1. What is Onward Israel?

Onward Israel is a framework for immersive and resume building experiences in Israel for students and recent graduates from all over the world. Many Onward Israel programs are specifically constructed through a partnership between Onward Israel and a Jewish community or organization. For those that are not eligible through a partner program, Onward Israel offers Theme Based programs based on applicants’ desired field of work, Advance Programs which include both in person and remote/virtual components and programs specifically geared towards a post-college Young Adult audience, such as our Career Passport initiative. Our programs are intended as a more meaningful and immersive follow-up to an initial, short-term experience in Israel. Check your eligibility with our program finder. 

2. How is the cost of an Onward Israel program so inexpensive?

The actual cost of the program is much higher than the price the participant pays. Programs are subsidized up to 80% by the Onward Israel, private donors, and local Jewish communities and institutions. The price of Onward Israel has been set in order to make our programs a reasonable and attractive option for students and young adults.

3. What does the price include?

The price of Onward Israel includes housing accommodations and laundry provisions, transportation for activities and programs, educational programming, insurance, and program staff and supervision. It does not include flight costs (in most programs), spending money for meals, recreation and free time, additional travel on weekends, and an Israeli SIM card or cell phone. 

4. How long are Onward Israel programs? Do I need to participate in the whole program?

The length of time Onward Israel programs can vary from four to ten weeks, depending on program type and content. Participation in the entire program is mandatory. Permission to miss days of the program will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the program organizer.  There is a daily fee for missed days of the program. 

5. What is Onward Israel’s agenda?

Onward Israel aims to provide personal and professional development to young adults through the immersive, internship-based Israel experience. Onward Israel also aims to bolster the connections between young Jewish adults and Israel, and to strengthen Jewish identity and identification. Onward Israel’s agenda is broad based and it’s program and population is diverse. Our enrichment and education offerings encourage a deeper encounter with Israeli life in a well contextualized, balanced, and interactive fashion. For more details about Onward Israel’s educational approach and programming, please refer to – https://onwardisrael.org/resources/educational-content/ 

6. Is this a religious program?

Onward Israel welcomes participants from all Jewish backgrounds. Although Onward Israel is not a religious program, there are opportunities to explore your Jewish identity and your relationship to your heritage. You will need to determine your own degree of observance regarding kashrut and Shabbat along with your roommates. In general, trip organizers provide additional dishes, cookware and cutlery to those who keep Kosher. It might however, not always be possible to assign housing according to Kashrut or Shabbat observance and roommates are asked to work together to find solutions that can work for everyone living together. During the Onward Israel Breakout Shabbaton, which brings together participants from different Onward Israel programs over a weekend, the Sabbath will be observed, and the food will be kosher. In certain specific cases, an event site may not have an official rabbinic kashrut license. In these cases: all food will be vegetarian, participants will be notified beforehand, and participants will be able to request a kosher meal through Onward Israel. Finally, there are certain programs within the Onward Israel network that include Jewish learning and/or are focused on more observant participants.  

7. Who can I turn to with any questions while I am on the program?

Each Onward Israel program is run by a licensed Israel-based program organizer, who supplies a full-time coordinator/counselor for approximately every twenty-five participants. This coordinator/counselor is the first contact for all questions and concerns during Onward Israel. We encourage you to address all challenges with your program staff on the ground.  Should you have any challenges reaching out to your program staff in Israel, the Onward Israel central staff is available. Contact details for the Onward Israel central staff are available here. Please review the contact page details carefully to understand our response time and hours. 

8. What is my commitment after the program to Onward Israel?

Onward Israel programs offer an immersive, impactful experience in Israel. Our hope is that the experience will provide motivation and inspiration for greater involvement in Israel related activities and in Jewish life after the program, but there is no commitment required from you after the program, with the exception of filling out the post-program impact study. 

Onward Israel offers a peer recruitment program involving financial incentives for alumni through the Share Some Friends app, as well as other opportunities to help market and recruit for the program. We will periodically reach out with information about opportunities for you after your program’s completion. 

