Learn more about the event:
Why Israel?
Israel will function as an educational laboratory for engaging with some of Hillel’s key values: leadership, learning, service, pluralism, the State of Israel and global Jewish peoplehood. We will maximize the opportunities Israel offers to witness and participate in the living experience of Jewish society, Jewish sovereignty, and Jewish communal responsibility. We will meet and learn from leaders of all types, explore some lesser-visited sites, contribute to communities in need, and join with students from Hillels in Israel.
The move of Leaders Assembly to Israel is timely, as this year’s Israel@60 celebrations will serve as an apt backdrop for our group’s conversations. We will both reflect on how 60 years of Jewish sovereignty has impacted the Jewish People and also explore the opportunities and responsibilities facing individuals and communities worldwide as we embark upon the next 60 years of Jewish life.
Leaders Assembly will not be a traditional “Israel training seminar” and will focus neither on the political situation nor on advocacy.
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What will the program include?
The focus of the experience will be the future of the Jewish People, from the broadest to the most local perspective. Students will confront and grapple with current challenges in a highly diverse group. This model is informed by several years of experience with Pluralism Missions in which Israel has proven to be a fascinating stage on which to learn and discuss. We will create a supportive atmosphere in which each student’s own Jewish journey is recognized for its unique contribution. The program will challenge students to examine their own beliefs and opinions through positive confrontation with others who are different from themselves.
In the course of our unfolding exploration and reflection, students will participate in mini-seminars that approach Jewish leadership through the lenses of community service and pluralistic dialogue.
For all participants, the Leaders Assembly program will contain activities that address and reflect four core elements of personal growth, Hillel's values and mission, the individual's role on campus, and Israel@60.
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What will the day-to-day activites be?
As a final itinerary is in the works, here is the basic structure of the program:
Tuesday, December 25--Depart for Israel, overnight flight
Wednesday, December 26--Arrive in Israel and drive South to the desert where we will be staying in Damona at the D'rachim hostel. Kick-off party at night.
Thursday, December 27--Leadership development and team building in the desert. We begin our trip in desert just as the Jewish people began their journey in the desert at Mt. Sinai.
Friday, December 28--Drive North to Ein Gev. Shabbat comes early.
Saturday, December 29--Celebrate Shabbat in Ein Gev.
Sunday, December 30, Monday, December 31 and Tuesday January 1--Mini-seminars. We will be celebrating New Years Eve at a private party in Jerusalem.
Wednesday, January 2--We will be in Jerusalem and there will be touring opportunities. In the afternoon there will be time to reflect on how to bring new leadership skills back to campus. In the evening there will be a banquet with Avraham Infeld, President Emeritus of Hillel, Lynn Schusterman, major donor, and Wayne Firestone, President of Hillel.
The program ends at 9 pm. Anyone departing with the group with leave at 9 pm for the airport. Anyone extending their trip will be on their own beginning at 9 pm.
Who comes to Leaders Assembly?
Each Hillel in North America will have the opportunity to send one student, with additional spots open to Hillels in Latin America, Israel and the Former Soviet Union. Registration will only be open to individuals referred by their campus Hillel professionals.
Campuses should select delegates who:
- are emerging leaders in the campus Jewish community
- are motivated partners in Hillel’s mission to reach more students with more meaningful Jewish experiences
- have demonstrated potential and talent for leadership
- are open-minded, energetic, and talented
- have been to Israel before
- are not freshmen or seniors
We look forward to gathering a diverse and pluralistic community representing a variety of Jewish experiences.
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How much does it cost?
The (highly subsidized) cost of attending Leaders Assembly is $500, plus travel to New York.
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Are there subsidies available for domestic airfare?
Because we know that travel can significantly increase the cost of participating in this event, partial travel subsidies will be available for airfare only. If the airfare of your domestic travel costs more than $150, Hillel will reimburse you for 50% of any amount over that.
We will determine what the lowest possible 3-week advance-purchase fare is for any particular domestic flight, and we reserve the right to reimburse students based on what we establish was the lowest possible airfare at the time.
