Canada-Israel Inclusion Mission – November 2026

Activities:

• Welcome to Israel - Shalom and welcome to Israel. Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport.

• Drive to Tel Aviv - Check in to the hotel and settle in.

• Welcome meet up - Come together with drinks and light refreshments at the hotel for an introduction to the mission and framing of our mission.

• Opening session with keynote speakers - Opening session with keynote speakers: Abbass Abbass, founder of Elmanarah; Tali Markus, CEO of Bizchut; and Yoav Kreim, disability rights advocate.
  
  - Abbas Abbass founded Al-Manarah to advance disability inclusion within Arab communities in Israel, focusing on empowerment, accessibility, and equal opportunity. This meeting will explore culturally grounded models of service delivery and advocacy, addressing the intersection of disability and minority identity. His work reflects a thoughtful approach to ensuring that inclusion efforts resonate across diverse social contexts.
  
  - As CEO of Bizchut, Israel’s Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities, Tali Marcus leads national advocacy and strategic legal initiatives to advance disability rights. This discussion will provide perspective on rights-based advocacy, policy reform, and the steady work required to strengthen national inclusion frameworks. It offers an informed look at how sustained legal engagement shapes institutional accountability.
  
  - Yoav Kreim is one of Israel’s most prominent disability rights activists and a leading voice behind the national disability benefits reform movement. A founder of the “Disabled Panthers” protest movement, he has played a central role in reshaping public discourse around dignity, income security, and economic rights. In conversation with him, participants will gain insight into grassroots mobilization and the lived realities of negotiating systemic change. His perspective bridges civic action and public policy in a way that reflects the depth and persistence of Israel’s advocacy community.

• Walking tour of the Heart of Tel Aviv - Explore Lev Ha’ir ("the heart of the city") where the first roots of Tel Aviv were planted in 1909. This neighborhood contains some of Tel Aviv’s most beautiful buildings and sits at the center of the White City of Tel Aviv, renowned for its Bauhaus, Eclectic, and International Style architecture. Dense with history yet always looking ahead, the area blends historic streets with impressive skyscrapers and a thriving concentration of start-up companies. Bordered by Habima Theater to the north and the neighborhoods of Florentin and Neve Tzedek to the south, Lev Ha’ir serves as a gateway to nearly every district of the city. Today it remains a vibrant cultural hub, filled with galleries, restaurants, and leafy urban parks.

• Opening dinner - Nestled in the charming street of Nachalat Binyamin, Goshen is a vibrant Tel Aviv restaurant known for its bold flavors and warm hospitality. Enjoy their fresh, modern take on Middle Eastern cuisine with colorful dishes, local ingredients, and a lively energy that perfectly capture the spirit of the city

• Return to the hotel

• Tel Aviv lodging

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Leave Tel AViv for Raanana

• Visit Beit Issie Shapiro - Beit Issie Shapiro is an internationally recognized Israeli organization advancing disability inclusion through research, therapy, assistive technology, and inclusive education. During our visit, participants will gain insight into how research is thoughtfully translated into programs that influence both daily practice and broader policy. The organization’s ability to bridge academic rigor with practical application has positioned it as a reference point in the global disability field, offering perspective on how innovation can move beyond theory into measurable impact.

• Visit to Israel Elwyn - Israel Elwyn delivers residential, employment, and community services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During our visit, participants will explore how person-centered planning informs employment initiatives and community integration strategies. The breadth of its work demonstrates how individualized supports can be sustained across a wide network of services.

• Meet with participants of Krembo Wings - Krembo Wings is an inclusive youth movement bringing together children and teens with and without disabilities in shared social and leadership initiatives. During our visit, participants will engage with its peer-driven approach, where young people shape the culture of belonging themselves. The movement’s presence across communities highlights how early inclusion can influence attitudes and relationships in ways that endure well beyond childhood.

• Return to Tel Aviv

• Dinner at Greco - Experience the lively charm of a Greek taverna at Greco, where vibrant Mediterranean flavors and a festive atmosphere capture the spirit of the seaside. Expect a bustling, high-energy setting that makes for a fun and memorable meal.

