VOLUNTEER ISRAEL

BBYO STANDS WITH ISRAEL

Connection with and travel to Israel have always been part of BBYO's values, and continue to be so. Our commitment to providing a safe and enriching experience for teens remains steadfast. We will update our community as we keep in contact with our Israel trip providers and security contacts. We are hopeful for a renewed chance for even more teens to safely explore, give back, and have fun together in the Jewish homeland in Summer 2025. Read about our safety measures →

OVERVIEW

Volunteer. Connect. Renew. For the second year, our service-based trip to Israel returns to give teens a chance to lend a hand where it’s needed most for 13 days and connect with the people of Israel.

DESTINATION: Israel

TRAVEL DATES

Jun 24 - Jul 6, 2025 Available

current grades CURRENT GRADES: 9-12

COMMUNITY SERVICE: ~30 Hours

DURATION: 13 Days

PROGRAM FEES

LAND COST (EARLY BIRD PRICE): $3,310

Through November 25, 2024

Airfare cost to and from Israel is not included in the land cost. Flight information will become available in the spring. Need-based scholarships are available.

RootOne

Need-based scholarships are available. This program is also eligible for a RootOne voucher. Find additional voucher details and requirements here.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Airport pick-up and drop-off
Accommodations (hotel)
All meals
All programming
Private transportation
Gratuity for program staff

EXPLORE MORE

Enrollment & Registration

Photos

Why Israel, Why Now

Health & Wellness

Safety & Security

Scholarship Opportunities

Travel Insurance

DETAILS

After the October 7 attacks, Israelis have united around a collective volunteering effort in support of the displaced border communities. Teens will get hands-on experience helping the people in these communities through a series of meaningful service opportunities. Stand in solidarity with Israel by helping them renew what was lost and reminding Israelis that we are a global Jewish community.

HOW IS VOLUNTEER ISRAEL DIFFERENT?
Unlike our other Israel travel programs, Volunteer Israel gives teens a way to directly impact Israeli communities affected by the October 7 attacks. A majority of our time will be spent participating in service projects. This experience is open to all teens, but will be less focused on touring and more on the impact we can make.

Service at the Core—Dedicate 4–6 hours each day to volunteer work, engaging directly with communities in need and contributing to their restoration and rebuilding efforts. Whether it's packaging food and clothing for displaced communities with organizations like Latet, preparing special meals for active-duty IDF soldiers through initiatives like Pantry Packers, or assisting in the harvest and distribution of crops at food banks such as Leket, your efforts will be instrumental in providing tangible support where it's most needed.

Solidarity in Action—Bear witness to the resilience of border communities at the Gaza border and the site of the Nova Music Festival. Engage in meaningful discussions with political experts as they strategize the future of the region. Gain insight into Israel's healthcare system with a visit to Magen David Adom's national blood bank, where you'll witness firsthand the vital role of humanitarian aid.

Curated Exploration—Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Israeli culture and heritage. Celebrate a moving Shabbat in the historic city of Jerusalem, where tradition and modernity intersect. Experience the vibrant beach culture of Tel Aviv, pulsating with energy and diversity. Reconnect with the awe-inspiring beauty of the Negev Desert, where ancient landscapes offer a serene backdrop for reflection and discovery.

BBYO has launched a new summer registration system! Families will need to create a new account in this system; it is not linked to any previous systems which may have been used. Please visit bbyo.my.site.com/s/login and click Create an Account to start this process. Need help? Read this document for step-by-step instructions.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better sense of this experience. The actual program may vary, and an itinerary will be distributed no later than two weeks before the program begins. Even after the itinerary is sent, adjustments may still be made in coordination with tour guides and the tour operator—both leading up to and during the program—based on local conditions.

DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Meet your staff and teens at the airport before traveling together to Israel on an overnight flight. Once we land, your trip officially begins! We’ll break the ice with some engaging activities that sets the tone for this impactful experience so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here.

DAY 2–6 | TEL AVIV
Welcome to Tel Aviv! We'll begin with a picnic-style lunch at a park in Tel Aviv before checking into our accommodations. Then, the group will view the “Walls of Hope” street art in Tel Aviv’s Florentin neighborhood. Walls Of Hope is a project of 38 murals painted for the hostage children that were held—or currently are being held—in Gaza. After, we'll have our first dinner together at a restaurant in Jaffa before preparing for the next day's volunteer activities in the community.

After an early breakfast, we'll split into two volunteer projects: one group will help support the Israeli harvest at Beerotiim packing warehouse while another helps Israelis in need at Pitchon Lev, a humanitarian organization focused on breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty in Israel. We'll have lunch before continuing with two additional activities. One group will spend the afternoon volunteering at the Jaffa Institute to support Israelis in need while another works with children who have traveled to Israel for life-saving treatment with Save a Child’s Heart. After our hard day's work, we'll return to Tel Aviv for time to unwind and possibly some beach time along the Mediterranean before indulging in gourmet Ethiopian cuisine and hearing an inspirational conversation with the female founders of the restaurant.

