Download pdf - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry Trips - FAQs · 6 ONE FOR ISRAEL MINISTRY TRIPS The country-code for Israel is 972. Israeli area codes commence with a zero (e.g. 02-123-4567), so if you are

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ONEFORISRAELMINISTRYTRIPS

FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS**Pleasenote,forsite-specificquestions,pleasecheckyouritinerarytoseeifapplicable**

CLOTHING/DRESSCODEWhatisthedresscodeforthechurcheswemayvisit?Clothingshouldbemodestwithkneesandshoulderscovered.Whatistheevery-daydresscode?Casualclothes(jeans,slacks,capris,shortsthatcovertheknees)areacceptable,eveninchurchservices.Isaheadcoveringnecessary?NO.Cantheladieswearleggingsunderalongtop?YES,aslongasthetopgoestomid-thigh.DoIneedabathingsuit?IfyouwishtoexperiencetheDeadSeaorbebaptizedintheJordanRiver,youwillneedaconservativebathingsuitandatowel(bringanoldoneandleaveitthere,ifyouwish).Youwillneedacover-up.Baptismalrobesmaybepurchasedforaround$9-$10.Towelsrunaround$8atthebaptismalsite.Towelsforthebeachesarenotfurnishedbythehotels.WhatisthedresscodefortheTempleMount?Womenshouldwearlongsleevedshirtsorascarf-wrapthatcoversthearms,ahighneck-lineorscarf,andloose-fittinglongpantswithashirtthatcoverstothetopofthethigh,orabelow-the-kneeskirt;menshouldwearlongpantsandshirtswithsleeves.MuslimsandOrthodoxJewsdressmoreconservativelythanwedointhewest,and,asfarastheyareconcerned,revealingclothesequalgodlessness.WhatistheKnessetdresscode?VisitorsshouldnotethatinaccordancewiththeKnessetdresscode,entrancetotheKnessetispermittedonlyindignifiedandappropriateattire(notank/spaghettitops,croptops,clothingwithpoliticalslogans,shortsor¾–lengthtrousers,rippedtrousers,shortskirtsanddresses,tracksuitsorsweatpants,flip-flops,orclogs).Theserulesapplytoallvisitorsages14andup.Guestsunderage18onofficialVisitorCentertoursmayweartracksuitsorsweatpants.

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COMMUNICATINGWITHISRAELISWillIbeabletocommunicatewiththelocals?YES!MostIsraelisarefluentorabletocommunicatetosomedegreeinEnglish.Ifyouhaveaquestion,don’tbeafraidtoask!ArethereanyHebrewwordsandphrasesIshouldknow?Wewillbeteachingyoucertainwordsandphrasesthroughoutthetrip,butifyou’dliketogetstartednow,herearefewhelpfulwordstoaddtoyourvocabularyandaddtoyourIsraelexperience:

• Shalom–Hello,goodbye,peace• Todah–Thankyou• TodahRabah–Thankyouverymuch• Bevakasha–Please/You’rewelcome• Ken–Yes• Lo–No• Tov–Good• Yalla–Let’sgo/Hurryup• BokerTov–Goodmorning• ErezTov–Goodevening• LailaTov–Goodnight

FLIGHTRECOMMENDATIONSWhataboutspecialrecommendationsfortheflights?Drinklotsofwaterasitiseasytogetdehydratedandconsiderbringinganeckpillowtomakeiteasiertorelax/sleep.Wealsorecommendgettinguptowalkandstretchseveraltimestopromotehealthybloodcirculation.Wearingcompressionsocksontheplaneisalsohelpfulforthispurpose.FOOD&DRINKIstapwatersafetodrink?YES!Ihavesomedietaryrestrictions.Willthatbeaproblem?NO.Themorningandeveningbuffetsatthehotelshaveawidevarietyofmaindishes,fruits,vegetables,saladingredients,breadsanddesserts.Pleasebeadvisedtoexpectmealstobekosher,meaningthatthereisnomixingofmeatanddairyandnobiblicallyuncleanfoods.

