Frequently Asked Questions

There is no commitment required from you after the program, except for filling out a brief post-program evaluation. We hope your Birthright Israel Onward experience will provide motivation and inspiration for greater involvement in Israel related activities and in Jewish life after the program.

Every Birthright Israel Onward program is overseen by a licensed Israel-based program organizer, who assigns a full-time Madrich (Counselor) for approximately every twenty-five participants. Your Madrich serves as your primary point of contact for any questions or concerns throughout the program. We strongly encourage you to discuss any challenges with the program staff on-site as they are best equipped to address and resolve issues promptly. In the rare instance that you encounter difficulties reaching out to the program staff in Israel, our central Birthright Israel Onward staff are available to assist. Please carefully review the contact page details for information on our response time and operating hours.

Birthright Israel Onward is not a religious program. We welcome participants from all Jewish backgrounds. There are opportunities to explore your Jewish identity and heritage while on a Birthright Israel Onward program. There are certain Birthright Israel Onward programs that include additional Jewish learning and/or are designed for more observant participants.

Trip organizers can provide dishes, cookware and cutlery to those who keep Kosher upon request. It is not always possible to assign housing according to Kashrut or Shabbat observance.

Birthright Israel Onward programs range from 4 to 8 weeks. Participation in the entire program is mandatory. If you are not available to attend the full dates of a program you have applied to, please be in touch with your program organizer directly for more information.

The full cost of a Birthright Israel Onward program is subsidized by up to 80% thanks to the generosity of Birthright Israel donors and local Jewish institutions. This significant subsidy ensures that our programs are attractive and accessible to Jewish students and young adults.

Program fees are paid in order to accept your spot on an Onward program. After accepting your program offer and paying your program fee, you can receive a partial refund if you cancel at least 65 days prior to your program start date. Refunds are not issued within 65 days of the program start date. Please refer to your conditional offer for specific deadlines.

If Birthright Israel Onward determines we cannot run a program, the program fee and security deposit will be refunded in full.

Participants will be informed approximately starting two months in advance of their program start date only if their program needs to be cancelled for safety and security reasons. We will only cancel programs prior to their inception if we believe there will be a full disruption in Birthright Onward Israel’s ability to operate our programs. We define “full disruption” when the Homefront Command’s instructions for civilian conduct and everyday life in Israel are so limiting that it becomes impossible to conduct our programs– from an educational, safety and security point of view.  This decision will be made if the security situation so warrants within the two-month window before the program’s start as well. Trip organizers will be in close touch with participants as these decisions are made.

The safety and well-being of our Birthright Israel Onward participants is our primary operating principle and our foremost concern. Birthright Israel takes great pride in its reputation for being cautious and responsible with a well-deserved reputation from hosting over 850,000 travelers over the past 24 years. We will not hesitate to further adjust our approach, as necessary.

These adjustments may include changes in housing arrangements, transportation, the ability of participants to travel freely on their own and the educational program, among other elements. Onward participants are not allowed to travel into areas in the West bank (Judaea and Samaria)- Areas A and B- that, according to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Israelis are not permitted to enter. Travel is possible to area C of the West Bank (Judaea and Samaria) under certain limitations).

Birthright Israel trips operate under strict safety and security standards set in accordance with the IDF's Homefront Command guidelines. These guidelines include geographical travel boundaries, limiting groups from travelling within a 20km range of the Lebanese border, exact protocols of how to operate during the sound of a siren, personal safety guidelines and more. Birthright Israel's operations department and field teams are in constant contact with trip staff and oversee the group's operations and safety.

The full cost of a Birthright Israel Onward program is subsidized by up to 80% thanks to the generosity of Birthright Israel donors and local Jewish institutions. This significant subsidy ensures that our programs are attractive and accessible to Jewish students and young adults.

Most Birthright Israel Onward participants buy and prepare their own food over the duration of the program. Participants are encouraged to pool their money with their roommates and use the opportunity to get to know their local neighborhoods and cities by grocery shopping in the shuk and supermarkets. Each apartment will make its own decisions about the degree of kashrut it wishes to maintain. Kosher dishes can be provided upon request.

Food that is directly provided by Birthright Israel Onward during seminars and other educational programming will typically be kosher (and if not, will be indicated and an alternative meal solution will be provided to those who wish to keep kosher). If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions please notify your program organizer prior to the start of the program.

