Each year, RootOne sends thousands of Jewish teens on life-changing journeys to Israel—adventures that ignite self-discovery, strengthen identity, and deepen their connection to the land and people of Israel. Teens return inspired, empowered, and more in touch with who they are and where they come from.
RootOne
Each year, RootOne sends thousands of Jewish teens on life-changing journeys to Israel—adventures that ignite self-discovery, strengthen identity, and deepen their connection to the land and people of Israel. Teens return inspired, empowered, and more in touch with who they are and where they come from.
As teens embark on a complex journey of enrolling in college and entering adulthood, solidifying their Jewish identity is critical. RootOne’s vision is to continue to grow and expand from here, to partner with more organizations to send many more Jewish teens to Israel in the future.
What We Do
1
Substantial Vouchers
RootOne provides $3,000 vouchers to reduce the cost of Israel travel programs.
Who’s eligible: Jewish teen who is currently in 9-12 grade.
Sign up to take advantage of substantial vouchers and be part of an unforgettable experience!
2
Diverse Trip Options
RootOne partners with various youth-serving organizations to offer a range of trip experiences, including: NFTY (URJ) in Israel, JSU GO, BBYO, NCSY Summer, JNF- Muss program, Ramah Israel Seminar, CTeen, USY Summer Experience, and a lot more.
Each trip offers unique opportunities to explore different topics related to Israel, Israeli society, and Judaism. But no matter which trip you choose, you’ll have the chance to make new friends, dive deeper into your own identity, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind summer experience.
Before the Trip
Once you’ve chosen a trip from the wide variety available, you’ll apply to receive a voucher. Each participant will get access to a personal portal where you can learn more about your specific trip and explore different topics related to the experience.
To receive the voucher, you’ll need to earn 18 nekudot, or points, in the portal. You can collect points by completing various activities on the site—like chatting with an Israeli teen, watching videos, answering trivia questions, and more.
Once you’ve earned all 18 points, a $3000 voucher is automatically applied to the cost of your trip through your trip provider.
The Trips
All of RootOne’s partners offer trips to Israel, and some trips include additional experiences—like a visit to Poland. Trip lengths vary, starting from three weeks and up.
Some trips are travel-based, moving from place to place across the country, while others are based in one central location, where participants return each day after exploring different parts of Israel.
Certain trips also focus on specific themes, such as sports, innovation, or entrepreneurship.
On every trip, you’ll be joined by Israeli teens your age, and you’ll be guided by both American and Israeli staff members.
Of course, no matter which trip you choose, you’ll have the chance to build lasting friendships, learn and grow, experience independence, enjoy delicious food—and most importantly, have fun!
What's Next
After the trip, you’ll have the chance to stay engaged through a wide range of RootOne programs. They offer alumni workshops and courses that can expand your knowledge, help you earn volunteer hours, and even qualify for college credit.
In Atlanta, you’ll also get to enjoy in-person meetups and events with friends from your trip and from other RootOne trips to Israel.
RootOne is committed to providing alumni with meaningful opportunities to continue exploring who they are, deepening their Jewish identity, and strengthening their connection to Israel and Israeli society.
Your once-in-a-lifetime trip doesn’t end when you come home—it’s just the beginning.
In Their Words: A RootOne Alumni’s Journey
Shira
My Israel trip was truly life– changing. I got so much closer to my friends and met so many awesome new people on the trip! My most memorable experience was from our last Shabbat. We walked to the Western Wall from our hotel, and it was kind of far so we were able to just spend so much time talking together for one more night. When we got there, there was another trip of teenagers and we all had services together and ended up dancing and it was probably like 80 people.
After going to Israel my view of it definitely changed as when I was there it felt like a second home. I think because of the trip I’ve advocated so much more for Israel’s right to exist than if I hadn’t been.
I think every teen should go to Israel because there is nothing like it. It was so freeing and I was surrounded by people who got “it” and there was always something new to see and experience!
Shira Pries, Atlanta
Liv
I’m Liv Fishman and I’m a senior at Alpharetta High School. I personally was fortunate enough to receive a RootOne voucher that allowed me to visit Israel for a month with my camp through Yallah! Israel (a NFTY Israel trip) in the summer of 2023.
While I grew up learning about Israel and the Jewish connection to the country and land from a religious and historical perspective, my trip – which included traveling around the country, exploring archeological sites, visiting the Western Wall, hiking and camping in the desert, shopping in the cities, meeting such diverse people as Arab Israelis, Bedouins, Druze, Orthodox and secular Israelis, and Jewish teens from around the world. Being with a group of Israeli teenagers for five day was incredibleand even getting stuck for hours on Ayalon Highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the middle of a protest against the judicial overhaul occurring at the time – made Israel a real place for me.
In Judaism, the land of Israel as well as the modern-day country have always held elevated spiritual dimensions and symbolism, but the State of Israel is also a very real country, which means that it is not perfect, as much as we’d all like it to be. Because I have had the opportunity to visit Israel, meet many Israelis from different walks of life, and learn about Judaism and Jewish history in depth, I can truly love Israel – not a glorified vision of it that glosses over its imperfections, but the real Israel, and because of that love, I will always support Israel and work to push it towards an improved future. In this day and age, with the proliferation of anti-Israel sentiment and misinformation circulating along with real criticisms, it can be easy for people to become disillusioned when Israel seems not to live up to the mythical and utopian image that they may have of it.
As a result, it is more important than ever for young people to visit Israel, to learn about it and see it for themselves so that they can appreciate it for what it is – a real country, a beautiful country, a multicultural country, an imperfect country filled with imperfect people, a spectacular achievement and homecoming after national tragedy and disaster, after exile and pogroms and gas chambers. The Jewish national home. I would like to thank RootOne for the opportunities it has provided me and many others and encourage every teen who is eligible to take advantage of its generous offerings and visit Israel as soon as they can.
Liv Fishman, Atlanta
Hannah
Two years ago, I visited Poland and Israel with my lifelong friends from summer camp.
I am grateful that I traveled with a group of people who understand what it is like to be Jewish. Never again will I feel ashamed of my culture or where I come from. Never again will I be able to let an insensitive comment about Jews or the Holocaust go by without addressing it.
I would not be who I am today without my Judaism. I would not have the lifelong friends I have been so fortunate to make and I would not have this supportive community.
I ventured through Israel for a month with my closest friends and I never took a single second for granted.
Hannah Silver, Atlanta
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