Please see below for frequently asked questions about the NextGen Mission to Israel. To return to the main NextGen Mission page, click here.
Thursday, June 18 – Friday, June 26, 2026
This includes travel dates.
Flight Information:
Each participant is responsible for making their own flight arrangements.
We recommend that you make your flight arrangements through our flight concierge service, Luis Sole with Frosch Travel at luis.sole@frosch.com.
Please see suggested group flight below:
FLIGHT INFORMATION
NEWARK, NJ TO TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
EL AL LY26
Departing: Newark, Thursday, June 18 9:00 p.m.
Arriving: Tel Aviv, Friday, June 19 2:55 p.m.
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL TO NEWARK, NJ
EL AL LY27
Departing: Tel Aviv, Friday, June 26 12:30 a.m.
Arriving: Newark, Friday, June 26 5:15 a.m.
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:
- United Kingdom
- 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.
Participants are asked to make their Ben Gurion Society commitment, a minimum gift of $1,000 or more to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign.
Cost (land only):
- $1,499 – Double Room
- $2,324 – Single Room
*This does not include a 3% credit card processing fee
This includes:
- Boutique hotel accommodations
- Most meals
- All entrance and processing fees
- Tips and gratuities
- Full-time security detail
- Luxury, air-conditioned coach bus (includes refreshments, water, and bathroom)
*cost does not include airfare
The mission cost is $1,499 for a double room and $2,324 for a single single room.
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 – NextGen Mission to Israel
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
C/O Missions Department
2 Commerce Square
2001 Market St – 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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 Tuesday, May 19. 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 Thursday, March 19: 100% refund with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- Between Friday, March 20 and Tuesday, May 19: receive a 50% refund with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- On or after Wednesday, May 20: 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
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.
We strongly recommend that participants review their insurance coverages to ensure that there is no war exclusion.
Here are some trip insurance companies that we are aware of:
Redpoint Travel Protection: https://redpointtravelprotection.com/
Allianz Travel Insurance: www.allianztravelinsurance.com
Travelex Insurance: www.travelexinsurance.com
Arch RoamRight: www.roamright.com
Covac Global: www.covacglobal.com
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.
The mission will spend three nights in Jerusalem at the Arthur Hotel, four nights in Tel Aviv at the Cinema Hotel and one night in the North at the Pastoral Hotel Kfar Blum.
On Saturday, you will have the opportunity to have dinner on your own.
Most meals are included.
June marks a significant shift in Israel’s climate as the temperatures rise and the days get longer. The weather is typically hot and dry, with minimal rainfall and increased humidity, especially in coastal areas. Temperature: Daytime temperatures across the country range from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F).
Make sure to pack a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes and light, breathable clothing for the hot daytime temperatures.
For more information about NextGen, contact Director of NextGen Sarah Lefkowitz, at slefkowitz@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0515.
For travel logistics, contact Missions Manager Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0629.