General Overview of the Program

  • Birthright Israel provides the gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. Birthright Israel operates on a belief that it is every Jewish person’s birthright to visit Israel. To date, over 800,000 young adults from 68 countries have travelled to Israel for the first time on Birthright Israel trips. More info regarding Birthright Israeltion text goes here

  • A Birthright Israel trip involves 10 days of action packed and extensive touring of all major cities and tourist sites in Israel. In addition to sightseeing, the program also includes interactive discussions, cultural and adventure activities, and social gatherings.

  • Birthright Israel: Israel on the House trips include roundtrip airfare (from designated cities), hotel accommodations, transportation in air conditioned tour busses, tour guide, trip staff including medic/security guard, all site entries and activities, and two meals a day. You are advised to bring spending money for lunches, snacks, drinks, tips, gifts and souvenirs.

  • Over 25,500 people just like you have chosen Israel on the House for their Birthright Israel trip. Why? Because an Israel on the House trip guarantees you the best 10 days imaginable, because we go to the extreme to let you see, do, and feel it all in Israel. No matter your background, level of religious observance, or knowledge about Israel, we invite you to join us for 10 days of magic touring the land of Israel.

  • We’re non-denominational and open to all, which means that you will find a mix of Jews from all backgrounds on our trips. In addition to this, we also try to have an even mix of male and female participants on a bus and also divide our trips into age groups and trip options.

  • Our trips are non-denominational which means we have a mix of both secular, traditional and religious participants. Keeping in line with Birthright Israel’s goal to be as inclusive as possible, all food provided on the trip is kosher, and we don’t travel on Shabbat. No one is forced to observe Shabbat, however we do ask participants to be respectful of others around them. Israel on the House provides opportunities for participants to experience spirituality, Jewish life, culture and heritage, but does not pressure anyone into taking part in any religious element of the trip.

Cost, Deposit & Funding

  • There’s no catch. You are only responsible for a $360 USD deposit- which you can kindly donate to support future Birthright Israel educational activities, or you can request a refund after successfully completing the program. There is a small non-refundable processing fee of $25.

  • Due to the limited number of spots on each trip, we need to ensure that all chosen participants will show up. When an applicant pays the $360* USD deposit, this lets us know that you’re serious about traveling with Birthright Israel and covers any fees that we might incur in the event of a late cancellation. It also helps guarantee that you follow Birthright Israel safety and behavior standards. In extreme cases in which participants violate these guidelines, their deposit may be confiscated.

  • After you have successfully completed the trip, you will receive an email from Birthright Israel upon your return to the US (usually around 4 days after you return) with instructions on how to activate your deposit refund. If you have not been offered a trip and you wish to have your deposit refunded, please send an email to info@israelonthehouse.com.

  • If you have not been on a trip last season you do not need to pay again.If you accepted a trip offer last season and you cancelled within 65 days prior to your scheduled departure date you will need to pay another deposit. If you have any questions regarding this, please send an email to info@israelonthehouse.com.  

  • There is a common myth that Birthright Israel programs are funded by just a few donors, but in reality, they are funded by nearly 40,000 donors annually, including tens of thousands alumni, their families, and individual donors from around the world who believe in our mission. The program is also funded by the people of Israel through the government of Israel, The Jewish Agency for Israel, and Jewish communities and Federations.

  • Absolutely. There is no gift too small to make a difference. The future of the Jewish people is a shared responsibility, and every dollar counts and contributes to a stronger future for us all.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Young adults of Jewish descent who are between 18-26 years old (for standard Birthright Israel trips), who have not been on organized trips to Israel after the age of 18 are eligible to participate. At least one parent of participants must be Jewish and participants must not practice another religion. Participants must additionally be post-high school and may not currently be learning in Yeshiva or a full-time Jewish studies program. You are still eligible if you have been to Israel before on your own or on a family trip.

Registration & Application Process

  • Official trip registration is open for a few weeks in February and in September each year. When registration is open you are able to apply by simply scrolling to the top of the page and clicking the 'Register' button, which will direct you to the registration form on the Birthright Israel website. If registration is closed, you are able to open an account with Birthright Israel by clicking the 'Sign Up' button at the top of the page. Opening an account before official registration opens grants you 'priority placement status' for all upcoming trips. However, you are still required to complete the official registration form upon official registration opening.

  • You will receive a welcome email including the registration form. We highly recommend that you complete your entire registration form and pay your deposit as soon as possible to improve your chances of being selected for the trip of your choice.

