“I wish I could believe as you do.”
“I am so jealous of the love you volunteers have for each other.”
These are among the comments our staff and volunteers regularly hear when they host traveling Israelis around the world.
Who Are These Traveling Israelis?
After completing their mandatory military service—two to three years of intense responsibility—Israelis embark on extended backpacking journeys to decompress, discover themselves, and explore the world. It has become a rite of passage in Israeli culture, and it represents one of the most remarkable opportunities for sharing the gospel we have ever seen.
Every year, approximately 30,000 to 50,000 young Israelis set out on this journey. About 60 percent travel through South and Southeast Asia, including India, Thailand, and Nepal. Another 30 percent head to South and Central America, trekking through Argentina, Peru, Chile, and beyond. The remaining travelers explore Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and other destinations.1
These journeys typically last six months, though some extend to a year or more. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli outbound travel remains resilient. In 2025, Israeli tourism experts recorded over 9 million international journeys. This figure surpasses Israeli international travel in 2019, before the pandemic and the war.2
How Chosen People Ministries Is Reaching Traveling Israelis
Chosen People Ministries has developed two strategic approaches to reach traveling Israelis. First, we operate youth hostels and ministry centers in key destinations around the world. These provide welcoming environments where Israelis can connect with believers, receive hospitality, and encounter the love of Messiah.
Second, we created Host Israelis—a network that connects traveling Israelis with Christian host families. We also have an app where Israelis connect with approved and trained hosts willing to welcome them for two to seven days completely free of charge. It works like Airbnb, but instead of a transaction, it is an opportunity for believers to demonstrate the love of Jesus through authentic hospitality.
Why Traveling Israelis Are So Open to the Gospel
Ministry to traveling Israelis is so powerful in part because they are away from the influences that would normally discourage them from exploring faith in Yeshua. At home, a young Israeli expressing interest in Jesus would likely face pressure from parents, teachers, rabbis, and peers. But on a hiking trail in New Zealand or sharing a meal with Christians in Japan, they are free to ask questions, listen to testimonies, and consider the claims of the Messiah without fear of judgment.
Chosen People Ministries staff and volunteers hike with these Israelis, tour sites, and share meals. These activities build relationships and trust, leading to genuine friendships and powerful gospel opportunities. When a young Israeli sees the love of Yeshua lived out through a host or volunteer, something clicks. They begin to wonder if this Jesus they have been taught to dismiss might genuinely be their promised Messiah.
Our Ministry Centers
Our most active ministry centers are in the East—Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and India. We also have a robust center in New Zealand. Let me share what is happening in some of these key locations:
- Japan—Japan has seen increased Israeli travel. Peak tourism to Japan is in April when cherry blossoms coincide with Passover. During that month, for example, Israeli visits surged 88 percent from 2024 to 2025.3 Japan’s reputation for safety, the absence of antisemitism, and direct flights from Tel Aviv have made it a top destination.
- New Zealand—New Zealand’s stunning landscapes, adventure tourism, and welcoming atmosphere draw thousands of young Israelis each year. The remoteness creates an ideal setting for spiritual conversations, and our team there has seen remarkable fruit.
- Australia—Australia receives thousands of Israeli visitors annually and is becoming an increasingly important destination. The combination of the familiar English language, outdoor adventure, and the opportunity for short-term work makes it attractive to post-army Israelis seeking extended stays abroad.
- Taiwan—Taiwan has emerged as a rising destination for Israeli backpackers who are drawn by the safety, affordability, and rich culture. Our ministry there is seeing growing opportunities to connect with these travelers.
- India—India has been popular in many Israelis’ post-army journeys since the 1970s. Thousands of Israelis visit annually.
- Korea—Korea has seen significant growth in international tourism, reaching over 16 million visitors in 2024, with Israelis among those discovering this dynamic destination.4
Equipping Believers to Share
We equip Christians who host or meet Israelis with powerful tools to share the gospel, including Isaiah 53 Explained in Hebrew, a brand-new Gospel of Matthew in modern Hebrew that was just produced, plus many videos and other resources. When Israelis ask questions—and they do!—their hosts are prepared to share the truth with clarity and love.
We have also created internship opportunities for younger believers from Israel to serve at our ministry centers for weeks or months. This internship helps them grow spiritually and provides another stage of discipleship, which ultimately strengthens the growing Messianic Jewish community within modern Israel.
A Japanese Christian Making Israel “Jealous”
We know that our hospitality ministry is effective because we have heard ongoing incredible reports from around the world. Here is just one recent story we received from an Israeli staff member who relocated to Japan to reach traveling Israelis there:
Jacob* is in his late twenties and has been traveling around Japan for several months. During the weekdays, he enjoys Japanese culture and works part-time online in IT. He comes from a traditional Jewish family, even though he does not consider himself religious.
Jacob does not like to work alone in his hotel, so he often goes to coffee shops. One day while at a cafe, one of our Japanese Christian volunteers noticed Jacob’s small Star of David necklace. He sat down and politely asked if he could talk with Jacob.
The volunteer shared his faith in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, and told Jacob about our community where Japanese and Jewish people study the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament together, pray together, and work on projects that stand against antisemitism and anti-Israel propaganda. Jacob was very surprised. In a biblical sense, you could say he was made “jealous” (Romans 11:11).
After attending one of our events, he said to me [our staff], “I am really amazed. I still have much to learn—this is my first time meeting Messianic Jews—Jews who believe in Jesus as the Messiah. But the love and acceptance I felt here are very special.”
We exchanged contact information, and Jacob said he would continue to visit our community and events while he is in Japan. I am staying in touch with him and praying that the message of the gospel will touch his heart deeply and lead him to salvation.
The fruitfulness of these ministries continues to overwhelm me with thanksgiving to God and for our dedicated staff and volunteers.
What can you do? You can pray for these young Israelis to encounter Yeshua on their journeys.
We have a network of volunteer hosts in the United States and around the world welcoming traveling Israelis. You can learn more and apply to become a host by registering at HostIsraelis.com.
*Names changed
- David Yin, “Out of Israel, Into the World,” Forbes, December 18, 2013, https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidyin/2013/12/19/out-of-israel-into-the-world/.
↩︎ - Eran Ketter, “Israel Outbound Tourism: Market Research Reports,” Israel Outbound Tourism–Market Research Reports by Dr. Eran Ketter, accessed January 22, 2026, https://www.eketter.com/israel-outbound-travel-market-research.
↩︎ - “Israeli Tourists Increasingly Visiting Japan,” The Jerusalem Post, December 21, 2025, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-881018.
↩︎ - “South Korea Tourism Statistics – How Many People Visit? (2025),” RoadGenius, last updated June 18, 2025, https://roadgenius.com/statistics/tourism/south-korea/. ↩︎
Dr. Mitch Glaser 