9. Is additional financial aid available?

Beyond the heavily subsidized price of Onward Israel, additional local scholarship sources may be available through synagogues, local Hillels, sources at your Federation, and elsewhere. Feel free to consult with Jewish campus life professionals or other entities in the community to find out about these financial possibilities. Participants in specific programs might be able to inquire about additional scholarships.  This information would appear on each individual program page.

10. How do I determine my eligibility?

While each Onward Israel program has their own eligibility requirements, the same general principleals hold true. Applicants: 

• Must be between 18-30 years old (participants who are 18 must be one-year post-high school graduation, and participants cannot be older than 30 by the first day of the Onward Israel program) 
• Must identify as Jewish.  Please review Birthright Israel’s policy in regards to this eligibility criteria here. 
• Have NOT spent 3 or more months in Israel as part of an educational or peer-program after high school (this includes semester abroad, gap year or any other MASA program)* 
  *Note, Alumni of Onward Israel programs (even if they are Masa eligible) are typically not eligible to participate on a second Onward Israel program. In some cases, this might be possible (alumni can check with Onward Israel staff on a case by case basis), but program subsidies will be significantly lower and therefore the program fee will be significantly higher 
• Must be fluent in English 
• Must have a valid Passport (Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the program end date) 
• Previous participation in Taglit-Birthright Israel or other short-term programs in Israel is encouraged but not required. Individuals who participated in a previous 7- or 10-day Birthright Israel trip are eligible to participate in an Onward Israel program 

Please utilize the program finder on our homepage to determine which Onward Israel program you are eligible for. 

11. What determines which Onward Israel program I am eligible for?

Onward Israel partners with local Jewish communities and organizations. In some cases, your geographical location will be a critical factor in the program you are eligible for (either your permanent or temporary address); in other cases, your affiliation with a particular university, organization, or framework will determine your eligibility. On the web page for each program, you will find a clear definition of eligibility for that particular program. Those who are not eligible for a community or campus based program are eligible for Onward Israel Theme-Base and Advance Programs. 

12. What type of other participants will be on this program?

Onward Israel is designed for students and young adults who have had only one previous short-term experience in Israel (Birthright Israel, teen tours, etc). Participants on our community/campus based programs  share either a geographical commonality or a similar affiliation to a local Jewish organization or framework. Theme Based Program cohorts are grouped together by the focus of their internship or by city in Israel. Advance program cohorts come from a wide range of geographical locations (both internationally and nationally), varying fields of interests and backgrounds. The Advance program model is made up of both in-person and remote components. 

13. Can I participate in Onward Israel if I have never been to Israel on an organized program before?

Onward Israel is designed for students and young adults who have already had one short-term organized peer experience in Israel. If you have never been to Israel before, we strongly recommend Birthright Israel Applicants participating in Birthright Israel trips ahead of an Onward Israel program must join their group on the first day of their Onward Israel program. Applicants will be responsible for their own accommodations if there is a gap between Birthright Israel and Onward Israel programs. 

14. Can I participate in Onward Israel if I have already done a MASA program?

Onward Israel is intended as a second-time, immersive experience in Israel. If you have already participated in a semester, half-year, or year-long program in Israel, Onward Israel is not appropriate for you. 

15. Can I participate on a Birthright program if I have already done an Onward Israel program? 

Onward Israel encourages participants to do a Birthright program before participating in Onward Israel. Once a participant has completed an Onward Israel program, they are no longer eligible for a Birthright program. 

16. Can I participate in Onward Israel more than once?

Eligibility for Onward Israel is standardly limited to one time only. However, alumni of non-internship Onward Israel programs that are fewer than six weeks in duration are eligible for and may be considered for a future Onward Israel internship program that is longer than six weeks. Additionally, alumni of an Onward Israel Remote Program are eligible for one future Onward Israel program, whether it be in person or remote.  Please refer to the section below regarding Remote Program eligibility.  

