Oranim Educational Initiatives has been the leader in Jewish Teen Travel since 1986.

With clear insight, born of years of experience with this very impressionable age group, we have created programs specially geared to contemporary youth. We strongly emphasize safety and still afford our participants adventure and fun, carefully grounded in experiential learning. Participants in our Israel programs are able to earn community service and college credits.

As part of Oranim's tours to all of our exciting destinations, emphasis is placed on the Jewish experience. Our Tour Educators make sure to add Jewish content. Shabbat is a day of rest, there is no traveling by bus but we do hold a Shabbat leisure walk in major cities or in the surrounding area. We put extra efforts to elevate Jewish Identity and enhance the Shabbat atmosphere. Shabbat observance is respected by all and includes services appropriate to the nature of the group. Kosher food, with Rabbinical Supervision is provided on our Israel programs, and our European programs are kosher style. All programs offer vegetarian options, when requested in advance.

Our expert tour educators have been carefully selected and trained to work with teens. We take the utmost care in choosing travel sites and locations, as well as specific activities. Safety and security are always our top priority. We take every possible step to ensure the safety, security and health of each of our participants. Please take the time to read through the safety and security procedures on our website.

We offer you the ability to tour along with your child “virtually” with pictures and notes posted from time to time on our dedicated group website. You can also send them email messages that will be hand delivered.

We provide:

• A local toll-free number for arranging connecting flights to and from the international departure gateway.
• Escorts from the International Departure Gateway in the New York area for the group flights.
• Full assistance for group flights upon arrival in foreign airports.
• Specially trained North American and Israeli staff members who are on call 24 hrs a day.
• Full emergency medical coverage.
• Facilitated money exchange for the entire group.
• Cellular phone rentals - free rental and free incoming calls in Israel. See link on group's website.
• Arrangements are made, on a regular basis, for the group to do laundry (additional fee).
• A cellular phone to each Tour Educator for outgoing emergency calls and contact with our office.
• While in Israel, each participant receives a map of Israel as well as an Oranim backpack and hat.
• While in Israel each group is escorted by an armed paramedic.

Your teen's experience will enable him/her to see Israel, grow and a person and as a Jew, experience life and cultures of other people and discover their Jewish Heritage.

Parents have written us:

Jackelyn most definitely had the time of her life! She loved Israel, loved the Israeli teens she met, and the family who she shared dinner with. She came back with a true appreciation for Israel and the people of Israel. She "got" it! As an educator, I feel that you need to know this, as this is what it's all about.
J. Kallelis, Parent

He did not stop talking all afternoon. He smiled all day. He proudly showed off his Israeli soccer shirt and other tee's. He feels like he had the best host family and the coolest kid. I have never seen him so confident and happy-ever.
I do not think any words can express how full my heart was and is. Ben is connected to Israel and being Jewish and his life has changed for the better-forever.
G. Tzizik, Parent