Participants should plan to bring enough spending money to cover food and recreational activities outside of what the program offers. The amount of additional spending money depends on each person’s individual habits. Those who wish to eat out in restaurants more often for example, should budget accordingly.

Living with your Birthright Israel Onward cohort is a central and required part of the overall experience. This arrangement not only ensures a supportive living environment, but also fosters strong connections and friendships among participants.

The housing arrangements for Onward participants are generally two-to-three residents per room and eight per apartment (subject to more or less depending on room and apartment size). Roommate requests can be made, but are not guaranteed, and are generally handled by the program organizer. Participants cannot live with participants from different Birthright Israel Onward programs.

All Birthright Israel Onward housing will include basic furniture;

• Beds
• Mattresses
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Linens
• Towels
• Air conditioning

All Apartment style accommodations will also contain an equipped Israeli style kitchen containing;

• Refrigerator
• Toaster oven
• Stove OR hotplate
• Cutlery and crockery
• Kosher dishes (provided upon request)

You will be responsible for bringing or purchasing your own cleaning supplies over the duration of the program, the housing accommodations might include some basic cleaning supplies to get you through the first few days.

Group-style housing arrangements (including hostels, hotels or dormitories) might not include a fully equipped kitchen. Group-style housing accommodations typically have common kitchen areas containing a microwave, fridge, and other kitchen basics. Participants should bring spending money, personal belongings, and other items as detailed on the packing list they will receive from the program organizer.

Each Onward program provides housing for the participants based on the city or area of the country where the program takes place. Housing will be in close proximity to internship placements and program activities. Onward participants typically live in apartment, dormitory, hotel or hostel style accommodations. Birthright Israel Onward housing can vary from program to program as well as within the same program. Participants are not allowed to secure their own housing, at their own expense unless given explicit permission in advance by Birthright Israel Onward and the program organizer.

Participants are welcome to be in touch with their Internship Coordinator with any ideas, including connections to internships through their personal networks. All internship placements need to be vetted by your Internship Coordinator before being confirmed.

No, participants on Onward programs are not permitted to be paid by their internship employer during the program. If you wish to continue working for your employer (with or without pay) after your Onward program concludes, please be in touch with them directly.

No, prior knowledge of Hebrew is not a requirement to participate in Birthright Israel Onward programs.

After starting your internship, your internship coordinator will check in to see how your experience is going. If you are unsatisfied with the placement, the first step will be to address the issues within your current placement. If the issues persist your placement coordinator can work with you to find a new placement.

The process begins by selecting an Onward Israel program that you are eligible for and applying through the application form (available on the webpage for the Onward program in which you are eligible for). Applicants can use the program finder on the home page to determine which specific Israel program they are eligible for based on which community or campus they are from. Applicants should read the general criteria listed on each program webpage as well. 

Once an applicant submits their application form, and based on a preliminary eligibility check, the local partner to Onward (the local community or organization that is a co-sponsor of the program) or an Onward staff member or alumnus, will arrange a preliminary interview with the applicant. 

After an applicant completes this stage, the Israel-based program organizer will contact them to conduct a secondary interview, typically with the internship coordinator for the specific program they have applied for. The goal of this second– round interview is for the coordinator to assess whether or not they feel they will be able to find the participant a placement in your first, second or third choice field of interest within reason. 

After the second– round interview, a final decision is made regarding the applicant’s acceptance to the program. If the applicant is accepted, they will receive an acceptance letter detailing out how to register, most often, beginning with submitting their program fee and a copy of their passport or proof of having started the passport renewal process. Only after the program fee is paid, can the participant internship placement process begin. *NOTE: While we understand it can be nerve-wrecking to pay for the program without knowing where the internship will be, it is Onward’s policy to see the seriousness of our participants by accepting payment prior to sending resumes out to potential employers. As a reminder, while Onward can never make guarantees about specific internship placements, our coordinators interview applicants to assess how likely it is they feel they will be able to place the applicant. The ability of the internship coordinator to place an applicant also depends on the participant’s willingness to be open and flexible.

The placement process varies slightly with each program, but the goal is always that participants work with their internship coordinators to receive internship options based on the participant’s specific interests and the coordinator will help facilitate a match with an employer. Once a mutually desired placement is arranged, an additional interview is conducted between the employer and the participant to ensure it will be a good fit for both. After this interview a final decision about your placement will be made. 

