virtual insider trips

georgia

10 hours over 5 days

August 23-27, 2020

Have you ever wanted to travel but skip the jetlag? Join JDC Entwine as we venture on our first-ever Virtual Insider Trip to Georgia! Gain unique access to the Jewish community in Georgia through exclusive site visits and intimate conversations with community leaders. As a group, we will delight in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Georgia through interactive experiences, all while learning about taking action and global Jewish responsibility.

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PARTICIPATION FEE

$85

Limited subsidies are available.

The full participation fee is $85. The breakdown of this fee is as follows:

$40 for visits and tours
$20 for cultural activities
$15 donation to community members
$10 for materials and supplies

virtual trip
highlights

  • Join a virtual guided tour and explore Georgian history, art, culture and nature
  • Explore the history of Georgian Jews, one of the most unique Sephardic communities in the Jewish world
  • Meet the leaders of the Georgian Jewish community, learn about their efforts to preserve and grow the community
  • Practice Georgian dance moves with the Jewish community in the city of Gori
  • Prepare delicious Georgian cuisine in an online cooking class

“Traveling carries with it the curse of being at home everywhere and yet nowhere, for wherever one is, some part of oneself remains on another continent.” – Margot Fonteyn

What is a Virtual Insider Trip FAQ

Am I able to participate if I cannot attend all the sessions? 

Our expectations for joining an Entwine Virtual Insider Trip are that participants will be available for the entire program. Typically, this consists of about 10 hours over the course of five days. We have worked closely with our staff in the regions to craft a full experience and each component contributes to the overall goals of our program. If the timing does not work out for you, no problem! We will find another trip you can join that works with your schedule. 

 

What is the anticipated time commitment of this program and do I need to take days off work to participate? 

Entwine Virtual Insider Trips typically run from Sunday to Thursday and require a time commitment of about 10 hours. The bulk of the sessions will take place on Sunday and there will be about 1.5 hours of programming on each of the weekdays. Weekday programs will typically take place between the hours of 12-1:30 PM ET and  5-8:00 PM ET. Your need to take off work will depend on your schedule and timezone. For those based outside of North America, no fear- we plan to run trips to accommodate different time zones later this year!”

 

What materials/ technology do I need to join the trip  

Our primary platform will be Zoom. You will need to join from a computer with a web camera in order to access many of the interactive features being utilized. We will also use WhatsApp to communicate with the group.  

 

Can I participate if I have already traveled with JDC Entwine to Georgia?  

Yes! We welcome new applicants as well as alumni on our Virtual Insider Trips. 

 

Does participating in this program preclude me from being able to participate in a future in-person trip? 

Entwine’s goal is to ensure that all participants in our programs take the learning from the experience and apply it to their local communities. One of the things we look for in returning applicants/alumni is how they were able to bring their global experience home. You are more than welcome to apply to any future trips and we are excited to see how you have taken this experience with you so that we can properly assess if another Entwine program is a good fit. 

 

Who can join a Virtual Insider Trip?

Insider Trips for Young Professionals are open to post-college age individuals. Participants generally range in age from early 20s through late 30s.

About JDC in Georgia

Stretching from the Caucus Mountains to the coasts of the Black Sea, Georgia is home to a diverse array of languages, cultures, religious minorities, and ethnic groups. The Jewish communities of this region are comprised of two separately led groups: those who can trace their history in the region back thousands of years and the newer arrivals, predominantly Ashkenazi Jews, who settled there mostly during the 20th century. While centers of Jewish life are mostly concentrated in the capital, Tbilisi, there are many smaller Jewish communities across the country. 

JDC’s COVID-19 Response

The coronavirus pandemic has created a public health crisis unprecedented in most of our lifetimes, leading to vast emergency humanitarian needs worldwide. As the global Jewish 9-1-1, JDC’s 106 years of expertise and experience responding to crises is needed more than ever. Right now, we are addressing emerging needs and helping communities adjust to this new reality, and ensuring that JDC workers around the world can continue to serve the tens of thousands of people who depend on us every day. Every day, disadvantaged Jews around the world depend on JDC for lifesaving services including homecare and basic necessities like food and medicine. In this new reality, they face even greater struggles and JDC is working to ensure our vital services continue and additional needs are addressed. In North Africa, JDC is providing ongoing assessment of risk and community needs, as well as crisis management planning for the many needy and vulnerable community members.

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