The travel subsidy form below must be completed to apply for this reimbursement. Subsidies will only be processed if both a receipt showing the cost of the ticket and proof of payment and a boarding pass are submitted. All forms, copies of receipts and boarding passes must be emailed/faxed/mailed to Hillel by Monday, January 21, 2008. Travel subsidies and refunds will be processed at the end of February. Refunds will be credited back to the credit card used to pay the registration fee.
Travel Subsidy Request Form (PDF File 25Kb)
[Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or higher.]
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Can I extend my trip in Israel?
All Student Leaders Assembly participants leaving on US departures have the option of extending their ticket to remain in Israel beyond the end of the program. Please read below for more information:
• If you indicated on your online registration form that you wish to extend your ticket, Debbe Mays of Gil Travel will contact you on or around November 6, to discuss options for your return. Once she contacts you with options, please make a decision and respond to her without delay. If you did not indicate your desire to extend on the registration form, you will have to contact Debbe on your own – debbemays@giltravel.com.
• Being in contact with Gil Travel regarding an extension does not mean that there will be availability on flights for you to extend. Do not make any domestic connecting flights until you have a confirmation from Gil Travel that your extension has been confirmed.
• There will be a $100 fee for extensions that are confirmed by Gil Travel by Wednesday, November 21. The fee for an extension confirmed after November 21, is $125. Aside from the change fee, there may also be a fare increase, of which Gil Travel would notify you. This is because the tickets we purchase are in a certain fare class, and El Al may not have seats of the same class available on the date you wish to return. You can either choose a different date to return or, choose to pay the fare difference.
• Please be aware that availability for extended dates is extremely limited, especially during the first week and a half of January.
We encourage you to take advantage of being in Israel and to extend your stay after the program. Please know that once Leaders Assembly in Israel has concluded, you will no longer be under our supervision, or the responsibility of Leaders Assembly in Israel or Hillel.
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What if I get sick in Israel? Do I need my own health insurance?
Every participant in Hillel's program is required to have insurance coverage that will be valid during the dates of travel. You should contact your local insurance carrier for their coverage and reimbursement policies.
Hillel is committed to the physical and emotional well being of all of the participants. To achieve that goal, Hillel will provide emergency medical coverage while you are in Israel. This insurance covers emergency conditions on the ground, but will NOT cover any pre-existing medical condition, alcohol related injuries, follow-up treatment or expenses after return to the United States. Any additional costs will be the responsibility of the participant.
As part of Hillel's medical coverage, the following levels of treatment are available in the event of illness or injury:
Basic first aid is administered by a medic accompanying the group, such as dispensing bandaids, medicine for headaches, etc., much like a camp nurse.
Should the medic and group staff decide that a doctor needs to be consulted, the participant will be seen during pre-arranged doctor's hours. These doctors maintain a supply of common medications and, when necessary, prescribe additional medication. They will also refer participants to specialists, when necessary.
Should urgent medical care be required, participants will immediately be taken to an authorized clinic or to an emergency room.
Participants will be accompanied by a staff member on any visits to doctors, clinics or hospitals.
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What security measures are in place?
The safety and security of participants is our primary concern. A security orientation for issues specific to travel in Israel will be given to all participants upon arrival.
While in Israel our itineraries are reviewed by Heder Matzav (the situation room), and if there is any concern our itineraries will be changed immediately. This is the same office that reviews field trip itineraries for school children. In order to communicate with our staff, each group’s tour educator staff member in Israel has a cell phone. Should any participant become separated from the group, they have an emergency contact card to reach their staff. Our tour buses are locked at all times when participants, staff or the driver is not present and every hotel that the group visits has security. Participants are not permitted to leave the group at any time, and “free time” is confined to certain specific areas with designated times and a group meeting place.
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What will Shabbat look like?
Shabbat at Leaders Assembly will include meal, activity and worship options that meet the needs of our pluralistic community while challenging participants to try new ways of creating holy space and time.
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Will the food be kosher?
All food served at Leaders Assembly will be fully supervised Kosher.
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More Questions?
E-mail leadersassembly@hillel.org if you can't find the answer you're looking for here.