We are committed to providing a safe and celebratory experience for all of our trips. In cooperation with Taglit-Birthright Israel's international office, the Israeli government (through the Ministry of Education and security services) and our tour partners, Hillel monitors the situation in Israel on a daily basis. If ever we believed we could not provide an experience that is BOTH safe AND celebratory, we would postpone the trip.

Precautions taken for this trip are very extensive, and are detailed below. Even though there are never guarantees when it comes to safety, in Israel or anywhere, we believe that, with these steps, we can ensure a successful and safe Israel experience.

Nearly 40,000 people have journeyed with Hillel to Israel during the last 11 years, and they can tell you first hand about the security, the quality and the fun of our trips. We encourage you to ask them for yourself.

Should you have any additional questions, please contact your local Hillel or Jewish community professional, or contact our Taglit-Birthright Israel helpline at 202-449-6695.

Itineraries
Transportation
Security
Communication
Medical Issues
Emergencies
Travel Safety Tips
Contact Us

Itineraries
All itineraries are reviewed in light of security considerations with a central Israeli government office through the Ministry of Education that coordinates the police, IDF and other security services; they issue specific guidelines daily as to where it is safe to travel and the best routes to use. This same office supervises the travel of all school field trips in Israel, and we receive the same degree of attention and concern as is given to Israeli schoolchildren.

Our tours do not travel to or through areas of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem or any other potential trouble spots which have received much media attention due to the hostilities.
We have security briefings with our tour partners throughout the trips. Local security personnel are notified of the group's travel plans and will contact the group in the event of an emergency. We will change a group's itinerary immediately to reflect any heightened risk or security concerns.
Trip itineraries are distributed directly to staff and students, and are not public knowledge.
All of the sites we visit, including malls and restaurants, are approved in advance and secured. Itineraries generally avoid open, crowded places unless security arrangements are in place.

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Transportation
We use a variety of airlines including EL Al and Delta. Israel's airline security is widely considered the best in the world. In general, airline security has become much more stringent; please check your domestic carrier's specific policies prior to domestic connecting flights.

Hillel's participants on Taglit-Birthright Israel travel on private buses that are locked and under supervision when not in use. Each bus has a professional driver who accompanies the group at all times. At no point is public transportation used during our programs.

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Security
All groups are accompanied by a trained guide and professional security personnel (often trained as medics). Students have a security orientation upon arrival in Israel, which includes extensive travel safety tips and emergency procedures. Security personnel have extensive training and are provided by the leading firms in Israel.

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Communication
Each group travels with a GPS phone, so that we are aware of their location and can communicate with them at all times. Additionally Hillel and tour operator staff are in contact with each group repeatedly throughout the day via cell phone.
All participants will receive contact information for hotels in which students will be staying, as well as a 24-hour emergency number in Israel for parents/guardians to use in the event of a family emergency or crisis at home. Additionally, each participating Hillel will designate a local contact person who will be in contact with the group during the course of the trip and who can be contacted in case of emergency.

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Medical Issues
All participants are provided with emergency medical insurance while on the ground in Israel.
We require all participants to have existing medical coverage prior to and following the trip, since the insurance we provide does not cover pre-existing conditions or follow-up treatment. Participants should contact their local insurance carrier to ensure coverage overseas and to confirm reimbursement policies.
Participants should consult with their physician regarding any existing medical conditions. Enough medication should be brought for the entire trip, along with a copy of the prescription. It is critical that participants indicate all medication currently being prescribed or ongoing treatments on the trip application.
As per recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control, we strongly urge all students to receive vaccinations for Bacterial Meningitis and Hepatitis-B ailments which can be transmitted through close, intimate personal contact. Contact your physician or local health service for more information.
A medic accompanies all groups, and English speaking doctor's hours are arranged regularly in the hotel. Should urgent medical care be required, participants will immediately be taken to an authorized clinic or to an emergency room, accompanied by a member of the trip staff.

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Emergencies
In the event of an emergency or any incident in Israel, an update will be posted on Hillel's Israel helpline and on our Web site. We have extensive contingency plans covering a range of possibilities.
In the event of an emergency in the United States, please call the emergency number provided in Israel.

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Travel Safety Tips:
Travelers can have a major impact on their own well-being and safety by the decisions they make about their day-to-day behavior. Hillel offers travel safety tips that participants should follow when traveling in Israel - and in other places.

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Contact Us:
We hope that this information clarifies some of the questions you might have about the safety and security of all participants on our trips.
Please contact your local Hillel or Jewish community professional with any questions, or call Hillel's Taglit-Birthright Israel help-line at 202-449-6695.