Tourism with a twist – Pnima is an experiential tourism venture designed to provide local and international tourists with an unforgettable experience that connects them to communities and entrepreneurs committed to social change. This is responsible tourism at its finest!
Ma'alot
In the beautiful town of Ma’alot there is a unique community of Ba’aley Teshuva (a Jew who returns to Orthodoxy) who created a community as a bridge between the religious and secular world. In the comfort of residents’ homes, the participants will meet with two women who were raised secular and chose a religious lifestyle and how they are using their artistic skills to explore their Jewish identity. Participants can choose from a variety of art workshops, such as creating mandalas or ceramics, and through the instruction of the artists, the participants will explore their own personal, spiritual journey.
Want to find out more about the community of Maalot?
Click here >> to learn about the Maalot experience.
Haifa
Israel is a multi-cultural society, and over 20% of the population consists of minority groups. The issue is that, for the most part, these groups are located in separate neighborhoods, cities, and towns. Haifa is known as one of only three ‘mixed cities’ with over 10% of the population consisting of Muslim and Christian Arabs.
Want to find out more about the community of Haifa?
Click here >> to learn about Robin Food.
Click here >> to learn about the Hadar Neighborhood.
Gedera
Gedera is one of Israel’s oldest cities, founded in 1884. A small city in the center of Israel, Gedera is starting to expand and branch out as one of Israel’s fastest growing towns. Two large immigrant groups live here, those from Yemen and those from Ethiopia. We invite you to join a tour in Gedera to meet some truly remarkable leaders of the Israeli Ethiopian community.
Want to find out more about the community of Gedera?
Click here >> to learn about Ethiopian community activism in Gedera.
Kiryat Gat
The Beta Israel Village Project is a unique social-business which combines agricultural and educational activities with the intent of preserving Jewish-Ethiopian heritage and establishing it as a sustainable national asset. The Project is the brainchild of the Hineni Society – Network of mission driven Communities, which has been initiating and supporting Jewish-Ethiopian mission driven communities for more than a decade.
Want to find out more about the community of Kiryat Gat?
Click here >>
Shuva
Meet Coby, a musician and storyteller who merges his personal Jewish journey from a secular household to an Orthodox mission driven community on the Gaza border with a musical workshop. Through a wide variety of instruments that participants will play, Coby will create a group harmony that will serve to emphasize his larger message of communal and societal harmony.
Want to find out more about the community of Shuva?
Click here >>
Rahat
Rahat is the largest Bedouin city in the Negev with a population of 65,000 residents. Over %55 of the population is under 18 and there are significant challenges facing the educational system both formal and informal. Meet with Jamal Alkrinawi, born and raised in Rahat and the director of the New Dawn non-profit educational organization. He will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Rahat and how local grassroots organizations are creating sustainable change.
Want to find out more about the community of Rahat?
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Ofakim
Ahuzat Negev is a local community-based civic organization that seeks to create meaningful community life while integrating into cultural life, education, and the environment by discovering involvement and local initiative.
Want to find out more about the community of Ofakim?
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Be'er Sheva
Beersheba, the Negev’s capital, is seen in the eyes of many as a way station for other destinations in the Negev. However, without much fanfare, Be’er Sheva is in the midst of an incredible transformation and it’s story is very relevant for the development of the Negev.
We offer the opportunity to explore one of the oldest and most stigmatized neighborhoods in Beersheba, schuna dalet, through the lens of community driven social change. Beginning with a conversation with an elderly resident and discussing the history of the neighborhood and how it got its stigma, the tour will then look more deeply at the the influence, both positive and negative that students and young residents are having on the neighborhood due to their lives there and what the future hold for the neighborhood and the city as a whole.
Want to find out more about Beer Sheva?
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Segev Shalom
Traditional Bedouin society was based on a nomadic lifestyle and strict adherence to local traditions. With the creation of the State of Israel and the influx of modernity, the Bedouin population is in the midst of a significant transformation. The role of women in their society is a much debated issue, today in Israel Bedouin women are the most underemployed segment of the population with %72 of women ages 18-65 unemployed. In light of that statistic, participants will meet with Amal Abualkom, a fascinating woman, who will share her personal story of perseverance in the face of many obstacles and how she started her own non-profit and social business to give Bedouin women a voice and a better future.
Want to find out more about the community of Segev Shlom?
Click here >>
