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 We at IsraelExperts know that many parents want to help their son or daughter get to Israel on Taglit-Birthright Israel. Outlined below is some basic information about your son or daughter's application process and lots of other useful information to help you stay informed.
The Application Process
Registration for Summer 2008 trips has begun on February 12h 2008.
These are the things each participant must complete in order for his/her application to be fully processed and each step should be completed by the participant:
- Step 1 — The participant should come to our website and click the Register Now! button to fill out the Taglit-Birthright Israel application form
- Step 2 — Register with the IsraelExperts Info Center
- Step 3 — Pay the refundable deposit of $250
- Step 4 — Sign & send the waiver to IsraelExperts
- Step 5 — Send a copy of your passport
- Step 6 — Once we have confirmed trip dates and steps 1-5 are completed, the applicant will be invited to schedule & complete his/her telephone interview
Seats will be assigned on first come, first served basis once these 6 steps are completed. Steps 1 - 5 can be completed in any order, step 6 must be the final step that participants complete.
Each participant must check into the InfoCenter regularly. The InfoCenter is THE place for all information and updates about the trip, including flight times, itineraries, packing lists, etc.
Please Note: Participants cannot be assigned to a flight until they have a valid Passport.
Their passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip. Israeli law will not let them into the country without this in hand.
While we know you want to help, we prefer that it is the participants themselves, and not their parents, who take responsibility for the application process. This ensures that the participants fully understand each step of the process.
Our Vision
The vision and concept of the educational tour is grounded in IsraelExperts' fundamental belief of
a pluralistic, liberal, non-denominational program that is delivered with experiential design. The Israel Experience is conceived as a "time tunnel" journey through time, covering the history of Israel and the centrality of Israel to the Jewish People, since Biblical times, and through to contemporary times.
The program is designed as an introductory level program. One of the central issues is that which concerns staffing. Our vision is one where the guide/educator and the other educators from North America are able to inspire participants to excel and to challenge themselves as individuals and as members of their community towards making the most out of what may be a one-off educational experience. Additionally, much thought and deliberation has been given to the preparation of an experiential program. The approach is one that places the participants squarely in the focus of the program, with dialogue, discussion, deliberation and debate as central thematic moments throughout. IsraelExperts aims to recruit participants deemed unaffilliated as the central focus for recruitment.
Our goal is to reach out to young adults interested in an in-depth, serious educational experience. Maximization of time is critical to our vision and the staff are trained to program day and night towards achieving that vision.
Staying in touch with your son or daughter in Israel
 While in Israel each participant may rent a cell phone which can dial to America and which you can dial any time you want to stay in touch. Additionally each group's daily activities will be posted online (blogged) regularly to MyIsraelTrip.com so you can stay up to date on the group's experiences.
Extending their stay in Israel
Many participants like to stay on and explore Israel on their own. Each Taglit-Birthright Israel ticket can be extended for up to three months after the trip for as little as $50 or up to $250 (this depends on the airline and a number of other factors). Participants will be provided with detailed instructions and costs on the IsraelExperts InfoCenter. During their extended stay they may want to take advantage of IsraelExperts's weekend trips.
If either parent is Israeli:
If either of the participant's parents hold Israeli citizenship, then the participant is considered Israeli by Israeli law. If this is the case, a few extra steps are required. Please see this page for all the info.
Travel & Health Insurance
While many people have emergency health insurance coverage in Israel on their USA policies, you should consider purchasing additional health & travel insurance. We work with a comparison website called InsureMyTrip which will allow you to compare the content and pricing of policies from the major providers.
 Should your son or daughter wish to be flown back to the USA for medical treatment or need an upgraded seat on the flight if they break a leg, or their new digital camera is lost or stolen, you will want to ensure that they are covered. InsureMyTrip is one of the best ways to get coverage for your needs.
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