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Got Questions?

We hope you find that there is a lot of good information below. Some of it is general. Some of it is very specific. We recommend that you take ten minutes and get smart about the program...

What is Taglit-Birthright Israel?
Taglit-Birthright Israel was launched 10 years ago as a non-profit foundation whose purpose is to enable young adults to visit Israel at least once in their lifetime. To date, over 250,000 Jewish young adults from around the world have come to Israel under the Taglit-Birthright Israel initiative over the past 10 years.

Is it really free?
As hard as it may be to believe, the answer is, yes. The trip includes roundtrip flight to Israel from various departure cities in North America, overnight accommodations at three and four star hotels (plus one night under the stars at a Bedouin tent in the desert), three meals a day, and all organized activities and touring. What do you pay for?? You are expected to get to the departure city airport in North America on your own. You are also responsible for spending money for gifts, personal purchases, snacks and drinks. The registration process for the trip should take no more than 15 minutes. After you register, you will need to get interviewed by our staff and send in a signed waiver and a $250 fully refundable security deposit. The deposit is returned within 2-3 weeks after the trip is over.

Why is it free?
The Taglit-birthright israel foundation was set up in order to give every young Jewish adult the chance to experience Israel at least one time in their lives. As a licensed provider of Taglit-birthright israel funded trips, the Israel Outdoors program has no religious or political agenda. Our only goal is to ensure that your experience on the trip is both meaningful and always enjoyable.

Will I be safe?
Ensuring your security & safety are the primary concerns of Taglit-Birthright Israel and Israel Outdoors. Please refer to the Security & Safety First section for more information about our approach to providing a touring experience in Israel that is safe, secure, and still incredibly exciting.

What are the departure dates?
Trips are offered in two season each year -- winter and summer. Winter trips take place in December, January, February, and March. Summer trips take place in May, June, July, and August. Our flights are booked on EL AL Airlines, Continental, Delta and a number of European airlines. Group flights may originate from New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, or Miami. Most trips depart from New York, and most New York departures fly from JFK International Airport. Sometimes we use Newark Int'l Airport in northern New Jersey as well. Please see our GET REGISTERED section for the most up to date list of departure dates & cities. Assuming you complete the application process and have chosen a trip date that has immediate availability, we will confirm that you have been assigned to the flight and provide you with full flight details.  

How do I get my plane ticket?
Physical plane tickets are only distributed at the airport by Israel Outdoors staff. It is impossible to book seats on the plane in advance, however you will be able to reserve special meals on your own (see: Flight Details). Additional airport meeting instructions will be sent to you once you have been confirmed on a specific flight group.

Can I extend my ticket?
Definitely. You can stay longer in Israel...30 to 90 days depending on the airline. And you can arrange for your extension before the trip or during the trip. Extra fees do apply. All of the details are in the Flight Details section. Unfortunately, it's not possible to arrive in Israel ahead of the group...

Am I guaranteed a spot on this trip?
The maximum number of total spaces for this round of trips will be determined by the Taglit-birthright israel foundation, based on funding and other factors. If the total number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available, participants will be assigned to flights on a first come first served basis. In other words, the sooner that you register, get interviewed, and send in your security deposit and waiver, the sooner we can assign you to the flight of your choice. So GET REGISTERED and get moving!

How are the groups organized?
Individual groups are made up of approximately 30-40 participants plus staff. The staff on each group includes a licensed Israeli tour guide, two North American peer chaperones, an Israeli guard/medic, and plenty of support staff. Trip groups are typically organized by program choice (Israel Quest, Israel By Foot, or Israel By Bike) and/or by age group (i.e. undergraduate group and post-college group). The hotels that we use during the program typically accommodate three participants to a room. You may request to be roomed with family or friends who are also on the trip.

How is the order of ticketing determined?
Because we know that there are frequently more eligible applicants than there are available spots on the trip, our goal as an organization is to keep the process as fair as possible. We assign spots on the trip according to a strict "first come / first serve" policy. We determine the order of ticketing according to when you have completed your application. A complete application means that you have you have (1) completed the official Taglit-birthright israel online applicatuion, (2) confirmed your application via email, and (3) submitted the refundable deposit and (4) submitted the signed waiver form. A confirmation will be emailed to you as soon as your application is complete. We typically begin assigning spots on the trip 14-20 days from the opening day of registration. The only exceptions to the "first come / first service" rule are made for applicants who are turning 27 (i.e., last chance to take part in the experience) and for applicants who registered with Israel Outdoors in the past but were not able to participate for whatever reason.

What if the flight that I want is not available?
Trip dates are determined directly by Taglit-Birthright Israel. Typically, trip dates are issued in multiple stages. We always note on the GET REGISTERED page whether we are expecting additional trip dates to be confirmed and for what period of time we are expecting them. Even if your first choice of trip dates is not yet available, we do suggest that you select a "back-up" trip date just in case the perfect trip date you want does not get issued. If we do confirm you for a "back-up" date, we will let you know as soon as new dates become available, and you will have the first chance to switch to the new trip date if you prefer it. Trip date selections can be entered and updated anytime on the Secondary Application.

Where will the other participants come from?
One major advantage to the Israel Outdoors expereince is that participants generally come from all over the United States. In other words, in addition to having a fantastic experience in Israel, you will have the opportunity to bond with participants from all over the country and from all backgrounds. Keep in mind, that in order to get onto a US trip you must either be a temporary or a permanent resident of the US (note: gateway airports in the USA are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami). In order to get onto a Canadian trip you must either be a temporary or a permanent resident of the Canada (note: gateway airport in Canada is Toronto).

