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IsraelPro FAQ

Answers to the most common questions
about the IsraelPro experience

The Basics Internships Housing Trips and Activities Learning Hebrew Health and Medical Financials While in Israel

FAQ: IsraelPro Basics

Who is Eligible for IsraelPro?

IsraelPro is open to self-identifying Jewish college or university graduates (with some exceptions for students who may be in a professional internship semester) between the ages of 21 and 30. Participants can be single or married without children. All IsraelPro participants must be able to communicate in English.

What's Included in the Cost of IsraelPro?

Fully-furnished, shared apartment housing in central Tel Aviv and all related utilities, local health insurance, bus pass, day and overnight trips and activities, intensive Ulpan (Hebrew language learning.)

Do I Need to Speak English to Participate in IsraelPro?

All IsraelPro activities are conducted in English, and all official communication between IsraelPro staff and participants is in English, which means that participants must be fluent in English. The common language among participants from a global community is English. Participants who speak English also have access to a far wider range of meaningful internship placements given the nature of the Israeli workplace.

FAQ: Internships

How Do I Get My Internship Placement?

The internship placement process begins the moment you share your interest in IsraelPro with our team. You are asked to share your field of interest when completing the initial short application.

After speaking with a member of our team, we'll ask you to send a copy of your resume and more specifications about your desired internship placement. From there, our dedicated internship placement coordinator will contact the companies, organizations, and employers in our extensive network to start gathering desirable placement options, or, depending on your field of interest, get in touch with new companies and employers.

Different employers may request additional materials from applicants, and/or require certain qualifications, skills, or experience in order to consider you for employment as an intern. In nearly all cases, you will also need to complete an interview directly with your potential place of internship, as in any standard internship application process. Our placement coordinator will continue to work with you 1:1 until you have been successfully placed.

What if I'm Unhappy with my Internship Placement?

While our internship coordinator works as hard as possible to get it right the first time (and we've got a great track record in that regard!), we do know that sometimes reality may not meet expectations once you begin your internship. Our experience in most cases has been that most issues with an internship placement can be improved through direct communication with your employer.

However, in some cases a participant may truly need to switch internship placements. We consider this to be a serious decision requiring conversation with staff. We try to start the internship re-placement process as early as possible in the program if necessary, but participants who decide to switch internship placements must understand that it can take time to find a new placement, and that IsraelPro cannot guarantee that a new internship placement would be better than the original placement.

Will my Internship Lead to a Regular Job Offer?

The overall purpose of your IsraelPro internship placement is for the unique experience of interning in Israel and gaining marketable skills. Some participants have been offered regular employment at their places of internship and have accepted those roles, both in Israel and abroad. Depending on your field, life plans, and the interest of both you and your internship employer, you may find a similar opportunity at the end of your internship experience.

I'm a Certified Medical/Legal Professional - Can I Get an Internship in that Capacity?

Many IsraelPro participants have come from a medical or legal background, and often inquire as to what opportunities are available to them. Due to national licensing requirements in the fields of practicing medicine, nursing, dentistry, law, and more, it is not possible for IsraelPro participants to intern in a placement which would allow them to actually practice these fields. Many of our participants with a medical background interested in staying within their general area of knowledge pursue science research internships, and those who otherwise practice law in their home country are often interested in interning with NGOs, non-profit organizations, or in government-adjacent entities.

FAQ: Housing

Where Will I Live?

IsraelPro participants live in fully-furnished, shared apartments in the heart of Tel Aviv's best neighborhoods. Our apartments are located a short walking distance to many different bus lines and scooter and bike lanes, as well as the soon-to-be completed light rail. All utilities for the apartment are included in the cost of IsraelPro, including A/C and WiFi. Apartments include full kitchens, living rooms, a bathroom and shared bedrooms.

Why Can't I Live in My Own Housing?

Our participants say that one of the best parts of IsraelPro is the amazing community they build together, helped in large part by living together with fellow interns. We maintain that supportive and fun communal experience by requesting that all IsraelPro participants live in official IsraelPro apartments.

Can I Request a Single Room?

