Taglit-Birthright Israel provides the gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. Taglit-Birthright Israel operates on a belief that it is every Jewish person's birthright to visit Israel. To date, 165,000 young adults from 51 countries have traveled to Israel for the first time on Taglit-Birthright Israel trips.

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As one of Taglit-Birthright Israel’s largest providers, Mayanot provides unforgettable adventurous Israel experiences to thousands of students and young adults. Participants of Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT love our trips because our groups include young Israelis as well as participants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that makes for a much richer experience, and our alumni agree. Our Israeli guides are the top in the industry, and we spare no expense to deliver the best that Israel has to offer. Mayanot offers multiple departure dates and cities, diverse trip mates, great Israeli staff, the chance to hang out with other Mayanot groups from all over the world, excellent customer service in North America and Israel and a vast network of exciting alumni programming.

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The Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT trip is an adventurous and educational ten day tour of Israel. It includes extensive touring of Israel, interactive discussions, recreational activities and much more! To see some of the trip highlights click here.

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The trip is free because Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT believes that a visit to your homeland is your birthright. Taglit-Birthright Israel's founders created this program to send thousands of young Jewish adults from all over the world to Israel as a gift in order to diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world; to strengthen the sense of solidarity among world Jewry; and to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people.

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Taglit-Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, private philanthropists through the Birthright Israel Foundation and Jewish communities around the world (North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities (UJC); the Jewish Agency for Israel; and Keren Hayesod).

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If you are coming with a group then you will travel with students from your campus or city. Otherwise, you will travel with other young Jews from your country. While in Israel you may meet with some of the many Mayanot groups that come from the United States, Canada, Australia, Former Soviet Union, Latin America and Europe. In addition, every Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT group includes a group of young Israelis, often soldiers in the Israeli army. You will have chance to make many new friends with other Jewish young adults from all over! Most Mayanot participants are not religious and come from all different Jewish backgrounds.

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All Jews*, regardless of background, affiliation or practice, are welcome on Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT’s program. The program provides opportunities for participants to celebrate Jewish life together, though all organized religious activities are optional. In order to be as inclusive as possible, kosher food will be served at all tour-sponsored activities and no travel will be take place on the Jewish Sabbath. *Please see our eligibility page for Taglit-Birthright Israel’s definition of Jewish.

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Staff will be comprised of Jewish community professionals and student leaders from North America and Israel, all of whom will have been specially trained to ensure the highest quality experience in Israel. A unique and popular component of many MAYANOT trips is the presence of a Campus Rabbi who brings an educational and spiritual dimension to the experience.

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Let us assure you that the safety and security of our participants is our number one priority. Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT would never take on this endeavor if we felt we were unable to adequately provide an absolutely safe and secure trip. We take whatever precautions are necessary, no matter the cost, to ensure the safety of our participants at all times. For more details of our safety precautions please visit our safety page.

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This gift is available to those who are Jewish, ages 18 through 26, who have not been on a peer educational Israel trip before. For complete eligibility guidelines please visit our eligibility page.

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No. The gift is available to Jewish young adults ages of 18 through 26.

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In order to be considered for a trip the following simple steps must be taken as soon as possible after registration begins for a respective session:

Step 1: Apply online here and complete the 8 part application.
Step 2: Submit a fully refundable $250 USD deposit.
Step 3: Submit the required forms.

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See our specialty trips page for a list of all trips.

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Mayanot will contact you via email as to whether or not you are accepted to the program. Please be sure to check your email periodically. If your email address that you put on your application has changed please contact us at info@mayanotisrael.com and let us know your new address. Since we will communicate with you primarily by email, please add info@mayanotisrael.com to your e-mail address book, spam software whitelist, or mail system whitelist to ensure that you receive important updates from us.

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Please see the dates page.

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Although it varies by session, in the past we have had trips depart from New York, New Jersey, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto.

The exact departures cities will be posted on the dates page during the applicable session.

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Participants are responsible for getting to the gateway city on their own. Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT does not pay for any expenses related to this.

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Then borrow it. We are unable to accept any applications that are not accompanied by a deposit. Remember, deposits are fully refundable and will be returned very shortly after the trip is over.

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The $250 deposit is to ensure that your seat is filled on the airplane and that you participate fully in the program. If these conditions are satisfied, your deposit will be returned shortly after your return home. If you should need to cancel your trip please be sure to do so before the cancellation deadline to avoid forfeiture of your deposit.

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Your deposit can be submitted in section 8 of the Taglit-Birthright Israel online application (only after sections 1 through 6 have been completed). Taglit-Birthright Israel requires that all participants pay their deposit through Payoneer.

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If you are accepted to the program and assigned to a flight a Payoneer card will be issued to you and your deposit refund will be loaded onto this card approximately 30 days after the end of your trip. If you have not been assigned to a flight and cancel in writing prior to the deadline then your refund will be issued directly back to your original method of payment.

