Center for Jewish Life/Hillel

 

The Center for Jewish Life is partnering with Hillel International (see below) to offer Princeton students the chance to travel to Israel for free for ten days with their peers. Please direct all questions to Arielle Greenwald.

Hillel was established in 1923 and now serves students on five continents. We work with many Jewish campus and community organizations to provide improved Jewish life on campus. Campus programs often include: alternative spring breaks, community service, leadership development, Shabbat and Jewish holidays, intramural sports, Israel education, and Jewish food, art and music.

Hillel is committed to pluralism, student leadership, social justice and engaging Jewish students.

Trips are staffed by Hillel campus professionals who get to know participants before the trip, and return to campus with them after their Israel experience. Our Israeli tour educators are the best in their profession. They all speak English fluently and will make Israel come alive for participants.

Participants can expect to learn about Israel from their peers – Israelis on their trip, their Israeli tour educator, and through their own eyes – seeing Israel as she is. They will see the cities, industries and nightlife that aren’t covered on network news.

On Shabbat, we focus on taking a break from the fast-paced regular itinerary. Shabbat is celebrated in a pluralistic manner, allowing for many opportunities and experiences. In addition to Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox services, we also offer non-prayer alternatives such as meditation, discussions, and/or yoga. Shabbat is also the time where students have the opportunity, if they would like, to take on a Hebrew name and celebrate becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

In addition to the major sites of Israel – Masada, the Dead Sea, and the Western Wall, we’ll take you to amazing places you didn’t even know existed. Ride a camel at the Bedouin tent, go Jeeping in the Golan, have lunch in a Druze village, and meet Ethiopian children at an absorption center. And of course, in addition to your campus peers, you will be traveling with new Israeli friends and getting to know the real Israel.

Yes, the trip is free. There are really no catches other than the following:

$250 deposit will secure your space on the program and will be fully refunded upon your return. Your deposit will also be returned if you withdraw your application before the date set forth in the waiver agreement (generally about 30 days before departure).

Participants are responsible for travel to and from the departure gateway.

Particpants should expect to pay for 5-7 meals during their 10 day experience.

It includes round-trip airfare to Israel from New York or Newark, NJ, accommodations in hotels and guest houses, most meals, ground transportation, entrance fees to all sites on the itinerary and the services of qualified staff and educators.

We don't know our dates for Summer 2012 quite yet, but we are told our departure will be in August. Check in with Arielle for more information.

Registration opens in February. If you have previously registered for a Taglit Birthright Israel trip, but were unable to attend or were waitlisted, you may register a full day in advance of general registration.

As long as you have not been on a peer trip, the answer is yes!  If you have been to Israel only with your family or for work, you are still eligible. If you traveled on a teen tour, attended college or university in Israel, served in the Israeli Army, or volunteered for Magen David Adom you are not eligible. If you have any questions about your eligibility, contact Arielle before you begin the application process. You can also learn more about eligibility at the Taglit-Birthright Israel website.

Safety and security of participants is the top priority for the CJL, Hillel International and Taglit-Birthright Israel. While participants are in Israel, bus itineraries are reviewed daily with Israeli authorities to ensure maximum safety and changes are made if necessary. You can read for about our safety and security policy on the Hillel website or contact us with any questions.

Yes, you must have a valid passport. Israeli law requires that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the return date from Israel. If you are a U.S. citizen and you have a valid passport as defined above, you will not need a visa to enter Israel. If you live in the U.S. but are not a U.S. citizen you may need a visa for travel, depending on your country of origin. Contact the closest Israeli consulate and find out what the requirements are.

Though you are not allowed to leave the group at any time, you can have friends or family in Israel visit you during the trip. On many nights there is free time at the hotel for guests to come visit. Also, there is often free time on Shabbat, when family and friends can visit.

All Taglit-Birthright Israel participants leaving on US departures have the option of extending their ticket to remain in Israel beyond the program (This is the case except in rare situations. In such cases, your organizer will notify you in advance of ticketing that extensions won't be possible).

The specific rules for extending your return date will depend on the airline you fly with. Since we use multiple airlines, once your flight has been ticketed we will notify you of the restrictions for trip extension for that airline.

Also, understand that our tickets are a certain class of seating. Your airline may not have available seating on the date you wish to return. In this case you will either have to settle for a different date and flight or, if offered by the airline, choose to pay a higher fee for a different class of service. 

We encourage you to take advantage of being in Israel and to extend your stay after the program. We are happy to assist you with this.

 

Please know that once the Taglit-Birthright Israel program has concluded that you will no longer be under our supervision or responsibility of Taglit-Birthright Israel.

This year we are excited to offer a Princton Only bus - with 40 Princeton students and 2 CJL staff members!

 Depending on the location, there are 2-3 participants per room. Each participant always has his/her own bed. Rooms are always divided by gender.  Most nights you’ll be in hotels or guest houses, with the one exception being one night in a Bedouin camp.

Please consult Hillel's packing list for winter trips or for summer trips.