Yes, prior to the start of the program, participants may request a single bedroom which includes an additional fee of $900. We cannot guarantee the availability of a single room as it is dependent upon the number of participants registered for the session and layout of available apartments. It is best to inform the IsraelPro team as early as possible about your desire for a single room.

FAQ: Trips and Activities

Where Will I Be Able to Travel with IsraelPro?

IsraelPro participants take multiple day trips and at least one overnight trip to different places in Israel over the course of the session. Recently, destinations have included Haifa and the Galilee, the Ramon Crater, an overnight at Kibbutz Ketura with a visit to Eilat, a tour of the border with Gaza, and a visit to Jerusalem. All trips are accompanied by an IsraelPro staff member and a tour guide where relevant. We are happy to consider the requests of the group in planning trips.

Are Trips and Activities Mandatory?

As your internship placements are notified in advance of your scheduled trips and group activities, we expect that all participants will join our day and overnight trips - first because the experiences are tons of fun and bring you to interesting locations you may not otherwise have the chance to visit on your own, and second because it's more fun to all travel together! If you must miss a trip or activity for important personal reasons that cannot be rescheduled, you must notify our staff with as much notice as possible.

What Kind of Activities Will We Have?

Aside from group trips, IsraelPro also provides some kind of activity or event nearly each week throughout the program, and especially around national or religious holidays. Past examples include a staff-led pub crawl, holiday or Shabbat meals hosted by different young adult-oriented communities, special visits to companies or organizations in the Tel Aviv area, and professional development workshops. In addition, all participants are invited to Masa Israel Journey's events which include concerts, special ceremonies, and social meet-ups.

FAQ: Learning Hebrew

What is "Ulpan"?

Ulpan is a method of intensive Hebrew language learning offered to all of our participants in the cost of IsraelPro. Participants will join an intensive seminar at the start of the program to get their Hebrew up to speed prior to starting their internships. Once internships begin, all participants will have the option to continue with Ulpan at a less intensive pace (to accommodate for the time spent at your internship) with regular classes each week. Our Ulpan classes are taught by our in-house Hebrew teachers who have extensive experience teaching Hebrew to non-native speakers, and who use a special curriculum created by our own Ulpan director.

How Much Hebrew Will I Learn? Will I Become Fluent?

Like most educational experiences, you will gain as much as you invest in learning Hebrew while on IsraelPro. Attending and participating in class, completing assigned work, and finding opportunities to practice what you are learning outside of class will help ensure you get the most out of learning Hebrew.

Will Knowing Hebrew Help Me Find an Internship?

While having knowledge of Hebrew may help you connect socially with your co-workers at your internship placement, it is generally the case that employers are looking for fluent English speakers (or speakers of other languages where relevant to the field) to intern in English.

FAQ: Health and Medical

What Kind of Medical Insurance Coverage Does IsraelPro Provide?

All IsraelPro participants receive basic health insurance coverage as part of the program cost. This includes coverage for doctor's visits and treatments for colds and flu, minor injuries, urgent care, and emergency visits (fully covered in the case of a true emergency.) Some participants with serious pre-existing conditions may be required by the health insurance broker to pay an additional fee for coverage.

You should not plan on coverage including visits to specialists for pre-existing conditions or diagnosis and treatment of new medical conditions that are not considered urgent. In the unlikely event that you require admission to the hospital for an acute illness or injury, IsraelPro's health insurance broker will work with you to determine the extent of your coverage under the IsraelPro health insurance plan, which will depend on the nature of the condition and treatment.

How Do I Manage My Prescription Medication While in Israel?

IsraelPro participants have several options in maintaining their prescription medication while in Israel. The first and simplest is to bring a large enough supply of medication to last for the duration of the program. If it is not possible to do so, participants may be able to have their prescription converted once in Israel. You must bring a copy of each prescription, including dosage, diagnosis, generic alternatives, and any other relevant information from your prescribing doctor. Not all prescriptions have an equal match in Israel, so you should work with your home doctor to determine which alternatives are appropriate for you.

I've Been Experiencing Challenges to My Mental Health Recently - Is IsraelPro Right For Me?

