Questions:

1. Do I have to be a college student? 2. What are the dates of the trip? 3. Can I travel with a friend on the program? 4. How will the groups be formed? 5. Will a deposit be required? 6. What if I don't have a passport yet? 7. What if I do not have medical insurance? 8. Where do I depart from? 9. What are the accommodations and mode of transportation in Israel?

10. What are the eligibility requirements? 11. What about safety and security? 12. Can I extend my ticket and stay in Israel? 13. How can I rent a cellular phone? 14. What if I am in the USA with a Visa? ( NON USA / Canadian Citizens) 15. Do I need a visa if I hold a USA or Canadian Passport? 16. How much spending money do I need to bring? 17. How much gratuity do I need to bring? 18. What currency is used & exchange rates?

1. Q. Do I have to be a college student ? What if I am a current high school senior?

    A. You do NOT need to be a college student, but you must have completed high school in order to be eligible to participate in
    the program.TOP

2. Q. What are the dates of the trip?

    A. Trips will be operated during December, January, March, June, July, and August from the USA. Please contact our office at
    310-441-9361 for the specific dates or visit our website at www.secjerusalem.org TOP

3. Q. Can I travel with a friend on the program?

    A. Yes. You will have an opportunity to request with whom to be placed in a group, and we will do our best to accommodate
    your requests. Encourage your friends and family to apply ASAP - this will enhance our ability to place you in a group
    together. We will do our best accommodate your requests although we can not make any guarantees. TOP

4. Q. How will the groups be formed?

    A. Groups are formed based on age and group requests. Effort is also made to have an equal number of males and females.
     The groups consist of approximately 30-40 participants. Each group is accompanied by an Israeli tour guide and an
     American staff person. TOP

5. Q. Will a deposit be required?

    A. All Taglit-birthright israel program participants will be required to pay a refundable deposit of $250 USD. The deposit is
     refunded to all participants after successful completion of the program. TOP

6. Q. What if I don't have a passport yet?

    A. Apply for a passport now! It may take up to three months. If you are not a citizen of the U.S. or Canada, you will need to
     apply for a visa to visit Israel. TOP

    To see if you need an Israeli entrance visa visit:
    http://www.israelemb.org/sanfran/Consular/visa_country.htm

    How to obtain a United States passport:
    http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
    http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

7. Q. What if I do not have medical insurance?

    A. Valid medical insurance is vital for traveling overseas! to purchase insurance please visit
    http://www.travelprotectors.com/mission.shtml#1
    choose Option 1: "Cruise Tour and Travel" package TOP

8. Q. Where do I depart from?

    A. SEC offers departures for most trips from New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. Participants must arrange travel to
     and from these gateway cities at their own expense. TOP

9. Q. What are the accommodations and mode of transportation in Israel?

     A. Participants stay in hotels and kibbutzim guest houses. Transportation is by air-conditioned motor coach. TOP

10. Q. What are the eligibility requirements?

       A. You are eligible for the Taglit-birthright israel gift if...

    * Be Jewish;
    * Be 18 through 26 years old (by the date of departure);
    * Have not been on a seven-day or longer (including travel) peer educational Israel trip since you were 12 years old;
    * Have not studied in Israel since the age of 12;
    * Have not lived in Israel since the age of 12;
    * Not currently be in high school;
    * Not be registered in a Jewish Studies program in any institute of higher learning such as Jewish Teacher Training
     program, Jewish Studies program, Rabbinic program, Yeshiva/Seminary, Jewish Communal Service program, etc.; TOP

11. Q. What about safety and security?

       A. More North Americans have chosen to travel with the SEC than with any other Taglit-birthright israel organizer, This is due,
            in part, to the fact that the SEC team is 100% committed to providing a safe, secure and enjoyable educational trip to
            Israel for all participants. As Israelis, we are particularly aware of how the security situation impacts on daily life. We know
            the importance of taking the right precautions, and believe in the importance of forging onward with life.