Can I go on the same trip as a friend?
Of course! After completing the registration process, you will have an opportunity to let us know who you would like to travel with in Israel, when you choose trip dates. We will be happy to accommodate you. Just keep in mind that since ticketing is done on a first come basis, it is critical that you and your friends register, get interviewed, and submit the required paperwork all at the same time. Also, while we can try to make sure that you are in the same group and room as a friend, we are not able to assign specific seats on the flight to/from Israel. Requesting seats can only be done at the airport on the day of departure (an additional reason to get to the airport early!)

What about health insurance while I'm in Israel?
All participants on a Taglit-Birthright Israel program are required to have valid health insurance that works in Israel. If you do not have your own policy or if your policy does not cover you abroad, you must arrange for temporary travelers insurance.

What should I pack?
We have prepared a detailed packing list as well as a ton of ther great information to help you get ready in the Pre-Trip Preparation section of our web site. Check it out!

Do I need a sleeping bag, hiking boots, and a backpack?
Not at all! Each trip spends a night in the desert at a Bedouin tent where you are provided with sleeping mats and blankets. It will be one of the most memorable nights of the trip! Otherwise, you will be staying at hotels and kibbutz guest houses in normal beds! Most of the Israel By Bike and Israel By Foot trips spend one additional night camping in the desert mountains, but we will provide you with a sleeping bag unless you want to bring your own. During the summer season, there is no need for a tent on the "Bike" and "Foot" trips since it does not rain in Israel then. As for shoes, heavy duty hiking boots are never necessary. Good sturdy walking shoes or light weight hiking boots are your best bet. Athletic sandals like Tevas or Chacos work well too (summer trips only). As for backpacks, there are totally unnecessary, however you are welcomed to bring a light daypack with you if you want....

Will I have any free time during the trip?
While the trip itinerary is quite intensive, we do set aside plenty of time for relaxation and personal exploration. That being said, because we take your safety and security so seriously, there will understandably be some limits on your free time, especially when we are touring in the larger cities. If you have family or friends who wish to visit you during the trip, they are most welcome to meet you at one of the hotels where we will be staying. We recommend that they visit either at night or on a Saturday morning/afternoon (which is basically down time on the trip). Otherwise, there is one truly free night on the trip, usually in Tel Aviv. Other than this one free night, unfortunately, you will not be able to leave the group during the program under any circumstances.

Is this trip intended for people who are religious?
Because Taglit-Birthright Israel is only open to individuals who have never been to Israel on an organized peer trip, it is natural that there will be many participants on the trip who are not religious or who may have only a very limited connection to their Jewish identity. Israel Outdoors accommodates Jewish applicants of all backgrounds alike. Although we do not like labels, the trip itself is considered "non-denominational" -- which is to say that everyone should feel welcome and there is no religious agenda whatsover. We've planned these trips carefully, and we take great pride in knowing that participants from all Jewish backgrounds will feel comfortable with traveling with us. Past experience has also taught us that having a group made up of participants from diverse Jewish backgrounds makes the Taglit-birthright israel experience that much more interesting and special.

Do I need to be an "outdoorsy" person to enjoy these trips?
The bottom line is that there trips are meant to be enjoyed. They are NOT meant to be an intense physical challenge. Anyone with a basic spirit for adventure will feel more than comfortable on any Israel Outdoors program. That being said, Israel Quest was designed as the more relaxed of the three trips...and is appropriate for truly anyone. The Israel By Bike and Israel By Foot trips tend to be more active in terms of outdoor touring experiences. Keep in mind that you will not need to schlep your belongings during the trip. Even though we try and keep you off the bus as much as possible and on the move, we still use a bus to get around!

How flexible are the flight rules?
Not very. Here are some very important limitations to keep in mind:

- You must depart for Israel with the group from the scheduled gateway airport
- You can not meet the group in Israel...even if you are already in Europe at the time
- If you fail to extend your ticket till after the group flight departs Israel, your ticket will be void
- You can not pay extra for a stopover or to change your return flight destination
- It's impossible to get frequent flier miles for your ticket given the nature of the ticket fare rules

Sorry if any of these limitations are bad news for you. Please take our word that it is impossible to get around them! Much more detailed flight planning information is available on our web site in the Pre-Trip Prep section.

Who staffs the trips?
Each individual group is comprised of one professional Israeli guide, two North American peer staffers, one or two medic/security escorts, and a bus driver. Our guides tend to be men and women in their late 20's or 30s. We choose guides that are energetic and charismatic and understand how to connect with the group. Our peer staffers from North America tend to be in their 20s (usually one male and one female), and we choose them based on their prior experience in Israel and based on their leadership skills. The medics/security escorts are usually men and women that recently completed their service in the Israeli Defense Forces. They are on the group to help deal with any medical issues that come up and to make sure that we are always traveling in a safe environment. Finally, the bus driver usually provides the "color" for the group. There's nothing quite like an Israeli bus driver. You'll have to see it for yourself.

How can I apply to staff an Israel Outdoors trip?
We are always on the lookout for exceptional young adults to staff our trips from North America. In order to be considered for staffing position, you must have experience in Israel on a program other than participating in a previous Taglit-birthright israel group. If you are interested in applying, please complete the following Staff Application Form.

Will I learn Hebrew on this trip?
While this trip is not about class room learning, there will be plenty of opportunities to pick-up a little Hebrew from the guide, from the medics, and from Israelis that you will meet on the street. Hebrew is a very colorful and vibrant language...with especially rich slang.

Will this be an amazing experience?
Yes it will. Of course!

How do I sign up or get more information? 
If you are ready to register, please go to our GET REGISTERED page for full instructions. If you still have questions, we will be more than happy to walk you through the details and give you all of the information that you need to make a smart decision. Just email us or call 202-537-0006. We look forward to hearing from you!!