FAQ - Safety & Security

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.

Our program is approved with the "situation room", administered by the Israeli Ministry of Education, who is in contact with the military, & police. They issue specific guidelines as to where it is safe to travel & the best routes to use.

Security Policy & Procedure

Security

The Birthright Israel program is approved with the "situation room", administered by the Israeli Ministry of Education, who is in contact with the military & police. They issue specific guidelines as to where it is safe to travel & the best routes to use.
Changes in itineraries are made, if necessary, due to weather or security-related concerns.
Each group is accompanied by a licensed security escort/trained first aid.
Groups travel with cellular phones & a GPS (Global Positioning System) app, so that "situation room" is aware of each group's location.
Travel by 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.

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.
Shorashim will not be responsible for any pre-existing conditions or any medical conditions during the trip.
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 your Birthright Israel Application & interview
Shorashim may require additional medical forms, including a doctor's note &/or waivers, due to any conditions or medical history.
If Shorashim determines that, for any reason, an applicant is not fit to participate in the Birthright Israel program, it is at our total discretion to deny the application.

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.
Participants are not allowed to have anyone enter the room besides the assigned roommates
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.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Please keep in mind that all information below is directly from Birthright Israel. All FAQs are updated as of December 20, 2020 & are subject to change:

When will Birthright Israel trips resume?

Birthright Israel trips will resume as soon as it is possible & safe to travel. Birthright Israel is continuously monitoring the situation & are in close contact with Israel’s Ministry of Health as well as their own international advisory board of medical experts. They plan to take all necessary measures to ensure a safe, fun, & enjoyable Birthright Israel experience, once possible.

How is Birthright Israel making its health and safety decisions?

Birthright Israel is working closely with Israel’s Ministry of Health & their special health advisory board. Under their guidance, Birthright Israel will maintain the highest level of precautions once trips resume & make adjustments wherever necessary.

What can I expect in the meantime?

In the meantime, registration is open on an entirely commitment free basis. Save your spot* on a first-come, first-serve basis. Show your interest by applying online for your preferred month(s) of travel with the confidence in knowing that your deposit is fully refundable. Then, sit tight; we will make sure to let you know when trips resume!

*Spots may be limited

I was already finished my application for winter 2020/2021. Now what?

You don’t need to do anything right now; you already have priority status. We will reach out to you as soon as trips resume. If you do have friends you want to travel with, make sure they finish their applications as well by referring them.

I started an application, but never finished. Now what?

If you wish to travel in the near future, we highly recommend that you complete your application to get a head start on the process. We anticipate high demand once trips resume & priority will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

How will my trip be different from a regular trip due to COVID-19?

While Birthright Israel still doesn’t know the specifics about how trips will resume in the Covid-19 reality, both Birthright Israel & Shorashim can assure you that the safety & well-being of our participants & staff is our highest priority & foremost concern.

Birthright Israel is working closely with their special health advisory board & will spare no expense to ensure a safe, fun, & enjoyable Birthright Israel experience.

It’s likely that many logistical precautions & hygiene rules will be set as standard during the trip in order to maintain a safe environment for all.

Every aspect of the trip from flights, staff, group size, accommodations, trip itinerary, & food will be taken into account & adjusted on a daily basis, if necessary.

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for?

Reach out to us at (312) 267-0677 or registration@shorashim.org.