YES! Safety and security is our number one priority.

​Below is an outline of the safety procedures that Drexel Hillel and Hillel International follow:

• Our groups do not travel to areas of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem or any other potential trouble spots which have received much media attention due to the hostilities.

• We have security briefings with our tour partners throughout the trips. Local security personnel are notified of the group’s travel plans and will contact the group in the event of an emergency. We will change a group’s itinerary immediately to reflect any heightened risk or security concerns.

• Hillel’s participants on Birthright Israel travel on private buses that are locked and under supervision when not in use. Each bus has a professional driver who accompanies the group at all times. At no point is public transportation used during our programs. All buses have a GPS communication and tracking device, and are accompanied by a security guard at all times.

• All participants will receive contact information for hotels in which students will be staying, as well as a 24-hour emergency number in Israel for parents/guardians to use in the event of a family emergency or crisis at home. Additionally, each participating Hillel will designate a local contact person who will be in contact with the group during the course of the trip and who can be contacted in case of emergency.

• In the event of an emergency or any incident in Israel, an update will be posted on Hillel’s Israel helpline and on our website. We have extensive contingency plans covering a range of possibilities.

For additional information about safety procedures on Birthright, please go to: http://www.freeisraeltrip.org/safety–security.html or contact Leah directly

With Drexel’s fast paced quarter system and co-op program, we recommend going on Birthright with Drexel as soon as you can! Freshman year is the best time to go, since you will make friends on campus that you will stay close with for the rest of university. Also, you will not have to worry about co-op interfering with our trip dates. Not a freshman? No problem! We have students of all years go on our Birthright trips and everyone has the time of their lives!

Our trip is pluralistic and inclusive of everyone from ALL Jewish backgrounds.

To be eligible to go on Birthright Israel, participants must have one Jewish parent and have not lived in Israel after the age of 13. This means not staying in Israel 3 months or longer, past the age of 13 years old.

There is no religious or Hebrew knowledge required to go on Birthright Israel. Regardless of anyone’s Jewish upbringing, every student that goes on Birthright Israel with Drexel is bound to have a fantastic time!

​If you have any questions about whether you are eligible to go on Birthright Israel, please email Leah at lthomas@drexelhillel.org and she will help answer your questions!

Participants will receive their $250 deposit back upon completion of the trip. Participants are responsible for transportation to and from the airport (usually JFK or Newark Airport) and for the cost. We also advise that participants to expect to pay about $10 a day for lunch ($100 total for the trip, breakfast and dinner are provided for free) and to bring money for any gifts that they want to bring home. We also ask participants to bring a $70 tip for their Bus Driver and Tour Educator. This tip helps pay for their livelyhoods and these two professionals are essential to having a fantastic experience on Birthright.

Your flight, a majoirty of your meals (2 out of 3 everyday), touring the country and your lodging (often 3 and 4 star hotels) are all FREE.

This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel.

Sure thing! Visit birthrightisrael.com/itinerary/classic to see a sample