This interview with Anna Langer, vice president for North American Israel strategy at the Jewish Federations of North America and acting executive director of the Israel Educational Travel Alliance (IETA), explores how the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has disrupted the Israel educational travel sector. Programs that had anticipated a major rebound this summer, with roughly 60,000 participants expected to visit Israel, now face significant uncertainty as the country’s airspace remains closed and thousands of program participants remain in Israel. Langer explains that approximately 7,500 participants from educational travel programs are currently on the ground, and organizations are working intensively to ensure their safety, secure housing, and access to updated security information while coordinating with Israeli authorities and partners.
The interview highlights the wide range of challenges facing the field, including logistical complications, rising costs, and the strain on Israel’s tourism infrastructure, which has already been struggling since the pandemic and the October 7 attacks. At the same time, Langer emphasizes the resilience of both program staff and participants, many of whom have chosen to remain in Israel and engage in volunteer efforts supporting local communities during the crisis. Looking ahead, organizations are developing contingency plans, including alternative travel options in Europe and flexible decision timelines for upcoming trips, while the broader Jewish community is encouraged to support the educational travel sector and the participants returning home after experiencing a historic and challenging moment in Israel.
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