Workshop is open to all American and Canadian graduating high school seniors. Many of our participants have previously attended one of the six Habonim Dror North America summer camps, though not all! All Jewish youth in their last year of high school are encouraged to apply.

Contact your local Israeli consulate and request a year-long deferment from the army as soon as possible. If you need help finding your local consulate, visit www.mfa.gov.il. You must also make sure that you have a valid Israeli passport before your departure.

Our program tuition used to include airfare, but we realized that families could actually save money by purchasing their own fights at a cost cheaper than what we had budgeted for when it was included in the Workshop tuition. If you need help searching for a cheap and safe flight from where you live, or wish to see if you can book a flight with another Workshop participant from your area, please don't hesitate to be in touch with our central office. By booking your own flight, you can fly on the airline of your choice. Please be sure to book a flight that the day the program begins. If you can not find an appropriate flight on this day, please be in touch with our central office. Habonim Dror North America is not responsible for participants who arrive to Israel before the program officially begins.

Throughout the application process and during the program, all parent contact should go through Helen, the Rakezet Tochniot (Programs Director). You can reach her at programs@habonimdror.net or by calling the office number, 267-908-7005 ext 2. We will also be in contact with our families if there is ever an emergency situation. Please make note of the following contact information for your records: Habonim Dror North America Central Office: 267-908-7005 Fax: (718) 789-1799 E-mail: programs@habonimdror.net

We choose the Kibbutz for Shorashim based on a number of factors. Ultimately, we want to ensure that the Kibbutz offers housing that is large enough for all participants to live in comfortably, and that is suitable for programming. We also prioritize choosing a Kibbutz with accomodations up to par with Habonim Dror's health and safety standards. Participants will eat most meals in the Kibbutz chadar ochel (dining hall) alongside other Kibbutz members, and so we look for Kibbutzim that will provide this option for us. We will announce the kibbutz for Workshop 73 once it is finalized.

Every participant needs a valid passport. If you haven’t yet, please send in a copy of the first page of your passport immediately via e-mail or fax to the office. Please check to make sure your passport is not expired. You may experience complications if your passport expires within 6 months of return from the program - If your passport expires before November 2026, you will need to renew your passport. If you were born in Israel or if you are an Israeli Citizen, check on potential travel taxes with the Israeli Consulate nearest you. You should also bring your Israeli passport with you to Israel as well as any other passports you hold​.

We choose the Anafim location based on a number of factors. Ultimately, we want to ensure that the living conditions of the house or apartment that the participants are staying in is up to par with Habonim Dror's health and safety standards. We also want to make sure that we choose a house or apartment that will ensure the best overall experience and serve as a comfortable space for living and for programming. We recognize that the facilities in which Workshop participants live are integral to the success of the program, as well as to their physical and mental health. We also choose the city for Anafim based on which volunteering placements are available for the participants and the accessibility of public transportation.

At the beginning of Anafim, the Workshop participants will learn what specific messimot placements are available to them.

We highly recommended that participants figure out their post-Workshop plans prior before to the start of the Workshop, as applying to university from Israel can be very stressful and serve as a distraction from their full participation in the program. Check with the universities you are interested in to understand their deferral policies and how to navigate the process for requesting one. Don't worry, most universities are in favor of their prospective students taking gap years, and so you shouldn't have a problem retrieving one. However, we do suggest waiting until you have been accepted to a university before requesting a deferral from them. Check out this step-by-step guide on how to navigate deferring enrollment.

We accept all credit cards and checks made out to Habonim Dror North America. If you have further questions about forms of payment, feel free to call our office at 267-908-7005 ext 1.

Below is a suggested packing list. More details will come in the acceptance packet. Bags o 1-2 suitcases. o 3 day backpack (25L) - A must for tiyulim and free weekends o Day bag (smaller) + handbag for whoever wants Basic o Sleeping bag o Towel o Pillow case cover and bed sheets (one set). Travel pillow may be helpful. o Toiletry bag (if you prefer) o A good hat o Bathing suit/swimmers Clothing o Pack everything you need for roughly two weeks – including socks, underwear, bras, shirts, pants, shorts, etc. o Bring as many chultzot tnua (blue movement shirts) as you have o Bring clothing for all occasions: rain or shine, hot or cold, casual or Shabbat o Pajamas (summery and for colder weather) o Raincoat Footwear o Runners/Sneakers o Sandals o Boots o Do not need heels! Poland: WARM CLOTHES! o Water-proof boots o Hat, gloves, scarf o Jacket o Long underwear o Extra layers: sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, warm socks, etc. Other o Diary/notebook o Photocopies of passports and credit cards o Shampoo and conditioner o Laundry bag o Prescription medication for as much of the year as possible o A second pair of glasses. Back-up pairs of contacts. o Sunglasses o Water-bottle/camelback Remember that the less you take is better!! Pack for approximately 2 weeks.

Habonim Dror North America insures each participant for the duration of the program in Israel, which covers basic health care as well as prescriptions and emergency treatment, excluding the major exceptions listed below. Travel expenses for medical covered by our insurance will be reimbursed by the program. At times, a prescription may be heavily subsidized but not fully covered. Parents will be notified immediately in the case of a serious injury. We have worked hard to ensure that our insurance is one of the most comprehensive plans available for non-Israelis, including certain coverage not necessarily offered through other plans: coverage through Clalit Health Services, Israel’s largest network of healthcare facilities, with high quality and accessible medical service anywhere in Israel; continued coverage of medical treatment resulting from an incident in Israel after your return to your home country (if your local insurance does not cover it). Specific information detailing our medical insurance policy and what it includes and excludes is made available to participants and their families once accepted into the program.

Yes, of course! Many participants on Workshop arrive with limited Hebrew skills. The program is tailored to different Hebrew speaking abilities so that even those who do come with some skills are able to learn more. During the first part of Workshop, Shorashim participants will gain some Hebrew skills through Ulpan. The educators on Workshop speak English and Hebrew, and all of the programming on Workshop is in English.