We strongly encourage our alumni to explore Masa program opportunities as the best option to return to Israel after Onward Israel. It is important to note that Onward Israel alumni who participated on Onward Israel-Masa programs may return to Israel on long-term Masa programs after Onward Israel. They are also eligible for additional scholarships from Masa to help fund their participation, although the size of that scholarship may be influenced by prior to participation on Onward Israel. For details contact Masa Israel Journey directly.

17. If I am not able to participate in the entire length of the program, can I participate for part of it?

No, participation is required for the entire duration of the program. The expectations of the placement sites, the educational program, and the subsidy rate, are all based on the expectation that each participant participates in the full length and scope of the program.

18. Is there a registration deadline for Onward Israel?

Since the starting and end dates of each Onward Israel program may vary, there is no one set registration deadline. Each program sets its own registration deadline, which will be clearly indicated on the program website. Applications are submitted on a rolling basis and will close if the program fills up. In general, placements in Israel should be confirmed at least three weeks before arrival, and approximately two months are required to arrange for placements. Given this, registration deadlines will likely be approximately three months in advance to the program opening. 

19. Where will I live?

Each Onward Israel program provides housing for the participants based on the city or area of the country where the program takes place. Housing will be in proximity to the placements or places of activity. In most cases, Onward Israel participants live in apartments, dormitory-style housing, or hotels/hostels.

Onward Israel programs are carried out by a variety of organizers who are chosen through a rigorous selection process. All organizers are required to meet Onward Israel and partner standards. While meeting those standards, housing solutions are procured on the open market, and by definition vary in terms of location, amenities, proximity to one another, and type. Onward Israel participants should expect to encounter such divergence as they meet participants from other programs over the summer and from participants within their same cohort.

Though Onward Israel housing can vary from program to program, all housing meets basic Onward Israel standards and has been approved for use. Participants are not allowed to secure their own housing, at their own expense, outside of what the program provides, unless given explicit permission in advance by Onward Israel. 

20. What is provided by the Onward Israel trip organizer? What do I need to bring?

All housing provided by Onward Israel trip organizers are required to include basic furniture including beds, mattresses, pillows, blankets, linens, and towels. All housing must also include a lavatory, bathroom, equipped kitchen ((refrigerator, toaster oven, stove OR hotplate (Israeli kitchens often do not have both)), cutlery, and crockery, and air conditioning. You will be responsible for your own cleaning (including purchasing cleaning supplies while on the program), though the housing accommodations might include some basic cleaning supplies (enough to get you through the first few days). Equipment in group-style housing arrangements (including hostels, hotels or dormitories) might not include the above depending on if the organizer is providing regular meals to the participant, (note, in group-style housing scenarios, there are often common kitchens). Participants should bring spending money, personal belongings and other items as detailed by the packing list they will receive from the program organizer. Participants are also expected to supply or replenish cleaning supplies, etc. in their own apartments. 

21. Will I share a room, and how are my roommates chosen?

The housing arrangements for Onward Israel are generally based on two-to-three residents per room and eight per apartment (subject to more depending on room and apartment size and housing style). Roommate assignments are most often handled by the program organizer upon arrival in Israel and subject to partner approval. Participants cannot live with participants in a different Onward Israel program. 

22. Can I participate in an Onward Israel program without living with the group?

No, living together with other Onward Israel participants is a central and required component of the overall experience. 

23. How are food arrangements handled?

entirety of the program other than on select educational trips/weekends. Food during seminars and overnight trips is provided directly by the program. Food that is directly provided by Onward Israel 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). Most of the food that is bought individually in Israel is also kosher, but each apartment will make its own decisions about the degree of kashrut it wishes to maintain. Kosher dishes can be provided on request. If you have any food allergies, please communicate with your program organizer. 

Participants should plan to bring 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 plan accordingly.  

It is important to note that participants are provided with a modest stipend to help them cover the cost of food during 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 shopping in the shuk and supermarkets. We are recommend participants plan to bring additional spending money to supplement the stipend, especially for those who might not want to cook as often.

