By Dan Seligson, CJP Staff, Israel Advocacy

It’s not often – okay, maybe never – that you get to see an incredible place with a professional athlete. Even rarer that the athlete is actually a really nice guy who just happened to CATCH A GAME-WINNING PASS IN A SUPER BOWL SENDING THE ENTIRE SIX-STATE REGION INTO A CRAZED STATE OF BLISS!

Yes, Julian Edelman, the Patriots wide receiver/trick-playtouchdown pass thrower and all-around mensch decided to visit Israel and take twelve Boston-area young Jewish leaders with him.

A trip this good needs its own hashtag, and Julian himself decided that it was #IsraelTyme.

Throughout the tour, we sailed, biked, swam, learned, prayed, hiked, basked, posed and ate (a lot).

And all along the way, we shared our experiences with social media, giving a better picture of the incredible journey we had.

Some highlights:

 

_ @edelman11 on the beach boardwalk in #TelAviv. #IsraelTyme is longboard time.

A photo posted by Cjp Israel (@cjpisrael) on Jun 24, 2015 at 8:10am PDT

 

Not Julian’s first time on a long board, but the first time on a long board along Tel Aviv’s beautiful beaches.

 

 

 

Shabbat shalom from the city of gold! #israeltyme #Jerusalem #teentour2015

A photo posted by deeain (@deeain) on Jun 26, 2015 at 4:35am PDT

 

Savoring the delicious chaos that is the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.

 

 

 

Hikin' through the makhtesh #israeltyme

A photo posted by Ben Karas (@bkaras523) on Jun 29, 2015 at 5:29am PDT

 

A slightly longer than expected but stunningly beautiful hike through the Ramon Crater.

 

 

 

@edelman11 with his newest jersey! #israeltyme #teentour2015 #shaysh

A photo posted by deeain (@deeain) on Jun 27, 2015 at 2:51am PDT

 

Julian’s new jersey.

 

 

 

Machane Yehuda daytime same spot #Jerusalem #IsraelTyme #GoodShabbos

A photo posted by Polly (@pollypahl) on Jun 26, 2015 at 4:41am PDT

 

The pre-Shabbat crowds at Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda.

 

 

 

Shalom from @mitzperamon! The view, rappelling, and ibex are all very nice, but that food tho! #ISRAELIgoodfood

A photo posted by Samuel Andler (@sambca89) on Jun 28, 2015 at 3:18am PDT

 

Probably worth mentioning that the food in Israel was outstanding.

 

 

Of all the nice backdrops in Israel, we chose an Israeli mushroom truck in a gas station parking lot for a photo. pic.twitter.com/XwjNGVYik1

— Alex Goldstein (@alexjgoldstein) June 29, 2015

 

And everyone had a chance for a selfie. Some even with a giant mushroom as a backdrop.

 

 

 

Julian Edelman and CJP young adults at the #Kotel. #israel #israelinstagram #israeltyme #jerusalem

A photo posted by Combined Jewish Philanthropies (@cjpboston) on Jun 29, 2015 at 6:46am PDT

 

Others with some more meaningful scenery.

 

#IsraelTyme lasted only a week, but there’s much more on our incredible journey we’ll be sharing in the weeks to come.