerary on a daily and sometimes hourly basis, and they make adjustments as needed throughout the summer whether that be because of a security update, a heatwave, etc. Changes to the trip may include travel routes, accommodations, and escalation of USY security protocols. We always scrupulously avoid “unsafe” destinations and venues. Additionally, the groups travel around Israel with different guards throughout the summer.
While traveling, teens will have the opportunity to taste the flavors of Israel. Three full, kosher meals and numerous snacks are given each day. Food is provided by various caterers, hotels, and restaurants throughout Israel. Additionally, in some cities teens will be able to go out on their own for meals at select kosher restaurants.
Teens stay in hotels and youth hostels, dormitory-style bases, field schools, and kibbutz guesthouses. Additionally, two weeks of the trip are spent in Jerusalem, during which time it’s our hope that the city will feel like a second home for participants.
During the course of the summer, teens participate in at least six hours of volunteer work. Past projects include serving meals at soup kitchens, picking vegetables with Leket Yisrael for the hungry, and working with children with disabilities.
For teens who prefer more intensive service-focused travel, we would recommend participating in EPIC Israel Plus, for which one of the four-day tracks will be community service-based. During these four days, teens will have the chance to experience Israel in a truly one-of-a-kind way— by meeting and helping the people of Israel through hands-on service and social action projects.
In addition to spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem, the groups will take trips to the Galilee, Haifa, the northern seacoast, Tzfat, Tel Aviv, the Negev Desert, Masada, and other exciting places.
USY EPIC Israel is not just a tour of Israel. It is an active experience. We don’t want to just show participants places, we want to introduce them to life there.
The trip is filled with time to bond with new friends, fun games and activities, amazing seminars, and captivating speakers who bring Israel alive. Groups will participate in intensive and exciting ‘Mitzvah Projects’ throughout the country, which will allow them to directly interact with and impact the communities they visit.
We believe every teen deserves the opportunity to participate in USY summer travel regardless of financial restrictions. Please visit our Ways to Save page to learn about various venues for scholarship, including through USY.
As in years past, USY is once again applying for funding from RootOne LLC., an organization aimed at helping teens travel to and experience Israel. RootOne may help offset costs for eligible trip participants only. USY is actively applying for our RootOne grant, and we encourage you to take part today! Learn more at RootOne.org and be in touch with us directly with any questions. (Note, Vouchers are subject to participant eligibility and are not guaranteed. USY’s prior RootOne funding is no guarantee of future funding.) * Not available for graduating seniors or students of orthodox day schools.
We would be happy to answer any and all of your questions! Please send us an email at [email protected] and we will get back to you shortly.
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