Birthright Israel Onward applicants interested in interning in the fields of STEM, Finance, Law, and Medicine – must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant must be in their second year of university studies or beyond while applying for the Onward program
• The applicant must have prior exposure to the field outside of academic studies
• Prior professional experience/internship experience in the specific field of interest is desirable but not required. Applicants interested in a law internship must have prior law-related internship and/or work experience
• The applicant must have completed at least 4 courses relevant to the internship field of interest by the start date of their Birthright Israel Onward program
• If the applicant is applying for a computer science or engineering internship, they must meet the criteria above AND must be proficient in at least one computer programming language

Applicants meeting all criteria have the strongest chance of securing an internship in their desired field. Applicants meeting two or fewer criteria should take into consideration that it is unlikely an internship match will be made in their desired field and should seek internships in other fields.

Last summer, Onward participants worked for over 1,000 employers in Israel in a variety of fields. While we can never guarantee a specific internship placement or field, we make every effort to find the best match for each individual given a variety of factors including but not limited to:

1. What field they are interested in (some fields require pre-requisites)

2. Their past coursework and relevant work experience

3. The availability of placements in the city the program is based in.

We always encourage our applicants to be flexible and open-minded as they might be able to get relevant work experience for their professional goals with companies or organizations that they might not have previously imagined.

Yes, Birthright Onward Israel offers scholarships for applicants in financial need. If awarded, the scholarship will partially offset the cost of the program by approximately 65%.  If you are awarded a scholarship, your program payment will be reduced accordingly. If you are awarded a scholarship after you have paid the full program fee, you will be refunded the scholarship amount. You can apply for a scholarship by clicking on this link at any stage in your application process. Here is the link Apply for Scholarship

Please note that scholarships are only available for Onward eligible applicants, are not available for applicants for programs from the FSU which have built-in scholarships already and will be be capped at a nominal amount for programs with higher participant fees.

In addition, you may find additional local scholarship opportunities through synagogues, local Hillels, Jewish Federations, and other community organizations. We recommend reaching out to Jewish campus or community professionals in your area to explore further financial assistance options.

Yes. All participants must have a cell phone with an Israeli number and data/calling plan. International calling plans are not permitted in place of an Israeli number. Your organizer will provide recommendations on where to purchase an Israeli SIM card or rent a local phone.

Participants are responsible for the setup and cost of their phone plans.

The participation and security deposit ensures your commitment to the program and covers any potential damages to housing. It will be refunded upon full participation and completion of the Onward program, provided you are in good standing (having fully participated in all required program components) and there is no damage to the housing.

What's included

• RavKav or HopOn with enough credit to travel to/from program placements and programming
• Transportation during Israel Now Days
• Transportation to/from your group Shabbaton or partnership Shabbaton, if applicable

What's not included

• Transportation to/from the airport
• Transportation for optional activities such as weekend trips within Israel

All Onward programs will either include laundry services or have access to laundry services within a short walk of the accommodations. Some accommodations have their own laundry facilities. Your program organizer will review how laundry is handled for your program during the pre-program Webinar.

The Birthright Israel Onward provided health insurance covers:

• Emergency Transportation to the hospital
• Hospitalization costs including payments for doctors, operations, emergency care, ambulatory care, tests, x-rays and medicine during hospitalization.
• Non-hospitalization medical costs stipulated as necessary by authorized doctors: doctor payments, tests, x-rays, prescription medications
• Emergency dental coverage
• Non-emergency medical needs in the same city that the participant is living in
• Covid-related health issues
• Please note that this insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions or any injuries/illnesses that result from drug or alcohol usage. If you have any pre-existing conditions you are required to provide proof of the purchase of additional health insurance to the organizer before coming to Israel, or alternatively, sign a waiver form releasing Birthright Israel Onward from any liability regarding such conditions. The insurance provided by the program only covers the participant while in Israel during the dates of the program.

Participants are responsible for their own flight and travel arrangements unless explicitly told otherwise. Your Birthright Israel Onward program begins when you arrive at the program housing. Required arrival times will vary by program and each specific program organizer will inform participants as to their required arrival times in Israel. Participants may arrive later on the day of their program start date with previous permission from the organizer. For more assistance on scheduling your flights please reach out to your program organizer.

Participants who arrive prior to their program start date and/or who wish to stay in Israel after their program finishes are responsible for arranging their own accommodations and insurance and will not receive program benefits.

