The nationally prominent Rabbi, motivational speaker and community leader brought 20 members of the largest Modern Orthodox synagogue in New England on a fully kosher, Shabbat-friendly Jewish heritage journey across Rome, Florence and Venice.
Stamford, Connecticut – June 2025.
Rabbi Daniel Cohen of Congregation Agudath Shalom chose Shin Tours to lead a Jewish heritage tour of Italy for 20 congregation members, travelling across Rome, Pitigliano, Florence and Venice from June 23 to July 2, 2025.
Congregation Agudath Shalom is the largest Modern Orthodox synagogue in New England. Rabbi Cohen is one of the most prominent Modern Orthodox leaders in the United States – a nationally syndicated radio co-host, motivational speaker, published author, former national officer of the Rabbinical Council of America, and a member of the National Council of AIPAC. When he entrusts his congregation to a tour operator, it carries weight.
This was his second trip with Shin Tours. He is already planning a second – a Jewish heritage tour of France with the congregation in 2026. This second trip is already sold-out after being announced in The Jewish Link.
What is a Synagogue Group Trip – and Why Does the Operator Matter?
A synagogue group trip is not a standard group holiday. It is a communal spiritual experience – and the demands it places on a tour operator go far beyond logistics.
For this synagogue group tour, every meal had to be fully kosher, certified and verified in advance. Shabbat was observed in full – no driving, no regular activities from Friday evening to Saturday night, and Shabbat services must be arranged at or near the accommodation. Guiding had to go beyond history and art to draw out the Jewish significance of every site visited.
The overall experience also had to honor the spiritual purpose that brought the group together in the first place.
Getting any one of these elements wrong would have undermined the entire journey.
Why Rabbi Cohen Chose Shin Tours
1. A Rabbi like Rabbi Cohen does not take chances with his congregation
Rabbi Daniel Cohen teaches people to reverse-engineer their lives toward an enduring legacy. He brings that same intentionality to how he leads his community. Choosing a tour operator for 20 congregation members is not a casual decision – every detail reflects on him and on Congregation Agudath Shalom.
He chose Shin Tours. And after experiencing the trip firsthand, he is coming back.
You can see in this Instagram post how he thanked Asaf Peled (Shin Tours CEO) for "not missing a beat" in the organization of this special trip.
2. Fully kosher and Shabbat-friendly – without compromise
Every meal on the itinerary carried kosher certification. Shabbat was observed in full, with Friday evening services, Shabbat lunch, and a rest from regular touring on Saturday. For a Modern Orthodox congregation, this is not optional – it is the baseline. Shin Tours built the entire itinerary around it.
- Jewish context woven into every experience
This was not a standard tour of the top Jewish sites in Italy with a synagogue visit added in. The Colosseum was explored through the lens of Jewish history – the Second Temple treasures, the Arch of Titus, the story of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. The Vatican Museums were examined for Jewish influences woven into Western art and theology. The Venice Ghetto – the oldest in the world – was given the depth it deserves.
- A trusted operator, not a first-time experiment
Rabbi Cohen did not come to Shin Tours once and leave. He is planning a second trip with us. He experienced our standard firsthand, trusted us with his congregation, and is returning for France in 2026. That continuity is its own endorsement.
The 2025 Italy Itinerary
The trip ran for ten nights across four destinations, fully kosher and Shabbat-friendly throughout. You can view the full itinerary on Travefy here.
Rome opened the journey with a golf cart tour of the city's highlights, followed by a Colosseum and Roman Forum tour presented entirely in Jewish context – covering the destruction of the Second Temple, the Arch of Titus, and the legacy of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. The group explored the historic Jewish Ghetto and the Great Synagogue, sampled Roman-Jewish cuisine on a kosher tasting tour, and visited the Vatican Museums through the lens of Jewish influence on Western art. The evenings began with a kosher pizza-making workshop – a hands-on dinner that brought the group together on the first night.
Pitigliano – known as "Little Jerusalem" – offered a hidden chapter of Italian Jewish history. The group strolled through the old Jewish quarter, visited the restored 16th-century synagogue, and discovered a mikveh carved into the rock and an ancient matzah oven still standing in the Tuscan hills. A kosher wine tasting and Italian cooking workshop at Cantina Giuliano followed before the transfer to Florence.
Florence brought the Florence Synagogue, the Accademia Gallery and Michelangelo's David, a carriage tour of the city centre, and – at the heart of the Florentine leg – a full Shabbat. Friday evening services, Shabbat lunch, and a day of rest in one of Europe's most beautiful cities.
Venice closed the journey with a guided tour of the Venice Ghetto – the oldest in the world – exploring the historic Scuole representing the German, Italian, Levantine and Spanish Jewish rites, and tracing five centuries of Venetian Jewish life, culture and survival. The group arrived by private motorboat from Piazzale Roma – a fitting entrance to a city unlike any other.
In Rabbi Cohen's Own Words
"We hear about the Jewish culture, but seeing it in real time, meeting real people, having a Shabbat in Florence which was unforgettable, was amazing. But then experiencing the culture, the food, the history of Italy – it was a wonderful blend."
"Asaf left nothing to chance. From Shin Tours, I decided to organise a trip with him as a Rabbi through our synagogue and he really has done a masterful job of working together to make sure that every detail was taken care of."
– Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Congregation Agudath Shalom, Stamford, Connecticut
Hear directly from Rabbi Cohen and members of the congregation – watch the full video here.
Shin Tours: Jewish Heritage Travel for Synagogue Groups Worldwide
Shin Tours is the world's leading private tour operator for transformative Jewish heritage experiences. Founded by Asaf Peled, we help families and communities create life-changing "wow" moments through bespoke multi-day journeys that reconnect them with their roots, their culture, and each other.
We design tailor-made Jewish tours across Israel, Morocco, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and England – no two tours are the same.
Asaf's work in Jewish heritage travel has been recognised in The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, Hadassah Magazine, and Israel National News. We hold a 4.9 rating and a Travellers' Choice Award on TripAdvisor, and serve as a Service Partner for World Jewish Travel and a tour partner of ITravelJerusalem.
Are you a Rabbi or synagogue leader planning a group trip from the US, Canada, or anywhere in the world? Contact us to begin planning your congregation's Jewish heritage journey.
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