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Where exactly are the apartments?
Our Tel Aviv apartments in Nahalat Binyamin or Alenby. Both are famous for its designer stores, street art, nightlife, and boho coffee shops. Florentin is just a quick bike ride or half hour walk from Tel Aviv’s buzzing city center.
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What are the apartments equipped with?
The apartments are fully furnished. This means you'll have a kitchen with appliances, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, as well as a dining room table, den with couches, flatscreen TV (no cable, for internet usage only), internet, beds, dressers etc.
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Will I be assigned a roommate and how many people live in each apartment?
Unless you wish to have a single room (with additional expense) you will have one roommate (under extenuating circumstancesthere may be up to a total of three people in one bedroom). In general between 4-8 people live in an apartment. They are all large and well furnished apartments and our participants are comfortable in them.
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Do I have the option to find my own accommodation?
You can find your own apartment. Participants that use their own accommodation pay $5500 USD for the semester program, and $1900 USD for the Summer Program.
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Who pays the rent, utilities, groceries and travel expenses?
Apartment rent is included in the cost of the program. Utilities and building fees (where applicable) are evenly split among the participants of each apartment. This money comes out of their utilities retainer at the end of the program. Groceries come at your own expense. Food will be provided during group trip days and retreats, unless otherwise stated. Transport is free for participants, as Top Israel Interns provides monthly bus passes.
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What is the exact cost of the program and what does it include?
The summer session costs $3500 USD with accommodation or $1900 USD without accommodation. It includes apartment accommodation, position placement, a selection of career advancement program workshops, opening and closing session as well as a seminar where you learn about Israeli start up and hi-tech culture.
The semester program costs $7500 USD (Excl. Masa grant) or between $3000 and $4500 USD if you qualify for a Masa grant. The cost includes apartment accommodation, position placement, Hebrew study, trips and many educational activities, including a comprehensive collection of career advancement program workshops. If you wish to find your own accommodation the cost of the program is $5500 USD (Excl. Masa grant).
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How can I get a scholarship?
Apply for a Masa Israel scholarship and possible needs based grant
You might want to try some of the following avenues to raise additional funds for the program.
- Try your local Jewish Federation. Many Federations have money set aside for young adult participation on Israel programs. Find your local Jewish Federation. The following federations have supported participants in the past: Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Boston
- Jeff Seidel - Grants towards airfare.
- Participants from Boston can receive a $500 scholarship by applying for them directly with: Matt Lebovic, CJP Senior Campus Associate, 617-457-8757, mattl@cjp.org
- Ask your Rabbi / Synagogue. Synagogues often have discretionary funds that are waiting for someone like you! You can also approach the brotherhood/sisterhood with an appeal.
- Try friends and family. Many of them will help you if you ask for assistance. We even found a service called MyPassportAssist that helps you create an effective “friends and family” fundraising campaign.
- Be in touch with your local Israeli embassy or consulate.
- Check out this list of additional funding options compiled by MASA.
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How much spending money will I need?
We recommend anywhere between $200-$500 USD per month. There is a major discrepancy here because every person has a different lifestyle. If you are purchasing basic household ingredients and food, life isn’t expensive in Israel. However if you go out every night to dinner and drinks, life in Israel can be quite costly. It is comparable to living in most major cities.
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What about health and travel insurance?
We provide basic, but thorough, health insurance which you have the option to upgrade.
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Who is eligible?
An eligible participant:
- Is between 18 and 32 years old
- Has a valid high school degree or equivalency degree (GED)
- Speaks fluent English
- Is not suffering from any severe physical, mental or psychological disorder that would prevent him/her from participating in the normal daily activities of the program.
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How many people usually take part in the program, and where are they from?
Every season is different. The average range of participants is anywhere from 20-50 individuals.
(This range is subject to change based on interest in any given season and is not guaranteed)
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As someone who doesn’t speak Hebrew, will I be able to do valuable work?
As a nation with a large international business presence, Israeli organizations need English speakers. Additionally, Israel is a talented hi-tech and scientific research nation and uses English as their main language in this field.
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Will I learn Hebrew?
Our Semester long program includes Hebrew instruction by Ulpan Or.
Ulpan Or has a revolutionary RLA (Rapid Evolutionary Acquisition) method that is designed to significantly upgrade your Hebrew level in a short time. Your teachers will be your coaches and partners, and your determination and hard work will determine how much Hebrew you can speak by the end of the program.
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Is this a religious or secular program?
Top Israel Interns is a program that accepts both religious and secular participants. We are proud to be able to cater to both parties. Religious participants will have the ability to keep a kosher kitchen. It is important to be open minded as you may live in an apartment that has people with different religious tendencies than you.
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Will I get to know Israelis?
You will be living in areas throughout Jerusalem that are full of young Israeli professionals and students. If you are outgoing, friendly and take the opportunity to participate in the rich array of cultural events in the city, then you will meet Israelis. You will also be working and interacting with Israelis in the workplace on a daily basis.
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Can I choose where I intern?
If there are placements featured on our placements page that interest you, you will be able to mention them to your placement coordinator who will proceed to apply for the positions for you. If you do not see anything which is exactly suited to you, then the placement coordinator will go about sourcing you something more suitable.
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What is the procedure of securing an position placement?
Upon sending us a copy of your resume and specifying your fields of interest, our Placement Coordinator will go about speaking with the relevant companies to secure you a position. Different companies may request different things from applicants, for example some may wish for you to write a motivational letter, or tell them how you feel your placement in the company would be mutually beneficial to them and to your own career development. Our Placement Coordinator will then be in touch with you to inform you of any successful placements.
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Can my position lead to a job offer?
The purpose of the position is not to source employment, but rather experience. However, previous participants have been offered jobs and have gone on to have successful careers at their placement organizations. If you work hard and the placement fits, you never know where it can lead!
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Can I change positions during the program?
This is generally not possible as you have committed yourself to the organization for the duration of the program. Only in very unique circumstances is a placement reviewed after the start of the program.
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What is a typical week like for interns?
Once we are past the orientation stage of the program, you would be working at your placement from Sunday to Thursday. Evenings and weekends are mostly free, however there is usually at least one group session, tour, or an evening activity during the week.
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What happens during the High Holidays, like Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?
You would not work on holidays. As program organizers we may arrange something special to celebrate holiday as a group, however you are free to choose how you spend the day.
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What do I do in my free time?
In Tel Aviv, you're living in the hub of Israel's social scene, so you have endless options of what to do in your free time. Countless restaurants, bars, and shops are right on your doorstep. You're a short bike ride or half an hour walk from the city center and the beach.
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What additional activities are supplied by TII?
During the program we will go on a few day tours around the country and attend social and cultural events.
In previous programs we have taken trips to the north of Israel to go kayaking, we have gone camping near the Ein Ghedi Oasis in Eilat, been to basketball games, enjoyed sushi nights, chocolate workshops, wine festivals, and Purim parties.
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What language is the programming conducted in?
English.
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Do I have to make aliyah or consider making aliyah to participate?
Nope. We put absolutely no pressure on you to move to Israel.