24. Are there host families in Onward Israel?

There are no host families, although some programs might include a weekend in their Partnership Together communities that will include a component of lodging with a host family. The emphasis of Onward Israel is on creating connections with Israeli peers, rather than with host families.

25. I’m having a problem with my housing, who should I contact?

For any housing related issue, participants are advised to be directly in touch with their group counselor/madrich(a). Like any housing on the open market (even in participants’ own homes), different housing related issues can take varying amounts of time to address depending on a variety of factors including the specific nature of the issue and when staff is made aware of the problem. Trip organizers will work as quickly as possible to address problems. If for some reason, a participant is not getting a response or update from their direct counselor/madrich(a), they should be in direct touch with the program director from their organizer. 

It is important to note that participants are expected to take an active role in problem-solving and avoiding housing related issues. This includes taking responsibility for the cleanliness of apartments, taking out garbage, and general care of the facilities provided, etc., to avoid unwanted damage. If it is found that participants damaged anything in their apartment, it is possible that the cost of fixing or replacing such items could be charged against their participation and security deposits. 

For further questions and more information, please contact inquiries@onwardisrael.org. 

26. Do I need to fly to Israel with my group?

Most Onward Israel programs leave flight arrangements up to the participant, unless explicitly told otherwise. Your responsibility is to arrive at the pre-arranged location for the official beginning of the program. Required arrival times will vary by program and each specific program organizer will inform participants as to their required arrival times in Israel. Participants should check with their program staff to confirm these required arrival times. Participants can choose to arrive later on the day of their program start date if they are informed by their organizer that they may do so (this information should be distributed to participants approximately a month before the program in their pre-program packet, should you wish to book your flight earlier, you may ask your program organizer before the pre-program packet is distributed). Participants are expected to book return flights home for no earlier than 4:00 pm (16:00) Israel time the day that their program finishes. 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. Those who do so are not considered program participants and therefore Onward Israel, its program partners and organizers are not responsible for providing any of the program benefits, including but not limited to housing, health insurance, etc. during that time period. In some cases, the local partner to Onward Israel might organize a group flight; in these instances, the price of the program includes air travel to and from Israel. 

27. What is covered in the health insurance?

The organizer must ensure each participant with appropriate medical insurance according to the acceptable standards of tourist insurance in Israel for the entire duration of the program (the program start date until the program end date). The organizer, based on the full disclosure of medical information by the participant (as required by Onward Israel) must inform participants of any limitations to health insurance prior to the program start.

The health insurance must cover the following aspects:

• Transportation to hospital when required
• 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 typically cover pre-existing conditions or any injuries/illnesses that result from drug or alcohol usage. If pre-existing conditions do exist you are required to purchase additional health insurance and show that to the organizer before coming to Israel. It is also important to note that the insurance provided by the program organizer is only covering the participant in Israel. 

28. How is laundry handled?

All Onward Israel housing will either include laundry services or have access to laundry services within a short walking distance. Laundry costs are covered in the overall program cost, however, solutions for laundry can vary by program (either through a laundry service, laundry machines in apartments, or a modest stipend provided for participants to do laundry in a local laundromat). If a stipend or laundry service is provided, it may only cover laundry to be done a certain number of times throughout the summer. Participants should consider this as they pack and prepare for their programs.

29. Are transportation costs covered by Onward Israel?

Transportation costs that are directly covered in the Onward Israel program include travel to and from internship placements through the use of a RavKav (Israel’s public transportation passes), and all transportation connected to mandatory educational content. Additional transportation (optional weekend travel, travel for social purposes) is not covered by the program. In most cases, transportation to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the program is not included and is the participant’s responsibility. 

30. Is there a program deposit? Is it refundable?

In addition to the program fee*, participants are required to submit a refundable participation & security deposit (amounts vary based on the program). This participation & security deposit will be refunded upon full participation and completion of the Onward Israel program, given that the participant is in good standing (has participated fully in all required program components) and the participant’s housing has incurred no damage.