DAY 7–11 | JERUSALEM
Our next day begins with an early breakfast and check out of the accommodations before our morning volunteering project picking cherry tomatoes as part of a agricultural volunteer activity. Then, express your solidarity visiting Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and possibly meet with family members still waiting for their loved ones to return home. Hostages Square is a public plaza located in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Since the October 7 attacks, families of the hostages taken during the attack have encamped in the square, due to its proximity to the Israel Defense Forces headquarters.

After our solemn visit, we'll enjoy the Nahalat Binyamin Street Festival and the Carmel Market (shuk) for lunch before departing Tel Aviv and traveling to Jerusalem. Upon arrival, we'll check into our hotel and prepare for our Shabbat together in the Jewish homeland. The trip guide will have us enter the Old City at Zion Gate and wind through the Jewish Quarter to the Kotel—or Western Wall—where teens will have time for personal reflections and an opportunity to join Kabbalat Shabbat prayers at the Kotel. Then, the group will eat Shabbat dinner in the Jewish Quarter before walking back to the accommodations.

On Saturday, we'll spend the morning relaxing with the option for Shabbat prayers and other BBYO programming before lunch at the accommodations. Then, teens will enjoy some pool time before heading to Jerusalem's Saker Park for the afternoon. If time permits, our Israeli Madrichim and teens will lead a walking tour of Jerusalem to show the group the community through their eyes. After, we'll engage in a geopolitical seminar discussion with an expert on the Middle East before dinner and Havdalah. The group will end the day by expressing themselves through a Guru Zuzu “silent rave” at Ben Yehuda Street Pedestrian Mall.

Our work continues on Sunday with the group splitting into two activities. One will have an emotional visit to Mt. Herzl National Cemetery to honor the memory of those who were lost on October 7 and its aftermath while the other prepares meals for soldiers on duty with “Our People” in Jerusalem. We'll have time for lunch and shopping at Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda marketplace, then continue our afternoon with volunteering at Pantry Packers—supporting Israeli food security—and supporting Israel’s food security at Tachlit. Spend the evening cooling off with a water activity in a park outside of Jerusalem, then eat dinner before hearing a moving testimony from an Israeli guide and survivor of the Nova Music Festival.

DAY 12–15 | NEGEV DESERT
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and heading into our final few days of volunteer work. We'll head back to "Our People" and Mt. Herzl National Cemetery, switching groups from our previous visit so that all teens have a chance to experience both activities. Then, the group will depart Jerusalem and travel south toward the Negev Desert. We'll stop in the Bedouin community of Rahat to meet with Bedouin Israelis who heroically helped save Nova Music Festival attendees on October 7, then have lunch and check into our accommodations in the desert near Tzin Canyon overlook. Everyone will get to enjoy an evening poike pot dinner and desert outdoors experience before heading to bed.

After breakfast the next morning, we'll split into groups for our final two volunteer activities. One group will travel to the Gaza border frontier and visit Kibbutz Magan to meet teens who had been displaced by the October 7 attacks and are now rebuilding their lives in the Gaza border region. Together, we'll help renovate public places damaged then eat lunch at the kibbutz with Israeli teens before stopping for a solemn visit to the Nova Music Festival Memorial site. The second group will spend the morning preparing sandwiches for IDF soldiers at Hamal Shel Revital at Shuva Junction. After a packed lunch, we'll then travel to Sderot to gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to live along the Gaza border region and what the community experienced on October 7—including a visit to the JNF bomb shelter playground.

Both groups will stop to view the Kerem Shalom border crossing—the primary entry point of humanitarian aid to Gaza—before we drive back to accommodations for dinner and processing time.

On our last day in Israel, we'll have an early breakfast at the accommodations before checking out. Both groups from yesterday will switch activities, feeling the impact of their work once more before we return home. We'll head back to Tel Aviv for a final group processing session, swimming time, and a closing dinner together at Dekel Tel Aviv Country Club. then, we'll head to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport for an overnight flight back to the U.S.

DAY 16 | RETURN FLIGHT
It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Give your friends one last hug and part ways once your flight arrives at the airport. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!

FAQs

Our most frequently asked questions about this program are answered below. Additional program-wide FAQs are also available. Still need something? We’re here to help! Contact us.

What are the rules for Israeli citizens or children of Israeli citizens?
If either of your parents is an Israeli citizen, or if you have ever lived in Israel, it is your responsibility to make sure your status with the Israeli Defense Forces is worked out and clear. Moreover, you may still have obligations to the State of Israel that must be resolved prior to your trip, even if you do not have an Israeli passport. These matters must be taken care of before you arrive in Israel.