  • Once you have completed your application, you will receive a welcome email from us confirming that we have received your application and let you know the next steps.  If for some reason you do not receive this email and have applied with us, please send an email to info@israelonthehouse.com and we will get back to you.  

  • If you have not been on a trip last season you do not need to pay again.If you accepted a trip offer last season and you cancelled within 65 days prior to your scheduled departure date you will need to pay another deposit. If you have any questions regarding this, please send an email to info@israelonthehouse.com.  

  • After trips drop on January 16th @ 8am EST, we will take some time to review qualified and deposited applicants. During this time no official Trip Offers will be sent out. We may be in touch to set up a time to speak with you directly, we call this a ‘one on one’. Then, official trip offers will begin rolling out, so make sure to check your email (spam, junk etc). Eventually, you should have received communication from us regarding your application status. If you haven’t, please contact us immediately at info@israelonthehouse.com.

  • No problem. Simply log back into your Birthright Israel application and go to the ‘My Trip’ page. You will see the trip organizer you have chosen at the bottom. If you have chosen another organizer by accident, you can simply change your selection by clicking ‘Change Trip Organizer’. Make sure that you save your selection. You will then need to change the relevant trip choice or contact us by email.

Group & Social Experience

  • Yes, of course! There's room for you, your friends, and your family! The only way for friends, family or any group of people to be on the same program is to apply for the same trip. To do so, you can invite friends to join you on your trip by using your personal “Bring a Friend” referral link and sharing it with them by email, text or via social media. Find your link in the My Trip section of your application. Birthright Israel cannot guarantee that any one person or group of individuals will be selected. But, applying for the same trip can ensure that you and your friends get to travel together assuming all are selected to attend Birthright Israel.  

  • A typical trip consists of 40 participants, 2 American trip staff (counselors), a tour guide and an armed guard/medic. The group is also joined by 8 Israeli soldiers/students for half of the trip.

  • You will find details of your American Trip Staff (Counselors) on the Birthright Israel App around 1 month before the trip. If you have any questions before then, you can call the office on (646) 248-5033 or email info@israelonthehouse.com

Travel Logistics & Flights

  • Participants are responsible for getting to the gateway departure city on their own. Birthright Israel and Israel on the House do not pay for any expenses related to this.

  • You will receive your boarding pass from your staffers at the airport before you depart.

  • This is considered to be an exception to the Birthright Israel regulations therefore approval needs to be obtained from Birthright Israel. You will need to pay your own round trip tickets. Please email us as soon as possible at info@israelonthehouse.com sending us a request to meet your group in Israel.

Trip Timing & Itinerary

  • Our winter trips run during the months of December, January, February and March. Our Summer trips run during the months of May, June, July and August.

  • The itinerary will be available through the Birthright Israel App about 1 month before your trip. You can view a sample itinerary here.

Packing, Money & Practical Prep

  • Check out our packing list. Additionally, you should check out your airline’s weight restrictions and baggage size.

  • If you plan on bringing electrical appliances, please keep in mind that Israel uses a 230-volt electrical current. Therefore you may need to bring a voltage converter for certain appliances (laptops usually have this built-in). You will also need an adapter to plug items into the wall (usually a two circular prong).

  • The currency in Israel is the Shekel. View current exchange rates. Most places accept American credit-cards and ATMs are widely available, however, we recommend bringing some cash with you to exchange upon arrival as some smaller, remote areas will not have these services. Spending money: you will be provided with two meals a day (breakfast and dinner). Lunch is on your own and is usually a quick and inexpensive stopover to buy a sandwich, salad, chips etc. You may also want to purchase souvenirs. It is customary in Israel to tip your tour guide and bus driver at the end of the program. The professional staff on the trip work round the clock to ensure the success of the program. We recommend participants each bring $100 for 10 day trips, which will then be divided between your tour guide/bus driver/security guard and medic. Altogether, we recommend bringing around $250-$300 cash to include spending money, souvenirs and tip. Credit cards can also be used in Israel.

Health & Insurance

  • It is mandatory for all Birthright Israel participants to have extended health insurance for the duration of the trip which is valid in Israel. This insurance must cover you for pre-existing medical conditions overseas, and medical emergencies overseas. Without this, you won’t be allowed to travel! In our experience, most US medical insurance plans only cover for emergencies and urgent care outside of the United States which is not sufficient in accordance with Birthright’s rules. Additionally MOST U.S. medical insurance plans, do not cover for lost luggage, flight delays, or stolen property. We highly recommend that you purchase a full travel insurance policy through our recommended Insurer, CTAS . The policy covers you for all of instances mentioned above, and without having to pay any money out of pocket (which means no deductibles!).

