Pre-Trip Preparation

The following is general pre-trip preparation material that is designed to help you prepare for the journey ahead. More detailed, program specific pre-trip prep info will be distributed separately after you have fully enrolled into the program. 
 

Getting to Israel

Flights are not included in the cost of any Israel Pathways program. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel arrangements to Israel. On the program start date, airport pick-ups will be available throughout the day. For participants already in Israel. instructions will be made available for joining-up with the program at a pre-set meeting spot.  Participants may fly home anytime they choose at the end of the program, there is no transportation provided to the airport at the conclusion of the program.

Passport & Visa Requirements

Please read this section carefully. If you have visited Israel in the past, the entry rules for short term stays and longer term stays are very different. It is best to plan ahead now to avoid complications down the line.

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING ISRAEL

Israel requires visas for anyone staying beyond three months. Accordingly, all participants must obtain an Israeli visa in order to attend any MASA Israel Pathways program unless you have an Israeli passport. We encourage you to approach your local Consulate General of Israel or the nearest Embassy of Israel 6-8 weeks before the start of your program in order to request a special "MASA Israel Visa" for longer term stays in the country. The "MASA Israel Visa" is an A2 visa – which allows for multiple-entries. In order to obtain a MASA Israel Visa, you must visit a consulate or embassy with the following:

  • The form you received from Masa Israel (PDF file) confirming your grant and/or scholarship amount
  • A letter from the organizer of your program validating your acceptance to the program
  • A valid passport
 

The Israeli consular staff has final jurisdiction with regards to granting a visa. Should you encounter a problem when requesting the visa, an internal letter from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be provided to clarify the procedures. If there is still a problem, please contact us directly. Keep in mind that the MASA Israel Visa does not entitle you to work in Israel AND is only valid for a maximum of a one-year stay in Israel.

PASSPORT EXPIRATION RULES

All visitors to Israel must arrive with a passport that does not expire within six moths from the date that you arrive in Israel. If your passport expires in less than six months from the start of your trip, you will need to renew your passport immediately or you may not be allowed entry into Israel. We require all applicants to submit a valid copy of their passport during their online application process.
 
REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ISRAELI CITIZEN

If either of your parents is a citizen of Israel, or if you lived in Israel at some point in the past, it is your responsibility to make sure that your status with the Israeli Defense Forces is worked out and clear. If you hold an Israeli passport, you must enter Israel with your Israeli passport. If either of your parents are Israeli citizens, you may still have obligations to the State of Israel that must be worked out prior to your trip even if you do not have an Israeli passport. It is important that you take care of these matters before you arrive in Israel. We recommend that you contact your nearest Israeli consular office if you have any questions or to explore the matter.

Cell Phones in Israel

All participants are required to have a local cell phone in Israel for safety and security reasons. We have made arrangements for a discounted group cell phone rental through Israel Phones for all Israel Pathways programs. Why rent an Israel Phone?

• For those of you who have parents or friends that will want you to be "reachable" in Israel, renting a free phone is a no-brainer.

• By renting an "Israel Phones" via our link, Israel Pathways staff will have a record of your phone number...which is an important communication back-up during the program for our staff.

• Why not!?? The phone only costs $10/month to rent (including: all incoming calls are always free, and outgoing calls are based on very low usage rates.

• Receive a specially discounted rate to connect with one designated number in North America, and to all other Pathways participants in Israel.

Participants can choose between a minutes bundle package or a pay-as-you-go usage rate. To view the exact rates and order your phone, go to www.israelphones.com/israelpathways.htm or download a hard copy order form. Be sure to submit your Israel Phones order at least one week prior to your arrival in Israel.

To receive your assigned Israeli cellular number 1-3 business days in advance your arrival in Israel, log on to www.israelphones.com, select "What’s My Number" and insert your confirmation number. If you have any further questions about your cellular phone rental, feel free to contact IsraelPhones directly at 1-866-8ISRAEL (from the US), 1-866-302-5512 (from Canada) or email them at info@israelphones.com.
 

Health Matters & Insurance

HEALTH INSURANCE & TRAVEL INSURANCE

Health insurance is provided to all Israel Pathways participants while in Israel that covers non pre-existing conditions. That being said, we do require that you come to Israel with our own valid health insurance policy, and we will request the policy information with your application.