Note: If you hold an Israeli passport, you must enter Israel with your Israeli passport.

If you do not take care of these matters prior to your trip, you may be obligated to stay in Israel by the State of Israel until resolution. If this applies to you, you will be solely responsible for your own situation and any costs involved. Again, we highly recommend you be extremely cautious about these matters and contact one of the regional Israeli consulate offices if you have any questions.

How will my teen travel to the program?
BBYO requires all North American participants to fly on the group supervised flight for this program. Flight costs are not included in the program’s land cost. BBYO will purchase a ticket for each traveler and charge the family directly. The flight cost for programs with supervised flight options will be announced, along with the flight details for all programs, after registration. The supervised flight for this program will depart from the New York City area, typically Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Learn more about flying to the program.

Where will my teen be sleeping?
Most of the accommodations we stay at are kibbutz-based guest houses or hotels catered to group tours. All accommodations in Israel have security and we book rooms so that each teen has their own sleeping accommodation in rooms that typically accommodate 2 to 4 teens per room.

How is the program staffed?
Each group is accompanied by a team of madrichim (counselors) and a local Israeli guide. They are also joined by an armed guard and bus driver. Senior field staff also circulate between our groups for extra support. Staff names are sent out approximately 2–3 weeks prior to your departure as part of the pre-trip preparation emails. Staff are asked to make welcome calls to teens before departure. Feel free to ask them any remaining questions you may have. Learn more about our staff team.

What's the summer weather like?
The sun in Israel is strong—often stronger than teens are accustomed to—so dehydration, heatstroke, and sunburn are serious concerns, especially in a desert climate. Clothing should be lightweight and comfortable in the heat. Whenever outside for an extended period, teens will be required to have a hat, a shirt with sleeves, sunscreen, and water. The good news is the heat is mostly dry, there is very little humidity and the chance of rain in Israel during the summer is extremely low so no umbrellas are needed. Evenings in Israel tend to get chilly quickly. Because we will not always return to our accommodations to change before an evening activity, always bring a day pack with a windbreaker, long-sleeved shirt, or light sweater. Layers are key!

How do you approach security?
Since 1956, BBYO has organized teen programs in Israel with a fundamental commitment to providing a safe and meaningful experience. Our programs adhere to Israel’s comprehensive security policies and are centrally monitored by Israel’s Situation Room. Our itineraries are designed with caution in mind and our policies are calibrated to local conditions. Finally, each group is accompanied by trained staff and a licensed guard accompanies all touring-based activities. Learn more about our organization’s approach to safety and security as well as more specific details about our Israel policies.

What's the typical group size?
Group size varies depending on the date of the program. Our average group size ranges between 20-45 teens. In some cases, multiple groups will travel on a similar path, although each group has its own dedicated staff, guide, and guard.

What's the food like?
Expect to eat Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods such as falafel, hummus, schnitzel, shakshouka, borekas, and much more. When traveling, your teen may encounter new foods that will not be to their liking, so we ask teens to be flexible and have snacks and other alternatives on hand just in case.

As a travel-based program, our meals take a variety of forms and may include hotel buffets, restaurants, catered meals, and allowance funds for participants to purchase a meal on their own. All food provided by BBYO Passport experiences in Israel is kosher. When a meal is served in a public buffet format (e.g. hotel breakfast), we will always ensure that there are vegetarian, pescatarian, or dairy options available and we will not restrict teens from eating the food of their choice.

Some meals may be provided via a cash allowance where teens will be given money to purchase the food of their choice, called a pizur meal. Such meals are typically arranged in an area where there are multiple restaurant options and teens can choose the food of their liking. When time is limited for meal choice, staff may choose to facilitate meal orders on behalf of teens using their allowance funds.

Participants with special dietary needs (i.e. lactose intolerance, gluten-free, kosher, etc.) should review our dietary restrictions commitment document and contact us in advance to be sure we can accommodate your needs during the program.

Will I need a visa?
Starting from January 2025, visitors from visa-exempt countries are required to obtain an ETA-IL(Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter the state of Israel. An approved ETA-IL, indicates that you are allowed to travel to Israel. Additional information about this system can be found here: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/.

All travelers to Israel must have a valid visa or an ETA-IL approval before they start their journey. An Israeli citizen or a permanent resident holding a valid Israeli ID number is not required to submit an application for ETA-IL.

The following data will be required for each ETA-IL application: A passport issued by a visa exempt country, valid for the duration of your stay; A valid email address; A valid payment method for the fee payment 25 NIS.

Fee: The cost of an ETA-IL is 25 NIS (You cannot get a refund after you apply)

What are the payment and cancellation terms?
All of these details are available here: Enrollment & Registration Terms.

How do I enroll my teen if we live outside of North America?
Visit this page to find all the information you will need and express your interest.

For more information, check out our general FAQs or the pre-trip guide.

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