*In most Onward Israel programs (please check individual program pages for greater detail) there is a program fee that accepted applicants must submit in order to reserve their spot on the program. This is a non-refundable fee to cover the participants contribution to the program. In most cases, participants must also pay for their own travel to and from Israel.

31. Am I required to have an Israel cell phone or SIM card?

Yes. Participants are required to have an Israeli cell phone number. Most program organizers can provide recommendations on where to rent or purchase and Israeli SIM card. Cell phone costs are not included in the cost of Onward Israel. 

32. Do I need a valid passport in order to apply to Onward Israel? 

Participants on Onward Israel programs must be in procession of a valid passport that does not expire for at least six months after the END DATE of their particular Onward Israel program. If an applicant passport does not meet this requirement at the time they are submitting their application, they can submit their current passport information at that time, however, will be required to show proof of starting the passport renewal process should they be accepted at the time of their program fee payment in order to reserve their spot on the program and start the internship placement process. At a certain point in the application and registration process season, it will be Onward Israel’s recommendation that accepted applicants utilize an expedited passport renewal process. 

Our goal at Onward Israel is that participants should be matched with a high quality internship as close to their field of interest as possible (this is what we refer to as a “tailor-found” internship program). It is important to remember that Israeli work culture can vary from that of a North American one (and other parts of the world). Participants at times might feel this cultural difference right from the start of their internship placement process or at any point throughout their experience.

Our participants have consistently rated the internship experience through Onward Israel as one of the best components of their programs and feel they have given them opportunities that they might not have otherwise received at home. Below are a few helpful hints in the form of an FAQ that will answer your questions:

33. How long are the Onward Israel internship programs?

The length of Onward Israel internship programs is generally a minimum of eight weeks (though in specific programs can be less). Internships take place four-five days a week, with an average of thirty hours of internship a week. The beginning and end of the internship programs consist of introductory and concluding programs. *Please note, there are also other required elements to participation in Onward Israel programs in addition to the internship, while also allowing for ample free time for participants to explore the city they live in and other parts of the country. Please read through our general program FAQ for more details. 

Onward Israel Advance Programs feature a portion of the internship on the ground in Israel and a portion of the internship performed remotely. On these programs, the in-person internship may be shorter than eight weeks. 

34. What field/industry can my internship placement be in?

In Summer 2022, Onward Israel participants worked for over 1,500 unique employers in Israel in a wide variety of fields and sectors. It is important to note that we can never guarantee a specific internship placement or field, but we make every effort to find the best match placement for each individual given a variety of factors including but not limited to:

1. What field they are interested in (some fields are more challenging to find placements than others).
2. Their past coursework and relevant work experience.
3. The availability of placements in the city their program is taking place in Israel.

The goal of the second round interview during the program application process is for the internship coordinator to assess these factors before a decision is made about acceptance into the program to ensure to the best of our ability that we feel it is possible to place the applicant with an internship in their desired field of choice. We always encourage our participants 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.

34. Do certain fields of interest require pre-requisites? 

Onward Israel applicants interested in interning in one of the following internship fields – Engineering, Computer Science, Finance, Law, Green Energy and Medicine – must meet the following criteria: 

• The applicant must be in their sophomore year of studies or beyond while applying for the Onward Israel 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 an internship in the legal field must demonstrate internship and/or work experience related to the field 
• The applicant must have completed at least 4 courses relevant to the internship field of interest or be enrolled in said courses that will be completed by the time the Onward Israel program begins 
• If the applicant is applying for a computer science or computer engineering internship, they must meet the criteria above AND must be proficient in at least in one computer programming language. 
• Applicants meeting all criteria have the strongest chance of securing an internship in the desired field 
• Applicants meeting two or fewer criteria: 
  ~Theme Based Programs: Applicants can be waitlisted or can be transitioned to a different Theme Based Program depending on availability. 
  ~Hillel/Community Programs: Applicants will need to take under consideration that it is unlikely that an internship match will be made in their desired field or a related field based on available internships and the applicants skills and experience and should therefore seek internships in other fields. 

