Please see below for frequently asked questions about the Joshua Society Mission to Israel. To return to the main Joshua Society Mission to Israel page, click here.
Saturday, January 9-Friday, January 15, 2027
Participants will be staying at the Hotel Reception in Tel Aviv – a renovated historic Bauhaus property with prime location on Dizengoff Circle.
Flight Information:
Each participant is responsible for making their own flight arrangements.
We recommend that you make your flight arrangements through Luis Sole at his team at Frosch Travel at team@frosch.com.
Below are the recommended flights. Please know that they are optional, not required.
NEWARK, NJ TO TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
El Al LY 026
Departing: Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027 at 9:50 p.m.
Arriving: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027 at 3:10 p.m.
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL TO NEWARK, NJ
El Al LY 027
Departing: Friday, Jan. 15 at 1 a.m.
Arriving: Friday, Jan. 15 at 6 a.m.
Cost (land only):
- $5,950- Double Occupancy
- $6,350- Single Occupancy
* This does not include a 3% credit card processing fee
This includes*:
- Four nights at the luxurious Hotel Reception in Tel Aviv – a renovated historic Bauhaus property with prime location on Dizengolf Circle
- On-site concierge
- Full-time security detail
- Most meals
- All entrance and processing fees
- Tips and gratuities
- Luxury, air-conditioned coach bus (includes refreshments, water and bathroom)
*Cost does not include airfare
All credit card payments are subject to a 3% service fee, which will be added to the total amount charged to the credit card.
Participants who would like to pay by check can mail their checks to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia office, using the address exactly as it appears below. Please allow up to 10 business days for check delivery and payment processing. Please do not make payments by check within thirty 30 days of any final payment due date.
Not using the exact address may result in your check being lost.
A $50 service fee will apply for any checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds.
Memo: Missions Department – Joshua Mission to Israel
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
C/O Missions Department
2 Commerce Square
2001 Market St – 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Yes, there needs to be at least 15 participants for this mission to take place.
This mission is curated for the Joshua Society, community members who make a meaningful gift of $10,000 or more per household to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign.
Group travel is often more expensive than individual travel for a number of reasons, including the creation of custom itineraries through our tour operators, security for the group, hiring local guides to provide history and local insights, and private transportation. Additionally, securing hotel blocks and dining options often come with additional costs to guarantee space and eating accommodations well in advance. Very often, there will be individual room pricing online that is less expensive than what would be offered for a group to hold rooms well in advance of our trip.
Payment Policy
- Half of the deposit, including a $500 non-refundable payment, is to be paid upon the participant’s registration for the Mission. Payment of this deposit will be required to secure an individual’s place and participation in the Mission.
- A payment of the remaining balance for the Mission is due by Friday, October 9, 2026. You will need to fill out a separate form that will be emailed to you to pay the remaining balance.
- Mission participants are strongly encouraged to purchase, at their expense, the level of travel insurance they feel comfortable buying.
Refund Policy
- On or before Sunday, October 11, 2026: receive full reimbursement with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- Between Monday, October 12, 2026 and Tuesday, November 10, 2026: receive a 50% refund with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- On or after Wednesday, November 11, 2026: No refunds
- Cancellations must be submitted in writing by emailing Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org and Doreen Bason at dbason@jewishphilly.org
Trip insurance is strongly suggested.
Please consider purchasing coverage in the event that the mission is canceled for unforeseen reasons. The Jewish Federation would only cancel the mission in the event of extraordinary circumstances.
Mission participants are encouraged to purchase the level of travel insurance and insurance for airfare that they feel will comfortably provide them with peace of mind when traveling.
Here are some trip insurance companies that we are aware of:
Allianz Travel Insurance: www.allianztravelinsurance.com
Travelex Insurance: www.travelexinsurance.com
Arch RoamRight: www.roamright.com
In accordance with the recommendations of the Director General of the Ministry of Health of the State of Israel, please know that you are required to have a health insurance policy with coverage for the treatment abroad of the COVID-19 virus. Travelers are required to have a health insurance policy with coverage for the treatment abroad of the COVID-19 virus. Any coverage that goes beyond that is at the choice of the participant. Please visit the Israel’s Ministry of Health website, the CDC website and the U.S. Department of State website for their latest travel policies.