• Evening lecture with Jessica Steinberg - Jessica Steinberg is the Culture and Lifestyle Editor for The Times of Israel, where she has covered Israeli art, music, food, and culture for many years. A former New Yorker who has lived in Jerusalem for over two decades, she has also contributed to publications like The New York Times and is the author of the children's book Not This Turkey. Following the October 7, 2023 attacks, she has focused her reporting on the stories of hostages and their families with a particular emphasis on resilience and recovery. Jessica will share stories and insights on how individuals, organizations, small businesses and communities are rebuilding their lives in the wake of trauma and tragedy.

• Tel Aviv lodging

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out

• Travel south to Israel's Negev desert

• Visit to ADI Negev - Nahalat Eran - ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran is a rehabilitation village in southern Israel providing residential, medical, therapeutic, and employment services for individuals with complex disabilities. Participants will learn about the integrated campus model and how multiple layers of care are coordinated within a single setting. The scope and cohesion of the framework offer a perspective on how comprehensive services can operate in tandem while maintaining a sense of community and purpose.

• Lunch at Osi Lankri house in Ofakim - Recognized as one of Ofakim's "Culinary Queens," Osi Lankri invites you to savor a home-cooked meal in her beautiful home where she will also share her personal stories about life in Ofakim, a community in southern Israel not far from the border with Gaza. Hear how the attack on October 7th impacted her home, her family, and her community and how they're building back two years later.

• Visit the Azrieli National Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research at Ben Gurion University - The Azrieli National Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, based at Ben-Gurion University, advances scientific understanding of autism and related conditions. During our meeting, participants will explore how current research informs therapeutic approaches and educational practices across Israel. The center’s close connection between laboratory findings and community implementation reflects a commitment to ensuring that knowledge directly shapes lived experience.

• Visit to Beit Hagalgalim (El Amal) - Beit Hagalgalim is a peer-led organization founded by individuals with physical disabilities to promote empowerment, leadership, and civic engagement. Its El Amal branch focuses on programming within Arab communities, integrating advocacy and community-based initiatives shaped by lived experience. Participants will learn how leadership development and inclusion efforts emerge organically from within the communities they serve.

• Drive towards Jerusalem

• Dinner at the Family Kitchen by JJ Jalil - A cozy family-run kitchen in Ein Rafa, near Jerusalem, JJ Jalil serves fresh, authentic Arab cuisine in a family-style environment. Amid warm hospitality, homemade flavors, local ingredients, and dishes passed down through generations enjoy a delicious, memorable meal off the beaten path and definitely worth traveling for.

• Jerusalem lodging

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Visit to the Knesset - The Knesset is Israel’s national parliament and the center of the country’s legislative process. During this visit, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how policy is developed and debated within the Israeli system. We will meet members of parliament actively engaged in disability rights policy, offering perspective on how advocacy, public leadership, and legislative action converge to shape national inclusion efforts.

• Visit to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services - The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services is the primary government body responsible for disability policy, funding, regulation, and oversight across Israel. In this meeting, participants will gain a systems-level understanding of how national programs are structured and coordinated. The discussion will illuminate how policy frameworks are translated into services that reach communities across the country.

• Visit and tour Shalva National Center and lunch at Shalva Cafe - Shalva National Center provides therapy, education, vocational training, family support, and social inclusion programming for children and adults with disabilities. Participants will learn about its holistic, family-centered philosophy and the integration of clinical services with community life. The atmosphere and scale of its center reflect a vision in which care, belonging, and opportunity are interwoven within a single environment.

• Reflection session at Israel Elwyn Center

• Dinner at Meshek Offaimme - Offaime Restaurant focuses on handmade produce that is crafted slowly using traditional techniques to create food that is tasty and healthy and packaged with complete respect for the environment and for the people who take part in the creative process. The restaurant's unique setting in Beit Hansen in Jerusalem brings another element to the experience - it sits in one of the first hospitals established in Jerusalem in the mid-19th century, by the Joint Anglican-German Protestant Community in Jerusalem.

• Jerusalem lodging

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Panel discussion on disability rights, legalities and advocacy - Morning panel discussion with Tzviah Admon and Shirley Pinto on disability rights, legalities, and advocacy.
  
  - Tzviah Admon is a leading Israeli lawyer specializing in human rights and disability law. In conversation with her, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of Israel’s disability rights legislation, the evolution of legal frameworks, and the advocacy movements driving reform. Her perspective offers meaningful insight into how legal strategy, civic activism, and public policy intersect within Israel’s dynamic legal landscape.
  
