FAQs

The simple answer: NO!

Amazing Israel is a pluralistic and non-denominational program and are not affiliated with any religious OR political movement. We aim to create a welcoming and open environment for all of our participants  regardless of their background or previous Jewish experience.

All the food that we do provide is kosher and we do not use the bus on Shabbat. When it comes time to discussing the big issues - we always maintain an open and balanced environment.  We want you to discuss, debate, learn, experience and ask questions and feel totally comfortable doing so!

Thanks to Taglit-Birthright Israel, if you are Jewish and between the ages of 18 to 26 and you have never been on a peer educational Israel Experience program, this is your opportunity to receive a free trip. Taglit-Birthright Israel is a unique, historical partnership between the people of Israel through their government, local Jewish Federations and communities (through the United Jewish Communities, Keren Hayesod and The Jewish Agency for Israel), and leading Jewish philanthropists.

Our program is...AMAZING! We make sure you see all the sites, experience Israel, spend time travelling with Israelis on your trip for at least 5 days and more! We work hard to give you the most amazing trip possible.  Continue reading through our website to learn more about us. Also know that we are here to tell you more about our program so feel free to contact us: amazingisrael@routestravel.com and 1-800-606-0416.

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, Keren Hayesod, and The Jewish Agency for Israel).

The deposit serves a few purposes. During the application process it acts as one of a few measures designed to reflect the fact that an applicant is serious about the prospect of participating in the program. Once an applicant is accepted to the program it acts as a guarantee that he/she will not withdraw from the program, thereby forfeiting their spot and preventing another person from benefiting from the opportunity to go to Israel for free. Moreover, should a participant withdraw less than approximately 30 days prior to departure (as registration opens you will be notified as to the exact dates), it provides us with revenue to pay the penalties that are incurred from the airlines for last minute cancellations. In Israel, it also serves as a guarantee that each individual will participate in all aspects of the program.

Deposits are paid during the registration process as a way to complete your application. An application is not considered complete until the deposit is paid for. Contained within the Taglit-Birthright Israel application is further instructions on how to pay your deposit.

Within 30 days after you successfully participate on a trip, your deposit will returned to your original method of payment (if you paid by your VISA credit card - it will go back to that VISA credit card.) You will be notified by email when your deposit is loaded on the card. That email may also contain information about how you can voluntarily donate all or part of your deposit in support of future Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. (Note: If you are not assigned a flight group, your deposit will be returned through the original method of payment).

If you are placed on a waitlist please know that you can ask for your deposit back at anytime. Please send an email to amazingisrael@routestravel.com with the subject DEPOSIT.

Eligibility criteria for the program are as follows: You must be Jewish, between the ages of 18 to 26 years old, a high school graduate, and never have been on a peer-educational experience to Israel that lasted longer than five days. In other words, if you have been to Israel with your family or solely to visit family, you are eligible. However, if you studied in Israel, or visited Israel on a bus tour (with the exception of March of the Living), you are NOT eligible. Taglit-Birthright Israel requires that eligible applicants must be 18 years of age and out of High School by the date of your trip departure. If you were born in Israel, or an Israeli Citizen, you are required to provide documentation proving that you have lived in the USA since the age of 12 in order to be considered eligible. This can be in the form of a Landed Immigrant Visa or a dated entrance letter from the school you attended at the time. Full time students registered in Jewish Studies programs in any institute of higher learning will no longer be eligible for the Taglit-Birthright Israel gift. This includes Jewish Teacher Training Programs, Jewish Studies programs, Rabbinic programs, Yeshivot/Seminaries, Jewish Communal Service programs, etc. ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AN INTERVIEW.

Before you can be accepted to the program you must complete the following steps: complete and confirm the online application, pay your deposit, be interviewed, and submit the required paperwork. After you have finished all of these steps, an Amazing Israel representative will be in contact with you via email letting you know your application status and whether you have been accepted to a trip.

With such a large demand for the Taglit-Birthright Israel: Amazing Israel program, we try to accommodate applicants who register early, and who meet all the other eligibility criteria. We also reserve the right to use discretion during the allocation process. For example, an individual who is very close to the upper age limit (25-26 years of age) may be given priority over younger applicants who will have other opportunities to take advantage of this gift.

We want to get you here!

There is no catch, no strings attached. Participants are only responsible for a $250 (US) deposit, fully refundable upon their return home after successfully completing the program. Participants are under no obligation to Taglit-Birthright Israel, which finances the trip, or their Trip Organizer, who implements the trip, for any future activities or financial obligations. Of course, should participants decide to become more involved in the Jewish community, go back to Israel or explore other aspects of Jewish life, we encourage them to regularly check out the rest of the website for resources that may fit their needs.

No, there are no hidden costs on the program. The only expenses that will be incurred by the program participants are supplementary medical insurance (this is mandatory for all participants who have a confirmed departure date), the cost of the travel to the departing airport and spending money.

The only other cost that we will ask you to cover (aside from souvenirs) will be the cost of one meal per day. While this meal will most often be lunch, you may be asked to purchase dinner on some days. We recommend that participants bring $300- this way you will have enough money for meals and souvenirs. However, you know how much you spend! So keep this in mind. Also know that when you arrive in Israel we will have a money changer there for you so that you can exchange US$ to New Israeli Shekles (Israel's currency)

Participants are encouraged to offer a gratuity to their Israeli tour guide and bus driver. A gratuity is a standard measure in the Israeli tourism industry that is not a covered expense of the program.

We're not strangers. Taglit-Birthright Israel - a planned partnership of philanthropists, Jewish communities through their local Jewish Federation and the Government of Israel- believes in the importance of promoting Jewish peoplehood and Jewish renaissance, and is committed to providing access to a first peer-group program in Israel as a birthright of every Jew. This initiative is a gift from one generation to the next. The trip is a gift from Taglit-Birthright Israel.