36. How does the internship placement process work?

The process begins by selecting an Onward Israel program that you are eligible for and applying through the application form (available on the Onward Israel website or through the particular Onward Israel program in which you are interested). This form asks you for basic information. Applicants can use the program finder on the home page to determine which specific Onward 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 page as well. 

Once an applicant submits their application form,  and based on a preliminary eligibility check, the local partner to Onward Israel (the local community or organization that is a co-sponsor of the particular program) or an Onward Israel 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 Israel’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 Israel 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 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. 

37. What contact will I have with my employer before beginning the program?

Onward Israel encourages the Israel program organizer to arrange for a phone or Zoom interview with the employer as part of the placement process.

38. Will I get a reference letter from my employer in Israel after the completion of my internship?

There are some employers who will supply such a letter if requested. This can be asked for through your program organizer’s internship coordinator or directly from the employer. It is not an obligatory part of the process.

39. If I don‘t like my internship, can I change it?

After beginning your placement, your internship coordinator will be in touch to see how your experience is going. If you are not satisfied with the placement, the first response will be to try to address the issues within the context of your current placement. If the lack of satisfaction continues, it is possible to work with your placement coordinator to find a new placement, within the limits of your areas of interest, geographical location in Israel, placement opportunities and amount of time left of the program.

40. Is Hebrew required to get a good internship placement?

No, Hebrew is not a requirement to get a good internship placement. Our assumption is that the internship will take place in English, and most Israelis you interact with at your placement do communicate in English. If you do know some Hebrew that will of course add to the placement opportunities and enrich your interaction with Israelis.

41. Do participants get paid for their internship placements?

No. Onward Israel is a highly–subsidized program which includes in the program fee many of the costs associated with a typical internship abroad such as housing, local transportation, medical insurance and more. Please review program webpages about what is included in each program and what the participant is expected to cover directly. 

42. Can I arrange my own internship placement?

Participants are permitted to utilize their networks to arrange for their own internships, however, such placements must be approved by your internship coordinator. This is to ensure that the internship will meet Onward Israel standards and be a productive experience for you as the participant. 

43. When will I know what my internship placement is?

There is no set date by which Onward Israel can guarantee when a participant will know where they will intern. Given the nature of a tailor-found process in which the coordinator attempts to find the best match for each individual, and the more laid-back Israeli workplace culture, often participants may not know what their placement is until shortly before their arrival in Israel. We understand that this can create some anxieties for participants in the weeks before their program begins. Rest assured, while we ideally aim to place participants as early as possible, this is completely normal and barring very specific circumstances, participants arrive in Israel knowing where they will intern.

44. How many trips within Israel are included in the Onward Israel program?

Each Onward Israel program includes at least 3 days of interactive daytrips throughout Israel during the duration of the program. In weeks without a day trip, informal educational programming will be provided at least one evening per week. In addition, the Onward Israel weekend seminar will likely take place outside of where you live for the duration of the program. Most weekends will be free, and you can travel freely in the country at that point. 

Advance Programs will also include enrichment and educational hours on line on a wide variety of Israel and Jewish related topics. Largely based on the size of the number of participants, Onward Israel will attempt to provide participants with some level of choice as to which specific sessions and topics will be available.

45. Are all the content pieces and trips mandatory?

While participating in Onward Israel, you will have both the benefit of a formal program and the flexibility to explore Israel in your own way. The formal program requires participation in the following: 

Participation in the entirety of the program from the first official day until the final day. 

Your placement opportunity (internship, volunteer or otherwise). 

Educational programs, including but not limited to educational content days, group activities defined as mandatory by the organizer and/or by Onward Israel, including seminars, workshops (Sadna activities), evening activities and day outings (Israel Now days). 

A weekend Shabbaton in your community’s partnership region, when applicable. 

Preprogram initiatives in your home community, when applicable. 

