Every summer, many members of our global student community pack their bags and head to Israel. Some come to visit family, others reconnect with friends, explore places they hope to one day call home, or simply soak up another Israeli summer. We asked a few of our students to tell us what their trips look like – from favorite beaches and family traditions, to what makes an Israeli summer feel so different from anywhere else. Here’s what they had to say.

Tzvi, 45, A telehealth physician from Long Island who is spending the summer exploring the places he and his wife may one day call home, and two rabbits who are patiently waiting for them back in New York. 

Why Israel?

We are in Israel this summer to explore places we may want to live in a year or two, since we are interested in making aliyah. We always thought we would eventually, but the world has changed since October 7th, and specifically, changes in the U.S. have convinced us there is no other real home but Israel.

This summer’s itinerary

We are staying mostly in Kiryat Tivon, a small town near Haifa. We were here by chance last winter and liked the feel of it. We’re also checking out a few other areas while visiting family, my wife’s family, as well as my sister and her growing family. We won’t be doing a lot of touristy things on this trip since we’re also working.

Favorite activity

We generally like seeing classic sites like the Old City of Jerusalem and Safed, and we once stayed in the Golan Heights during the summer, which was beautiful. I’m not yet sure where we’ll make it this summer.

How is summer here different?

The northeastern U.S. is hot in the summer, but it’s not as consistently hot every single day. There are cooler days mixed in, and it also rains. Around New York, summer tends to slow everything down a bit. I don’t know if that’s true in Israel, but we haven’t felt it here yet.

Rebecca, 51, is a writer, book club facilitator, and self-described “recovering Ivy League instructor” who has turned summers in Tel Aviv into her own version of Camp Mom and Dad.

Why Israel?

I come to Tel Aviv every summer with my husband. It’s our fourth summer. While our kids attend Jewish summer camps in the U.S., we do Camp Mom and Dad here. My husband is a college professor, and I’m a writer, which gives us the freedom to do this.

This summer’s itinerary

We found a fantastic apartment in Neve Tzedek last year and came back again this summer. We love the neighborhood, and we’re grateful that one bedroom is a mamad. Last year we needed it three times… We don’t really have an itinerary so much as a daily routine: work, walk for coffee, work some more, lunch. Then in the late afternoon we head to the yam for a swim. That’s our exercise. It’s heaven.

At night, we go out for dinner or meet friends and family. At home, I cook six nights a week (plus hot breakfasts for my kids). No cooking for me in Israel – mom’s on break! On Saturdays, we travel to Rishon LeZion for Shabbat with family, where we spend the morning by the pool before sitting down to homemade chicken soup (or the 25 to 30 dishes my aunt makes), or my cousin Ron’s barbecue. His kebabs are to die for. This year, our eldest daughter joined us for a week after finishing a summer semester in London, so we’re finally making that long-promised trip to Jerusalem.

Favorite activity

Swimming in the Mediterranean every afternoon, spending time with family, and enjoying a summer where someone else does the cooking.

How is summer here different?

Biggest difference? I’m from the U.S. – I’d say it’s all the Jews everywhere!

Beth, 37, A New York-based tech professional, passionate traveler, book lover, and Hebrew learner who says Israel is the one place that truly feels like home.

Why Israel?

For me, Israel is so much more than a travel destination; It is the place where I truly feel at home. I grew up in a small town in New York where we were one of very few Jewish families. My Jewish identity has always been something I consciously preserved and proudly carried. Because of this, coming to Israel carries immense joy for me.

Visiting now carries an entirely different weight. In the wake of October 7th and the rise in antisemitism around the world, stepping off the plane and instantly being enveloped by the warmth of our homeland is a profound relief. This journey is also a tribute to my grandparents, whose devotion to Israel shaped my own connection to the country. While I’m here, I spend invaluable time with family and friends, who make this beautiful country feel even more like home.

This summer’s itinerary

I always spend time in Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas, but I also love escaping to Manao Beach in Netanya, my favorite stretch of the Mediterranean coastline. While I enjoy the stark, silent majesty of the desert (and stargazing in Mitzpe Ramon is still high on my bucket list!) I’m always pulled back to the north. Some of my favorite memories include staying in a cabin in Dor, Shopping and eating my way through Zichron Yaakov, and visiting the wineries around Tiberias.

I also make time to volunteer whenever I’m here, especially with organizations supporting wounded soldiers and animal welfare. It’s profoundly important to me to give back to the people and the land that give so much to us.

Favorite activity

In the summer, the sea is my natural anchor. You’ll almost always find me by the shoreline, enjoying the relaxed rhythm of beach life, exploring cafés, shopping, and eating dinner by the water as the sun sets. But the moments I treasure most are the unplanned ones: sharing slow breakfasts, quiet evenings, and everyday life with friends and family. Especially now, simply being together feels incredibly sacred.

How is summer here different?

The biggest difference is that Jewish life is woven naturally into everyday life. In the diaspora, Jewish life has to be consciously created. In Israel, it is simply the rhythm of the country. From hearing Hebrew on every street corner to the shared pause of Shabbat, there’s a unique atmosphere that settles over the country every Friday afternoon as the busy markets give way to a beautiful communal stillness. It’s a feeling that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world.

Whether it’s spending every afternoon at the beach or searching for a future home, no two Israeli summers look exactly alike. And yet they all seem to tell the same story: that Israel is more than just a summer destination. A big thank you to Tzvi, Rebecca, and Beth for sharing their stories with me.