Please see below for frequently asked questions about the Women of Vision Mission to Israel. To return to the main Women of Vision Mission page, click here.
Wednesday, Nov. 5. – Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
- Stay at the ibis Jerusalem City Center in Jerusalem
- Stay at the Gymnasia Hotel Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv
Flight Information:
Each participant is responsible for making their own flight arrangements.
We recommend that you make your flight arrangements through Luis Sole with Frosch Travel at luis.sole@frosch.com. If you do not plan to take our suggested flights, we strongly encourage flying El Al to and from Israel.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Newark, NJ to Tel Aviv, Israel
El Al # 26
Departing: Newark, NJ, November 5, 9:00 p.m.
Arriving: Tel Aviv, Israel, November 6, 2:10 p.m.
Tel Aviv, Israel to Newark, NJ
El Al # 25
Departing: Tel Aviv, Israel, November 12, 12:05 a.m.
Arriving: Newark, NJ, November 12, 5:05 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 2025:
- 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.
We encourage each mission participant to make a meaningful contribution to the Women of Vision Endowment Fund or the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Women of Vision group is Philadelphia’s Jewish Women’s Foundation, which impacts the lives of self-identifying Jewish women and girls across generations and geographic boundaries through strategic grantmaking, advocacy and educational programs leading to social change and social justice. If you are not yet a member of Women of Vision, we welcome you to join us by clicking here.
Cost (land only):
- $3,397 – Double Occupancy
- $470 – Single Supplement
*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 $3,397 for double occupancy and $470 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 – Women of Vision 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 Monday, Sept. 8. You can make your payment for the remaining balance by clicking here.
- Mission participants are strongly encouraged to purchase, at their expense, the level of travel insurance they feel comfortable buying.
Refund Policy
- On or before Monday, Sept. 8: receive full reimbursement with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- Between Tuesday, Sept. 9 and Wednesday, Oct. 8: receive a 50% refund with the exception of the $500 non-refundable deposit made during registration.
- On or after Thursday, Oct. 9: 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 Monday, Sept. 8.
For credit card payments, you can make your payment for the remaining balance by clicking here.
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 – Women of Vision Mission to Israel
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
C/O Missions Department
2 Commerce Square
2001 Market St – 23rd Floor
Registration for the mission will open Monday, July 7. 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: 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 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.
Due to the heavily programmed itinerary for this trip, we highly recommend extending your time on the ground in Israel before or after the mission in order to connect with friends/family there. We are happy to help you do so.
You are responsible for lunch on Saturday and dinner on Saturday after Shabbat. On Saturday, we can arrange lunch for you at the hotel, and we will be providing heavy hors d’oeuvres before Havdalah – while this may be enough food for some in lieu of dinner, others may want to go out for a meal afterwards. We can help arrange reservations for that evening.
All other meals are included.
At the beginning of November, Tel Aviv typically experiences mild to warm weather with daytime temperatures averaging around 68–77°F, and occasional rain showers. Jerusalem tends to be cooler than Tel Aviv, with temperatures ranging from 59–68°F and a higher chance of crisp evenings and early seasonal rainfall.
For travel logistics, contact Missions Manager Erica N. Miller at erica.miller@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0629.
For information about Women of Vision, contact Director of Women of Vision and Campaign Pipeline Shara Swift at sswift@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0841.