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The Registration Process |
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How do I know if I am eligible for this gift? |
This gift is available to those who are Jewish, ages 18 through 26, who have not been on a peer educational Israel trip before. For complete eligibility guidelines please visit our eligibility page.
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Do I have to be a student to get the free trip? |
No. The gift is available to Jewish young adults ages of 18 through 26.
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How do I apply? |
In order to be considered for a trip the following simple steps must be taken as soon as possible after registration begins for a respective session:
Step 1: Apply online here, complete and confirm the 5 part application.
Step 2: Submit a fully refundable $250 USD or $300 CAD deposit.
Step 3: Submit your signed waiver form.
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 How will I know if I am accepted?
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Aish will contact you via email as to whether or not you are accepted to the program. Please be sure to check your email periodically. If your email address that you put on your application has changed please contact us at baltman@aish.com and let us know your new address. Since we will communicate with you primarily by email, please add baltman@aish.com to your e-mail address book, spam software whitelist, or mail system whitelist to ensure that you receive important updates from us.
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 What are the departure dates for the trips?
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Please see our dates and flight info.
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 Where do the trips depart from?
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New York/New Jersey and Canada.
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Does Taglit-Birthright Israel pay for my domestic airfare to the gateway city? |
Participants are responsible for getting to the gateway city on their own.
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 What if I don’t have $250 for a deposit?
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Then borrow it. We are unable to accept any applications that are not accompanied by a deposit. Remember, deposits are refundable and will be returned very shortly after the trip is over.
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 What will the $250 deposit be used for?
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The $250 deposit is to ensure that your seat is filled on the airplane and that you participate fully in the program. If these conditions are satisfied, your deposit will be returned shortly after your return home. If you should need to cancel your trip please be sure to do so before the cancellation deadline to avoid forfeiture of your deposit.
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What are the cancellation dates? |
These are the dates by when you must cancel, if you must, and avoid forfeiting your deposit. The exact dates can be found here.
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 What if I don't have a passport?
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Get one fast! All participants must have valid travel documents (passport, Green Card, visa, etc.) in order to participate on a Taglit-Birthright Israel: Aish HaTorah program. Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the last day of your trip. For more information please visit our passport and travel documents.
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How do I switch or cancel my trip?
The participant must contact the Aish’s Office directly to inform us of any such changes. We will then remove you from our list so you can switch to a different trip organizer. Click here to view the cancellation deadlines.
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Can my friends join me on the trip? |
Sure! Refer your friends to sign up and submit a deposit as soon as possible and we will try and keep you in the same group. You can refer your friends here.
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 Can I contact some of your alumni to see how they liked it?
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Yes. Please visit our testimonial page for alumni comments and contact information.
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 What if I am unable to go at the last minute?
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Please notify us immediately at 845-290-9778 or baltman@aish.com. You’ll lose your $250 deposit.
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About The Trip |
 Is this a religious trip?
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All Jews, regardless of background, affiliation or practice, are welcome on the program.
The program will provide opportunities for participants to celebrate Jewish life together. It is designed to be completely inclusive. No participant will be forced to join in any organized religious activities. At the same time, kosher food will be served at all tour-sponsored activities and all programming will respect the laws of the Jewish Sabbath. Please see our eligibility page for Taglit-Birthright Israel’s definition of Jewish.
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 Who will staff the Taglit-Birthright Israel: Aish HaTorah program?
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Staff will be comprised of Jewish community professionals from North America and Israel, all of whom will have been specially trained to ensure the highest quality experience in Israel.
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 How safe is the trip?
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Let us assure you that the safety and security of our participants is our number one priority. Taglit-Birthright Israel: Aish HaTorah would never take on this endeavor if we felt we were unable to adequately provide an absolutely safe and secure trip. We take whatever precautions are necessary, no matter the cost, to ensure the safety of our participants at all times. For more details of our safety precautions please visit our safety page.
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 How many people are in each group?
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There will be 40 participants (around 50% guys and 50% girls), 4 staff, 7-8 Israeli soldiers, an armed guard, a medic and a bus driver totaling approximately 55 people per group.
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 What does the free trip include?
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Taglit-Birthright Israel: Aish HaTorah trips include roundtrip airfare (from NY, NJ or Canada), accommodations at quality hotels, luxurious bus transportation, almost all meals, health insurance, and ten days of adventurous and educational programming. You will only need to bring spending money for some lunches, snacks and souvenirs.
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 Can I meet the group in Israel?
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Sorry but all participants must depart with the group from the gateway airport.
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 What will accommodations be like on the program?
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Accommodations will be triple-occupancy in 4 to 5 star hotels and guest houses. We will try to accommodate roommate requests upon acceptance to the program. To see some of the hotels that Taglit-Birthright Israel: Aish HaTorah participants stay at please see our hotel page.
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Will laundry services be available on the program? |
Although some of the hotels may offer laundry services it is very inconvenient. Try and pack enough clothing for ten days.
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What will the meals be like on the program?
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Most meals on the program will be included and will include buffet Israeli breakfasts, falafel, pizza and boxed lunches and sit-down dinners in restaurants. Participants should plan on paying for a few of their own meals.
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 Is the food Kosher?
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The food is strictly kosher and complies with the highest standard of Kashrut.
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 Will there be time on the program to visit my friends and relatives in Israel?
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There is a limited amount of free time built into the program's itinerary and you can invite visitors to your hotel during those times. Due to security reasons you may not leave the group at any time during the program. If you would like to have extended visits with your family or friends we suggest you extend your trip click here for more info.
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 Do I need health insurance?
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All Aish participants are fully covered for health insurance while on the program. If you will be extending your stay in Israel you have the option of extending your health insurance as well.
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 What do I bring with me?
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Please see our suggested packing list.
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 How should I pack?
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Please see your airline’s website for exact baggage size and weight restrictions and see our suggested packing list.
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 How will I receive my airline tickets?
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Participants will receive their tickets at the airport near the airline check in counter from the Aish staff.
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 How much spending money should I bring?
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We suggest bringing approximately $150 to $200 USD in cash. If you do not have a credit card, you may want to bring a little more. Almost all stores in Israel accept credit cards. You could withdraw money from any ATM machine; ATM machines can be found in most public shopping centers. Travelers Checks are difficult to cash so we do not recommend bringing them.
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Are there any hidden costs on this trip? |
The only cost that we will ask you to cover will be the cost of one meal per day. An average meal in Israel $5 - $8
Participants are encouraged to offer a gratuity to their Israeli tour guide and bus driver of $50. A gratuity is a standard measure in the Israeli tourism industry that is not a covered expense of the program.
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Can I extend my trip?
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Sure! For a small to nominal fee you can extend your plane ticket either in advance of the trip or while in Israel. Please see our flight extensions page for more details.
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 Do I have to participate in every scheduled activity?
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Yes, unless you receive special permission from your group leader.
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 How can family members and friends back at home get in touch with me?
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Aish strongly encourages all participants to rent a cell phone for your Taglit-Birthright Israel: Aish trip. Besides for emergencies this will be a way for your family and friends to be able to reach you while you are on the trip. We will also provide you with an emergency number in the US closer to the program.
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 Will I have to commit to anything upon my return?
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No – but you are invited to participate in the many exiting post-Birthright opportunities and programs that Aish offers! Please see our post programs options.
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 Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
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You can contact the Aish office at 1-800-335-5697 ext 0 or baltman@aish.com
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