Living in Israel
Shabbat Hospitality
Each week, Midreshet Rachel places interested students with faculty, alumni, neighbors and friends for Shabbat meals. In this way, students share a wide variety of experiences with families of many different backgrounds.
Community Service
Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya students participate in our Chesed program, as well as being involved in numerous chesed projects around Jerusalem. Our Chesed coordinator works with students to find suitable placements including visiting the elderly, helping single mothers, working with the disabled, and tutoring children with special needs.
Counseling
Several members of the Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya faculty are professionally trained counselors, available to our students should the need arise. In an altogether different light, Darche Noam and Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya have a joint shidduch committee to help both our men and women students. They meet approximately every six to eight weeks.
Passports and Visas
All foreign students are required to hold a valid foreign passport and a student visa (not a tourist visa); and all students who are Israeli citizens are required to hold a valid Israeli identification card (teudat zehut or teudat oleh). The student visa lasts a year and should be attained through the nearest Israeli consulate before travelling to Israel.
You can download forms and detailed requirements from the website of your local Israeli consulate or contact them by phone. You will need an original letter of acceptance from Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya. If you have not yet received one by mail please contact our office.
Important visa information and advice:
* Though you can get a student visa when you get to Israel through the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad Hapnim) it is highly advised to arrange this through the closest Israeli consulate.
* Get your visa early enough so it will be ready before you travel but late enough so it will extend through the duration of the school year.
* It is important that students keep the Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya office advised of their status during the course of their studies.
NEW ENTRY VISA INFORMATION
Please note that the border control has recently changed their procedure for admitting people into the country.
Where as it once was the practice to stamp a passport with a tourist visa, the new practice is to distribute a personalized card with your photo.
You are required to keep this card for the entire duration of your stay in Israel. Please store it in a secure location. This card is the actual visa that you are being issued and misplacing it could have serious consequences. This card is also an essential document which will allow you to gain a student visa and study here beyond the 3 month period you are initially granted as a tourist.
Below is an example of the card you will be issued.
Health Insurance
All students are required to have medical insurance coverage while studying at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya. Comprehensive medical insurance from abroad satisfies this requirement, but under such policies students must pay for all services received in Israel, before being reimbursed by their insurer. Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya is enrolled in a private health insurance plan, Harel, specially devised for overseas students, at a current cost of $1 per day. The minimum insurance term is 3 months. The comprehensive plan covers visits to doctors, both general and specialists registered with Harel, hospitalization, lab. tests, x-rays, medication (up to $200 a year), emergency dental treatment (up to $200 a year), and emergency room treatment (except for road accidents). The plan does not cover pre-existing health conditions or pregnancy and childbirth.
For More Information
Contact Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya or one of our overseas offices, all listed in the contact addresses page. We look forward to hearing from you.