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HOTELACCOMMODATIONSAretherecoin-operatedlaundryfacilitiesinthehotels?NO.Laundrysoappodsareusefulfordoinghand-washingintherooms.Areironsavailable inthehotels?Usually.Atip—hangthe itemsyouwishtowearthenextdayandlightlywetthemostwrinkledpart.Bymorningitwillbedryandsmooth.Arehairdryersfurnishedbythehotels?YES,usually–however,theytypicallydonotfurnishwashcloths!CanIhavearoommate?YES!Youcanletusknowwhoyouwouldliketoroomwithorwecanassignyouaroommateifoneisavailable;ifnooneisavailableyouwillpaythepriceforasingleroom.INSURANCEWhatkindofinsurancedoIneed?HealthInsurance:MedicalinsurancethatcoversanyaccidentorillnessyoumaysufferwhileinIsrael.Detailsofyourmedicalinsurancepolicyshouldbeemailedtoministrytrips@oneforisrael.orgsothattheinformationisavailableifneeded.TravelInsurance:Travelinsuranceusuallycoversyourexpensesincaseofcancellationduetohealthandotherissues.Travelinsurancecompanieshavedifferentlevelsofinsuranceandcovereverythingfromgroundtravel,actsofterrorism,politicalthreat,naturaldisasters,etc.Somecompaniescoveryourfightexpenses,somedonot—besuretoreviewcarefully.

Pleasenote,itisyourresponsibilitytopurchasemedicalandtravelinsuranceandnottheresponsibilityofONEFORISRAEL.Asstatedintheitinerary,ONEFORISRAELisnot"liableorresponsibleforanyinjury,sickness,lossordamagetoanypersonorpropertyasaconsequenceofnaturaldisasters,pandemics,strikes,civilunrestorotherfactorsoverwhichthecompanyhasnocontrolandcannotinfluencetochangethem.ONEFORISRAELoffersnocoverageorcompensationofanykindincasesstatedabove,norforcancellationsorinabilitytotravel."

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LUGGAGEShouldIputluggagetagsonmybags?YES.Makesuretheyhavecurrentaddresses.ONEFORISRAELwillsupplyyouwithluggagehandlewrapstobeusedwhileyouareinIsrael(pleasenote,thesehandlewrapsarenottoreplacetheluggagetagsyoubringwithyouraddressinformation).HowmanypiecesofluggagecanIbring?Youmayhaveonelargechecked-inbagandonecarry-onbag.Werecommendasmallbackpacktouseduringthedaysoftouring.MONEYWhatcurrencyisusedinIsrael?IsraelicurrencyistheShekel(usuallyabbreviatedILSorNISforNewIsraeliShekel).Theexchangerateiscurrentlyabout3.5IsraelishekelsforeachUSdollar.USdollarsarewidelyacceptedintouriststores.ForlocalsupermarketsandsmallshopssomeIsraelicurrencyisuseful.ExchangescanbemadeinIsraelatauthorizedmoneychangers,theairport,hotels,orthepostoffice.Pleasenote,theexchangerateisgenerallylessfavorableattheairportorinhotels.CanIusemycreditcardorATMcardinIsrael?YES,generally-speaking.VISAandMasterCardareacceptedalmostuniversallyandmostmerchantsacceptAmericanExpress.Discovercardisgainingacceptancebutisfarfromuniversal.Forothercreditcards,pleasecheckwithyourcreditcardprovider.RegardingATMcards,thereareATMmachineswhichacceptinternationalATMcards,buttheyarenotalwaysavailable.CheckwithyourbanktofindifandwhereyoucanuseyourATMcardinIsrael.ATMcardsmaybeusedtowithdrawIsraelicash(makesureyouknowthePINnumberforyourcardifyouareplanningtouseit);however,tisnotrecommendedtouseATM/debitcardsforpurchases.Dependingonthecard(s)youbring,don'tforgettonotifyyourbank/creditcardcompanythatyoumaybeusingthecard(s)inIsrael.HowmuchmoneyshouldIbring?Thereareseverallunchesyouwillbuy(checktheitinerary).Theycanrangeinpricefrom$12-$20.Abaptismalrobeistypicallybetween$9-$10;towelsrunaround$8.Whateveramountyouthinkyouwilluseforsouvenirs,snacks,etc.isuptoyou.

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OTHERWhatisthetimedifference?TocheckthetimedifferencebetweenyourhomeandIsrael,ahelpfulwebsiteiswww.timeanddate.com/worldclock.Ifyouhaveasmartphone,youmayalsousetheclockapptocheckthetimedifference.Istherealotofwalking?YES.Besuretobringcomfortablewalkingshoes.Manysiteshaveplacestositandrestifneeded.Arethereregularbathroomstopsalongtheway?YES.Stopsareplannedevery60to90minutes.DoIhavetotipthebusdriver?NO.Alltipstothedrivers,guides,hotelpersonnel,etc.areincludedinthefeeyoupayfortheministrytrip.IsthecostoftheMinistryTriptaxdeductible?NO.Researchofthetaxlawsrevealsthatourtripsdonotqualifyforanytaxdeductionofanyportionofthefeesorexpenses.