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These are the deadlines by when you must cancel, if you must, and avoid forfeiting your deposit. The exact deadlines can be found here.

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Get one fast! All participants must have valid travel documents (passport, Green Card, visa, etc.) in order to participate on a Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT program. Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the last day of your trip. For more information please visit our passport and travel documents page.

Please note that you can complete the Taglit-Birthright Israel application without passport information and fill it in at a later time.

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Sure! Refer your friends to sign up and submit a deposit as soon as possible and we will try and keep you in the same group. You can refer your friends here.

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Yes! Please see our credits page for more details.

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Yes. Please visit our testimonial page for alumni comments and contact information.

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Please notify our office at 1-888-MAYANOT or 212-980-3414 or info@mayanotisrael.com immediately. Refunds of your $250 deposit can not be guaranteed.

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MAYANOT makes every effort to place participants with friends and/or family that they wish to be with. You will be asked who you wish to travel with on the Date Request Form.

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MAYANOT makes every effort to get applicants onto trips. There are a number of variables that determine how and when applicants get assigned including flight availability, groups and the amount of applicants. You can increase your chances of getting on a trip significantly by completing the entire application process (including submitting the fully-refundable deposit and all forms) as soon as possible after registration opens. In addition, the more flexibility you have in terms of departure dates, the easier it makes it for us to get you on a trip.

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MAYANOT makes every effort to confirm applicants as soon as possible. Most applicants will receive confirmation approximately 4-8 weeks after registration begins.

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Deposits are refunded as soon as possible and no longer than 90 days after trips return.

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Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT trips include roundtrip airfare (from designated cities), accommodations at quality hotels, luxurious bus transportation, almost all meals, and ten days of adventurous and educational programming. You will only need to bring spending money for some lunches, snacks, drinks, tips, gifts and souvenirs.

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There will be 40 participants (around half guys and half girls), 4 staff, 8 to 10 Israelis, an armed guard, a medic and a bus driver totaling approximately 55 people per group.

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NO. But by the end of your trip you may be able to carry short conversations in Hebrew!

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Sorry but all participants must depart with the group from the gateway airport.

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Accommodations will be triple-occupancy in quality hotels and guest houses. We will try to accommodate roommate requests upon acceptance to the program. To see some of the hotels that Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT participants stay at please see our hotel page.

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Although some of the hotels may offer laundry services it is very inconvenient. Try and pack enough clothing for ten days.

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Most meals on the program will be included and will include buffet Israeli breakfasts, falafel, pizza and boxed lunches and sit-down dinners in restaurants. Participants should plan on paying for a few of their own meals.

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Yes. All food on the trip is Kosher.

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There is a limited amount of free time built into the program's itinerary and you can invite visitors to your hotel during those times. If you would like to have extended visits with your family or friends we suggest you extend your trip.

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All participants must be covered by insurance. Even if you have insurance, you are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance as soon as you are confirmed on a trip. This will ensure sure that any medical expenses, flight cancellation/interruption, baggage loss/damage, and much more will be covered. Travel insurance can be purchased at www.mayanotisrael.com/insurance.

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Please see our suggested packing list.

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Please see your airline’s website for exact baggage size and weight restrictions and see our suggested packing list.

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Participants will receive their tickets at the airport near the airline check in counter from Mayanot staff.

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We suggest bringing approximately $150 to $200 USD in cash. If you do not have a credit card, you may want to bring a little more. Almost all stores in Israel accept credit cards. Do not rely on ATM machines as they can be difficult to find. Travelers Checks are also difficult to cash so we do not recommend bringing them. Please bring $50 USD, in addition to your spending money, which will be used as gratuity for your amazing Israeli staff.

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There will be places in Israel to change US and Canadian dollars into Shekels (Israeli currency).

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Sure! For a nominal fee most Taglit-Birthright Israel plane tickets can be extended either in advance of the trip or while in Israel. Please see our flight extensions page for more details.

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Yes, unless you receive special permission from your group leader.

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Mayanot strongly encourages all participants to rent a cell phone for your Taglit-Birthright Israel: MAYANOT trip. Besides for emergencies this will be the only way family and friends will be able to reach you while you are on the trip.

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$250 (the cost of the deposit) plus any domestic travel costs.

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Please see our Packing List for the different converter and adapters that you may need.

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No - all participants must stay with the group until they depart to the airport for the return flight home. If you are planning on extending your stay please keep this in mind.

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Sorry, but you must return to the same airport that is on your return ticket.

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Sure!

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No – but you are invited to participate in the many exiting post-birthright opportunities and programs that Mayanot offers!

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Please see our post trip options page for a list of exciting options including a trip to Eilat.

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You can contact the Mayanot office at 1-888-MAYANOT or 212-980-3414 or info@mayanotisrael.com or by AIM to MayanotBRI.

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