Program Cost

The cost of LIFE for 2010-11, before scholarships, is US$15,000 or equivalent in your currency.

In a unique initiative, LIFE is offering a $1,000 payment towards the return flight to/from Israel for those participants who apply, are accepted and make their initial down payment before March 31, 2010.

The standard MASA grant is (USA citizens) US$3,000 and you may be eligible for an additional US$1,500. For information, see www.masaisrael.org.  

There is a non-refundable application fee of US$100. 

Applications for LIFE 2010-11 officialy close on June 30th. If after that we are able to accept additional applicants, a significant late fee will apply to cover the additional costs involved - additional and late bookings (for example, air fares to India will cost more if booked late) and additional staff time.

If you qualify for grants, scholarships or raise funds, the cost to you will be lower (see Grants, Scholarships and Fundraising Ideas).

All sums are in US$, or the equivalent on the day of payment.

What is, and is not, Covered

The cost of the program does not include flights from your country of residence to and from Israel (except see above!). It does include the flight to and from India.

In Israel (first period):

Included

• 3 week educational and training program prior to going to overseas placement
• Housing, some meals when we are out of town on seminars, and transport
• Medical insurance

Assignment in India:

Included

• Return flight, flight taxes, visa, health shots,
• All internal travel related to internships and Life programs (weekends, seminars).
• Housing
• Orientation and closure seminars, weekly leanrign program during the period
• Arrangement of internships with local NGOs
• Ongoing support and educational programming with LIFE India Director
• Medical Insurance

Not included: food, personal (non-program) travel, personal expenses.  You should budget US$300/month for these expenses, which includes an amount for (modest style) travel in India during holiday periods (this will vary according to lifestyle and taste).

In Israel (second period)

Included

• Medical Insurance
• Housing
• Internship placement
• Learning program – seminars, workshops, trips, meetings, guided research, educational programs
• Hebrew study program 
• Transport to and from internship

Not Included: Food expenses, personal (non-program) travel. You should budget about US$300/month for these expenses (though this will vary according to lifestyle and taste).

Note: personal expenses are estimated as similar in Israel and India, despite costs being much lower in India, as the sum for India inclues an estimate for travelling and accomodation during the three weeks of available holiday. In Israel, people tend more often to stay with friends and family.

Grants, Scholarships and Fundraising

For addtional grants and scholarships, we suggest you consider approaching the following kinds of organizations. They may respond well especially if you offer to partner with them – writing a blog for them while away, offering to meet community groups visiting Israel while you are there and speaking when you return. Consult with professionals and lay leaders in the community to think of other ideas. Be sure they understand that you are not the only one benefiting here; you are going to be helping promote social justice and sustainable societies in Israel and in India. You are also going to return to your community with greater capacity to contribute there. Check with agencies that your family or family friends belong to. Use the web and people you know to find out about additional organizations and use all personal links – even once or twice removed – to open doors.

Your local Jewish Federation and/or the Jewish Endowment Fund Foundation: The Jewish Federation of each city is the fundraising and allocations body of the local Jewish community. The Jewish Federation may have sources of funding of which you are unaware. In particular, try the Jewish Community Relations Council connected to the Federation.

Your local synagogue: Many synagogues provide funding for visits to Israel. Even if there isn’t a specific fund, your Rabbi may choose to spend a portion of his/her “Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund” to help you. Even if you have not been an active member of the synagogue, it is a good idea to speak with your Rabbi about your desire to participate in LIFE.

Hillel: Though you completed your University studies, the Hillel Director, Program Director, or JCSC Fellow may be worth consulting with. They are well connected to the community.

The Bureau of Jewish Education: While their main mission is to provide resources for Jewish Education, the BJE is a good place to look for additional funding because LIFE is a Jewish learning experience. Larger cities have a local BJE.

Jewish organizations and agencies in your hometown: Hadassah, B’nai B’rith lodges, Jewish Women International (formally B’nai B’rith Women), Temple/Synagogue men’s clubs/sisterhoods -- all of them care about the Jewish community! They are often able to only cover a small portion of your costs, take advantage of their hospitality.

Hebrew Free Loan Society: For interest free loans. You must apply in person while in the U.S. but can often receive significant funds which can be paid back free of interest.

General Community Organizations: Because of the community volunteer component of LIFE, in Israel and especially in India, you are eligible to approach non-Jewish service organizations like Rotary to ask for assistance.

Contact local Israel-related organizations: ARZA, Hadassah, the local Embassy or Consulate, the Israel-(your country) Chamber of Commerce if there is one.

Contact also India-related organizations: The Embassy, any Indian communal organization – perhaps bringing them together with a Jewish organization to co-sponsor you.

Think also about what you can do in the more traditional fundraising area – people might want to help you but need a framework and an ‘excuse’ to give. Reach out to different circles of friends and acquaintance – your friends, your old college classmates, your parents’ friends, your synagogue, old work colleagues. For example, you can hold a garage sale towards your trip, a bake-off or a marathon (reading, running, etc) and ask people to sponsor you.

No doubt a lot of work is required here, but it will pay off. Remember that a few smaller amounts can help you as much as one larger sum.

Payment Schedule and Method

Payment is according to the following schedule. Larger payments combining the amounts can be made at your convenience: 

* In US$ or equivalent on the day of payment.

** This may be lower due to MASA grant.

Please note: The offer to refund US$1,000 towads the cost of the return ticket to Israel will be reduced from the final payment also.

MASA scholarship or grant: Should a participant receive a MASA grant and should for any reason the MASA funding become unavailable to cover the anticipated proportion of the cost (such as, but not only if, the participant does not complete the program), the participant will be and remains obligated to pay for the full cost of LIFE. 

Payment by direct Bank Transfer:

Please send us documentation of the payment from your bank - directly to yonatan@btzedek.org.il or by fax to +972-2-6749066 - - when payments are made so we can track them and send you a receipt.

* This is the account name because B’Tzedek is an initiative operated within the social-educational incubator called ‘Topaz’.

Refunds

LIFE will make refunds at its sole discretion. Programs like LIFE are structured such that if someone leaves, many expenses are still incurred and there are few if any savings.

If someone leaves LIFE before the end of the program, a refund will be considered upon receipt of a written request by the participant, or someone authorized by him/her. Decisions pertaining to refunds will be made at the sole discretion of LIFE.

Should someone finish the program before its end due to overwhelming circumstances not in his/her control (such as own or family illness), a partial refund will be considered by LIFE. It will be relatively small due to high fixed costs and the difficulty of getting refunds for services booked.

If someone is removed from the program or leaves LIFE voluntarily, LIFE reserves the right to decide, depending on the circumstances, whether to grant a refund at all. Financial considerations will not be the only ones taken into account.