Birthright Israel Onward offers a diverse range of educational and cultural programming for participants across various programs. Much of the programming involves interaction between different Onward groups, and participants also have ample free time to connect with individuals from other groups.

The amount of free time varies among Onward programs. Typically, volunteer or internship placements are scheduled four to five days per week, with educational programming occurring once every two weeks. Optional educational and cultural programming is available in the evenings. Most programs include three Israel Now Days, which are tour days focused on contemporary Israeli life. Some programs may also feature additional Shabbat programs. Most Fridays and Saturdays are unscheduled, and participants are encouraged to explore Israel independently during this time.

The Birthright Israel Onward program requires your participation in the following:

• Full Program Duration: You must participate from the first official day until the final day, including opening orientation and closing sessions. Please check your specific program page on our website for inclusive program dates.
• Placement Opportunity: This includes your internship, volunteer work, or other assigned roles.
• Educational Programs: Participation in all educational content days, group activities, seminars, workshops (Sadna activities), evening events, and day outings (Israel Now Days) defined as mandatory by the organizer and/or Onward.
• Weekend Shabbaton: Participation in a Shabbaton in your community’s partnership region, if applicable.
• Pre-Program Initiatives: Engagement in initiatives in your home community, when applicable.
• Surveys: Completion of pre-, mid-, end-of-program, and post-program surveys to provide feedback and help improve the program

Failure to participate in mandatory program aspects may result in disciplinary action, ranging from warnings and probation to removal from the program.

Birthright Israel Onward offers a variety of programming tailored to enrich your experience. Programming can vary between programs, but you can expect a mixture of:

• Informal Educational Programming: Scheduled on weeks without an Israel Now Day
• Optional Enrichment: Evening educational and cultural activities.
• Israel Now Days: Three tours focusing on contemporary Israeli life.
• Shabbat Programs: additional Shabbat activities

Participation and attendance for the entire length of the program is mandatory. If you require a program with a shorter time commitment we recommend looking into our four week fellowship programs or our eight and fourteen day long Volunteer program.

Birthright Israel Onward is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We strongly encourage our alumni to explore our volunteer program and Masa Israel Journey programs as the best options to return to Israel after a Birthright Israel Onward program.

Once a participant has completed a Birthright Israel Onward program, they are no longer eligible for a 10-day Birthright trip. We encourage participants to attend a Birthright Israel 10-day trip before participating in an Onward program.

Alumni of long-term MASA Israel Journey programs longer than three months are typically not eligible for Birthright Israel Onward programs. Exemptions may be available on a case by case basis. In addition, alumni of mid-length MASA Israel Journey programs, including during high schoool, are also not eligible for Birthright Israel ONward programs. Please reach out to the contact person on the specific program page you are interested in for more information.

Previous visits to Israel with an organized program are not a pre-requisite to participate in a Birthright Israel Onward program. Our programs are designed for students and young adults who have already had one short-term organized peer experience in Israel and we strongly recommend attending a 10-day Birthright Israel trip prior to an Onward program.

Birthright Israel Onward partners with local Jewish communities and organizations, which can influence your program eligibility. In some cases, your geographical location (either your permanent or current address) will be a key factor in determining which program you qualify for. In other cases, your affiliation with a specific university, organization, or framework may affect your eligibility. Your application will only show you programs for which you meet the eligibility requirements.

Birthright Israel is a journey for young Jews into their heritage. Regardless of where you are starting from, we are interested in deepening your Jewish identity and strengthening your Jewish links to Israel. Your Jewish connection, identity, and journey are unique. Many of our participants come from interfaith homes, and we know that your connection (or disconnection) to the Jewish community may be an uncertain one. We want you to feel comfortable enough to ask questions and inquire about your eligibility for the gift of a highly subsidized Birthright Israel Onward Program.

Birthright Israel’s determination regarding eligibility for the program will simply be a statement of that; not a judgement or determination about your own path, self-definition and/or connection to Judaism or the Jewish community.

To be eligible for the gift of a highly subsidized Birthright Israel Onward Program, you must be considered Jewish by one of the recognized Jewish denominations.* You must not be exclusively practicing another religion, and you also need to have at least one Jewish parent who identifies as such. You may also be eligible if you are a Jew by Choice through conversion to Judaism (documentation will be requested).

Please note that final eligibility for Birthright Israel Onward is only determined after you complete the full registration process and is subject to change.