           SEC constantly reviews all security measures for Taglit-birthright israel trips and implements the most stringent security
           measures at all times throughout the program. These precautions include the careful planning of itineraries. Our tours do
           not travel to or through areas of the West Bank, Gaza or East Jerusalem (We do visit the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old
           City). Throughout each day, itineraries are cleared through the official government authorities, which also reviews all
           educational field trips for Israeli schools and educational institutions. A group's itinerary will be changed immediately to
           reflect any heightened risk or security concerns.

           Each group is given a detailed safety and security orientation upon arrival in Israel. In addition, the guides and counselors
           of each trip brief participants regularly regarding special security arrangements for particular trips or days. The orientation
           and briefings include guidelines for free time and general travel safety. Free time is always supervised and takes place in
           specified locations as security considerations warrant. Finally, at least one Israeli security escort accompanies every SEC group.

           SEC trips do not use public transportation and participants are advised to avoid the use of public transportation at all
           times. The tour bus companies and drivers used by SEC are subject to Taglit-birthright israel approval, and drivers are
           instructed to never leave buses unlocked or unattended.

           Again, our primary concern is the safety of our participants. Perspective on Please feel free to contact us if you have
           specific security related questions or concerns. TOP

12. Q. Can I extend my ticket and stay in Israel

       A.Yes you can extend your ticket and we can help you see this side of the world while you're here! TOP

13. Q. How can I rent a cellular phone?

       A. The SEC recommends you use Amigo for your cellular rental needs. The counselors and trip leaders will be using Amigo as
            well. The Amigo phone offers superior cellular service as well as exclusive walkie talkie capabilities (similar to Nextel), so all
            members of the group can talk amongst each other for free. These phones are on the military lines & have a GPS so it is
            secure and safe. ALL INCOMING CALLS ARE FREE! To order your phone please chick below:

           http://www.amigous.com/agent.cfm?agentid=sec&
           CFID=3355203&CFTOKEN=455735%20%2052
           &jsessionid=d430881ecb6287c352b5

           If you have any additional questions regarding cellular phone rentals please call Amigo at 1-888-264-4687, be sure to
           mention you are traveling with Sephardic Educational Center Taglit-birthright israel trip. TOP

14. Q. What if I am in the USA with a Visa? ( NON USA / Canadian Citizens)

       A. To participate on a Taglit-birthright israel: SEC trip, you must have valid documentation and possibly an Israeli entry visa.
            To see if you need an Israeli entrance visa visit http://www.israelemb.org/sanfran/Consular/visa_country.htm . If you have
            not yet obtained valid documentation, please do so immediately as the process can take up to 3 months.


           Israeli Citizens:
           If you require forms such as army exemption papers please be sure to contact your local Israeli Consulate to obtain them
           immediately. TOP

15. Q. Do I need a visa if I hold a USA or Canadian Passport?

       A. To participate on a Taglit-birthright israel: SEC trip, you must have a United States or Canadian passport that is valid for a
            minimum of six months after the program. You do not need to obtain a visa.

           If you need to order or renew a passport, please do so immediately as the process may take up to three months.
           For details on ordering or renewing a passport please visit the Department of State's
           http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html which also has a list at http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/. Expedited
           processing may be available for an additional fee. For more information inquire at your local passport agency. If you require
           a confirmation letter from us please don’t hesitate to contact us at 310-441-9361. TOP

16. Q. How much spending money do I need to bring?

       A. We suggest bringing approximately $200 to $300 USD in cash. If you do not have a credit card, you may want to bring a
            little more. Almost all stores in Israel accept credit cards. Do not rely on ATM machines as they can be difficult to find.
            Travelers Checks are also difficult to cash so we do not recommend bringing them. TOP

17. Q. How much gratuity do I need to bring?

       A. Please bring $65 USD, in addition to your spending money, which will be used as gratuity for your amazing Israeli staff. TOP

18. Q. What currency is used & exchange rates?

       A. The currency in Israel is Shekel or New Israel Shekel (NIS).
            For the current US dollar exchange rate, please click on the link below
            http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=ILS&submit=Convert%20 TOP