All+You+Need+to+Know

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW** [Updated 1/05/07]
 * [[image:ECECLeve_Israel_Logo_Eagle_People_JPEG.jpg]]

Your accompanying colleagues: Nachama Skolnik Moskowitz (JECC) Lifsa Schachter (Siegal College) Shira Ackerman Simchovitch (JAFI)
 * This leadership trip for** **Cleveland****’s Jewish early childhood educational directors is a joint project of the Mandel Leadership Institute (****Jerusalem****), the Jewish** **Education** **Center** **of** **Cleveland****, and the** **Siegal** **College****.**

Each traveler must pay $250 towards the trip. This is payable to the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland and due to our office by January 15, 2007. An invoice is attached (below) to give to your institution.
 * Your Payment**

This ECE Directors’ trip to Israel represents an investment the community is making in you, the leaders of our early childhood programs. To obtain maximum benefit, there is preparation to do beforehand, and after. This includes meetings and some readings. Please put the following dates on your calendars (all include lunch):
 * Preparation Meetings**
 * Thursday, November 30th 12:30-2:00 (this will be at Siegal College)
 * Tuesday, December 12th 12:30-2:00 (our normal meeting)
 * Tuesday, January 9th 12:30-2:00 (our normal meeting)
 * Thursday, January 25th – 12:30-2:00 (at Siegal – we plan to do our video conference then)

Sunday, February 4, 2007 CO 224 leaving Cleveland at 12:20pm arriving in Newark at 1:52pm CO 84 leaving Newark at 3:50pm arriving in Tel Aviv at 9:15am on Monday, February 5
 * Flights**

Monday, February 12, 2007 CO 91 leaving Tel Aviv at 11:40pm arriving in Newark at 4:45am on Tuesday, February 13 CO 625 leaving Newark at 6:30am arriving in Cleveland at 8:26am

After December 24th, we are LOCKED IN – we lose full ticket prices. **If you wish to extend your trip (go early or leave late), please contact Avy at Elite Travel to make the request (avy@elite-tours.com ).** Tell him that you’re on the JECC’s ECE Directors trip leaving on February 4th. He’ll take care of your changed reservation, yet keep you connected to the group.


 * Hotels**

Jerusalem (February 5 and 8-12) Dan Panorma ([|www.danhotels.com] – look for “Dan Panorama Jerusalem”) 39 Keren Hayesod Street

Beit Shean (February 6 & 7) To be determined

All meals will be covered except two (Thursday night and Saturday night). All food purchased at the airports are the participants responsibility (consider bringing $50 for airport spending cash; this will be too much, but will cover any incidentals).
 * Meals**

There will be a free evening (including dinner) on Thursday, February 8th and Saturday, February 10th. Options for the evenings will be offered, but participants may choose to do what they wish.
 * Open Evenings**

We have a wonderful Shabbat planned for our time in Jerusalem. While we hope that everyone will join us, we are allowing the option for those who wish to visit family or friends in Israel. Generally, on Friday at noon, those traveling may do so. We ask that you return Saturday night. However, we will need you to formally check out of the hotel on Friday morning and then check back in when you return. You may leave your big luggage in the room of someone staying.
 * Open Shabbat**

February’s weather is not as glorious as that in June or July. Expect rain and some blustery wind. Bring clothes you can layer and an all weather coat (raincoat with a warm lining – zip out or not). [Some people swear by ponchos that cover a coat and/or backpack.] An umbrella is also an option. Comfortable shoes are a must - we’ll be walking a number of places! Modest clothing is required for the Kotel and for synagogues. When you pack, allow easy access to your raingear and comfortable walking shoes … our first stop may need them!
 * Clothing**

