What should they do the moment they land?
The moment the eSIM connects: switch on the Israeli line, message home that they landed, and check the program's group chat for arrival instructions. Then withdraw shekels from an ATM in the arrivals hall, find the program's pickup or transport, and — if the eSIM is already set up — walk straight past the SIM kiosk.
How do they get connected at the airport?
If the Israeli eSIM was set up before the flight, there's nothing to do but toggle it on — they're connected before passport control. If it wasn't, resist the airport SIM counter: those kiosk SIMs are often registered to the vendor rather than the buyer, which makes the number hard to keep and hard to port later. The airport SIM trap explains exactly how students lose the number their bank and friends come to know.
How do they get around Israel?
Public transport is cheap and everywhere. Buses and light rail use the Rav-Kav card or contactless payment, and the Moovit app maps almost any trip door to door in English. Intercity trains connect the big cities, and shared taxis (sherut) and Gett — Israel's Uber — fill the gaps. Nobody needs to rent a car for a gap year; it's an expense and a hassle, and parking is its own sport.
Which apps should they download first?
The starter set: Moovit for transit, Gett for taxis, Google Maps or Waze for directions, and the program's WhatsApp group. Wolt handles food delivery in most cities. Several of these send an SMS code to set up — another reason the Israeli number needs to be working on day one.
How do they stay reachable to home?
Israel is about seven hours ahead of US Eastern time, so late morning in Israel is early morning back east — a natural window for calls. On a 50GB plan, WhatsApp voice and video calls are no problem, so agree on a standing weekly call and let the rest be day-to-day messages. A quick “landed / at the program / first Shabbat was good” cadence keeps everyone calm without hovering.
What about jet lag, food, water, and Shabbat?
Jet lag eases fastest by getting onto Israeli time immediately — daylight, movement, and pushing through the first afternoon. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere, and a refillable bottle is a heat-season essential. Food is overwhelmingly kosher, so that's rarely a worry. The big rhythm change is Shabbat: from Friday afternoon to Saturday night most stores close and public transport largely stops, so students learn to shop and charge devices by Friday midday. The first Shabbat away from home is often the moment it all feels real — expected, and it passes.
Who do they call in an emergency?
Save these before anything goes wrong, and add the program's staff numbers and the travel insurer's help line beside them. Most first-week “emergencies” are small — a lost card, a missed bus, a cold — but knowing the three numbers and the program contact turns a scare into a phone call.
| Emergency | Number |
|---|---|
| Ambulance (Magen David Adom) | 101 |
| Police | 100 |
| Fire | 102 |
Save these in the phone before landing, along with the program's staff contacts and your travel insurer's line.
What's the first-two-weeks checklist?
A simple sequence to get settled:
- 1Landing day: switch on the Israeli eSIM, message home, withdraw shekels, and meet the program transport.
- 2Day 1–2: download Moovit, Gett, and the program group chat; set up a Rav-Kav or contactless transit payment; save the emergency numbers.
- 3First week: test the card on a real purchase; confirm bank 2FA still reaches the home number; find the nearest supermarket, pharmacy, and ATM.
- 4Before the first Shabbat: shop and charge devices by Friday midday; learn the local Shabbat start time and what closes.
- 5End of week two: settle a weekly call time with home — you're through the wobble.
Quick answers
Should they buy a SIM at the airport in Israel?
Better not to. Set up an eSIM before the flight instead — airport kiosk SIMs are often registered to the vendor, which makes the number hard to keep or port later.
How do gap-year students get around Israel?
Mostly buses, light rail, and trains using a Rav-Kav card or contactless payment, navigated with the Moovit app, plus Gett for taxis. A rental car isn't needed for a gap year.
What's the time difference between Israel and the US?
Israel is about seven hours ahead of US Eastern time. Late morning in Israel is early morning on the US East Coast — a good window for a call home.
Is the tap water safe in Israel?
Yes, tap water is safe throughout Israel. A reusable bottle is worth packing for the heat.
What happens on Shabbat?
From Friday afternoon to Saturday night, most shops close and public transport largely stops. Students quickly learn to shop, charge devices, and plan by Friday midday.
Will a student's data plan be enough?
50GB on Student 5G covers maps, group chats, and daily video calls home comfortably. If a heavy month runs close, data can be topped up from the account at any time.