All program participants must have a valid passport for at least 6 months after the return of their trip.  As part of your application process, you are required to provide your valid passport number as well as expiration date and country of issue.

If you are a US Citizen and do not have a passport, please click here to begin the process of obtaining one as it can be a lengthy process.

If your passport has been issued from countries OTHER than Canada, United States, Great Britain or Israel, please contact Amazing Israel for details regarding obtaining a visa to Israel. If you are unsure whether you require a visa, contact us as soon as possible for further information. It is your responsibility to obtain a VISA, if needed, for Israel.

If you hold Israeli citizenship it is very important that your Israeli Embassy/Consulate to obtain documents that are essential for travel to and from Israel.

Please note: if you do not hold a valid passport prior to your departure, you will not be permitted to join the program

Should you wish to travel on the same bus as a particular individual you may request this from Amazing Israel. Please note that you and your friend must be registered and eligible for an Amazing Israel trip, and must request to travel with you. While we do our best to accommodate friend requests, there is no guarantee. Once you have registered you will receive this request form via email.

If your plans change after you receive your final acceptance to the program, we will do our best to find a replacement and return your deposit. The entire deposit is non-refundable should you withdraw after the Cancellation Deadline as noted in the Trip Waiver form and the Refund Policy form. Please make sure that you contact us right away via email at amazingisrael@routestravel.com Cancellations are only accepted by email and only from the registered email of the participant.

Yes!!  Feel free to contact the Taglit-Birthright Israel: Amazing Israel office by phone, 1-800-606-0416 or by email, amazingisrael@routestravel.com. We are based in Jerusalem and can be found in the office Sunday-Thursday from 9:00 am- 5:00pm ET (New York Time) You can also email us to schedual a time to chat!

Once you, the participant, are placed on a trip and have decided that you can no loger travel youmust contact the Amazing Israel office immediately! This must be done via email to amazingisrael@routestravel.com Both switches and cancellations CANNOT be done over the phone. We will try our best to place you on another departure during the season although know it is not guaranteed.

All Taglit-Birthright Israel participants leaving on US departures have the option of extending their ticket to remain in Israel beyond the program.  Prior to your trip you will be sent details on how to extend your trip.  Each airline has a set fee for extensions and you will be sent this information as well. Please note that for best availability you should make your extension prior to departing for your trip. Also, please be aware that in order for your flight to be officially extended you will need confirmation from the airline. Do not assume anything! If you stay after the group assuming that your flight has been extended and it has not - your return flight will be cancelled and you will have to pay for your own flight back. So make sure everything is confirmed!

You can also extend your ticket while in Israel, however, for best availability we advise that you do this prior to the trip.

We encourage you to take advantage of being in Israel and to extend your stay after the program and we are happy to assist you with this. Our parent company, Routes Travel, can help you with hotels after the trip, Petra extensions and more. Check them out!

Please know that once the Taglit-Birthright Israel program has concluded, you will no longer be under our supervision or responsibility of Taglit-Birthright Israel.

Accommodations on all Taglit-Birthright Israel: Amazing Israel programs are based on triple occupancy in 3-4 star hotels, youth hostels and kibbutz guest houses. Linen service will be provided by the accommodations and participants are advised to bring towels from home.

A minimum of two kosher meals will be provided each day while in Israel. The meals will range from buffet breakfasts, to falafel, to North American style fast-food, to boxed lunches, to sit-down dinners. Provided that a participant specifies that they require vegetarian food on their on-line application form, a vegetarian option will always be made available. Participants with specific dietary needs and/or allergies must contact Amazing Israel to accommodate specific food allergies, please be aware that Israel does not have the same level of allergy awareness as is common in North America.

All Jews, regardless of background, affiliation or practice, are welcome on the program.
The program will provide opportunities for participants to celebrate Jewish life together. It is designed to be completely inclusive. No participant will EVER be forced to join in any organized religious activities. At the same time, kosher food will be served at all tour-sponsored activities and all programming will respect the laws of the Jewish Sabbath (no bus used on the Sabbath). We welcome you as you! You don't have to change who you are (either before, during or after the trip!) Amazing Israel provides a trip that pluralistic, inclusive and welcoming.

Taglit-Birthright Israel is a trip with no strings attached - there are no obligations or requirements involved in participating. However, we do hope that this experience will inspire you to get involved in your Jewish community upon your return. Israel experience professionals across the country are ready and willing to assist you in connecting to your local community through a variety of different events, programs and activities. How you choose to involve yourself is entirely up to you - we just provide the resources and opportunities for you to do so.

Although there will be no free days on this program, there will be certain evenings that are designated as supervised structured free time. Should free time be granted to the group, the location and time will be at the sole discretion of the Routes Travel: Amazing Israel office. Participants will receive their specific itinerary in the weeks prior to departure. Routes Travel requests that once you have reviewed your itinerary, you notify your family and/or friends in Israel and let them know that they can visit you on your free evenings. All family/friend meetings must first be approved by your trip staff. The itinerary will include the names and addresses of your accommodations in order to facilitate such visits.

Although there will be no free days on this program, there will be certain evenings that are designated as supervised structured free time. Should free time be granted to the group, the location and time will be at the sole discretion of the Routes Travel: Amazing Israel office. Participants will receive their specific itinerary in the weeks prior to departure. Amazing Israel requests that once you have reviewed your itinerary, you notify your family and/or friends in Israel and let them know that they can visit you on your free evenings. All family/friend meetings must first be approved by your trip staff. The itinerary will include the names and addresses of your accommodations in order to facilitate such visits. Please note that your friends/family cannot take you away from the group and you cannot leave to see them. The best thing to do if you want to spend more time with friends or family, is to extend your trip!