REGISTRATION&PAYMENTHowdoImakepaymentsforthetrip?Paymentsmaybemadeathttps://www.oneforisrael.org/2020-ministry-trip-payment/.Youmaychoosetomakepaymentsbeforetheduedateifyouwish.CanIregisterwithoutmypassportinformation?YES.Putanyinformationintherequiredfieldsthensendthenumberandissue/expirydatestoministrytrips@oneforisrael.org.TELEPHONEANDINTERNETWhattelephoneserviceisavailable?TouseyourphonewhileinIsrael,thefollowingoptionsareavailabletoyou:

• BuyaplanfromyourproviderthatwillworkinIsrael• BuyanIsraeliSimcard(availableattheairport)ifyouhaveanopenphone• UseaninternetphoneservicesuchasWhatsApp,Skype,FaceTime,etc.whenyouhave

WiFi(suchasthehotelsoronthebus)

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Thecountry-codeforIsraelis972.Israeliareacodescommencewithazero(e.g.02-123-4567),soifyouarecallingIsraelfromoverseas,dropthezeroandaddthe+972countrycode(i.e.+972-2-123-4567).Wewillprovidealistofhotelphonenumbersyoucanleavewithyourfamiliessotheycancontactyouifneeded.YourhostisBenjaminHartandhisnumberis1-817-905-1585.WillIhavewirelessinternet?Wirelessinternetisavailableonourbusandiswidelyavailableinhotelsandvariouspublicvenues.TRAVELACCESSORIESDoIneedanelectricaladapter?YES.Anadaptorisneededforyourdevices–hairdryers,phones,cameras,etc.MostpowersocketsinIsraelhavethreepinholes,butmanyofthemwillworkwithdouble-pinEuropeanplugs.TheseplugadapterscanbepurchasedinIsraelorbroughtwithyou.Youcangotoamazon.comorotheronlineretailersandsearchfor“adaptersforIsrael.”DoIneedanelectricalconverter?TheIsraelipowersupplyissinglephase220voltsat50Hertz.Ifthisisnotthevoltageandcurrentfrequencyusedinyourhomecountry,youmayneedaconverterdependingonwhichdevicesyouarebringing.Generally,devicessuchaslaptops,tablets,camerasandsmartphonesdonotneedaconverter,anddevicessuchashairdryers,razors,irons,andcurlingironsmayneedaconverter,especiallyifyouhaveanoldermodel.Werecommendcheckingyourindividualdevicesfortheirspecifications.CanIcarryaknifeorotherweapons?NO.ItisagainstthelawinIsraelfortouriststocarryanyweapons.CanIbringmyexpensivejewelry?Wedonotrecommendyoutravelwithexpensivejewelry.WillIneedsunscreenlotion,ahatand/orawaterbottle?Theseitemsarerecommended(especiallyinJune).Bottledwatercanalsobepurchasedalongtheway.HowcanIcarrymymedications?Theymaybeintheprescriptionbottlesorindailydispensers.WhatdoIdoifIlosemymedications?WerecommendyouobtainawrittencopyoftheprescriptionmedicationyouplantotakewithyousothatyoucanobtainmedicationinIsraelifneeded.Packingessentialmedicationsinyourcarry-onratherthanyourcheckedbagisalsorecommended.

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TRAVELDOCUMENTSDoIneedtodosomethingspecialwithmypassport?YES,makecopiesofyourpassportandflightinformation;leaveonecopyathomeandtakeonewithyou.WhatshouldIdowithmyflightitinerary?Makeacopyandputitinyourluggage.WhatdoIdowithmypassportwhilevisitingthesites?Alwayskeepyourpassportwithyou.Amoneybeltisahelpfulplacetokeepit.WEATHERWhatistheweatherlike?WeatherinFebruaryaveragesfrom40to65degreesFahrenheit(5to18degreesCelsius).Awarmjacketwillbeneededintheeveningsandearlymornings.

WeatherinJunehasaveragedaytimehighsof84degreesFahrenheit(29degreesCelsius),withaveragenighttimelowsof60degreesFahrenheit(15degreesCelsius).Alightsweaterorjacketmightbeneededinair-conditionedvehicles/roomsandintheeveningsandearlymornings.WeatherinNovemberaveragesinthemid60’sFahrenheit(18degreesCelsius)mostdays,inthelow50’sFahrenheitatnight(10degreesCelsius).Possibilityofrain.Awarmjacketwillbeneededintheeveningsandearlymornings