Pre, end of program, and post program surveys (we need your feedback to assess the program and strengthen it for the future). 

Participants who fail to take part in mandatory program aspects will face disciplinary action – from warnings, to probation, to removal from the program. 

46. How much free time will I have on the program?

The amount of free time varies between the various Onward Israel programs. For the most part, placements in volunteer or internship opportunities are for four to five days per week, and educational programming is for an additional day every two weeks and other activities as outlined in the question above. Optional educational and cultural programming will be offered in the evenings. Most programs include three Israel Now Days tours – education and enrichment days focusing on contemporary Israeli life. Some programs will also include additional Shabbat programs, which will be clearly indicated in the program schedule you will receive in advance of coming to Israel. Most Fridays and Saturdays are free, and participants are encouraged to travel on their own throughout Israel. 

47. Can I leave the country during the Onward Israel program?

Given the short duration of the program (two months or less), and the requirements of the internship placements, participants are not allowed to travel outside of Israel during the program. Of course, you are welcome to travel outside of Israel before or after the program. These costs are not covered by Onward Israel.

48. Can I learn Hebrew on Onward Israel?

Hebrew language instruction is not a required part of the Onward Israel program, Some Onward Israel programs also offer optional Hebrew lessons if a large enough percentage of your Onward Israel group so requests. Onward Israel will supply information regarding opportunities for learning Hebrew in the cities where participants reside, and Hebrew learning apps. It is up to each participant to invest in their own Hebrew learning independently.

49. How much interaction is there with participants from other Onward Israel programs?

Onward Israel programs are offered to students and young adults from around the world, with each group sharing a particular geographical, organizational, or affinity connection. Several programs are likely to be taking place at any given time. Onward Israel offers a variety of educational and cultural programming for participants from the various programs. Several types of enrichment and educational activities are mandatory and others are optional. many of the activities include a wide range of choices, and much of the programming includes interaction between different Onward Israel groups.

50. Are There Other Travel Restrictions?

Onward Israel participants are explicitly not allowed to travel to areas under control of the Palestinian Authority; travel to Jewish towns/villages/settlements in the West Bank (Judaea and Samaria) is allowed, but only with explicit and advance approval from the program organizers, and only during daylight hours and by public bullet proof bus.

Please see our updated COVID-19 guidelines for up-to-date information about our policies. Click here to read guidelines for 2022 programs.  

51. Do I need to have had a COVID-19 vaccine to participate?  

For programs starting on or after November 1, 2022: No, participants will no longer be required to be vaccinated in order to participate in an Onward Israel Program.  

For programs starting before November 1, 2022: Yes, Onward Israel participants may only participate in a program if they are fully vaccinated with *2 or more World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccines. The last dose must have been administered more than 14 days prior to your arrival in Israel. *Or 1 dose of a WHO single dose vaccine. For more information, please refer to our COVID guidelines. 

52. Do I need to take a COVID-19 test before I go on my program to Israel? 

No. The government of Israel no longer requires you to perform a PCR test / antigen test before arrival in Israel. However, participants should stay up to date with our COVID guidelines in case entry or program requirements change.  

53. What if I test positive during the program? 

If you do not feel well during the program, you may be asked to take a home antigen test. If your result comes out positive you will have to go into immediate quarantine and conduct an official antigen test. Your program organizer will help arrange this for you. Your quarantine period starts on the day you conduct the official antigen test. For more information, please read our COVID guidelines.   

54. Do I need a COVID-19 test before I return to my home country? 

Currently, most countries do not require a COVID test (PCR/antigen) before arrival. However, we advise participants to check with the airline of their departure flight and ministry of health (of their destination country) to review all entry requirements. 

55. How is Onward Israel making its health and safety decisions? 

We are working closely with Israel’s Ministry of Health and will maintain the highest level of precautions on our trips  and adjust whenever necessary.

