inside jewish

bosnia & croatia

in partnership with Jewish United Fund

April 5-12, 2027

Join JUF Young Leadership Division and JDC Entwine on a journey to the Balkans! On Inside Jewish Bosnia and Croatia, you’ll immerse yourself in global Jewish culture with a group of other Chicago-area young adults. During this trip, explore JDC’s work in Bosnia and Croatia, visit Jewish communities, meet with community leaders, and tour this breathtaking region.

Please Note: This experience is being offered exclusively to young adults ages 23-39 living in the greater Chicago area.

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trip
highlights

FAQ
  • Gain insight into JDC’s pluralistic strategy in the region; learn the history of the organization’s daring rescue missions to save both Jewish and non-Jewish citizens during the Yugoslavian war in the 1990s.
  • Meet the small but vibrant Jewish communities of Sarajevo and Zagreb, and get an inside look at the programs and young leaders participating in JDC’s Junction Europe Network.
  • Learn about the JDC-founded Women Health Empowerment Program (WHEP), which serves women’s health needs in Bosnia & Herzegovina and has since become the independent organization, Think Pink.
  • See the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the world’s oldest Sephardic illuminated haggadot, and visit historic Jewish landmarks throughout Bosnia and Croatia.
  • Enjoy the landscape of the Balkans — from the cobblestoned streets of Zagreb to the pristine coastline of Split. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Plitvice Lakes National Park and Sarajevo’s Old Town.

“I had an incredible time in Bosnia and Croatia! I was very touched by the Sarajevo community’s warmth and inclusion. I also enjoyed exploring my Jewish identity somewhere else in the world — it made me feel connected to global Jewishness!”

— Past Inside Jewish Bosnia & Croatia trip participant

PARTICIPATION FEE

$2,000

INCLUDES:

Local transportation within and between Bosnia & Croatia

Meals

Hotel accommodations

Site visits, briefings, tours, etc.

Medical and emergency evacuation insurance

*Please note that your participation fee does not include international airfare, travel cancellation insurance, or international phone service. All participants are required to secure these before the trip.

Trip Dates

April 5-12, 2027

Application Deadline:

December 22, 2026

APPLY NOW

About JDC

JDC (the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee or “The Joint”) is the leading Jewish humanitarian organization, working in 70 countries to lift lives and strengthen communities. We rescue Jews in danger, provide aid to vulnerable Jews, develop innovative solutions to Israel’s most complex social challenges, cultivate a Jewish future, and lead the Jewish community’s response to crises. For over 100 years, our work has put the timeless Jewish value of mutual responsibility into action, making JDC essential to the survival of millions of people and the advancement of Jewish life across the globe. Learn more at jdc.org.

About Jewish United Fund

For more than 125 years, JUF has served people of all faiths in Chicago, Israel and across the globe. We are a welcoming and inclusive community, inspired by Jewish values, committed to eradicating hunger, isolation and inequities, and uplifting all people to find health, harmony, unity, prosperity and peace.

Community-driven support for JUF’s Annual Campaign enables us to be one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the country. JUF believes in the extraordinary power of our resilient community to unite, empower, help and heal.

Rooted in the belief in collective action and collective responsibility, JUF provides life-saving services and life-enriching experiences where they are needed most. We take great pride in this, and in our unique ability to help people—to provide essential health and human services and vital points of community and connection.

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