As you think about how to pack, take into consideration Continental’s allowances, our travel needs, and the probability that you will be bringing back gifts and goodies. __Continental’s Allowances__ __Our Travel Needs__ __Gifts and Goodies!__
 * Packing**
 * Carry-on luggage -- Continental will permit one bag plus one personal item per passenger to be carried on the aircraft. The maximum combined linear measurement (L + W + H) of the carry-on bag is 51 inches (130 cm). The maximum weight of the carry-on bag is 40 pounds. You may also bring one personal article such as a briefcase, purse, day planner, small laptop computer, camera case, compact disk player or similar sized personal entertainment item. About a week before departure, check [|www.continental.com] for any updates on restrictions on items that may be brought (like one quart-size bag of your liquids).
 * Checked luggage -- Two checked bags are also allowed, each with a maximum weight of 50 lbs and maximum of 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) per piece.
 * In your carry-on luggage, pack one set of back-up clothing, toiletries, medicines and valuables, plus whatever you would like for the plane.
 * Make sure that upon landing you have easy access to comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting wet in the rain (or maybe a little muddy) and raingear.
 * Our first night will be in Jerusalem. Then we will be leaving our bigger suitcases at the hotel and traveling to Beit Shean for 2 nights – a smaller piece of luggage would be appropriate for this trip.
 * Our last day will be in Tel Aviv, with an almost midnight flight to Newark. You will be asked to pack so that you have access to whatever you need during the day, as well as your packed carry-on luggage.
 * Hey, it’s Israel! Your family will probably expect at least a little something, and maybe your co-workers would like a peace-offering! ;-) And of course, you deserve a little memento of the occasion.
 * You will also have the option of going to a preschool teachers’ store while in Jerusalem … you might bring something back!

Israel has a different electrical power than we do in the US – theirs is 220 volts, 50 cycles. If you have anything electrical that needs to plug in (a hair blower, a handheld Palm, charger for an iPod, etc.), you should purchase a transformer. You’ll also need an adapter that changes the shape of the plug prongs to fit in Israel’s outlets. These items may be found at a travel store or electronics store (like Radio Shack). Be sure to talk to the sales person about your specific needs for Israel. All that said, our hotel in Jerusalem has a hair blower for your use; feel free to leave yours at home!
 * Electricity and Such**


 * Insurance**
 * A supplementary medical policy will be provided to participants from the Mandel Leadership Institute. This is comprehensive health insurance for you (including hospitalization if necessary) through a company used by Mandel (and many, many other Israel travel programs). However, the policy does not cover care for chronic diseases or pre existing conditions. If you fall into these categories please make arrangements for overseas health coverage through your policy at home.
 * We do NOT cover trip interruption insurance (e.g., you need to return early because of a family issue or you have a medical emergency that delays your return). This is a personal purchase, if you desire. See the link from [][|www.elite-tours.com]www.elite-tours.com. Or, choose a company that fits your needs.
 * We suggest that you contact your executive director, or whomever handles insurance in your school or agency, to make sure that you’ve “dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s” with regard to any other insurance requirements for travel abroad as an agency employee.

All the trip leaders will have a cell phone; participants may provide these numbers to their schools and families to use in case of emergency. Participants may wish to rent their own cell phone. Companies to consider: o TalkNSave – [|www.talknsave.net] o TravelCell – [|www.travelcell.com] o Any other of your choice You may also purchase a calling card from a US company (at Target, CVS, etc) and look up in advance their phone number used to call in to the system from Israel.
 * Phones**

o Travelers checks are no longer as easy to use as they used to be o All major credit cards are accepted (Visa and Mastercard, especially) o A debit card works well (make sure that yours may be used in Israel) – money is provided in //shekels//
 * Money in** **Israel**

There will be a number of times when it is appropriate to bring a hostess gift. Some of these may be a gift from a small group of people if visiting together. o For most of the school visits, the JECC will have a “big book” to present as a thank you (it will be about a "snow day") o In Beit Shean small groups of participants will be having dessert with a gannenet (preschool educator) and then visiting her school the next day. There should be o One nice gift from the group to take to her home o Something from your schools that you’d like to give to their classrooms (photos of your children celebrating Tu Bishvat? Shabbat? Playing in snow?) o If you are visiting with any family or friends, it would be nice to bring a hostess gift, too
 * Hostess Gifts**

Participants will be asked to donate towards a tip for the bus driver. Tipping at the hotel will be at the participant’s discretion.
 * Tips**

You may wish to set up something that helps your children know you are in Israel. We will be creating a wikispace for the group that will have photos posted on almost a daily basis.
 * Keeping Connected With Your Schools**