If you are not insured on our own or if your North American medical insurance policy does not cover you abroad, then you NEED to arrange for an insurance policy that covers you during your Israel Pathways experience. An inexpensive and easy way to fulfill this requirement is to purchase travelers insurance through a company such as Travel Guard. In addition to medical insurance, the Travel Guard policy automatically provides a number of side benefits:

  • Insurance in case you miss the trip because your connecting flight is delayed
  • Insurance in case you miss the trip due to a family medical emergency
  • Insurance in case you baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen    

1. Start by going to Travel Guard's online ordering form and click on "Get a Quote Today".

2. Fill in all of your travel details requested. You will be asked to enter the cost of the trip. To receive full coverage, we recommend insuring the actual cost of the Israel Pathways programs as well as the cost of your personal travel arrangements.

3. Be sure to select the "Medical Coverage Upgrade". This is the most important part!! 

4. The price of the insurance will ultimately depend on your age, state of residency, what travel plan choices you make and whether you want to insure any extra travel costs.

Even if you already have medical insurance that is valid in Israel, we highly recommend that all participants purchase a travel insurance policy for all of the "just-in-case" benefits detailed above.

HEALTH HISTORY FORM
In addition to the brief health questionnaire in the online application, you will need to submit a medical form from a physical taken in the last 12 months. We have a standard physician's form that we request you to have filled out by your doctor's office and returned to us by email to info@israelpathways.com, by fax at  202-315-3269, or a hardcopy by mail to our office: Israel Pathways / 5185 MacArthur Blvd. #640 / Washington, DC / 20016.

You can download the medical form here: Pathways Health History Form

MEDICATION AND CONTACT LENSES

If you are taking medication, we recommend that you bring enough medication to last for the entire time that you expect to be in Israel. It can otherwise be difficult and rather expensive to obtain a prescription for pre-existing conditions once in Israel. We also recommend that you pack your medication as part of your carry-on luggage in case your main luggage is delayed. If you have a notable medical condition, please inform us in advance; no one likes surprises, and just remember that this is all for your safety. All medical records will be kept strictly confidential.

VACCINATIONS

No special vaccinations are required in necessary in Israel. However we recommend that you come to Israel with an up to date Tetanus shot.

General Pre-Trip Prep

ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Israel uses a 220 volt electrical current and the outlet types are different as well (two circular prongs). In order to avoid "frying" any electrical items, bring a voltage converter (note: this is already built into most laptop computers). You will also need a simple adapter to plug your items into the wall that can be purchased in your home country or very inexpensively once you are in Israel.

KASHRUT & SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS

All group meals are kosher as certified under the supervision of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. People with special dietary situations (i.e. lactose intolerance, vegetarian, etc.) should contact us in advance to make proper arrangements for the flight and during the program itself.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

We highly recommend leaving your valuables at home. Your personal property is exclusively your responsibility at all times. Although theft is not common in Israel, it does happen, and if you do bring valuables, be very careful about keeping track of them.

RULES OF THE PROGRAM

You have chosen a great program, and we are very committed to giving you a lot of space to explore Israel on your own. That said, there are some rules that are common sense and which will be followed strictly. These rules are as follows:
 

 • No illegal drugs of any kind
 • No excessive alcohol consumption 
 • No opting out of official group programming

SHABBAT

Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest, and it is a perfect time to reflect on the experiences that you have had so far and to rest and re-charge for the experiences ahead. During the program, many Shabbat weekend will be designated as free time. Some Shabbat weekends will be programmed. During these days, there will be a public observance of Shabbat. What this means is that nothing in the program will force or encourage participants to violate the rules of Shabbat (or any other Jewish holidays that fall within the trip). Keep in mind that there will be participants on your trip of all Jewish backgrounds, and we only ask that each person be respectful of everyone else's individual level of religious observance.

Money Matters

The official currency of Israel is the shekel. It generally fluctuates at around 3.75 shekels for every US Dollar, but you should check online before you depart to see where the exchange rate is now (www.xe.com). If you plan on bringing actual cash to Israel, the easiest place to exchange it is in the airport itself. Longer term, the best solution is to bring a credit card and/or ATM card. In terms of credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are accepted everywhere in Israel. It would be a good idea to call your credit card/ATM provider before you depart to let them know that you are travelling to Israel. Otherwise they may think there has been fraud and suspend your account while you are abroad. In terms of ATM cards, most will work in Israel, but you should definitely call your bank ahead of time just to make sure the card will be accepted in Israel. NOTE: Any ATM card with a Visa or MasterCard logo will work for sure. Keep in mind that foreign ATM fees can be high, and you will probably want to minimize the number of withdraws accordingly.