Maccabi USA is now recruiting 9th & 10th grade basketball athletes (ages 14-16) from the Boston area to assemble an 8-player boys’ team and an 8-player girls’ team to travel to Israel from December 20-31, 2026, and compete against Israeli opponents and participate in Jewish educational programs and touring.
Details:
- Participant cost: $1000 + cost of team flight
(Round-trip flight from BOS to TLV is reserved and the group will fly together as a delegation.) - What’s Included:
- Full accommodations
- Basketball apparel, practices, & competition
- Israel tours & cultural experiences
- Meals & group activities
- All transportation in Israel
- Required social and pre-education sessions and practices start in October/November
- Application Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026
Goals:
To ensure the impact of programming and alignment to the organizational missions of Maccabi USA and Combined Jewish Philanthropies, five primary goals were established for this program:
- Deepen individual Jewish Identity
- Foster connection to the land & people of Israel
- Understand the diversity of the Israeli people
- Create lasting friendships with Israeli peers
- Connect with and learn about the Boston sister-city of Haifa, the largest integrated city in Israel
Preliminary Schedule*:
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Departure Day
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Sunday,
December 20
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Monday,
December 21
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Tuesday,
December 22
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Wednesday,
December 23
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Thursday,
December 24
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Friday,
December 25
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Depart Boston
(team flight details will be provided)
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Arrival in Israel
Transfer to Jerusalem
Old City & Kotel
Light Workout
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Yad VaShem
Har Herzl
Merkaz Herzl
Lunch
Clinic with Tamir Goodman
Dinner
Game against Jerusalem Team
Evening at Ben Yehuda
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City of David
Chain of Generations
Lunch at Abu Gosh
Travel to Kfar HaMaccabiah
Jewish Sports Museum
Practice at Kfar HaMaccabiah
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Morning practice
ANU
Lunch at Dr. Shakshuka
Tour Yaffo and Shuk HaCarmel
Game at Kfar HaMaccabiah
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Depart for Haifa
Caesarea
Lunch and social event with Haifa Peers
Joint practice
Kabalat Shabbat
Shabbat dinner
Oneg Shabbat
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Overnight stay (Jerusalem hotel)
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Overnight stay (Jerusalem hotel)
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Overnight stay (Ramat Gan hotel)
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Overnight stay (Ramat Gan hotel)
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Overnight stay (Haifa hotel)
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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Departure Day
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Saturday,
December 26
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Sunday,
December 27
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Monday,
December 28
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Tuesday,
December 29
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Wednesday,
December 30
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Thursday,
December 31
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Shabbat Limud:
ADL
Speaker on Majdal Shams/Druze community
Havdallah
Keynote
Night social with Peers TBD
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Haifa Tour focused on Integration
Bahai Gardens
Evening practice
Nighttime social with peers TBD
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Day of service – Volunteering at CJP Partner site
Afternoon practice
Maccabi Haifa Basketball Game
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Morning practice
Majdal Shams
Druze Lunch
Outdoor Recreational Activity in Galilee
PM game vs Peers
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Tour Maccabi Haifa Academy and Facilities
Closing celebration
Shopping time
Depart for Airport
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Depart TLV
(early morning arrival in BOS)
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Overnight stay (Haifa hotel)
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Overnight stay (Haifa hotel)
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Overnight stay (Haifa hotel)
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Overnight stay (Haifa hotel)
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*Itinerary subject to change
