Name: Women’s Philanthropy November Pomegranate Journey to Panama
Start: 2025-11-16T08:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-20T17:00:00-05:00

Atlanta Pomegranates are heading to Panama City, Panama, November 16-20, 2025

 Join Women’s Philanthropy for a four-night journey to explore the dynamic community of Panama City, Panama.

We will share an unforgettable journey to Panama City, where Jewish heritage, culture, and adventure come together. Discover the city’s thriving Jewish community, meet local leaders, and see how our Federation dollars support impactful initiatives. Explore both Ashkenazi and Sephardic synagogues, connect with inspiring Jewish women, and savor outstanding Kosher cuisine. Take a hands-on cooking class with an Israeli chef in the historic Old Quarter, enjoy a VIP tour of the Miraflores Locks, and engage in meaningful volunteer activities. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Casco Viejo, Gamboa Island, and Punta Pacifica on this extraordinary experience. Don’t miss this opportunity—reserve your spot today!
Space is limited.

Trip Highlights Include:

Learn about Panama City’s strong and vibrant Jewish community
Meet Panamanian Jewish leaders and see our Federation dollars at work in agencies supported by JDC, Jewish Agency, and World Ort
Delight in Panama City’s outstanding Kosher cuisine
Tour Ashkenazi and Sephardic synagogues and learn about the important role they play in keeping the community strong
Connect with Jewish women and hear about their vibrant Jewish life and culture
Take a cooking class in Panama City’s Old quarter with an Israeli Chef
Enjoy and VIP tour of the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, an engineering marvel
Engage in hands-on volunteering activities
Sip Coffee Time Panama, a delicious Kosher Coffee-Chain
Explore the picturesque Casco Viejo historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gamboa Island, and Punta Pacifica and feed the monkeys

Cost & Payment Information 

1^st Payment: $500 nonrefundable deposit required at time of registration
2^nd Payment: $2,000 trip cost
3^rd Payment: $1,850 double occupancy room or $2,500 single occupancy room (additional $650)
Payments do not include airfare.

Payment timeline

$2000 due July 1, 2025
Balance due September 7, 2025
Travel Insurance is strongly recommended
Cancellation policy available upon request

The Women’s Philanthropy Journey to Panama City asks all participants to make an individual or household gift of $1800 (Pomegranate level) or more to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta 2026 Community Campaign. Women who already give at the Pomegranate level are asked to increase their 2026 Campaign gift by 10% over their 2025 commitment. Women who commit to the Pomegranate step up giving program, are also invited to join us.

For additional information, please contact Hagit Avital-Tsfany at havital-tsfany@jewishatlanta.org or call 404-862-6579 or Robin Sysler at rsysler@jewishatlanta.org or 973-699-1582.

Recommended Flights:

Departure: Sunday, November 16th, Delta 1759. ATL 9:45 AM and arrives 1:52 PM in PTY, Panama City, Panama
Return: Thursday, November 20th, Delta 1758. PTY, 3:17 PM and arrives 7:35 PM in ATL

Itinerary at a Glance (Subject to Change):

Day One: Arrive in Panama City with orientation and welcome dinner
Day Two: Visit Kol Shearith Conservative Synagogue, Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the tastes, and delicacies of the Old City.
Day Three: Learn about the Isaac Rabin Jewish School, the only ORT school in Panama, meet the monkeys of Gamboa Island, and an up-close visit to the Panama Canal
Day Four: Immerse yourself in what makes Panama’s Jewish community so special with visits to the synagogues, Cheseds, Jewish organizations, including hands on volunteering and even some dancing
Day Five: Breakfast, Free time for shopping and further exploring, and return home with incredible memories

Trip Details:

Included in the cost of the trip:

4 nights at JW Marriott Panama
Group airport transfer upon arrival/departure
5 days of transportation by private bus
5 days with English-speaking guide
Meals according to itinerary
Water bottles on the bus
Tours and entry fees
Security
Porterage
Gratuities and tips
VAT and Local taxes

Not included in the cost of the trip:  

International airfare
Beverages outside of meals and alcohol
Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
Incidentals and personal items
Any services not mentioned above

COVID 19 Policy

We will be adhering to Panama’s Covid-19 guidelines and vaccination policy, which are subject to change. It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure they meet the necessary vaccination requirements.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

Please confirm that your passport is valid for six months from date of return.
“How fit do I have to be?” The answer is simple: You do not have to be an athlete in any way, shape or form. However, the streets in Panama City can be narrow and cobblestoned and there are tall stairs at several sites. Walking 4-6 miles per day on country lanes, footpaths and coastal, all on relatively flat terrain, perhaps with an occasional hill.

Journey to Panama City Co-Chairs

Lisa Haynor
Melissa Maldin
Susan Mannheimer

Jewish Federation Leadership

Renee Kutner, President and CEO
Beth Weiller Arogeti, Board Chair
Stacey Fisher, 2025 Community Campaign Chair
Michael Kogon, 2025 Community Campaign Vice-Chair

2025 Women’s Philanthropy Leadership

Carey Guggenheim, 2025 Women’s Philanthropy President
Arin Tritt, 2025 Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair
Michelle Simon, 2025 Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Vice-Chair

Below are some examples of NSCY Summer Programs to Israel:

Euro— Travel around Europe for two weeks before journeying to Israel to visit Safed, Eilat, Tiberias and many more cities and sites on this co-ed trip.

