Explore Jewish
Pilgrimages

As one of the three great pilgrimage festivals, Sukkot celebrates the harvest and recalls the 40-year desert journey. In Temple times, Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Sukkot’s celebrations—including dwelling in sukkahs and waving the four species. Today, we continue this legacy, embracing our connection to the land and our ancestral faith.

Embark on a spiritual pilgrimage with Passover, the “Festival of Unleavened Bread”. This journey from slavery to freedom is relived through the Seder and the eating of matzah. In ancient times, it meant a physical pilgrimage to Jerusalem, a tradition many continue to honor today.

Each year, thousands make the pilgrimage to Mount Meron for Lag BaOmer to honor the great mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. This joyous festival on the 33rd day of the Omer is marked by massive bonfires and celebration, transforming a day of mourning into one of spiritual light.

A pilgrimage of remembrance, Tisha B’Av draws mourners to the Western Wall to lament the loss of the Temples. This poignant 25-hour fast is a journey into collective memory, uniting the Jewish people at the site symbolizing both our deepest tragedy and our enduring hope.

Join the pilgrimage to Hebron for Shabbat Chayei Sarah: hear Abraham’s purchase recited at the Cave of the Patriarchs and share a Shabbat of prayer and learning. On 15 Tammuz, mark the Ohr HaChaim’s yahrzeit on the Mount of Olives with Psalms and study at his resting place in Jerusalem.

Experience the power and peace of a yahrzeit pilgrimage to Kever Rachel. Journey with us to this holy site to honor our matriarch, connect with a legacy of devotion, and find your own place in the story of our people.

Discover the profound beauty of Sigd, the holiday of the Ethiopian Jewish community. Join the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where prayers and fasting culminate in a vibrant festival overlooking the Old City, marking a powerful experience of faith, unity, and homecoming.

Experience the spiritual fervor of the Hilula of Baba Sali in Netivot. On the 4th of Shevat, thousands gather at the tomb of the “Praying Father,” Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, to seek blessings and salvation. Join the faithful in this powerful Moroccan tradition of prayer, celebration, and deep connection to a legendary miracle worker.

The shores of the Kinneret come alive with prayer during the Hilula of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness. On the 14th of Iyar, pilgrims flock to Tiberias to honor the “Master of Miracles,” lighting candles and giving charity. This sacred anniversary offers a unique opportunity to connect with a legacy of salvation and divine wonder.

Immerse yourself in the final moments of judgment during Hoshana Rabbah in Jerusalem. At the Western Wall, thousands strike willow branches in a rhythmic plea for divine salvation. This “Day of the Great Hosanna” seals the year’s decrees, uniquely merging solemn prayer with the festive joy of Sukkot.

Honor the legacy of the “Great Eagle” during the Hilula of the Rambam in Tiberias. On the 20th of Tevet, pilgrims gather at his tomb to study his texts and pray for wisdom and healing. This solemn commemoration connects you to the scholar who bridged faith and reason, offering a moment of deep intellectual and spiritual reflection.

Embrace the mystical energy of the Hilula of the Ari in Safed. On the 5th of Av, thousands pilgrimage to the Old Cemetery to honor Rabbi Isaac Luria, the father of modern Kabbalah. The hillside resonates with soulful prayer and song, celebrating the sage who unlocked the secrets of the Zohar.

Pay homage to the “Maran” at the Hilula of Rabbi Joseph Karo in Safed. On the 13th of Nisan, the faithful gather at the Old Cemetery to honor the author of the “Shulchan Aruch”. This day celebrates the giant of Jewish law who, alongside his legal mastery, received mystical visions from a heavenly mentor, the <em>Maggid</em>.

Sing the melodies of the soul at the Memorial Day of Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz in Safed. In the city’s ancient cemetery, visitors honor the Kabbalist poet who gifted the Jewish world Lecha Dodi. This pilgrimage connects you to the mystic who welcomed the “Sabbath Bride” in the fields of Galilee, forever transforming Friday night prayers.

Ascend the heights of faith during the Memorial Day of Rabbi Akiva in Tiberias. On Lag BaOmer, pilgrims light bonfires at his hillside tomb, celebrating the shepherd-turned-sage who taught that “Love your neighbor” is the Torah’s great principle. This fiery gathering honors the martyr who defied empires to keep the flame of Torah alive.