You will receive an email from Doreen Bason (dbason@jewishphilly.org) with a Virtru link, which we require you to use to protect your sensitive and confidential personally identifiable information (PII). The Virtru link will take you to a secure portal for you to provide the following required sensitive information for this mission:
- date of birth
- passport number
- passport issue date
- passport expiration date
- passport photo
You can also provide your global entry or trusted traveler number, if you have one.
Once you open the Virtru link, you will validate your email address. Please ensure that any sensitive information you input and upload are in the “encrypted message” and “files” section that is located beneath the text that says “all text and files below this line will be encrypted.”
There is an unencrypted section, located at the top of the form, where you can add a message to Doreen Bason, explaining that your mission documents are included in the secure section.
We ask that you do not customize any of the security settings. Once you have included all of the necessary information, click “share” to send the information to Doreen Bason. If you have any questions, please contact Doreen Bason at dbason@jewishphilly.org.
To see the Jewish Federation’s privacy policy, click here.
This mission is carefully curated programmatically. If you’d like to spend more time with your family or friends, we highly recommend extending your time on the ground. For assistance, please contact Missions Manager Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0629.
January marks the height of winter in Israel, bringing cooler temperatures and the country’s peak rainy season.
Temperature: Daytime temperatures across the country typically range from 50°F to 65°F, though it can drop significantly lower at night and feel much colder in elevated or desert regions, such as Jerusalem, Safed, and the Negev.
Make sure to pack an umbrella, a windproof jacket, comfortable waterproof shoes and versatile layers (like sweaters and scarves) to stay warm during the chilly days and nights.
Half of the deposit, including a $500 non-refundable payment, is to be paid upon the participant’s registration for the Mission. Payment of this deposit will be required to secure an individual’s place and participation in the Mission.
A payment of the remaining balance for the Mission is due by Friday, October 9, 2026.
For credit card payments, you will need to fill out a separate form that will be emailed to you to pay the remaining balance.
For check payments, please mail your check to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia office, using the address exactly as it appears below. Please allow up to ten (10) business days for check delivery and payment processing. Please do not make payments by check within thirty (30) days of any final payment due date.
Not using the exact address may result in your check being lost. A $50 service fee will apply for any checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds.
Memo: Missions Department – Joshua Society Mission
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
C/O Missions Department
2 Commerce Square
2001 Market St – 23rd Floor
You can register here.
Yes, all international travelers to Israel will be required to have a permit or visa for entry. Travelers with passports from North America, Europe, or numerous other countries, can obtain the visa online here, using a quick and simple process.
The new visa, known as ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization), is an online authorization system designed to simplify the entry process to Israel. Upon arriving in Israel, ETA-IL holders will be able to use the electronic check-in machines previously available only to Israeli citizens and residents to complete their entry process.
Applicants will usually receive a response within 72 hours. We recommend that you print out your visa confirmation to bring with you to the airport.
Please be aware that if you are flying to Israel through other countries, there are similar requirements for an ETA visa. This includes connecting flights where you do not leave the airport.
This list covers the major ETA systems in effect as of 2026:
- UK
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- The European Union (ETIAS)
- Israel
- Kenya
- South Korea
- Russia
- Seychelles
- Sri Lanka
* If you are on a connecting flight, always confirm the location you are flying through does or does not require ETA authorization.
If registering for a double occupancy, please add the name of the person you want to room with when prompted during registration. If this is not done or the person listed does not register in time, we are unable to guarantee double occupancy. If you do not list a roommate during registration or that person does not register for the mission, you may be charged the single occupancy rate.
For more information about the Joshua Society, contact Chief Development Officer Sarah B. Solomon at ssolomon@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0894.
For questions about travel logistics, please contact Jewish Federation Missions Manager Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0629.