Please see below for frequently asked questions about the Venture Israel Fellowship Seminar. To return to the main Venture Israel Fellowship Seminar page, click here.
The trip is from Feb. 3-16, 2026 (this includes travel).
Flight Information:
Please understand that once you submit the registration form, we will be purchasing your non-refundable plane ticket for the following flights.
Newark, NJ to Tel Aviv, Israel (economy seating)
El Al # LY28
Departing: Newark, NJ, Feb. 3, 1:15 p.m.
Arriving: Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 4, 6:25 a.m.
Tel Aviv, Israel to Newark, NJ (economy seating)
El Al # LY25
Departing: Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 11, 12:05 a.m.
Arriving: Newark, NJ, Feb. 11, 5:05 a.m.
Passports must be valid at least six months beyond your return date.
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 2025:
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.
The safety of our seminar participants is of the utmost importance. We have coordinated security with our Trip Provider in Israel. We will have a full-time security professional with our group.
Cost:
- Venture Israel Fellowship will cover the cost of round-trip travel for each participant who travels according to the dates/times/seating class described in the flight information section.
- Fellows will be responsible for any additional cost that may result from traveling separately from the group-arranged flights (as listed above) or if making any upgrades to their ticket reservation (e.g. changing seating class).
This includes:
- Full educational program
- Luxury bus
- Most meals except Saturday night dinner (Fellows will have free time in Jerusalem on Saturday evening after Shabbat concludes)
- Speaker fees
- All entrance and processing fees
- Gratuities
- Transportation to and from the airport for the group flights listed in the flight information section
We strongly recommend that participants review their insurance coverages to ensure that there is no war exclusion.
Trip insurance is not required, but we strongly encourage seminar participants to purchase the level of travel insurance that they feel will comfortably provide them with peace of mind when traveling.
Please consider purchasing coverage in the event that the seminar is canceled for unforeseen reasons. The Jewish Federation would only cancel the seminar 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
SquareMouth: www.squaremouth.com
You can apply for the seminar by clicking here. Sign up by Wednesday, Nov. 5.
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.
Most meals are included except Saturday night dinner (Fellows will have free time in Jerusalem on Saturday evening after Shabbat concludes)
Early February in Israel marks the tail end of winter, bringing diverse weather depending on the region. You can expect cool, mild temperatures in cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa, with occasional rain showers and averages in the 50-60°F. Jerusalem will be cooler, with average highs around 50°F and chillier nights, also with a good chance of rain.
However, if you head south to the desert regions like Eilat and the Dead Sea, you’ll find much warmer, sunnier, and drier conditions, with highs often reaching the low 70s Fahrenheit. In the northern mountains, like Mount Hermon, you might even find snow for skiing! Overall, pack layers and be prepared for varying conditions, from pleasant sunshine to cool and potentially wet days.
Itinerary and additional details will be provided by Jewish Learning Venture prior to travel.
If you have any questions or concerns about travel logistics, please contact Debbie Leon, Director, Venture Israel Fellowship, at dleon@jewishlearningventure.org.