Michael Ben Baruch, UK Director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, explains how travel to Israel offers not just a wonderful holiday but a vital show of solidarity with our people.
Rabbi Dovid Eisenberg of Prestwich Hebrew Congregation on the upcoming festival period.
ISRAEL AWAITS
As we approach Rosh Hashanah 5786, the shofar’s call reminds us of our ancient connection to Israel and our present responsibility to support it. Since October 7th 2023, that responsibility has taken on profound new meaning.
I moved to London in August 2023 as UK Director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, optimistic about promoting UK to Israel travel. Like the entire Jewish world, I quickly faced the trauma of post-October 7th reality. Our organisation confronted flight cancellations, travel advisories, and understandable safety concerns amid direct attacks and regional tensions.
Yet something remarkable happened and despite unprecedented challenges: travel to Israel continued. Tens of thousands of people from the UK visited during 2025, welcomed with overwhelming gratitude by Israelis who recognised these visits as powerful acts of solidarity.
The Israeli people have shown remarkable resilience, and our tourism industry stands ready to welcome you. Hotels, restaurants, tour guides, and attractions operate eagerly, sharing the Israel they love with visitors who choose to come.
This Rosh Hashanah, consider making 5786 your year to return to Israel. Go beyond solidarity, go for sheer fun, unique family memories, and experiences only Israel offers. Walk Jerusalem’s ancient stones, float in the Dead Sea, hike the Galilee, or dive in Eilat’s Red Sea. From world-class museums and outdoor adventures to spiritual journeys and culinary discoveries, Israel awaits.
When we hear the Tekiah Gedolah in synagogue, that final, long shofar blast, we’re called to action. In Rosh Hashanah liturgy, we proclaim “Hayom Harat Olam”, today the world is born anew.
Let that include renewed connection to Israel through travel. Rather than waiting for some distant future, make this the year you book that ticket. L’shanah tovah – and this year in Israel!
FAITH, IDENTITY, AND THE FESTIVALS THAT KEEP US
We are entering the season affectionately known in the Jewish world as the Yom Tov season. In Tishrei, we have three big holidays coming up. We start with Rosh Hashanah, move on to Yom Kippur and we continue with Sukkot just four days after.
Why are these days called Yamim Tovim? This literally translates into ‘good days’. What makes these days so good?
Each holiday gives us a chance to do something important right at the beginning of the year. Rosh Hashanah is where we reflect on what happened last year and make plans for the year ahead. We live in a fast-paced society that is constantly thinking about what’s going to happen next and rarely takes stock of what we’ve done in the past. Rosh Hashanah gives us an opportunity to take a break from our busy lives and spend time with G-d in synagogue reflecting and making plans to be better next year.
The next holiday is Yom Kippur. We’ve had time on Rosh Hashanah to reflect on what we did last year and usually we will have found some things that need mending. The first step in our improvement is atoning for the past and seeking forgiveness from G-d and our fellow man for anything we might have done wrong in the past year. Forgiveness is not something that should be taken for granted and a day like Yom Kippur is so special because it gives us the chance to try and fix our wrongs.
After these two holidays, we move on to the last of our three, namely Sukkot. We celebrate the fact that G-d took us out of Egypt and took care of us in the desert. In later years, when we lived in Israel, it was a festival of thanksgiving for the produce that the land had given its people that year. Even today, it is a special time of happiness for all the Jewish people and a time where we reflect on the great gifts that we have been given by G-d. In the past couple of years, it has been marred by the terrible events of October 7th, but it remains the holiday of thanksgiving, and we still need to try and be grateful for all that we have despite our hearts still feeling for our brothers and sisters in captivity in Gaza.
This is the reason why these days are known as Yamim Tovim. They are indeed great days for our nation as we get to do some very important spiritual work right at the beginning of the year.
I hope all of you will also get a chance to reflect on your past, mend any wrongs you might have done, and celebrate the goodness in your lives and make the Yamim Tovim great again! Wishing you all a Shanah Tovah.