56. How were Onward Israel Advance Programs developed? 

Onward Israel developed Remote internship programs during summer 2020 as a way to connect participants with Israel and Israeli companies given the limitations of travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The success of these programs gave Onward Israel a new way to engage young adults. Onward Israel Advance Programs combine the best of both worlds –  the opportunity to develop your professional future and build your resume through an immersive experience on the ground in Israel, and the ability to build upon and/or continue the connection from home.  

57. Will I be interning with the same employer during the in-person portion in Israel and the Remote portion?

Onward Israel strives to provide meaningful internship experiences while in person and while working remotely. Throughout the internship matching process you will be able to discuss your interests and desires with your internship coordinator and our goal is to provide one internship placement for the entire duration of the program. In some cases you may intern in different departments in the same company.

There are additional factors, such as the industry, type of work, or specific placement that may cause a change from one section of the program to another. 

It is important to note that not all internships can transition to a remote set-up and that some types of internships can only take place on the ground in Israel. 

58. How will the work differ between the in-person portion in Israel to the Remote portion? 

Throughout the entire duration of the program, you will work with your employer to set guidelines for projects and tasks. While remote, you may be given a project to complete over a few weeks or smaller projects to complete every week depending on your specific placement. While in person, your tasks may be more oriented to the day to day workings of the company, and to your presence in the office on a daily basis.

59. What is required of me as a participant during the remote portion of the program? 

As a participant on an Onward Israel Advance Program you will be expected to be fully enrolled and engaged while you are in person in Israel AND while interning remotely. 

This includes completing and delivering the internship related tasks as outlined by your internship supervisor, joining in weekly check in calls, responding to emails in a timely manner, and attending and participating in the online education and enrichment sessions. 

60. How many hours a week will I work remotely?

The remote part of the internship will be project based (in some cases it may involve more than one project). Your internship coordinator will work with you and the host organization to create a clear project description (main objectives, measures of success, timeline, etc.). 

On average you will work 15-20 hours per week remotely. 

61. Will I keep my internship if the program becomes entirely Remote? 

As mentioned, throughout the internship matching process you will be able to discuss your interests and desires with your internship coordinator and our goal is to provide one internship placement for the entire duration of the program. That said, as the nature of work can shift from in person to remote, there is a possibility that your placement will change. Participants will be asked to be flexible under these circumstances. Onward Israel is committed to making sure participants have a professional and positive remote work experience. 

62. What are the expectations for the internship if it becomes fully Remote? 

In the event that the program is shifted to remote, participants would be paired with an Israeli company or organization and assigned work projects to complete over the course of the program. It is expected that participants complete their work projects during the designated dates of the program and fully participate in all required enrichment activities. The type of work that participants would complete remotely might differ from what they would be doing in person. Additionally, some fields or internship types might not be available as hands-on work won’t be possible. 

63. Will I receive a refund if the program becomes entirely Remote?

If the program becomes entirely remote, the program fee will be reduced to $150 for summer programs and $150 for winter programs. You will be refunded for the difference. Onward Israel is not responsible for other costs incurred, including the purchase of your flight. 

64. Can I withdraw from the program if it becomes entirely Remote?

If the program becomes entirely remote, you can withdraw and you will receive a full refund of the program fee. 

65. Does participation in Onward Israel Remote affect my eligibility?

Participation in an Onward Israel Remote program does not preclude you from participating in a future Onward Israel program. If you participate in an entirely remote program (including if the program shifts to being entirely remote) you are eligible to participate in one future Onward Israel Program, either in person or remote.

However, if you participate in two programs (even if they are both entirely remote) you are no longer eligible for a future Onward Israel program, whether it be in person or remote.

66. What do remote education and enrichment sessions entail?

At the core of Onward Israel’s vision is the opportunity for all participants to engage in a meaningful way with issues and topics connected to personal-professional development, to deepening Israel engagement and fluency, and to Jewish identity and identification.

Onward Israel will offer a variety of on-line activities, all sessions will last for about an hour and will include both presentation and interactive sections.

67. What does a typical week on the program look like while in Israel?

Please refer to the above sections in the FAQ for specifics regarding in person program elements