FAQs

Overview

By traveling to Israel with Birthright Israel & Shorashim, you are taking advantage of an awesome opportunity to see Israel from the inside - through the eyes & hearts of Israelis. Since 1983, Shorashim has brought tens of thousands of Americans to Israel on incredible, safe, & fun journeys.

The opportunity to travel on Birthright Israel with Shorashim is a gift of a lifetime. The health, safety, & security of our participants are our top priority. Working with Birthright Israel & the Situation room, we have developed a program that prioritizes a safe, secure, meaningful, & fun journey throughout Israel.

The government of Israel is a full partner with the Birthright Israel program & has dedicated its vast resources to helping ensure the safety of our programs. We monitor the situation in Israel & the Middle East daily & consult with the experts on an ongoing basis. Security guidelines established for this trip are extensive, & are detailed in the Security Policy & Procedures & Travel Safety Tips.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (312) 267-0677 or at registration@shorashim.org.

Security Policy & Procedure

Security

The government of Israel is devoted to the safety & security of visitors and citizens alike. Birthright Israel & Shorashim are in constant contact with the appropriate Israeli security/public safety authorities.
Our program is approved daily with the "situation room", administered by the Israeli Ministry of Education, military, & police. They issue specific guidelines as to where it is safe to travel & the best routes to use.
Changes in itinerary are made immediately, if necessary, due to weather or security-related concerns.
Each group is accompained by a licensed security escort/trained medic throughout their trip.
Groups travel with cellular phones & a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, so that authorities are aware of each group's location at all times.
A chartered bus with one bus driver remains with the group for the entire trip. The bus is secrued at all times & public transportation is not allowed.
All participants have a security orientation upon arrival in Israel, which includes travel safety tips & free time guidelines.
A 24-hour emergency number in Israel to use in the event of a family emergency or crisis at home will be sent to participants along with trip itineraries.
Shorashim is in regular contact with trip staff in Israel.

Medical Issues

All participants are responsible for having insurance that covers them while in Israel.
Shorashim offers limited, secondary medical insurance from an Israeli HMO while on the ground in Israel, but participants must have or purchase existing medical coverage that provides for coverage in Israel. The insurance provided by Shorashim does not cover pre-existing conditions, follow-up treatment, psychiatric conditions or illness cause by drug/alcohol use or abuse. Participants should contact their local insurance carrier to understand their coverage overseas & to confirm reimbursement policies.
Participants should consult with their physician regarding any existing medical conditions.
Necessary medication should be brought for the entire trip, along with a copy of the prescription.
Participants must indicate all medication currently prescribed, ongoing treatments, & any medical issues that are relevant to a program in their Shorashim applicatton & interview

Travel Security Tips

We ask our participants to abide by common sense travel tips, so that their trip to Israel can be both safe & memorable.

General Travel Tips:

Make a copy of your passport & keep it with you.
Store your passport & important travel information in a safe place, like a safe in your hotel.
Keep cameras inside a secure bag.
Travel light as the groups move around a lot & you will be less likely to lose or forget something.
Do not leave any packages or bags unattended.
Non-participants are not allowed in your room.
Make sure to pack all prescription & over-the-counter medications in your carry-on bag.

Anyone who leaves the group without prior approval will immediately be removed from the program & forfeit his/her deposit.