1. How are decisions about program cancellations and/or shifts to Remote made?

Onward Israel is committed to providing young adults meaningful and exciting resume building experiences in Israel in a safe and secure way. Decisions about cancellation and/or a shift to remote are not made lightly. They are made in accordance with Israeli and global safety and security guidelines.

Specifics about the date at which a decision to shift a program to remote and/or cancel it can be found on the program specific webpage. 

2. How will social distancing guidelines affect my program if they are still in place in Israel?

Safety and security of our participants is our number one priority at Onward Israel. We will follow all guidelines put in place by the Israeli government. This includes, but is not limited to, limiting the number of participants per apartment, limiting the number of participants per bus for tour days, extra cleaning supplies given at the start of the program and extra cleaning crews brought into apartment before participants arrive

3. Will my program still take place if there is a mandatory 2 week quarantine period in place for new arrivals in Israel? 

Depending on the type and duration of the Onward Israel program, there is a possibility of a 2 week quarantine period. Please refer to the specific program web page to see if the program you are interested in has this possibility.

4. What will a 2 week quarantine look like while on the program? 

For an Onward Israel Internship program, you will begin your internship ‘remotely’ from your apartment for the first two weeks. Onward Israel will provide you with cleaning supplies, groceries, activities, and more to set you up for the first two weeks.

5. How were Onward Israel Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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.  

6. 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. 

7. How will the work change from 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.

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

As a participant on an Onward Israel Hybrid 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, and attending and participating in the online education and enrichment sessions.

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

 This 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. 

10. 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. 

11. 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 and you will be refunded for the difference. Onward Israel is not responsible for other costs incurred, including the purchase of your flight. 

12. 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. 

13. 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.

14. 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