Please see below for frequently asked questions about the Sharon and Joseph Kestenbaum Legacy Philanthropy Mission to Montreal, Canada. To return to the main Montreal, Canada Mission page, click here.
Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, April 26, 2026
This mission will include 5-star hotel accommodation at the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile in Montreal, Canada.
Current cohort participants will have their Basic Economy flights booked for them by the Jewish Federation. Participants will incur the cost for any upgrades or differences in cost when taking different flights (other than the two suggested below). Unless otherwise indicated during registration, the flight booked will be for the following two group flights:
Philadelphia, PA to Montreal, Canada
AA 6011
Departing: Philadelphia, PA – Thursday, April 23, 10:30 a.m.
Arriving: Montreal, Canada – Thursday, April 23, 12:15 p.m.
Montreal, Canada to Philadelphia, PA
AA6025
Departing: Montreal, Canada – Sunday, April 26, 4:16 p.m.
Arriving: Philadelphia, PA – Sunday, April 26, 6:03 p.m.
If you would like to upgrade your flight, please contact Missions Manager Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0629 by Friday, March 13.
Each participant is responsible for making their own flight arrangements. While there are suggested group flights (see above), alumni may choose the flights they would like to take at their own discretion.
We recommend that you make your flight arrangements through our flight concierge service, Luis Sole with Frosch Travel at luis.sole@frosch.com.
Passports must be valid at least six months beyond your return date.
Cost for Current Cohort 5 Members:
- Complimentary for Cohort 5 members: Economy Flight & Double Occupancy Room
- Optional single room supplement: $490*
- Optional flight upgrades: Participant responsible for costs above Basic Economy
Current Cohort 5 Member Cost Includes:
- Round trip direct Basic Economy flight to and from Montreal
- 5-star hotel accommodation at the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
- All meals
- All entrance and processing fees
- Tips and gratuities
- Full-time security detail
- Luxury coach bus with snack and refreshments
Cost for Alumni (land only): *
- $1,500 for double occupancy
- $1,990 for single occupancy
Alumni Cost Includes:
- 5-star hotel accommodation at the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
- All meals
- All entrance and processing fees
- Tips and gratuities
- Full-time security detail
- Luxury coach bus with snack and refreshments
- Please Note: 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.
Thanks to the generosity of Sharon and Joseph Kestenbaum, the trip is free for current cohort members and highly subsidized by 50% of land cost for alumni.
The mission cost for current members is $0 for double occupancy and $490 for single occupancy. The mission cost for alumni is $1,500 for double occupancy and $1,990 for single occupancy.
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 – Legacy Philanthropy Mission to Montreal
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
C/O Missions Department
2 Commerce Square
2001 Market St – 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Payment Policy for Current Members Who Elect for the Single Supplement
- If a current cohort member opts in for the single supplement, the participant must pay the $490 at the time of registration.
- Mission participants are strongly encouraged to purchase, at their expense, the level of travel insurance they feel comfortable buying.
Refund Policy for Current Members Who Selected Single Occupancy
- On or before Sunday, Feb. 8: receive full reimbursement.
- Participant responsible for costs above Basic Economy. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is not responsible for flight upgrade costs or refunds.
- Cancellations must be submitted in writing by emailing Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org and Doreen Bason at dbason@jewishphilly.org
Payment Policy for Alumni
- 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 March 3. 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 for Alumni
- On or before Sunday, Feb. 8: receive full reimbursement with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- Between Sunday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, March 15: receive a 50% refund with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- On or after Monday, March 16: 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
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 Tuesday, March 3.
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 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 – Legacy Philanthropy Mission to Montreal
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
C/O Missions Department
2 Commerce Square
2001 Market St – 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
You can register for the mission by clicking here.
Trip insurance is not required, but we strongly encourage mission participants to purchase the level of travel insurance and insurance for airfare that they feel will comfortably provide them with peace of mind when traveling.
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.
Here are some trip insurance companies that we are aware of:
Redpoint Travel Protection: www.redpointtravelprotection.com/
Allianz Travel Insurance: www.allianztravelinsurance.com
Travelex Insurance: www.travelexinsurance.com
Arch RoamRight: www.roamright.com
Covac Global: www.covacglobal.com
If you are a current member of the 4th cohort, 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.
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.
All meals are included.
Late April in Montreal marks the city’s transition from winter to spring, with gradually warming temperatures and budding greenery. Daytime highs typically range from 50–60°F, while evenings can still be chilly, averaging 35–45°F. Rainfall becomes more frequent, with occasional showers, and snow is rare but not impossible. Humidity levels are moderate, often between 50–65%, and daylight stretches to around 13 hours, giving plenty of time for sightseeing. Overall, late April offers a crisp, fresh climate, perfect for exploring Montreal as the city shakes off winter and embraces the first signs of spring.
If you are a current participant of the Legacy Philanthropy program and would like to upgrade your flight, email Missions Manager Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0629.
For questions about travel logistics, please contact Missions Manager Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0629.