Jewish College Journey to China – Summer 2025 : Building Global Friendships

Exploring Hidden Heritage. Building Global Friendships.

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August 3–17, 2025
(Travel dates may vary by up to 2 days based on flight availability)
Open to U.S. and Israel college students

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🌍 A Journey Like No Other

This August, 30 college students from across the Midwest and 6 from Israel — will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime exploration of China’s vibrant cities, hidden Jewish history, and deep cultural roots.

Participants will visit historic synagogues in Harbin and Shanghai, walk the ancient corridors of Beijing, and engage in powerful peer exchanges with Chinese students.

A highlight of the trip is a 3–4 day home stay in Hebei Province, where students will live with Chinese college students and their families. This immersive experience offers an unparalleled window into everyday life in China and an opportunity to build lasting people-to-people relationships.

Summer 2025 is a pioneering international exchange that brings together 36 college students from the United States and Israel to:

• Explore hidden aspects of Jewish heritage in China
• Connect with Chinese peers through educational and cultural exchange
• Live and learn across borders with mutual respect and curiosity

This program is part of the U.S.-China Green Institute Initiative and is organized in partnership with the Jewish community, along with local educational institutions in Hebei.

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✡️ Why This Trip Matters

This program is more than travel — it's a cultural bridge between nations. Rooted in Jewish heritage and driven by a mission of mutual understanding, the journey will foster:

• ✡️ Deeper appreciation for China's role in Jewish history
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Meaningful friendships across borders
• 🌐 Global perspectives on identity, memory, and community

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🧭 Trip Highlights

• Beijing: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
• Shanghai: Jewish Refugee Museum, The Bund
• Harbin: Harbin Synagogue, Jewish Quarter
• Langfang & Baoding: Peer exchanges and school visits
• Hebei Province: 3–4 day family home stay with Chinese students

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🎯 Our Mission

To build bridges of understanding and friendship among youth from the U.S., Israel, and China by:

• Uncovering the underexplored Jewish history in China
• Participating in meaningful cultural exchange activities
• Living together and learning from one another as global citizens

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✡️ The Jewish Legacy in China

Though often overlooked, China has a rich and unique connection to Jewish history:

• The Kaifeng Jews of the Ming Dynasty
• Jewish refugees in Shanghai and Harbin during World War II

Participants will:

• Visit historic synagogues, cemeteries, and neighborhoods
• Reflect on themes of migration, memory, and identity
• Discover how Jewish life took root in unexpected corners of the world

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🌏 Global Perspectives, Lifelong Impact

This journey is more than a trip — it's a transformational experience that will:

• Broaden your global perspective
• Deepen your connection to Jewish identity
• Equip you to be an ambassador of peace, understanding, and intercultural friendship

Whether you’re drawn by heritage, curiosity, or the desire to be part of something meaningful, this journey is an opportunity to connect deeply — with history, culture, and people.

🎓 Who Can Apply

Eligible students are:

• College students (ages 18–25) or recent undergraduate grads within 1 year of graduation
• Graduate students in their first two years of graduate school and under age 25
• From one of the 19 Midwest cities (see application form) — either residing in or attending school in one of these cities
• Jewish students with strong interest in cross-cultural engagement, or non-Jewish students as space allows

[➡️ See full eligibility & Apply Now »]

🤝Partners

• U.S.-China Green Institute
• Chinese educational institutions (e.g., Baoding No. 17 Middle School)

Meet the Team

Dr. Alan Koslow is a retired vascular surgeon with over 50 years of experience in global health, humanitarian relief, and educational exchange. He has participated in disaster medical missions around the world—including Haiti, South Sudan, and the Philippines—and founded one of the largest recurring blood drives in the U.S.

Dr. Koslow has helped lead multiple youth exchange trips to China through President Xi Jinping’s YES program and works closely with institutions in Hebei Province and Jilin Nursing University to promote academic partnerships between China and the U.S. He also teaches at the Chautauqua Institution and lectures widely on science, culture, and ethics.

With deep ties in both American and Chinese communities, Dr. Koslow is committed to building bridges through person-to-person diplomacy. His leadership ensures that this journey will be educational, meaningful, and transformative for all participants.

Terry Branstad, former U.S. Ambassador to China (2017–2020) and the longest-serving governor in American history, is a founding board member of the U.S.-China Green Institute. His relationship with China began in 1985 when he welcomed a young Xi Jinping to Iowa—a connection that evolved into a meaningful diplomatic relationship during his ambassadorship.

As a passionate advocate for U.S.-China cooperation, Ambassador Branstad believes deeply in the power of cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy. He has been a strong supporter of this initiative to foster cross-cultural ties, seeing it as a path toward future innovations and partnerships we can’t yet imagine. His leadership and vision continue to inspire efforts that build bridges between American and Chinese communities, particularly among the next generation of global citizens.

Dalong Zhang, a board officer of the U.S.-China Green Institute, has been instrumental in making this trip a reality. With over 25 years of experience in strategic planning and enterprise operations across China, Dalong has used his extensive personal and professional networks to coordinate the trip’s logistics, school partnerships, and cultural engagements.

He is a tireless advocate for strengthening U.S.-China understanding and is committed to nurturing long-term relationships through meaningful collaboration. Dalong will be attending most of the trip, offering participants a rare opportunity to engage directly with someone deeply connected to China’s educational, cultural, and civic sectors. His hands-on support and insight will help ensure a rich and rewarding experience for all involved.