If your Jewish story feels complicated and you have questions about your Jewish eligibility, or if you practice another religion, or if you are adopted, we take these cases seriously and prefer to talk to you 1 on 1. Please contact us

*Birthright Israel recognizes the following denominations:

Reform

Reconstructionist

Conservative

Orthodox

Sephardic

Most Birthright Israel Onward programs follow the general criteria listed below, although some Birthright Israel Onward programs may have additional or unique eligibility requirements. If you have any questions about the criteria for a specific Onward program, please contact the program coordinator or staff directly.

• Age Requirement: Must be between 18-36 years old (participants who are 18 must be at least one year post-high school graduation, and participants cannot be older than 36 by the first day of the Onward program). The age requirement can vary by program.
• Jewish Identity: Most programs require applicants to identify as Jewish. Refer to the specific program page and the FAQ for more information.
• Previous Time in Israel: Must not have spent three or more months in Israel after high school (including semester abroad, gap year, or any other MASA program).
• Language Proficiency: Must be fluent in English.
• Passport Validity: Must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the program end date.
• Previous Participation: Participation in a 10-day Birthright Israel Taglit trip or other short-term programs in Israel is encouraged but not required. Individuals who participated in a previous 10-day Birthright Israel trip are eligible for an Onward program, but Onward alumni are no longer eligible for a 10-day Birthright Israel trip or a second Onward program.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the specific program coordinator or staff.

Not necessarily. As the program invites its participants to live in Israel for a long period of time, the participants will live in the same environment as the locals. Participants will all have access to a safe room/space in or near their buildings. Some housing accommodations will have a safe room, some will have a nearby neighborhood shared shelter, and some will have the building’s stairwell to find shelter in.

During orientation the staff will present the appropriate available shelter to be used in case of emergency.

Private busses and transportation are provided to take participants to Shabbatons, Israel Now Tour Days and other required program elements that are taking place outside of the city they are living in. Participants typically take public transportation to their internships and other program elements taking place in the cities where they live. Participants are provided a public transportation pass- a RavKav (Israel’s public transportation passes) or HopOn (mobile public transportation app)- which covers the cost of travel to and from internships and other mandatory programming in the city they live in.

Our participants’ safety and security are our top priority, and as such all elements on the itinerary are subject to change. We work closely with the situation monitoring room administered by the Society for the Protection of Nature, and law and security authorities. Each program is monitored by its Trip Organizer. Additionally, Israel Now Day trips and Shabbatons which entail nature hikes or multi-site outings, will be accompanied by a security guard.Note, if there is an escalation in the security situation, Onward might relocate the program’s participants elsewhere.

Yes. Participants are required to bring their own phone with the ability to use an Israeli SIM card in order to have a local phone number and data plan. The best way for your parents to reach you is by contacting you directly on your mobile device. In the event that your parents can't contact you or your Trip Organizer directly, they can call our after-hours emergency service on our main line + 1-888-99-ISRAEL (7723).

For non-emergencies, please use the form on our Contact Us page to reach out.

A trained security guard (who is also a first aid responder) accompanies participants on specific Israel Now Tour Days and Shabbatons as determined in coordination with Israeli security authorities.

Note that individual activities taking place outside of the setting of a group, will not be accompanied by a security guard (at internships, during free time, etc.).

As Birthright Israel Onward is an immersive living experience, staff members are not with participants 24/7. Participants are with staff members during required group program elements, such as Orientation, Israel Now Tour Days, evening programs and more. Participants are also provided with the direct contact information of their group madrichim (counselors or community managers), in addition to program coordinators as back up.

Note that individual activities taking place outside of the setting of a group, will not usually be accompanied by program staff (at internships, during free time, etc.).

In January 2022, Onward became part of Birthright Israel. As a result, all of our safety and security protocols are fully coordinated with Birthright Israel, and we are under the overall safety and security responsibility of Birthright Israel.

The safety and security of participants is a foremost priority of Onward. All of our programs are conducted under security supervision and involve real time adjustments to logistics and itineraries based on developments and changes in the situation in the region. These adjustments, if necessary, include changes in housing arrangements, transportation, the ability of participants to travel freely on their own and the educational program, among other elements. Onward participants are not allowed to travel into areas in the West bank (Judaea and Samaria)- Areas A and B- that, according to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Israelis are not permitted to enter. Travel is possible to area C of the West Bank (Judaea and Samaria) under certain limitations).