  - Shirley Pinto is a former Member of Knesset and one of the first deaf parliamentarians in Israel’s history. During her tenure, she was closely involved in advancing legislation related to accessibility, inclusion, and the rights of persons with disabilities. In dialogue with her, participants will gain perspective on how disability advocacy translates into parliamentary work, coalition building, and national policy discussions. Her experience offers a rare window into representation at the highest levels of government and the evolving place of disability rights within Israel’s political sphere.

• Visit to ALYN Hospital - ALYN Hospital is Israel’s leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital, offering multidisciplinary medical and therapeutic services for children with physical disabilities. Participants will learn about advanced rehabilitation approaches and coordinated care models that support long-term development. The hospital’s integration of clinical expertise, technology, and family partnership reflects a comprehensive approach to pediatric care.

• Choose from the following afternoon activity options:

• OPTION 1: Concert at Eden Tamir Music Center - Nestled in historic Ein-Kerem in Jerusalem, the Eden Tamir Music Center hosts intimate chamber‐music concerts—imagine a Saturday evening recital in a candle-lit room where world-class artistry meets warm local charm.

• OPTION 2: Tasting tour of Machane Yehuda outdoor market - In the heart of the city sits a bustling multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor. A tasting tour through Machane Yehuda Market is an adventure for your taste buds! Enjoy the hustle and bustle with all the rich fragrances, colors, and sounds this iconic Jerusalem market offers.

• Return to the hotel for free time

• Sabbath evening (Shabbat) services & dinner at the hotel - Reflection session after dinner.

• Jerusalem lodging

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Saturday morning (Shabbat) services

• Optional tours for the day:

• OPTION 1: Walking tour of the Old City

• OPTION 2: Masada, Dead Sea, and Nova Music Festival Site

• Free time

• Cohort roundtables at Canada network building

• Havdala on the roof of Beit Hansen - Conclude the Sabbath in a traditional ceremony overlooking the evening skyline of Jerusalem's Old City and new.

• Dinner on your own - !njoy an evening at leisure and dinner at a local restaurant, we will be happy to make restaurant recommendations and reservations. (Meal and transfers are not included)

• Jerusalem lodging

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Morning program at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) - The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee works globally to strengthen vulnerable communities, including advancing disability inclusion initiatives in Israel and beyond. In this meeting, participants will explore how partnerships, strategic investment, and capacity-building contribute to the development and expansion of inclusive programs. The organization’s international reach provides context for how local innovation connects to broader global efforts.

• Lunch at Cafe Gan Sipur - Café Gan Sipur, Hebrew for "coffee in the story carden", offers great coffee, fresh food, and storybook charm inside beautiful garden and park settings to encourage play and storytelling among children and adults alike.

• Visit to SHEKEL - SHEKEL provides independent living, supported employment, and community integration services for adults with disabilities. During our visit, participants will gain insight into how housing, vocational programming, and social inclusion initiatives are structured to promote autonomy and participation. The organization’s community-based framework offers a grounded perspective on sustainable inclusion.

• Meeting with Elaine Tal-El, founder of AV Israel - Elaine Tal-El is a leading advocate for children with hearing impairments and the founder of AV Israel, which promotes auditory-verbal therapy and mainstream educational inclusion. Participants will consider how early intervention, parent partnership, and evidence-informed practice shape long-term opportunity. Her experience highlights how focused expertise can influence broader educational conversations.

• Visit to Gdolim Bamadim - Gdolim Bemadim integrates young adults with disabilities into volunteer roles within the Israel Defense Forces through structured training and mentorship. During the visit, participants will explore how participation is supported within a national institution known for its rigor and structure. The program reflects how inclusion can be meaningfully embedded even within longstanding frameworks of public service.

• Cohort synthesis session

• Farewell dinner at Caffit - Situated in the beautiful Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, Caffit serves fresh, colorful Israeli comfort food in the heart of this garden-filled scientific and recreational center.

• Jerusalem lodging

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - And check out.

• Farewell and transfer to the airport (or for extensions) - Safe travels and we hope to host you again in our beautiful country!