Euro GO (Girls Only) – Travel with great girls from across the country around Europe for two weeks before journeying to Israel to visit Safed, Eilat, Tiberias and many more cities and sites on this co-ed trip

GIVE — Girls Israel Volunteer Experience (GIVE) is for exceptional high school girls who want to experience Judaism firsthand through the art of giving back in Israel.

Israel ID – Israel ID is a co-ed program that travels through the land of Israel.

JOLT Israel – Our leadership program will show you Israel in a whole new way while you create and run a 10-day camp for Israeli kids in need.

JSU GO Atlanta – Travel and see Israel in this once in a lifetime adventure for Atlanta public school teens.

Kollel — Spend an unforgettable summer in Israel filled with intense learning, world-class sports, and great trips.

Michlelet — An extraordinary program for teenage girls looking to spend their summer in a productive way by learning Torah and touring Israel.

NFTY in Israel is a chance for teens to experience the true culture and history of Israel through a variety of social and educational opportunities. Focusing on all that Israel has to offer, this trip is for the teen who is ready to explore their progressive Jewish values from a whole new angle! Come discover yourself on the adventure of a lifetime and make lifelong friendships along the way.

Touch ancient ruins visited by your ancestors for thousands of years. Eat delicious pita fresh off the fire. Climb sand dunes. Hike mountains. Swim in the Mediterranean. Float in the Dead Sea. Wander with your friends and meet amazing new people. Explore your progressive Jewish values from new angles. Discover yourself on the adventure of a lifetime.

Choose from several specialty trips, including a deep Hebrew immersion, a trip through the lens of social justice, a sports trip for athletes, and a sci-tech Israel trip.

For over 60 years, USY has provided Jewish teens with transformative travel experiences, opening their eyes to new places, different ways of life, and some of the world’s most spectacular sights.

On a USY Summer Experience, you will gain independence and a better sense of self, form lifelong bonds of friendship with teens from across North America, be immersed in other cultures and see the world from a different perspective, develop a deeper understanding of global issues and conflict, repair the world in local communities through volunteer work and service, and discover the joy of Jewish living through fun, meaningful experiences that create a lasting impact.

Now, it’s YOUR turn to have the summer of a lifetime in the U.S., Canada, Israel, Europe, or the Dominican Republic. See where USY Summer Experience takes you, and register today.

Ramah Israel Seminar is a six-week travel program in Israel, designed for entering 12th graders who are graduates of the ten Ramah overnight camps in North America. For over 50 years, Ramah Seminar has been an outstanding way for teens to experience Israel. Seminar is an intensive experience of study and travel, combining hiking and trekking throughout Israel with text study, challenging discussions and hands-on learning. Seminar participants travel Israel from north to south, gaining an in-depth perspective of Israel’s history and future. Seminar is an opportunity to live the Ramah life in Israel, combining all that is central to camp – community, connection and growth.

Discover Israel’s many treasures on a transformative journey with a focus on historical exploration, exhilarating adventures in nature, and cultural connections.

Travel from the far north in the Galilee to the deep south at the Red Sea as we visit ancient Jerusalem, modern Tel Aviv, the lush Golan Heights, the vast Negev Desert, the unsinkable Dead Sea, and the stark mountaintop fortress of Masada. Along the way, you’ll take part in an authentic archaeological dig, sample the world’s very best falafel, spend a night sleeping under the desert stars, and experience the innovative energy of Tel Aviv first-hand.

More than a tour, this is an opportunity to understand Israel’s dynamic society first-hand while finding your own connection to this storied land. Explore what it means to be Jewish from an Israeli point of view, understand the complex politics of the Middle East with real-world insights, and practice Jewish values through hands-on volunteering and Shabbat experiences.

Some of our Israel Journey trips will have the opportunity to attend The Maccabiah Games. Often referred to as “the Jewish Olympics,” this is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition that takes place every four years in Israel.

The Ultimate Israel Experience

Travel from the Golan Heights to the shores of Eilat and everywhere in-between. Swim in the Kinneret, visit archeological digs, hike through the mountains and float in the Dead Sea and much more.

Explore your Jewish Heritage

Judaism will come alive as you pray at the Western Wall, hike up Masada and visit all the holy sites Israel has to offer. Connect to the past and discover your future.

Meet Other Jewish Teens

JSU GO is designed for public school teens looking to learn more about their Jewish heritage through hands-on, meaningful experiences.

EVENT CALENDAR

Women’s Philanthropy November Pomegranate Journey to Panama

November 16 @ 8:00 am - November 20 @ 5:00 pm

Atlanta Pomegranates are heading to Panama City, Panama, November 16-20, 2025

Trip Highlights Include:

Cost & Payment Information

Payment timeline

Recommended Flights:

Itinerary at a Glance (Subject to Change):

Trip Details:

COVID 19 Policy

Other Things to Keep in Mind

General Information

Passport Information

Additional Trip Information

Emergency Contact Information

Waiver

Deposit

Journey to Panama City Co-Chairs

Jewish Federation Leadership

2025 Women’s Philanthropy Leadership

Details

Organizer