June 8, 2022 /9 Sivan 5782

Shalom! We hope you had a wonderful Shavuot. We would like to remind you that there are two important forms due this Friday (two days from now). Please see below for links to the "Preparing for YTVA" form, and for the "Arrival Information" form. Please note that we cannot guarantee roommate requests will be honored if your form is not submitted on time. Thank you for your cooperation, and please don't hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions. If you already submitted the forms-- thank you! 

Dear YTVA Parents and Students:

We hope you are all well! We are moving ahead with our preparations for the coming year. In this mailing you will find the following very important items: 

1. A link to the "Preparing for YTVA 2022-23" form. Please complete and submit it by Friday, June 10th. 
2. A link to the list of Basic Expectations. All parents and students are asked to read it and sign off on it in the "Preparing for YTVA" form. 
3. Important information regarding meal services at MTVA. 
4. A form on which you should provide your travel details, also due by Friday, June 10th. 
5. More details and reminders about things such as phones, visas and dorm supplies. 

Thank you for your cooperation in adhering to the deadlines in order to provide us with ample time to plan for next year. And wishing everyone a Chag Shavuot Sameach-- we look forward to learning Torah next Shavuot in Jerusalem with the Class of 5783! 

The "Preparing for YTVA 2022-23" Form

Our planning for the coming year is moving full speed ahead! In order to assist us in taking the preparations to the next level, we ask that you fill out the form that can be accessed by clicking here. It asks for roommate preferences, dietary needs, and more. Please be assured that all personal details will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Please submit it no later than Friday, June 10th.

Also on that form, parents and students are asked to commit to compliance with the bylaws of YTVA. Please see our short-list of Basic Expectations by clicking here.

Meal Services

At YTVA we put tremendous effort into accommodating the needs of each and every student. However, we often cannot meet every request. Here are a few things that you should know:

-Cereal and milk will be provided for breakfast daily. 

-Daily lunches in the yeshiva will be besari (fleishik-- meat or chicken). There will always be a vegetarian/vegan option (ONLY for those who have registered as vegetarian or vegan.) 

- Dinners will be chalavi (milk) or pareve. Sometimes the main course will be fish.

-At all lunches the following will be available, in addition to the regular meal:

• White bread and whole wheat bread and gluten-free bread
• Tuna or hard boiled eggs
• Chumus
• Salad
• Fruit

-If anyone is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and/or sesame, our caterer will provide meals that do not contain those items. However, we can not guarantee that there will not be any cross-contamination in the kitchens or dining room. 

-Regarding students on gluten-free diets, our caterer will provide options, but he is not able to guarantee no cross contamination in the kitchens or dining room. 

-We are located very close to many restaurants and supermarkets, and many more deliver to our door. 

-When we are out of the yeshiva, on Shabbatonim and tiyulim, we have less control over the menus since those meals are provided by outside caterers and hotels. We will always send them a list of requests, and they are generally accommodating, but we highly recommend that anyone with allergies or specific preferences bring along food to supplement whatever is being served. 

-All questions about food related issues should be sent to office@tvaisrael.org.

Arrival Information

Please fill out this short form so that we will have your arrival information. Please submit by Friday, June 10th. If you are still unsure of your travel plans please submit the form anyway, then resubmit when your plans are finalized. 

Travel Documents

Some new information and a few reminders about travel documents: 

-We will obtain visas for all students age 18 and over. For this, you will need to bring your original birth certificate or a certified copy with an apostille. They will be collected right after arrival, and kept in our safe, except when they are at the Ministry of Interior. 

-We are still not positive what the process will be for students under 18. It is likely that we will be able to get student visas, as long as they turn 18 within 3 months after arrival. They will most likely need a notarized letter signed by both parents, saying that they have permission to spend the year in Israel at Yeshivat Torah V'Avodah.  Those who will turn 18 after that need to obtain a visa from their local Consulate prior to departure.

-We will need a passport photo for the visa. Please bring one with in order to avoid needing to get to a photo shop during your first few days in Israel. 

-Reminding that if your passport expires prior to December 2023 you should get a new one before you come to TVA. The process is sometimes lengthy, so if you haven't started yet, please do not delay. 

-If the student or either parent is Israeli, please reach out to your local Consulate for information about passports and army exemptions.

-Everyone will be required to register with MASA prior to coming to Israel. They are hoping that registration for next year's gap year programs will open during the next couple of weeks. We will let you know when that happens. Once they open registration you will also be able to apply for needs based scholarships. 

AIM Medical Insurance

We are fortunate to partner with AIM (American Israel Medi-Plan Inc), which provides wonderful medical coverage and care for all of our students. Sign-up is directly with them, and all questions regarding benefits and coverage should be sent to them. You can get more information about AIM by clicking here to view their website and here to view their brochure. To access their registration form please click here and to access their medical form please click here. Please note all students must be signed up for AIM medical insurance, everyone must submit a medical form signed by their doctor, and no one will be allowed to attend TVA without having had all required immunizations. AIM can be reached at info@aim.co.il with any questions.



Costs:

Gold Plan: $595 ($650 after August 1st)

Platinum Plan: $695 ($750 after August 1st)

Dorm Supplies

Three companies have asked us to share details about their dorm products (linens, towels, appliances, storage items, etc....), which help lighten your load when packing. Those companies are: 

Blanket Express

Click here 

to view their website

Pack For Israel

Click here

to view their website

Tamarim Concierge

Click here

to view their website

Sim Card Rentals

Bnei Akiva/TVA has been working with Talk n' Save for many years, and we warmly recommend them as a source for renting sim cards for the year. If you order a card more than 10 days before departure, they will mail it to your home and it will already work when you land. They will also come to the yeshiva on arrival day, to trouble-shoot and to deliver any last-minute orders. They provide excellent American-style customer service and technical support throughout the year, by phone and in their Jerusalem office.

You can click here to sign up now and enjoy Talk n' Save's early bird sale!

Feel free to contact them with any questions at info@talknsave.net or 1-866-825-5672. 

Please be reminded that every student must have cell phone service with data and the ability to load apps such as Whatsapp and MoveIt. It is highly recommended that everyone have a local Israeli phone number, not just a foreign one. 

Books & Room Deposits

• We will be purchasing a number of required sefarim for you before you arrive. Please submit $100 to cover that cost. 
• Each student is required to submit a $150 room deposit. The entire amount will be returned at the end of the year, assuming the apartment is left in acceptable condition. 

Both of these payments should be sent by Venmo to @tvashekem. Please write the name of the student, and "books & room". If you do not have Venmo please bring cash, which will be collected after arrival in Israel. 

As always, if you have any questions

please don't hesitate to contact us at office@tvaisrael.org.