The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) recently held its inaugural Israel
tour. It was truly the trip of a lifetime for a brave and diverse group of Jews and Christians. I say, ‘brave’ because as soon as the trip was advertised, war with Iran broke out. We decided that the tour would go ahead no matter what and thankfully the war ended shortly before our departure.
No trip to Israel today is complete without visiting sites connected to the 7 October atrocity. We were honoured to be escorted around the Nova Festival grounds by a survivor, to hear firsthand testimony from an IDF hero, and to visit the home of another hero in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
Our guide, former Sydneysider Josh Koonin, ensured the itinerary was packed with unforgettable experiences: a jeep tour along the Syrian border, lunch in the home of a Druze diplomat, and a high-level security briefing on Hezbollah at the Alma Centre.
What made the trip truly unique were the activities you simply won’t find on any other Australian tour. We ascended the Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av to pray with thousands of Jews, and visited Ariel University, the only Israeli university in Judea and Samaria which is doing extraordinary work bringing Jews and Arabs together in a world-class academic environment.
We spent a large part of the tour over the so-called ‘green line’, connecting with Jewish history in places like Chevron, the city of our forefathers, and Gush Etzion.
Our partnerships added even more depth. With Regavim we toured the strategic E1 area and saw firsthand the illegal construction around Jerusalem threatening Israeli sovereignty. With Ateret Kohanim we visited newly acquired Jewish properties in Jerusalem’s Old City basin. A highlight for many was visiting one of the pioneer outposts recently established in the Shomron, meeting the residents who are literally living the Zionist dream.
The trip was enhanced by connecting with Australian-connected organisations like the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce and Australian Friends of United Hatzalah of Israel.
We were particularly pleased to have some of our Christian friends join us and the trip reinforced just how much we share in common. So many sites in Israel hold deep meaning for both Jews and Christians.
“We visited Ariel University, the only Israeli university in Judea and Samaria which is doing extraordinary work bringing Jews and Arabs together in a world-class academic environment.”
New friendships were formed, and the group has continued to stay in touch. We’ve already had a reunion.
Believe it or not, a far-left, anti-Israel activist submitted a complaint to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) about the trip and the places we visited.
Unsurprisingly the AFP confirmed that no crime had been committed by visiting different parts of Israel so now we have it in writing if anyone needs extra encouragement.
If this sounds like the kind of adventure you would want to be part of, I have exciting news: AJA is announcing our next trip for June 2026.
This tour will be completely different from last year but just as unique. We plan to explore the Jordan Valley near Jericho and visit Shiloh in Samaria, where the Mishkan (Tabernacle) once stood.
We’ll take you to the Negev to witness firsthand the challenges involving the Bedouin community, and to South Tel Aviv to understand the social issues reshaping that area and we will hear about the plight of Christians from an Arab Christian.
We plan to visit Kibbutz Be’eri, the Gaza border, Mount Gerizim, Jaffa, and so much more.
Whether it’s your first time in Israel or your twentieth, I guarantee you’ll discover new things on the AJA 2026 Israel trip.
To learn more, subscribe for updates at www.jewishassociation.org.au/subscribe or contact office@jewishassociation.org.au.
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