Participants receiving treatment for a mental health condition are responsible for disclosing this information in their IsraelPro application so that our staff can work with you to ensure the best possible experience while you are in Israel. If you are following a specific mental health treatment plan, you are responsible for maintaining that regimen while on IsraelPro, and for informing staff of any major changes to your mental health throughout the duration of the program.

Sometimes, IsraelPro participants decide that starting the program is a good time to make a change to their mental health treatment plan, which we do not advise. Moving to a new country, meeting a new community, learning a new culture and social situation, and starting a new professional experience is an exciting opportunity that requires the ability to adapt and adjust, and participants who are maintaining a mental health regimen that has been working for them are best-equipped to get the most out of these new experiences.

FAQ: Financials

Program Payment Terms and Timeline

All IsraelPro participants receive basic health insurance coverage as part of the program cost. This includes coverage for doctor's visits and treatments for colds and flu, minor injuries, urgent care, and emergency visits (fully covered in the case of a true emergency.) Some participants with serious pre-existing conditions may be required by the health insurance broker to pay an additional fee for coverage.

You should not plan on coverage including visits to specialists for pre-existing conditions or diagnosis and treatment of new medical conditions that are not considered urgent. In the unlikely event that you require admission to the hospital for an acute illness or injury, IsraelPro's health insurance broker will work with you to determine the extent of your coverage under the IsraelPro health insurance plan, which will depend on the nature of the condition and treatment.

How Does the Masa Israel Journey Grant Work?

After registering for IsraelPro, all participants should apply to Masa Israel Journey to determine their eligibility for a tuition grant. Depending on your age and country of origin, you may be eligible for anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000 to be applied to the cost of IsraelPro. Once approved, this grant is paid directly to IsraelPro and does not get sent to the participant.

If you depart the program before its official completion, you may be responsible for returning a portion of your Masa Israel Journey grant, the amount to be calculated at their discretion.

According to Masa, in order to be eligible for a grant, you must: Be Jewish. Be a graduate of a secondary school and/or between the ages of 16 and 40. Have not been on an organized post-high school program (including an academic program) of more than four months in Israel since September 2004.

What if I Am Not Eligible for a Masa Israel Journey Grant?

As noted above, in order to be eligible for a Masa Israel Journey grant, you must: Be Jewish. Be a graduate of a secondary school and/or between the ages of 16 and 40. Have not been on an organized post-high school program (including an academic program) of more than four months in Israel since September 2004.

If you do not fit the above criteria, you are unlikely to received funding from Masa but may still be eligible to participate in IsraelPro by paying the full program price.

FAQ: While in Israel

Can I Travel Abroad While on IsraelPro?

IsraelPro participants are welcome to travel abroad in their free time so long as it does not interfere with their internship responsibilities. Participants are expected to share plans for travel with IsraelPro staff in advance, and cannot leave the country without first informing staff.

It is best to travel during breaks such as over the High Holidays or Passover, or on long weekends. We encourage participants not to travel at times when there are IsraelPro trips or activities occuring.

Do I Really Need a Local Phone Number?

Yes. All IsraelPro participants must register for a local Israeli number (either with a SIM or e-Sim) prior to or at the start of the program. Local pre-paid cell phone plans are affordable and there are many options available. All participants must be reachable by staff via phone call (regular mobile line, and not only through apps like WhatsApp or Signal) 24/7.

How Will I Get to My Internship and Travel Around?

All IsraelPro participants receive a monthly unlimited bus pass as part of the program cost. These passes allow you to take unlimited bus rides in and around Tel Aviv for the duration of the program.

Participants can also choose to travel by bike or e-scooter. There are numerous rental or purchase opportunities available in Tel Aviv. Participants are responsible for this cost themselves and must abide by all local laws, including wear a helmet at all times and only riding in designated lanes. IsraelPro is not responsible for any fines received for violating the law while riding a bike, e-bike, or e-scooter.

The most popular ride-sharing app in Israel is Gett Taxi. Otherwise, it is also possible to wave down taxis as needed.

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