Commemorate the “Crown of the East” at the Hilula of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in Jerusalem. On the 3rd of Cheshvan, masses flock to Sanhedria Cemetery to honor the Sephardic leader and Torah giant. Known as Maran, his legacy of restoring pride and Halachic authority lives on through the prayers of the thousands who visit his resting place.

Seek your soulmate at the Hilula of Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel in Amuka, near Safed. On the 26th of Sivan, thousands of singles flock to this deep valley tomb, praying for marriage and fertility. Tradition holds that the sage, who remained unmarried, promised to intercede for those seeking love.

Ascend to the highest point in Jerusalem for the Memorial Day of Samuel the Prophet. On the 28th of Iyar, coinciding with Jerusalem Day, pilgrims gather at Nabi Samwil to honor the leader who anointed kings. This site, sacred to all faiths, resonates with prayers for redemption and national strength.

Connect with mystical secrets at the Memorial Day of the Ramchal in Tiberias. On the 26th of Iyar, devotees visit his resting place near Rabbi Akiva to honor the author of Mesillat Yesharim. His legacy as a Kabbalist and ethical master inspires seekers of spiritual perfection and divine wisdom.

Pay tribute to the savior of Torah at the Memorial Day of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai in Tiberias. Resting within the Maimonides compound, this giant of spirit ensured Judaism’s survival after the Temple’s destruction. Pilgrims honor the sage who famously requested, “Give me Yavneh and its Sages”.

Visit the resting place of the “Holy Preacher” during the Memorial Day of Rabbi Moshe Alshich in Safed. Buried in the ancient cemetery, his commentary Torat Moshe remains a pillar of Jewish thought. His grave is a center for prayer, known for the “Alshich’s” promise to help those who study his works.

Celebrate the renewal of Tiberias on the Memorial Day of Rabbi Chaim Abulafia. Honored on the 6th of Nisan, this leader restored the city’s Jewish presence in 1740. His tomb is a symbol of resilience, marking the site where he rebuilt the community and withstood the siege of glorious miracles.

Mark the Hasidic aliyah at the Hilula of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk in Tiberias. On the 1st of Iyar, followers gather at the Old Cemetery to honor the leader who brought the first wave of Hasidim to the Holy Land. His legacy of humility and love for the land endures.

Celebrate the Royal Psalmist on the Memorial Day of King David in Jerusalem. On Shavuot, traditionally cited as his yahrzeit, Mount Zion fills with the recitation of Psalms. Pilgrims light candles and sing at his tomb, honoring the ancestor of the Messiah and the sweet singer of Israel.

Honor the power of sacrifice at the Memorial Day of Rachel, wife of Rabbi Akiva, in Tiberias. Buried at the Tomb of Sit Sukeina, she is revered for encouraging her husband to become a Torah giant. Women especially visit this site to pray for the merit to support Torah and family.

Experience the calm of the Galilee at the Memorial Day of Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta in Safed. Located near the ancient cemetery or Ein Zeitim, his grave marks the resting place of a sage known for his piety and miracles. Visitors seek blessings for peace and sustenance at this tranquil site.

Step into history at the Memorial Day of Rebbe Dosa ben Horkinas in Safed. Buried in the Cave of Shem and Eber, this long-lived sage spanned generations from the Prophets to the Tannaim. Pilgrims visit this ancient cavern to connect with a lineage of Torah that defies time.

Embrace optimism at the Memorial Day of Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu in Safed. His tomb on the road to Meron is a beacon of faith, famous for his mantra “This too is for the good.” Visitors pray here for the strength to see the divine light in every challenge.

Connect to the lineage of Kabbalah at the Memorial Day of Rabbi Moshe Luria in Safed. Resting near his father, the holy Arizal, in the Old Cemetery, his grave is part of the mystical landscape of the city. Pilgrims honor the family that revealed the hidden secrets of the Torah.

Discover the “White Saint” at the Memorial Day of Rabbi Yossi Bannai in Safed. Buried within a historic synagogue in the Old City, he is known as the Tzaddik HaLavan. Devotees visit this unique indoor tomb to pray for miracles, connecting to a sage renowned for his purity.

Illuminate your path at the Memorial Day of the Shelah HaKadosh in Tiberias. Buried near the Maimonides compound, Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz is famous for his work Two Tablets of the Covenant. On the 11th of Nisan, parents especially pray here for the spiritual success of their children.