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Go on Birthright Israel with Maryland Hillel!

Our next trip will travel January 2019. Sign up now to go with us this winter!

Join your friends and Maryland Hillel on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Israel! You’ll hike mountains, taste new foods, explore the culture and religion, and create lasting friendships. View the complete sample itinerary.

If you have any questions, email Stephanie at birthright@marylandhillel.org or text/call us at 301-422-6200.

Registration Overview

Register now at freeisraeltrip.org/umd and create an account with a non-university (“.edu”) email address. (This will be your user ID.)
Fill out the general info and submit a $250 refundable deposit. For Trip Selection, choose “Campus Trip” and select the University of Maryland Hillel International trip.
Click the link to confirm your email address in the email from Birthright Israel. Within 24–48 hours, you’ll receive an email from Hillel International with a link to Part 2 to submit health and medical info, make roommate requests, and upload a JPG of your passport.
Watch for an email to sign up for a 30-minute interview with a member of the Maryland Hillel team. This allows us to get to know you, determine eligibility, and gives you the chance to ask questions.
Maryland Hillel lets you sign up for the trip of your choice within the next two years! Pending eligibility, your $250 refundable deposit will secure a spot. If you’re applying for a future season, email birthright@marylandhillel.org. (Note: You can skip Part 2 of the application.)

Trip Highlights

Sample Itinerary – Winter Trips

Day 1
Land at Ben-Gurion Airport. Start the day exploring the streets of Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Explore the ancient ruins of Caesarea to marvel in one of King Herod’s greatest constructions. Ride along the main highway of Israel on the way to the Northern Galilee.

Day 2
Start the day with an off-road Jeep Ride along the dirt roads of the Golan, exploring its natural beauty and the Golan’s strategic significance to Israel. Then, walk by the Ayun Stream between the Galilee Ridge and Hula Valley and marvel at the green canyons and waterfalls. Experience the places behind the news headlines at Mt. Bental, an observation point and former Israeli bunker between the Israeli and Syrian border. Then, sip through an Israeli winery and learn how wine is made in such a special country.

Day 3
Visit the mystical city of Tzfat through the eyes of an Israeli Kabbalistic artist. Then, we’re heading to Jerusalem to meet up with a group of Israeli peers who will join the bus for the next several days. We’ll stop at Mount Scopus for an incredible view and a joyous welcome ceremony. Tour the Old City and go inside the Western Wall Tunnels.

Day 4
Hear stories through a guided tour at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust remembrance museum. Start to prepare for Shabbat by strolling through Machane Yehuda Market to buy snacks and souvenirs. Then, bring in Shabbat with all of the Maryland Hillel buses by trying a service of your choice and indulging in a festive dinner. Conclude the night with stories, singing, and yummy rugelach from the shuk!

Day 5
Take part in different workshops run by Maryland Hillel staff and peers from your bus. After lunch, watch your friends become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Take a Shabbat nap and celebrate the conclusion of Shabbat with Havdalah before heading out to enjoy Jerusalem’s nightlife.

Day 6
Pay respects to Israel’s fallen soldiers, prime ministers, and others who created and shaped the land of Israel. Learn about minorities in Israel by visiting with pioneering Bedouin-Israeli women. Get ready to spend the night in the Negev Desert and feast on a traditional Bedouin dinner with homemade hummus, pita, and more! Take your connection with Israel and Judaism to a whole new level through a desert night hike of self-reflection.

Day 7
Start the morning with desert excursion on a camel. Hike up the Roman Ramp and travel down the Snake Path to learn the tale that took place at Masada while exploring its beautiful views. Kick up your feet and float in the Dead Sea!

Day 8
Bring smiles to the faces of children who are receiving life-changing heart surgeries at Save a Child’s Heart. Visit the Ayalon Institute for a glimpse at the ingenuity and creativity of Israel’s pre-state armed forces. Spend the afternoon eating your way through the Salad Trail and learn about the connection between agriculture and environmental innovation. Enjoy another night out with your group in Tel Aviv.

Day 9
Go on a guided tasting tour of Lavinsky Market and sample foods and drinks in the heart of the Florentine neighborhood. Travel back in time to the birthplace of the modern Jewish state at Independence Hall. Learn about the triumphs and challenges of the start-up scene in Israel at the Taglit Innovation Center.

Day 10
Explore the meandering alleyways of Jaffa, the ancient gateway to the Holy Land. Stroll through the Carmel Market where you’ll find delicious fruit along with a souvenir or two. Explore Nachalat Binyamin, a unique arts and crafts fair in the center of Tel Aviv. Then, indulge in a farewell feast and head to the airport.

Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, private philanthropists through the Birthright Israel Foundation, and Jewish communities around the world (North American Jewish Federations, Keren Hayesod, and The Jewish Agency for Israel). This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel.