Student Orientation Guide 2014-2015.Pdf

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Sofaer International MBA

ORIENTATION GUIDE CLASS OF 2015

Student Orientation Guide 2014-2015

Produced by the Sofaer International MBA Tel Aviv University Recanati Business School Tel Aviv, Israel

The Student Orientation Guide 2014-2015 is designed to provide general information and in no way constitutes a legal obligation on part of Tel Aviv University. The University reserves the right to change any information contained herein without prior notice.

Disclaimer: The information and guidelines contained with this guide overwrites the TAU International Guide

This guide was last updated on October 7, 2014

Table of contents

About Tel Aviv…………………………………………………………………………… 5 About Tel Aviv University………………………………………………………….. 6 About the Recanati Business School…………………………………………. 6

Part I: Academics Important Dates/Academic Calendar………………………………………. 7 Your Student Portal………………………………………………………………….. 7 Academic Tracks…...... 8 MBA Semester-Exchange Program...... 9

Part II: Student Clubs & Forums

Student Clubs & Forums...... 10

Part III: Important Student Information Getting to the University...... 12 Security in Israel & Identification...... 12 Student Services from the Student Union………...... 13 Student Card Information…………………………………………………………. 13 Computer Services...... 14 Important Websites...... 17 Printing and Photocopying on Campus, Libraries...... 17 TAU's Writing Center...... 20 Extracurricular Activities………...... 22

Part IV: Tel Aviv & Israel Survival Guide

What to Pack...... 23 Health Insurance...... 25 Student Visas……………………………………………………………………….…… 25 Arriving In Israel...... 25 Local Taxi Service/ Driving in Israel………………………………..…………. 26 Nightlife, Transportation Websites...... 26 Housing……………………………………………………..……………………………... 27 Banks...... 29 Groceries, Laundry, Post Office...... 29 Movie Theaters, Shopping………………………………………………………… 30 Emergency Care & Important Numbers……………………………………. 31 Dialing Internationally ...... 31

Part V: Israeli Holidays

Holidays in Israel...... 32

Dear Class of 2015,

Welcome to the Sofaer International MBA program!

Your year ahead promises to be an intensive and exciting one! The Sofaer IMBA’s curriculum consists of academic courses, site-visits, workshops, career management sessions, tours and an international trip packed into 11 months. It's going to get a little hectic at times, but we know that you will succeed.

This booklet was designed to provide you with relevant information for the onset of your IMBA experience.

Bear in mind that some of this information may be more or less relevant to you depending on your previous experiences. If you do not happen to find an answer to a pressing question or concern of yours please do not hesitate to be in touch with us.

This booklet will also be uploaded onto the Class of 2015 Student Portal (accessible under "Students" on the IMBA Website).

Looking forward to meeting you soon, and happy reading!

Sincerely, The Sofaer IMBA Team

About Tel Aviv Tel Aviv recently celebrated its centennial, having been founded during the Ottoman Empire in 1909. The first modern Hebrew-speaking city, the name "Tel Aviv" is derived from the Hebrew world "Tel," an archaeological term for an area where you can see the stratum on old cities built upon one another, and the word "Aviv" which means spring. The name is meant to represent the idea of “a rebirth.”

Just south of Tel Aviv is the city of Jaffa – a city whose foundations date farther back than Jerusalem and hosts the oldest operating port in the word. In the early 1900’s a group of Jewish Jaffa residents chose to leave the city of Jaffa to establish a new residential neighborhood just outside the city’s boards. This area turned into the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv.

With the influx of Jewish immigrants from Europe between the years 1924-1939, Tel Aviv became Israel’s major center of commerce, culture and arts. In 1950, Tel Aviv and Jaffa merged into one municipality – today known as Tel Aviv – Jaffo.

The Tel Aviv of today has maintained its distinction as the cultural and economic hub of the country. In addition, the city boasts a plethora of restaurants, beaches, museums, movie theaters, outdoor cafes, fruit juice stands, boutique shops, bars and clubs. This combination has attracted the nation’s youth and young professional crowd in droves. It has also earned the city the reputation of Israel’s non-stop city and one of the party highlights of the Mediterranean.

Tel Aviv and surrounding areas (known as Gush Dan) are composed of approximately 2.5 million people, which is about one third of Israel's population. While the actual population within the city’s limits is around 350,000, over one million people visit the Tel Aviv daily.

We hope you like living in this exciting city for your year of study and encourage you to get out of the classroom and campus as much as possible to discover and enjoy (while keeping a focus on your studies of course!).

Did you know? Tel Aviv is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

"The White City"

Tel Aviv is home to over 5000 Bauhaus buildings- the largest concentration per city in the world. In recent years the city is undergoing a massive reconstruction and preservation effort, which has earned it the status of a world heritage site by UNESCO. Take a tour of the buildings at the Bauhaus Center: http://www.bauhaus-center.com/

About Tel Aviv University (TAU) From London and Los Angeles to Berlin and Beijing, Cape Town and Calcutta to São Paulo and Sydney, knowledge-seekers of all ages, cultural and educational backgrounds are studying at Tel Aviv University. Drawn to its culture of openness, knowledge and innovation, students immerse themselves in TAU's bustling marketplace of ideas - and enjoy the social and cultural experiences of living in one the world’s most exciting cities.

Tel Aviv University is a major center of teaching and research and is composed of nine faculties, 106 departments, and 90 research institutes. There are currently around 29,000 students studying at the university in various degree programs.

Additionally, Tel Aviv University currently offers a rich selection of English-taught undergraduate and graduate degrees, in addition to dynamic study abroad, summer and intensive language programs. TAU International’s offerings cater to a wide-range of interests, and combine academic vigor with real-world professional expertise in the form of internships, lectures and workshops with some of Israel's leading experts in their respective fields.

As Israel’s largest and most comprehensive university, TAU is the ideal place for foreign students seeking to further their higher education in the most vibrant and free city in the Middle East. TAU consistently ranks in the world’s top 100 universities, particularly in terms of citation impact and research output. The University is also the #1 choice for Israeli students – testifying to its unmatched reputation in Israel.

Web: english.tau.ac.il

About the Recanati Business School The Recanati Business School is the top business school in Israel and the only Israeli academic institution to be awarded the international accreditation of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). With over 10 programs of study, the Recanati Business School prepares its students for leading positions in business and public institutions in various sectors of the Israeli and international economy.

The Sofaer International MBA is the only one-year, full-time program offered by Recanati. Other master or executive programs include:

 Kellogg-Recanati Executive MBA (EMBA, conducted in English)  Flagship MBA program (MBA)  Master of Science in Management (M.Sc)  MBA Specializing in Financial Management (MBA, for CPA’s only)  Master of Science Specializing in Organizational Consulting (M.Sc)  MBA Specializing in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and High Tech Management (MBA)  Recanati Executive MBA (EMBA)

Web: recanati.tau.ac.il

Part I: Academics

Academic Calendar 2014-2015 *Calendar subject to change Prerequisite Courses Math – July 31 to Aug 4, 2014 Finance with Excel – Sep 9 to 12, 2014 Statistics - Sep 14 to 17, 2014 Orientation Week Aug 19 to 23, 2014 Module 1 Oct 26 to Dec 4, 2014 Review & Exam Period Dec 7 to 19, 2014 Chanukah Holiday (no regular classes) December 21, 2014 Module 2 Dec 22, 2014 to Jan 29, 2015 Review & Exam Period Feb 1 to 8, 2015 Conducting Business in India Feb 12 to 20, 2015 (International Study Tour) Module 3 March 1 to April 21, 2015 Purim Holiday March 5, 2015 Passover Break April 1 to 11, 2015 Remembrance Day Holiday April 22, 2015 Independence Day Holiday April 23, 2015 Review & Exam Period April 26 to May 7, 2015 Module 4 May 10 to June 18, 2015 Shavuot Holiday (no classes) May 24, 2015 Review & Exam Period June 21 to July 3, 2015 Module 5 July 12 to August 13, 2015 Tisha B’Av Holiday (no classes) July 26, 2014 Review & Exam Period TBA End of Year Ceremony August 13, 2015

Student Portal

This website is your resource for all administrative and career related information relevant to you throughout your year. Via this portal you can review courses, register for classes, and access all career materials including important resources and the Recanati Job Board.

To access your Student Portal, you must enter your Tel Aviv University account information.

Curriculum As a student in the Sofaer International MBA, you have access to a wide-variety of courses both in and outside the Sofaer IMBA curriculum. These include courses taught (both in English and Hebrew) in Recanati's various MBA programs and in Tel Aviv University's multiple international MA programs. Please note, unless listed in one of Sofaer's Academic Tracks, students must receive permission to take courses outside of the Recanati Business School.

2014-15 courses are outlined on your Student Portal.

Academic Tracks Sofaer International MBA Tracks are academic concentrations that allow students to focus on an area of interest both academically and professionally. Tracks can combine Sofaer IMBA courses with courses from the Recanati Business School, other Faculties at Tel Aviv University, and courses students complete on exchange.

To successfully complete a Track, students must take a pre-defined amount of elective credits in each track concentration. Courses that students complete abroad must be submitted for approval. Select Tracks may also require certain "core" courses. Course and credit requirements can vary between Tracks.

Sofaer IMBA students can complete up to two Tracks during the course of their studies.

Track-Related Internship Students have the opportunity to partake in a Track-related internship for credit (as part of the IMBA Academic Internship Program). For the internship to qualify towards a Track, the scope of the internship must fall directly within the Track's area of relevancy.

Venture Building Students developing their own business or startup have the opportunity to pursue their venture for credit. Venture Building credit can be applied towards one Track.

*Note, students cannot receive academic credit for both an internship and Venture Building

2014/15 Tracks  Entrepreneurship  Finance  Marketing  Strategy  Sustainability in Business

Track Conditions  Track qualified-courses can overlap between Tracks  Tracks that include courses from multiple programs may have course-times that conflict.  Students are advised to preemptively coordinate courses with their Program Coordinator  Students are encouraged to discuss track concentrations with their Career Management Advisor, especially as students career focus becomes clearer over the course of their year  Students are ultimately responsible for ensuring they meet course prerequisites before enrollment.  Track-specific courses are subject to change from year to year

Language Courses Sofaer International MBA students have the opportunity to enroll in Hebrew language courses during the program. Note: MASA grant recipients are required to take Hebrew.

Various language courses are offered by Tel Aviv University’s Division of Foreign Languages and TAU International. Please note that language courses will not count for academic credit and most courses are conducted in the given language and Hebrew.

MBA Semester-Exchange Program By participating in the IMBA Student Exchange program, Sofaer IMBA students can add a high-impact additional global dimension to their MBA experience. IMBA students are encouraged to select schools based on the relevancy of the school’s academic strengths and geographic location to their personal career plan.

Students generally participate in exchange during the 5th module (July-August) of the IMBA program. However, depending on the host-school's academic schedule, participating students start a fall semester abroad (September to December), thus extending their length of study from 1 year to 1.5 years.

The IMBA program enjoys 70+ academic partnerships around the world. Past destinations of Sofaer IMBA student-exchange include:

Brandeis University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA University of British Colombia, Vancouver, Canada Beijing University, Beijing, China Booth School of Business, University of Chicago Duke University, Durham, USA Emory University, Atlanta, USA ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain ESSEC Business School, France Fundacao Getulios Vargas (FGV), Sao Paulo, Brazil Melbourne Business School, Melbourne, Australia Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India HEC, Paris, France Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark National University of Singapore, Singapore Bocconi, Milan, Italy Schulich School of Business, University of Toronto, Canada Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria

Eligibility & Application Process To participate in exchange, students must first apply to the Recanati Exchange Program and meet all program requirements. Accepted students then apply to 2 to 4 schools based on such criteria as school specialty, geographic location and entry requirements. Every year approximately 1/4 of Sofaer IMBA students participate in the exchange program.

The Sofaer IMBA Exchange application process opens in February.

Web: https://en-recanati.tau.ac.il/exchange-outgoing-students

Part II: Student Clubs & Forums

MIT Enterprise Forum Israel The Recanati Business School is proud to host the Israeli chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum. The MIT Enterprise Forum of Israel is a global non-profit organization (started at MIT in 1978) dedicated to promoting the growth and success of high-tech entrepreneurial ventures by connecting ideas, technology and people. The mission of the MIT Forum is to organize conferences, workshops, consultation programs and other activities where entrepreneurs, industry experts, investors and technologists exchange insights about how to effectively grow high-tech ventures while adapting to dynamic market risks and overcoming challenges. The Forum provides an excellent opportunity for networking and catching-up on the latest technologies, emerging industries and business issues. Web: http://www.mit-forum.org.il

The Institute for Business, Environment and Society Established at Tel Aviv University in 2007, the Institute for Business, Environment and Society is the first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary institute in Israel, and serves as a meeting point between academia, the business world and the public in addressing the sustainability challenge. Web: http://en-environment.tau.ac.il/Institute_for_Business_Environment_and_Society

StarTAU – Tel Aviv University’s Entrepreneurship Center StarTau’s mission is to provide entrepreneurs and students of entrepreneurship with the practical and professional guidance they need to start a successful business venture. We offer our clients mentorship programs, classroom experience, and key networking and business resources. StarTAU also link private sector entrepreneurs, angels, VCs and companies to the academic and public sector. StarTAU’s team focuses on assisting in all parts of their business ventures: business development, marketing, legal advice, and many more. Web: http://en.startau.co.il

IsraelDev Network The IsraelDev Network is an entrepreneurial community rooted in Tel Aviv University working to develop a nationwide ecosystem that harnesses Israeli innovation for solving challenges in the developing world. By hosting lectures, hackathons, networking events, pitch-nights, meetups, conferences and retreats, IsraelDev seeks to stimulate dialogue and action around issues of global poverty and sustainable economic development. Web: http://www.israeldev.org

Net Impact Tel Aviv University is home to the first Israeli chapter of the international organization Net Impact. Net Impact is a student led community of over 30,000 members worldwide who care about sustainability and using their jobs to make an impact that benefits not just profit, but people and planet too.

Recanati's Investor Club Established at the initiative of Recanati students and alumni, the Recanti Investment Club is for students interested in investments, portfolio management, and working in the financial sector. Together with Recanati students, club members listen to lectures by experts in the field, build a virtual investment portfolio, and keep abreast of the latest industry trends.

Recanati’s Mobile Applications Forum This forum introduces experts and new tendencies in the field of mobile application as part of a joint initiative of the Alumni Association, alumni and students from the MBA in Management of Technology, Entrepreneurship and Innovation program. The RMAF is aimed at businesspeople, entrepreneurs, managers, marketers and product developers seeking to expand their knowledge of the mobile applications world and the Israeli high-tech industry. Further details: https://ien-recanati.tau.ac.il/alumni-clubs

Understanding Business in China The series was initiated by the Recanati Alumni Association together with alumna Ms. Iris Arbel, (MBA, 1997), an economic adviser to local governments in China, previously CEO of Kardan Water and former Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of Israel in Beijing. The program targets Recanati alumni, graduate students and friends of the school - all businesspeople, founders, and top managers in export and import companies who strive, on a daily basis, to understand the complex Chinese market, penetrate it, and of course, succeed in it. Further details: https://ien-recanati.tau.ac.il/alumni-clubs

Managing a Project Portfolio and Project Managers Initiated by the Recanati Alumni Association together with alumna Galit Yaskerevitz-Tietz, PMP, (Management, 1995 cum laude, and MBA, 2000), the series is aimed at project-managing executives (VPs of Development, Delivery Managers, CIOs, and others) who wish to evaluated the close relationship between project results and organizational performance, to understand how they might better employ the limited organizational resources to advance organizational goals through structured project management and to realize whether they are optimally managing projects given the frequent changes transpiring in their organizations. The keynote speaker of the first meeting was Mr. Ofer Segev, CEO of Ness Technologies. Further details: https://ien-recanati.tau.ac.il/alumni-clubs

Part III: Important Student Information

Getting to the University By Bus: The Dan bus company runs a number of buses to the university from Tel Aviv. Buses 13, 24, 25, and 127 are the most convenient bus lines for students coming from Central Tel Aviv.

Once the official school year begins after the Sukkot holiday, you will have the chance to purchase a "Rav Kav" bus pass with a significant student discount. To purchase you must have your student card. Further details will be provided at Orientation.

By Train: The university train station in Tel Aviv (called Tel Aviv University) is located approximately 15 minutes by foot from the Recanati Business School. During the academic school year there is a shuttle (bus 27) that runs between the station and the university. You can catch it just outside the main gates.

By Car: Parking can be difficult to find and/or costly during peak periods. Every year there is annual lottery for parking passes on campus. You can sign up for the lottery at the Student Union tent during the first week of school. If you don't win a permit, students can park in lots surrounding the campus (the closest is outside Gate 5 on George Weiss St.). There is also a 50% discount for students/residents of Tel Aviv in these lots.

Parking Passes can also be purchased through the Student Union

o “Limudei Hootz” – 135 NIS o “Hagan Habotani” – 120 NIS o “Refoo’at Shinaim” – 100 NIS o “George Wise” – 100 NIS o “Beit Hamagnet” – 110 NIS o “Darom” – 45 NIS o “Smolarz” – 100 NIS (10x) **

** You can purchase an electronic smartcard to park in Smolarz. The card itself costs 7 NIS. The card can be filled to an unlimited amount. Parking is 2.50 NIS/hour or 10 NIS/day.

Additionally, you can purchase passes for “blue and white” parking valid for use in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. The card costs 4.70 NIS per card for non-Tel Aviv residents and 2.50 NIS for Tel Aviv residents. Parking at blue/white is free until 3 pm on the west side of Levanon St. Parking is difficult to find after 8 am.

Security in Israel & Identification Security is a part of everyday life in Israel and an ongoing concern. Over the last 5 years, there has been a relative calm; however, precautionary measures are still maintained in some public areas including mall, bus stations, and the university. For example, most likely Tel Aviv University security will ask you to open your bags every time you enter the university. Please understand that this is an important precautionary measure. Students must carry some form of photo identification on them at all times. For foreigners, you may want to also carry a photocopy of the first page of your passport.

Please feel free to connect with us about this if you want to discuss this in further detail before your arrival.

Student Services from the Student Union As a student in the Sofaer IMBA program, you are automatically a member of the Student Union. In turn, this automatically gives you a number of discounts and services as outlined in this section.

1. Sales and Discounts at the Student Union  Parking passes to parking lots around campus and blue and white areas  “Rav Tav” and “Tav Hazahav” coupons – gift certificates for leading grocery stores at a 13.5% discount  Coupons valid for 20% at all Fox stores  Discounted cards for photocopying machines  Receiving and sending faxes (also abroad)  Student discount on tickets to concerts, plays, white nights and other special events  Discount coupons for meals in campus cafeterias  Discount on ink cartridges  Coupons for select spas and “tzimerim” (small cottages)  Coupons for discounts at select cafes and restaurants

2. Proofreading Services The Division for Academic Issues offers proofreading services provided by second year and above students at the university.

Students who are interested in this service should approach to the student counter to fill out a request form. The coordination between the proofreader and student is provided by the Division. This service is provided for a subsidized service fee by the Student Authority.

Web: www.student.co.il/academic Tel: 03-640-7648

Accessibility on Campus for the Physically Disabled Please report any difficulties in accessibility on campus to the Student Union. Students who are ready to help promote accessibility on campus are welcome to contact us.

Financial Consulting Tax refund assistance for workers. Tax consultations for self-employed. Financial issues consultations. Labor Law. General economic consulting. For all of these services please refer to the account of the Student Union. For more information: www.student.co.il/finance

Legal Consulting General legal consulting is provided by Adv. Ran Shoval on a variety of issues from workplace issues, work contracts, worker rights, compensation, personal status, and rental leases-- including help in preparing law suits and personal guidance.

Defense counsel in university disciplinary trials: advanced law students will provide help on a variety of issues concerning disciplinary procedures such as academic committees. The defense counsel also represents students facing a disciplinary trial within the university.

Student Card Information You will be receiving your student card within the first two weeks of the school year.

Computer Services

TAU Email Account Students will receive a Tel Aviv University email account whose address will be mailed to them at the beginning of the school year. Along with your email address, you will receive a password and pin number. Students should change their password immediately.

The rules for changing your password and site to change your password can be found at this link: https://www.tau.ac.il/passwd/

Additionally, every 6 months, students will receive an email asking them to change their password. You must change your password otherwise you will be locked out of the system until your password is reset by Virtual TAU.

Login Information Your username is what appears before the @mail.tau.ac.il of your email address eg. Julia Mor [email protected] username = juliam

Moodle Moodle is the online course site that Tel Aviv University uses to keep in touch with students while also providing important course information (though not all professors will use the site).

To login: http://moodle.tau.ac.il/?lang=en

 Click on “English” at the right part of the screen.  Click on "Login" and enter in your information.

You will see all your courses in the bottom part of the screen, including updates from each course.

To access information from a specific course, click on the specific course in the list.

If you encounter any problems in using Moodle, you can contact the helpdesk directly from the Moodle home page: click "Support (International Students)" on the right-hand side. If things are still not clear, you can ask other students or the professor, and of course you can always ask us!

Central Disk Space on the Computing Division's Servers The Computing Division allocates disk space on its servers for the use of every student of the university. The allocation is for e-mail (mail quota) and for saving files and running scientific software on the UNIX central servers (home directory).

Access to this home directory is possible by: Web Browser and desktop

To see your mail and home quotas and your usage go to: http://www.tau.ac.il/cc/quota/.

You should identify yourself by username and password ( see computer account ) and then you will see the following information:

 Account name (username)  Home directory (the path of the directory of the user in the main disk).  Current usage and the original allocation of the Home directory.  Current usage and the original allocation of the e-mail inbox.

Comment: A user can save files and incoming e-mail in the home directory. Also, copies of outgoing mail are saved in the home directory (according to the mail software). For example, while using Webmail, the copies of outgoing mail are saved in the folder: sent-mail, in the user's home directory.

It is important to not exceed the quota! You should check your usage of disk space, delete files and read your e-mail.

If you exceed the quota of the home-directory, you will not be able to save more files and each file editing will destroy the file. Also you will not be able to run any software on the UNIX machines

If you exceed the mail quota, you will receive a warning message and if you don't clean some space, your inbox will be moved. For instructions concerning sent-mail maintenance when working with webmail look at: FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) in the website of the Computing Division http://www.tau.ac.il/cc/.

Help For help, turn to the coordinator of your faculty or send e-mail to the helpdesk in the Computing Division [email protected], Tel: 03-640 8888

Computer Rooms in Recanati The Recanati Business School maintains three computer labs (named in memory of Yolanda and David Katz). Two of the labs are used mainly for teaching purposes and one is for general use, altogether providing approximately 100 top-of-the-line personal computers running a wide range of software packages on different platforms (e.g. Microsoft Terminal Server).

A laser printer is also available for printing documents, against credit card payment. The labs are manned at all times by technicians who are there to advise and help the students on computing issues.

Hours of Operation: Sunday - Thursday: 8:00-21:30 Friday: 08:00-12:45 During holidays there may be changes in the opening hours. Changes will be published on the faculty's computer services website

The lab phone number is: 03-6407388

More information about the faculty's computer services can be found here: http://recanati.tau.ac.il/Eng/?CategoryID=344

Wireless set-up on campus For Hebrew instructions, please follow the link. All the windows and the menus are in English, so you can have a look at it even if you don’t read Hebrew: http://www.tau.ac.il/cc/helpdesk/glisha/wireless/wireless.html

 Open the “Start” menu at the bottom of the screen  Choose “Settings”  Choose “Network connections”  Press the right button on “Wireless network connection…” (two connected computers)  Choose “Properties”  Choose the “Wireless network” divider  Mark √ at “Use windows to configure my wireless network settings”  Click on “View wireless networks”

 Choose “Public-TAU” as the wireless network and click on “Connect”  Write “publictau” at the network key and then write it again to confirm  Click on “OK”  Wait for this phase to end and close the window  When you open your browser (explorer, netscape etc.) you will be asked to enter your username and password. If you cannot set up your computer, please contact the Internet Help Desk at 03-640-7388 or visit the computer lab.

Web Support Recanati students can create and maintain a personal website as part of the services to which they are entitled from the Tel Aviv University Information Technology and Computing Division. These sites are meant to be used only for educational and research purposes.

Information about how to create and update a homepage can be found here.

Links to information about HTML, web design, web graphics, etc. can be found here:

HTML

 HTML Code Tutorial  W3C's home page for HTML  Sizzling HTML Jalfrezi  HTML Goodies  W3Schools

Images and Colors:

 Non-dithering Colors

JavaScript:

 The JavaScript Source  Website Abstraction  Core JavaScript 1.5 Guide

Important Computing

Reading your emails https://webmail.tau.ac.il/horde/imp/index.php Retrieve your PIN https://www.ims.tau.ac.il/Tal/Utils/Get_Kod.asp Computer FAQ's http://recanati.tau.ac.il/Eng/?CategoryID=348 Checking your grades online http://recanati.tau.ac.il/Eng/?CategoryID=348

Important Websites

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv University's main page in http://www.tau.ac.il/index-eng.html University's English includes many important links Website for you. The menu on the top of the page http://www.tau.ac.il/about-eng.html includes: About TAU, Academic Units, Research, Prospective Students, and Libraries Student Grade List https://www.ims.tau.ac.il/Tal/Login_en g.aspx

Sofaer IMBA Via "Students" you can access your https://ien- Student Portal student portal. Here you can refer to the recanati.tau.ac.il/imba/studentportal course catalogue, tracks, and more.

Recanati http://recanati.tau.ac.il/Eng/?CategoryI Alumni Site D=284&ArticleID=1578 Student Union http://www.student.co.il/?CategoryID= 643 TAU TAU International provides student http://international.tau.ac.il International services such as tuition collection, Website student cards (in the event your card is lost or stolen) and student trips. Moodle Here you can access your course http://moodle.tau.ac.il/my materials as well as receive notifications about course updates. Social Sciences In addition to all the library resources, http://www.soclib.tau.ac.il/index_en.a Library students can sign up for group study sp rooms.

Printing and Photocopying on Campus Students can print in the computer labs in the Recanati building. Additionally, students can purchase a special card for printing or copying from the student union. The cards costs 10 NIS, and comes already loaded with 7 NIS worth of printing or copying for the value of 7 NIS. Copying costs 0.16 and printing is 0.21. You can also use your personal credit card; however it will cost you premium. Photocopy machines are located on floor 0.

We do recommend purchasing a printer for your year as a student.

Libraries Tel Aviv University Libraries: http://www.tau.ac.il/libraries-eng.html

The main library at Tel Aviv University is the Sourasky Central Library (http://www.cenlib.tau.ac.il). It is located in the center of campus next to Beth Hatefutsoth (The Diaspora Museum) and facing The Gilman Building. The Gilman Building is located next to the Recanati Building.

Electronic Library Resources Electronic library resources, such as electronic data bases and electronic journals, are accessible to the university's community only (staff and students). The resources are available:

1. Inside the university's network: If you are inside the university's network click for instructions: dial-in configuration and proxy definition.

2. Outside the university's network. If your computer is connected to the internet via an internet provider which is NOT Tel-Aviv University and you wish to access the electronic library resources, you must configure the university's proxy in a special way.

Click for Instructions for proxy configuration.

In this case, the user must identify his/herself by: username. For info about the username see: computer account

Help For help, turn to the coordinator of Recanati or turn to the helpdesk: https://helpdesk.tau.ac.il, Tel: 03 640 8888

Proxy Server A proxy server is a server that sits between a client application, such as a web browser, and a real server. It intercepts all requests to the real server to see if it can fulfill the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the real server.

TAU's Writing Center The Writing Center is located right on Campus in the Webb Building. They offer one-on-one tutoring sessions in writing, reading and speaking in English. Whether English is your second language or if you just want to improve your skills, the Writing Center will pair you with professional, experienced tutors.

You can schedule an appointment through their online system at http://monbroido.wix.com/writing- center#!scheduler/ctzx

Each session is 45 or 90 minutes long, depending on your needs. It costs 60 shekels per 45 minute session (120 shekels for a 90 minute session) and payments are made via credit card. For more information you can visit their website: http://monbroido.wix.com/writing-center#!about/cjn9

Texbooks & Course Materials The Sofaer IMBA program provides students all required course material. There are circumstances where you may need to buy a book if you take a class out of the faculty, in the Hebrew MBA, etc.

Books and school supplies can be purchased at Office Depot/Dyonon which is located in the square at the main gates of the University (the corner of Einstein and Levanon).

Students taking classes in the Hebrew MBA or other programs might also need to purchase readers from Safrut Zola (Hebrew for Pulp Fiction). Safut Zola is located down an alleyway next to Office Depot.

Psychological Services Psychological services in English are available for international students. To make an appointment, please contact Ms. Lena Arbiv, secretary of the university's psychological services, 03 640 8505 or [email protected].

Their offices are located in the Mitchell Building, room 216. Psychological services are strictly confidential by law. Office hours are Sundays-Thursdays from 8:30am to 2:30pm.

Once you contact the psychological services and complete the initial process, you can contact the psychologist directly to arrange an appointment: Dr. Alexandra Rafaeli: 052 671 0409, [email protected].

Meetings take place in Carter Building, room 303.

Students should call during office hours to book an appointment and are advised to leave messages on the answering machine if the office is closed.

Sexual Harassment or Violence Support In the event that discrimination, harassment, or other conflicts arise, please contact the TAU International office located in the Carter Building on campus. In addition, a student services hotline has been established to handle psychological counseling and crisis. This hotline runs from 6:00pm to 10:00pm nightly. Tel: 03-640-5352

Where to Eat on Campus There are many great places to eat on campus. Every cafeteria on campus is Kosher. We've outlined the best places for you in this chart below. Also to keep in mind: most of the dining courts have Wifi and often you can get discount coupons from the student union for the various cafeterias.

Name Location Type of Food Sharet building Behind the Recanati building McDonalds, Vegetarian food King George In the square outside of the main Wide selection of food, including pastas, gates meats and fish at a variety of prices. Aroma In the Diaspora Building Dairy, sandwiches, salads, great iced coffee, pastries Webb Building A short walk away from the Diaspora Sbarro, Traditional Israeli food Building Gilman Building The building next to Recanati. Walk Traditional cafeteria out the front door and turn right Naftali Building Next to gate 5. It's a tall building with Traditional cafeteria (salads are the university's logo on top recommended!)

University Gym & Staying Active To join the gym on campus students should visit the registration building of the Elite Sports Centre. Students receive a discount on yearly passes. Keep in mind that the passes are only sold at the beginning of the year.

Tel Aviv has its own version of Central Park-- Park Hayarkon. The park is Tel Aviv’s largest public park and is within walking distance of the university.

Features include extensive picnicking areas, gardens, a man-made lake, bicycle path along the Yarkon River, boats for hire, a small children’s zoo, and more.

To reach the park, walk towards the University Railway Station on the campus’s southeastern side. Cross Rokach Boulevard, then turn left, and enter the grounds beyond the parking lot. In the park or close-by you will also find the following:

 Sportek, the Park Hayarkon sports center, tel 03-642-2828, 03-6990307  Meimadion Water Park in Park Hayarkon (summer only), tel. 03-6422777.  Tsapari Park in Park Hayarkon – Houses several species of exotic birds in a beautiful tropical garden setting, tel. 03-6422888.  Minigolf, 56 Rokach Boulevard at the corner of Haifa Road, Ramat Aviv, tel.03-6990229

Other Local Attractions

 Bowling Tel Aviv, 124 Ibn Gvirol St., Floor -3, Tel Aviv, tel. 5231222, 5237004/5.  The Safari Park – Spacious safari park with zoo and petting corner, Ramat Gan, tel. 6312181.  Israel Tennis Center, Ramat Hasharon, tel. 6456666.

Beaches Tel Aviv has great public beaches with changing rooms, restrooms and cafes right on the sand. Beach chairs and parasols are available for a small fee. For more information, including directions, please visit the following link: http://www.tel-aviv-insider.com/beaches-north.php.

Part IV: Tel Aviv & Israel Survival Guide

What to Pack? For School: In general, Israel is a very casual place. Business attire is really just starting to become the norm for day-to-day time at the office and most Israeli’s still won’t wear a tie to an important meeting. Combine this attitude with a very hot and humid summer climate and you get a relatively casual professional atmosphere.

At the same time, to quote the American Boy Scouts, "be prepared". During certain Career Management sessions, site visits, case competitions, conferences, and networking events, students will be asked to dress in formal business attire.

Some recommended items:  Computer bag/backpack (we do not have lockers on campus)  Professional bag for meetings or professional site visits(purse/briefcase)  Appropriate shoes (flip-flops are not business-casual or business attire!)

For Play: Overall you should pack lots of light clothing for the fall/summer/spring (including your bathing suit!). Winter in Tel Aviv (if it's a good winter) is rainy, so make sure to pack an umbrella, a waterproof jacket and shoes in addition to your warm clothes. Since most houses are not well insulated in Israel, it should be noted that December through February can be quite chilly outside as well as inside.

We also recommend you bring a few nice “dress up” items for cocktails, parties, clubs etc… (you are in Tel Aviv after all).

Some recommended items:  Camera  Sunglasses (a must!)  Sandals (flip-flops are allowed here!)  Sun block (it exists in Israel, but your favorite brand may not)

For the Outdoors: Israelis in general are very outdoor-oriented. Throughout Israel are thousands of hiking trails, hundreds of places to go camping, and many places for swimming, horseback riding, ATV’ing, and (even) skiing!. Although you can buy much of your outdoor equipment in Israel, it’s recommended to bring your favorite equipment with you.

Some recommended items:  Sleeping Bag  Hiking boots/shoes/sandals  Tent  Compass  Hat

Electricity Outlets

Israel's electrical current is 220v, 50 cycles. Students are advised to make sure they have the required adaptors and transformers for their laptops and other electrical appliances before their arrival.

Computer Requirement All students in the program are required to have a laptop with up to date Microsoft software. Use of Excel 2007/2010 is crucial in many classes. If you have an Apple computer, you will have to run Windows on it concurrently. The Excel version for Apple computers will not be sufficient.

Cell Phone Rental The Sofaer IMBA program has a special rate with IsraelPhones for cell phone rentals (form to be posted on the portal soon). Other options for cell phone use is Israel is to purchase a SIM card for your phone and either use "pay-as-you-go" or sign up for a contract with a local provider (Cellcom, Orange, and Pelephone are the largest providers; Rami Levy, Hot Mobile and Golan Telecom are new providers).

Health Suggestions As when visiting any foreign country, there are often some adjustments your body will need to make to the new environment. Newcomers to Israel may suffer from an initial sensitivity to tap water, and at the same time visitors should also be acutely aware of the high risk of dehydration, especially during the summer months. Bottled water is recommended for those with sensitive stomachs, especially at the beginning of your stay in Israel.

The sun in Israel is extremely strong-- much stronger than in many other colder countries. When you arrive Israel will be HOT. If you plan on being outside for even 20 minutes, you should wear some form of sun protection. If you plan on being at the beach all day, you will need to reapply regularly. It is also recommended to wear a hat.

Student should also consult with their family doctor regarding any additional medical recommendations, such as vaccinations or equivalents of prescription drugs. Students may even want to consider bringing a year’s supply of medication. Please keep in mind that while many drugs can be over the counter in your home country, it will not necessarily be the case here.

Health Insurance As an international student you will receive health insurance through Harel Health Insurance Company (Clalit HMO). For more information about the specific details of the plan, please see a detailed outline on the TAU International website: http://international.tau.ac.il/newly-admitted- students/pre-departure-information/health-insurance.html

Student Visas To apply for a student visa please contact your local Israeli Consulate or Embassy. Many embassies/consulates will require an acceptance letter and proof of a return ticket. In most cases the official letter of acceptance you received attached to your acceptance email should work fine. If not, please be in touch with your Program Coordinator.

Depending on your country of citizenship, you may have the option to apply for a student visa once in Tel Aviv. However, it is strongly recommended to apply in your local Israeli Consulate or Embassy prior to your arrival. For more information about what documents you will need to begin the process here please refer to the details below.

Additionally, you can also contact Stav Livne at the TAU International Office Contact Info: +972 (0) 3 640 7563, [email protected]

If you choose to apply for a student visa in Israel, students are advised to begin immediately after arriving. You will enter the country with a three-month tourist visa. The student visa application process can be lengthy, so get going early.

Arriving in Israel Welcome to Israel! You have just landed at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, Israel. You might immediately notice the humidity, the noisy and busy airport, and the sound of people speaking a very foreign language! The national languages in Israel are Hebrew and Arabic, but don't worry, there are people here from all over the world. More often than not people will speak English and will be happy to help you if you have any questions.

Getting to Tel Aviv from the Airport Upon your arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport there are 2 different ways you can get to Tel Aviv

Train: From the arrival hall follow the signs to the train station which is located in the airport on Level S of the Landside Building. Train tickets can be purchased through automated ticket dispensers and cost 15 NIS one way.

For information on schedules and fares call Israel Railways Information Service, 03-6117000 or *5770 from any cellular phone. You can also look up schedules on the Israel Railways website: http://www.rail.co.il/EN/Pages/HomePage.aspx

Taxi: Just outside the arrivals hall is the taxi cue. There is a flat fare for Tel Aviv of approximately 120 - 130 NIS (This price will be higher on Friday night or Saturday). If you ask a taxi driver to turn on the meter, they are required by law to do so. If they claim the meter is broken, get a new taxi.

Take into account that if you arrive on Shabbat (Sabbath, which is nationally observed)--after sundown on Friday or on Saturday before sunset there is almost no public transportation. In general, trains run up to an hour before sundown on Friday, and begin again on Saturday night approximately an hour after sunset.

If you plan on arriving during Shabbat, your only option is to take a taxi or have a friend/family member pick you up.

Local Taxi Service Castel Taxi: 03-694242/ 03-6993322 GetTaxi application (for Android, iPhone, Symbian and Blackberry users): http://www.gettaxi.co.il/?country=IS&locale=en

We recommend always using the meter as opposed to a fixed rate. Tipping is not customary.

Driving in Israel Students holding a valid foreign driver's license should be able to rent and drive cars in Israel. Many rental companies are located on Hayarkon st. near Frishman.

Students may also want to consider signing up for a car sharing service like Car to go: http://car2go.co.il/giv/index.php Tell them you’re a student at TAU – they may give you a discount!

Useful Israeli Websites Transportation Websites Airlines Arkia http://www.arkia.co.il/ (Hebrew) http://www.arkia.com/ (English) http://www.arkia.ru/ (Russian)

Arkia El Al http://www.elal.co.il/ELAL/Hebrew/States/General/ (Hebrew) http://www.elal.co.il/ELAL/English/States/General/ (English) http://www.elal.co.il/ELAL/russian/States/General/ (Russian) Israir http://www.israir.co.il/ (Hebrew) http://www.israirairlines.com/ (English) Buses Dan http://www.dan.co.il/ (Hebrew) http://www.dan.co.il/english/ (English) http://www.dan.co.il/russian/ (Russian)

Egged http://www.egged.co.il/ (Hebrew) http://www.egged.co.il/Eng/ (English) http://www.egged.co.il/RU/ (Russian) Metropoline http://www.metropoline.com (Hebrew only) Kavim http://www.kavim-t.co.il/home/ (Hebrew only) Otobusim http://www.bus.co.il (English and Hebrew)

Trains IsraelRail http://www.rail.co.il/HE/Pages/homepage.aspx (Hebrew) http://www.rail.co.il/EN/Pages/HomePage.aspx (English) http://www.rail.co.il/AR/Pages/HomePage.aspx (Arabic) http://www.rail.co.il/RU/Pages/HomePage.aspx (Russian)

Yellow Pages www.d.co.il

Israeli News in English Online Haaretz www.haaretz.com Yediot Aharonot www.ynetnews.com Jerusalem Post www.jpost.com Times of Israel www.timesofisrael.com

News in Hebrew Online

Haaretz www.haaretz.co.il Yediot Aharonot www.ynet.co.il Maariv www.nrg.co.il

Business News in Hebrew Online

The Marker www.themarker.com Globes www.globes.co.il Calcalist www.calcalist.co.il

Culture and Tourism

City of Tel Aviv www.tel-aviv.gov.il/english/home/asp www.telavivcity.com Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.gov.il Cinemateque www.cinema.co.il Tel Aviv Museum of Art www.tamuseum.com

Nightlife Tel Aviv is a non-stop city. You will find your favorite pub/coffee shop/bar/club/restaurant/beach in no time. However, to get started, here are a few helpful websites. Atraf www.atraf.co.il Layla www.layla.co.il Resident www.resident.co.il Achbar Ha'ir www.mouse.co.il

Housing Housing in Tel Aviv Tel Aviv University does offer a limited number of dormitories for graduate-level students. Dorm rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Many students opt to find an apartment in Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv or commute from surrounding towns.

Apartment hunting in Tel Aviv can be quite time consuming and the process can be lengthy. This can be partially explained by the extremely fast-moving market. Students are advised to set time aside specifically for apartment hunting prior to the start of the program. 2-3 weeks is recommended.

We will do our best to help students find apartments and navigate the Hebrew sites.

Depending on a variety of factors, you should be prepared to pay anywhere from 2500 NIS (living with 1 or 2 roommates) to 3600 NIS (living alone) per month for a partially furnished apartment. The following websites will help you in your search:

http://www.homeless.co.il www.yad2.co.il www.janglo.net (Click on the Tel Aviv section for Real Estate) www.telalivit.com www.winwin.co.il http://kangarim.co.il/

In addition, Shira's Israel Homestays offers studio apartments within commuting distance of TAU. Additionally, they match individuals who have just arrived in Israel with host families that will act as their home away from home. This type of housing is a cheaper and more meaningful alternative than renting an apartment, with the added convenience of all the administrative, financial, legal and logistical work done for the visitor. Visit their website for more information and testimonials: http://shirasisrael.com/

Students are also encouraged to speak with outgoing Sofaer IMBA students about the option of taking over a rental agreement.

When looking for an apartment, we highly recommend clarifying the following issues, and suggest reviewing the questions listed below:

1. Apartment Details a. Where is the apartment located? b. How big is the apartment in meters squared ? c. What floor is the apartment on? If on the ground floor, are there bars on the windows? d. What appliances are included in the apartment? (Many apartments do not include major appliances like an oven, or stove and sometimes a fridge) e. What furniture is included in the apartment? f. Is there air conditioning? Heating? g. What else is included in the apartment? h. Is there a roommate? What is he or she like? 2. Rent a. What is included in the rental payment? i. Just rent ii. Va’ad Bayit (building maintenance fees) iii. All inclusive (water, gas, electricity, maintenance fees, cable, internet, phone etc) b. How often is payment due and in what form ? i. 12 Cheques ii. 6 Cheques iii. 1 lump sum? iv. Cash? (Never pay cash unless you receive a receipt) 3. Bills

a. How much is Arnona (municipality tax) and water every month? (water is included every other month on the Arnona bill) b. Is there an electric heater for water (dood chashmal) or is the heater solar (dood shemesh) powered? c. How much is electricity on average every month? i. Things to consider: electricity spent on a heater, air conditioner, electric water heater (dood chashmal) d. How much is the Va’ad Bayit (maintenance fees) every month? 4. Signing the Lease a. Can the lease be written in English? b. Does there need to be a guarantor? (We can help you with this) c. Is there a security deposit required? d. Do they require a lawyer to review the lease? If so, who covers that cost? 5. What is the area like? a. Visit the neighborhood both at night and during the day to get a feel for the area. Is it loud at night? Is there a bus to the university nearby? b. Is it near a bus route to the university?

For more information regarding the legal aspect of leases, the Student Union offers free legal

consulting. To receive this service you can visit the Student Union office or call them at 036407654 (Sunday-Thursday 09:00-17:00)

Additionally, Mazeh 9 can provide you with subsidized English legal consulting. Email them at

[email protected] or [email protected]

Banks To open a bank account in Israel, you will need the following: 1) Passport 2) Student Visa or Work Visa 3) Another ID 4) Residential Lease 5) Letter of approval to program

The most convenient banks in the Ramat Aviv area are:  Bank Discount: Located next to King George in Antin Square (near the main entrance)  Bank Hapoalim: 6 Barth Street  Bank Leumi: Next to Mega grocery store

Rule of thumb: It can be much easier and less frustrating to just show up instead of calling.

Groceries Just a two minute walk outside the university’s main gates on Einstein St. (next to the dorms), is a grocery store catered to students that has particularly good prices. It’s worth it to check out Machsanai Yahav (formerly Super Bonus) on the way to the bus stop.

The larger grocery stores in Israel are: Supersol, Mega, and Tiv Ta’am. Supersol and Mega are closed on Shabbat everything in the store is Kosher. Tiv Ta’am on the other hand also sells non-kosher products and is open on Shabbat.

Also open on Shabbat is AM:PM. AM:PMs sell fresh produce and most staple groceries, though there is usually no meat or cheese counter. As the name suggests, AM:PMs are always open.

Health Food Stores: The 2 main health food stores are Teva Kastel (many locations throughout the city) and Eden (one location only in Gan Ha’ir – Ibn Gvirol corner Hadassa). Also available at these stores are lots of more rare products from around the world. If you’re looking for marmite, sushi rice, curry, or root beer, this is your store!

Good to know: most grocery stores offer sales or discounts when you sign up for their membership club. Signing up is usually free and can be a great way to save some money

Another great way to shop is by visiting the markets. Carmel Market located at the intersection of King George, Allenby, and Sheinkin is a great place to get ANYTHING you might ever need. Beyond food, the market also has stores that sell flowers, hardware, clothes, etc.

Shuks are also great for other kinds of shopping like: Nahalat Binyamin – An arts and crafts market held every Tuesday and Friday with live music and entertainment. It's parallel to Shuk Hacarmel. Shuk Bezalel – Discount clothes. off of King George St., close to the corner of Allenby Street. Shuk Levinsky – An amazing market for spices, nuts, dried fruit, etc. If you're looking for some antiques or vintage items check out the Shuk Hapishpishim in Jaffa.

Laundry There are many Laundromats throughout the city. In general, self-serve laundry should cost around 15 NIS per load. Dryers will be cost less-- around 10 NIS. Before you lug all your laundry, be sure to check out what amount of change the machines require. Many require three 5 shekel coins exactly. The washing machines usually take around half an hour. The dryers will take less time than a standard North American dryer. Be careful to watch your laundry as it dries. Shrinking clothing is not unusual. Dryers usually use 5 shekel and 1 shekel coins.

Available at many dry cleaners is laundry service. Cost is determined based on kilograms of laundry. Some locations offer a pick-up and/or drop-off service.

Post Office There is a post office located just outside the main gates of the university on Levanon St. across from Cafe Greg. There are many services and products that are offered such as: stamps, phone cards, fax services, money changing (better rates than at the bank). You can even buy a credit card there and pay most of your bills!

For more information about post offices near you: http://www.israelpost.co.il

Movie Theatres Ayalon Mall – YES Movie Theater Rav Chen (Dizengoff Square) Lev Dizengoff Center – on the top and bottom floor of the Dizengoff Center Cinema City – off the highway near Herzliya Cinemateque (Carlibach and Ha'Arbaah) Gat – Across from Rabin Square

Some movie theatres in Israel have intermissions half way through the movie. All theatres also have assigned seating.

Shopping There is definitely no shortage of shopping in Tel Aviv. In the downtown area the major shopping streets include Sheinkin, King George St, Bograshov, and Dizengoff. Shopping on these streets can range from very affordable to very expensive!

There are a number of malls in Tel Aviv: Dizengoff Center (Dizengoff and King George), Azrieli (Kaplan and Begin St.), Ramat Aviv Mall (Einstein and Brodetsky), and if you’re willing to go a little further, Ayalon Mall (bus 20 from Tel Aviv) is generally a very affordable mall will lots of good stores.

There are also outdoor markets such as Nachalat Binyamin--an artist’s market open on Tuesdays and Fridays. On Friday there are also markets open in the Tel Aviv Port and Jaffa Port.

Emergency Care & Important Numbers Police: 100 Ambulance (Magen David Adom): 101 Fire: 102 Electricity Company: 103 Phone & Address Information Services: 144 Municipality Information: 106 (to pay water and municipality tax)

Hospital in Tel Aviv: Ichilov (Weitzman between Arlosorov and David Hamelech)

Dialing Internationally Since the international telecommunications market in Israel was opened to competition, rates on international calls dialed directly from Israel are often cheaper than in the opposite direction .

To make an overseas call, dial one of the following 3-number codes before your country code and area code:

210Smile: 012 213Netvision-Barak: 013 Bezeq International: 014 Hallo: 015

If you are coming to Israel from the United States of Canada, you may want to purchase a Magic Jack to make long-distance calls.

Part V: Israeli Holidays

An Overview All holidays in Israel begin at sundown, as Judaism follows the lunar calendar. The High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) take place in early September this year. Sukkot follows in late September. Other main Jewish holidays include: Chanukah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, and Tisha B'av. There are also a number secular holidays celebrated in Israel including: Tu B'shvat, Holocaust Memorial Day, Israel Memorial Day, and Israel Independence Day.

If you would like to experience one of these holidays while you are here, we are more than happy to help coordinate accommodations.

Shabbat (Sabbath) in Israel Besides the holidays which are outlined below, in a sense, there's a Jewish holiday every week— Shabbat. Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday and ends on Saturday at sunset. All government offices and related businesses are closed. Approximately an hour before sundown on Friday almost all businesses, retail stores, and restaurants also close. In Tel Aviv, however, there is a growing number of restaurants and cafes that are open on Shabbat. Also open on Shabbat in Tel Aviv are AM:PM's (like 7/11) and Tiv Ta'ams (Grocery stores).

Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 25-26, 2014) – This year Rosh Hashanah will begin on the evening of September 16th. The holiday represents the beginning of the Jewish year, with the name translating as "head of the year". The holiday is a time when people look back at the occurrences of the past year and how they plan to make changes in the upcoming year.

Yom Kippur (Oct. 4, 2013) - Probably the most important holiday, Yom Kippur occurs 10 days after Rosh Hashanah. The "Day of Atonement" is a fast day, and is usually observed by attending synagogue to repent and ask forgiveness. It is said that on Rosh Hashanah, God writes every person's name in the "book of life" or the "book of death". On Yom Kippur, the book is signed and sealed. The ten days between the two holidays is a time to ask forgiveness from others.

Sukkot (Oct. 9-15, 2014) – Translated as "The Feast of the Tabernacles," Sukkot is both a historical and agricultural holiday. The holiday commemorates the forty years when the children of Israel wandered the desert looking for shelter. The holiday is also a celebration of the harvest season. During the holiday, "huts" are erected all over the country and people eat meals outside in these huts where they can see the starts in the sky.

Chanukah (Dec. 17-24, 2014) – Known as "The Festival of Lights", Chanukah tells the story of assimilation, suppression and the fight to maintain Jewish faith against Hellenism. During the holiday Jewish people will light an eight-pronged candelabra to symbolize the eight days that the oil burned in the temple when it was restored from the Hellenists. The connection with oil extends also to food that is customary to eat during the holiday—jelly-filled donuts and latkes (potato pancakes)

Tu B'Shvat (Feb. 4, 2015) - The "New Year for the Trees" is celebrated by planting trees in Israel and eating different kinds of fruit and nuts. The holiday is another agricultural holiday that has is roots in the Mishna.

Purim (Mar 5, 2015) – Purim or "Lots" commemorates the time in which Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination at the hands of Haman, the King's advisor. On this holiday, the Book of Esther is read twice, small packages are sent to friends, and people dress up in costume and celebrate. This might be the most fun holiday!

Passover (Apr. 3-10, 2015) – Commemorating the exodus from Egypt, this holiday is observed in a number of ways.--- during the first night (or two depending on location) the story of the exodus is recited and there is a very rigid dietary requirement of not eating and items relating to bread for the 7 day holiday. It is also another agricultural holiday since it occurs during spring time and the first harvest season.

Holocaust Memorial Day (Apr. 15, 2015) - Every year on the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Holocaust Memorial Day is observed. Starting in the evening, TV broadcasts and radio programs are dedicated to the subject of Holocaust Memorial. A two-minute air siren goes off at 10:00. During the siren people will stop what they do and stand still. Memorial ceremonies are held at the university, and main squares (Rabin Square in Tel Aviv).

Israel Memorial Day (Apr. 22, 2015) - One week after Holocaust Memorial Day, Israel commemorates its soldiers who have fallen in battle. A siren is sounded at 20:00 and again at 11:00 the next morning. It is customary to stop and stand still. Radio and TV's will also broadcast programs commemorating the events leading to the creation of Israel, and its subsequent wars. Ceremonies are held both on campus at Rabin Square. Memorial Day ends as Independence Day begins .

Israel Independence Day (Apr. 23, 2015) - As Memorial Day ends, Independence Day begins, drawing a distinct link between fallen soldiers and Independence. The mood instantly changes as people celebrate Israel's independence. Ceremonies are held at night in Rabin Square, and the next day many people celebrate by getting together with friends and family and barbequing (Mangal).

Shavuot (May 24, 2015) – This holiday is otherwise known as "Chag Matan Torah", the holiday in which the Jewish people received the Torah (Bible) at Mount Sinai. Shavuot is 49 days after Passover, and illustrates that while physically the children of Israel were released from bondage on Passover, on Shavuot, they are redeemed from idolatry and immorality by receiving the Torah. It's customary on this holiday to eat dairy products and study Torah through the night.

Tisha B'Av (July 26, 2015) - Occurring on the 9th of the Hebrew month Av, this is a day of fasting and mourning in commemoration of tragedies which have befallen the Jewish people. According to traditions both the first and second temple were destroyed on this day.

To find more information about the Jewish holidays a great resource is "Jewish Virtual Library": http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday2.html