The Israel Studies Institute was founded in Jerusalem in 1985 by American-born Jewish educators with many years of teaching and guiding experience. Their goal was to create an independent, professional framework to maximize the potential of Israel as a tool for visiting groups to encounter the ultimate Jewish experience, and thereby offer a richer alternative to existing tours of Israel. Our unique approach considers the "Israel experience" to be a completely integrated opportunity for Jewish growth. This is reflected in the way our programs are built, the opportunities provided to interact with Israelis, and the educational focus of our guide/educators and other staffers.

ISI is a full-service organization. Unlike many other Israel tour operators, we do not farm out experientially significant parts of our programs to sub-contractors. Program essentials - curriculum development, creation of educational materials, staff education, encounter programs, logistics for all outings, from camp-outs in the Negev to nature exploration in the Golan Heights - all of these and more are carried out directly by ISI and its operational arm, Shovalim Tour Services. This enables us to guarantee the quality of our programming. This also ensures that the entire Israel experience is fully integrated, and that there is continuity and flow between all elements of the trip. ISI is large enough to provide all program services, but not too large - we see every program we run as our top priority!

At our offices in the Rechavia neighborhood of Jerusalem, nine full-time and many more seasonal ISI staff members have devotedly built a true Israel experience resource agency. Working together with communities, educational bureaus, schools and universities, youth groups, camps and synagogues of all denominations, we have conducted a wide range of trips for youth, adults and families. Thousands of North American Jews, young and old, have experienced Israel on our programs.

As our groups come from such a wide spectrum of populations, our ISI educators are sensitive to nuances and differences in backgrounds: of religious observance, political awareness, and emotional maturity of the participants, and all of our programs are directed accordingly. We are flexible in the execution of our programs and responsive to the wishes of the program sponsors at every step of the process. We take the utmost care in planning together with you, our partner, so that each program is uniquely tailored to your group's exact goals and needs.