Jan 12,2007

Dear Rena,

I have led three synagogue tours and have participated in numerous rabbinic and Federation/UJC missions to Israel throughout the years. Our experience with Melitz during our December 2006 trip was unsurpassed. Our group was made up of approximately fifty people, ranging from ages 5 through over 80. It is not easy to keep such a group engaged and happy. Our guide, Josh Even Chen, was superb, and his ability to serve as a leader, educator and facilitator was unique. He functioned as a camp counselor, youth leader and adult teacher. At the same time, Melitz provided us with a youth counselor, Maytal Ebstein, who quickly endeared herself to the children and teenagers. In the end, everyone had a wonderful time. We all came away feeling renewed, Jewishly enriched, and committed to returning to Israel for future visits.

A hearty Yashir Koach to Melitz for providing our group with the best possible Israel experience!

Rabbi Richard Eisenberg
Congregation B'nai Jacob
Woodbridge, CT

Jan 1, 2007

Dear Rena,

We had a fabulous trip in Israel. With Melitz it was way more than I ever imagined. Your service to us was fabulous! I'll write some more formal reflective letter saying the same that can go in the scrapbooks, but for now, just know that my 40 people were very, very pleased all around. I'm a fan of you all!

Todah Rabbah!

You can check out our experience on the trip at rabbipaul.blogspot.com.
Sometime later I'll do some words on our experience with Alexandra as tour educator. But rest assured she was marvelous!

Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Or Ami

Dear Josh,

Thanks so much for sending me those articles and the links. I will definitely look at them. I still can't believe it's almost been a year. It's amazing how time flies, truly. I'll still never forget all those great times we had; I still look at the pictures and watch the videos, and even that day-by-day source book you put together! Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards to your son, Yedid.

Chanky Friedman (14 years old)
Chabad Upper East Side

March 2006

As the advisor to this group the goal of this mission was to create an enlarged, educated and passionate leadership group who would come back and get involved in our Milwaukee community as well as advocate for Israel-Job well done.”

Judy Kaufman Lowenstein
Volunteer Group Advisor
Weinstein Leadership Fellows

June 2006

I expected to see the ways in which Israel has changed since I was last there (11 years ago). I expected to learn some things that I could use in my teaching. I expected to meet with other teachers from our region and make plans for the coming school year. I expected to be spiritually uplifted and to renew my connection with Israel. The trip met (and exceeded) all of my expectations.”

Tzipi Altman-Shafer
Milwaukee Jewish Day School

July 2006

Our guide was fantastic, knowledgeable, interested in each of us individually gaining through a genuine experience. Well-prepared and tireless and always interesting. She was an educator in every sense of the word and original in her approach-up to the challenge of a rather diverse group in terms of levels of practice and experience.

Elaine Nissen
Beth Hatikvah

Oct 2006

Josh, our guide, has the perfect personality for a tour leader: very patient, good sense of humor, able to gently get the group moving, incredibly extensive knowledge of Israel (past and present), ability to encourage discussion. In addition, as stated above, his personal commitment to Judaism lent a spiritual quality to the tour that made it more than just a ‘tour'. He is such a great guy (and guide) that we loved spending our time with him each day.

Jim and Joan Kirsner
Marin Chavura

"In all ways, the trip met our expectations and more. The arrangements were excellent, the itinerary appropriate for our group, and the educational programs well matched to our diverse ages. Our guide was well-organized, accessible, kind, patient, and fun. She kept the kids entertained even on the bus. Even with the demands on her, she managed to help all of us with our children. She is an interesting and knowledgeable guide. Her style in the front of the group is easy and comfortable. Working with her and all of you before and during the trip was a pleasure. I am extremely pleased with the Melitz approach in general. Thank you for everything."

Ros Roucher, Director of Adult Learning
Congregation Sinai
Milwaukee, WI

"Our guide is an outstanding, talented educator and he did a great job for us. He not only taught us but helped to bring the group together. I couldn't have asked for better. The group loved him. It's my hope that our synagogue will be bringing groups to Israel each year so I hope we will have other opportunities to work together. The outstanding experience which Melitz created for us can only get better and better."

Rabbi Lavey Derby
Congregation Kol Shofar
Tiburon, CA

"I truly thank you for all you did on this trip for us. Words really can't express how grateful I am to have gone on this journey, and how much I really look forward to getting more involved with Israel."

Recent Participant in Israel Educational Seminar

Groups that have visited Israel with Melitz

Chabad Upper East Side NY, NY

Milwaukee Jewish Day School (MJDS) Milwaukee, WI

National Jewish Mens' Club

Beth Hatikva Chatham, NJ

Or Ami Calabasas, CA

Academy for Jewish Religion Riverdale , NY

Max Bernstein Chavurah Marin, CA

Temple Anshe Shalom Hebrew High School Olympia Fields, IL

Bnai Jacob New Haven, CT

NACIE Synagogue Israel Engagement, UJC - MetroWest,NJ

Congregation Sinai, Milwaukee, WI

Kol Shofar, Tiburon, CA

Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City

Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning, Milwaukee WI

Suffolk County COJO, Long Island

Milwaukee Jewish Federation George Weinstein Fellows

Jewish Women International-Economic Security Mission

Kol Shofar/Netivot Shalom, Tiburon/Berkeley CA