  • You do not need any special vaccinations for visiting Israel. However, we do recommend you have an up-to-date tetanus shot. If you take any prescription medications you MUST make your counselors aware of these. We encourage you to include them on your carryon luggage together with your prescription.

Safety & Security

  • Safety and security are our top priority. Our safety is enhanced by the fact that we are in a structured environment. We use our own tour buses as opposed to public transportation. Itineraries are carefully planned out according to safety and security concerns. Group leaders and guides are equipped at all times with cell phones and GPS and can be reached 24/7 by our head office. In accordance with the Israeli Ministry of Education guidelines, each Sachlav Israel on the House Birthright trip is accompanied by a fully-trained Israeli armed guard/medic that is with the group at all times. Also, as required by Birthright Israel rules and regulations, there is no unsupervised free time in public areas.

  • The following emergency line is only available for those who have relatives on a trip that is currently in Israel and must NOT be used for any other reason other than an emergency situation. Emergency line: 05490005025 In the event that your parents can't contact you or us directly, Birthright Israel will leave the number to an after hours emergency service on our main line + 1-888-99-ISRAEL (7723).

Daily Life on the Trip

  • Our Israel on the House itinerary is jam packed from morning till night. There will certainly be some downtime on the trip (especially during journeys between different parts of the country and sites) and we suggest that you use this time to relax, unwind and recharge your batteries. You will have up to 2 free nights out. During your free nights out, your friends and family are more than welcome to come and hang out with you at your group’s designated area.

  • We have an action-packed itinerary and we are constantly on the move. However, during those evenings when your program finishes early, you may invite your family/friends to visit you at your hotel (with permission from your tour guide). You may also invite your friends/family to join you on your free nights out (see above). In accordance with Birthright rules, you are not allowed to leave your group under any circumstances.

  • Israeli tap water is perfectly safe to drink. However, for those who preferred bottled water, your tour bus is stocked with large bottles of refrigerated mineral water that can be purchased at an extremely low price. We strongly suggest carrying a bottle of water to all activities as the weather can be extremely hot and the risk of dehydration (especially during the summer) is incredibly high.

  • Depending on your location, there may be WIFI at your hotel. We advise participants not to bring personal computers as you will be extremely busy from morning until the night and will have very little time to use them. Computers are also extremely valuable and we will not take any liability for loss or damage to such items. We recommend renting an Israeli sim card with a data package, as this is the most reliable way of keeping in touch.

  • Yes. All food on the trip is kosher.  

  • Shabbat is a perfect time to rest and reflect on your experiences throughout the trip. Sachlav Israel on the House ensure that nothing in the program will force or encourage participants to violate the rules of Shabbat or any Jewish holidays that fall within the trip. We also expect participants to be respectful of other individuals' beliefs and levels of observance.  

Rules & Restrictions

  • Of course, with every program comes a set of rules that are common for all Birthright Israel trips which must be followed very carefully.

    • Be on time for and participate in all program activities.


    • Listen to and respect your counselors and tour guide.


    • No illegal drugs.


    • No drunkenness or excessive alcohol consumption.


    • No leaving the group without authorized permission.


    • No violent behavior or physical or verbal abuse of any kind.

  • Unfortunately not. All participants must stay with the group until they depart to the airport for their return flight home. Birthright Israel requires that all participants partake in all activities for the entire duration of the trip. If you are planning on staying on or traveling to another destination, you must make sure that your planned departure is after the departure time of your group.

Extensions, Changes & Cancellation

  • You may extend your stay by either extending your ticket for up to 90 days or by cancelling your return ticket. If you will not be using your return ticket, you must inform us info@israelonthehouse.com as early as possible, prior to your group departure. To extend your stay you will need to contact your travel agent - Gil Travel.

  • Should you be accepted on a trip and you need to cancel, you will need to do so by sending an email to info@israelonthehouse.com by the cancellation deadline to avoid forfeiting your deposit.  The cancellation deadline is 30 days before your trip departure. Exact cancellation deadlines can be found in your Trip Offer.

Contact

For an additional questions, please refer to Birthright Israel’s FAQ linked here.