Your Birthright Packing Guide Includes the Cutest Halva You’ve Ever Seen

Our style assistant shares her picks.

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This story originally appeared in the Summer 2019 issue of Domino, titled “Mazel Dazzle.” Subscribe to be the first to receive each issue.

For our first-ever Travel Issue, we asked our editors to choose cities as inspiration for their curated summer must-haves. Our style assistant, Julia Stevens, picked Tel Aviv after going to the Holy Land on a birthright trip. “Traveling to Israel has always been a dream of mine. I’m obsessed with the desert palette and Bauhaus architecture. And who could pass up a free trip?!” Below, Stevens shares the contents of her Israel-bound suitcase, from her can’t-live-without sunscreen to Dead Sea–approved sandals that just scream “Mazel tov!”

If your suitcase needs to have your back…

“On my birthright trip, we were constantly moving locations, so a sturdy, reliable suitcase with 360 wheels is exactly what I needed,” says Stevens. “It also perfectly fit into my ‘chic summer camp aesthetic.’”

If you want to look the part…

“When I travel, I want to put on an outfit that inspires me just as much as my surroundings,” she notes. This Rhode dress is the perfect example of a breezy look made just as much for desert treks as it is for exploring the city.

If a sunburn isn’t on the schedule…

There’s no such thing as too much SPF, and according to Stevens, this mineral-based, soothing sunscreen certainly does the trick: “I wore it every day and barely noticed it was there. I can safely say it’s my favorite skin-care product ever.”

If you’re racking up on mini souvenirs…

This fanny pack seamlessly transforms into a backpack, making it the perfect accessory for a day with no itinerary. Plus, as Stevens points out, “it’s the perfect home for your spare shekels.” 

If you’re craving that pop of color…

An Insta-famous collab perfect for walks along the Dead Sea. Not to mention bright colors to complement a jaw-dropping desert sunset.

If halva’s got you hooked…

“When I got back, I was constantly craving authentic Israeli halva from the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem (the halva capital of the world). Hebel & Co’s take on the melt-in-your-mouth dessert is the best I’ve tried,” says Stevens. Cute packaging aside, it’s also completely addicting.

If your welcome-home party needs on-theme appetizers…

“After eating amazing Israeli cuisine for 10 straight days, my go-to salad lunches just don’t cut it anymore,” she notes. “This cookbook is the perfect way to bring a touch of the Holy Land to my everyday life. Think of it as a guidebook to keeping the Jew in you alive.”

Julia Stevens

Contributing Editor

Julia Stevens is a Domino contributing editor. Basically, she’s a professional online shopper. She started at Domino as an intern and spent almost seven years in the style department curating products for our gift guides, trend roundups, and product reviews and on set styling the beautiful homes we get to share. Off hours, you can find her scouting New York’s newest design shops and restyling her shelves

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