Following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran, we are preparing to safely resume Birthright Israel programs beginning July 2025.
• If you're scheduled for a program departing July 13 or later, your trip organizer will be in touch with details shortly.
• If your original program was cancelled, you can explore our available departure dates here, or reach out directly to your trip organizer. While we can’t commit, we will do our best to find you a spot.
Safety & Security: Updated June 29, 2025
Safety & Security: Updated June 29, 2025
Following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran, we are preparing to safely resume Birthright Israel programs beginning July 2025.
• If you're scheduled for a program departing July 13 or later, your trip organizer will be in touch with details shortly.
• If your original program was cancelled, you can explore our available departure dates here, or reach out directly to your trip organizer. While we can’t commit, we will do our best to find you a spot.
How will I know what to do in the event of an emergency?
During the first few days of the program, staff will review safety and security guidelines with all participants, covering various security situations.
Will housing accommodations have a safe room?
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.
How will we get around Israel?
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.
What if there is a security situation during the program? Will you change our itinerary?
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.
My parents are worried about me traveling to Israel. Will they be able to reach me during the trip if there’s an emergency?
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.
Will a security guard or other security personnel travel with us?
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.).
Will staff members accompany us throughout the program?
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.).
How Does Onward Israel Address safety and security?
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).