There are three primary qualifications to go on the trip:

1. 1. This trip is designed for people who are not highly engaged in the Jewish community or Jewish ritual observance.
   2. Our participants are mothers with children at home 18 or younger.
   3. Participants must be physically and emotionally healthy.

Momentum gives priority to applicants who have never been to Israel, or who visited before they turned 18, but many of our participants have visited Israel in the past. Apply and speak to Jessica Ochs for more details.

The Momentum experience begins with three or more Pre-Trip meetings connecting the participants to each other and to Israel before the Trip. The Momentum Journey of Growth experience is designed to activate enthusiastic engagement with the beauty of Jewish life, to build a lasting connection with Israel, and a commitment to take action in one’s community towards making a better world.

Participants attending the Momentum trips commit to attending a follow-up session once per month with the organization that accepts them. Your trip leader, Jessica Ochs, will lead the monthly sessions throughout the year while Momentum supports the sharing of ideas and provides continuing education to make the year-long experience memorable for our participants.

This is a heavily subsidized trip for our participants. Each participant on our women’s trip receives a scholarship –
25% provided by Shalom Austin, and Momentum raises the remaining 75% with Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism and the Momentum Scholarship, funded through donations and contributions.

See above for costs not covered by Momentum. 

This experience has a lot packed into it—the days are long and full of activity. We walk 35–40 miles on the trip and explore Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on foot and by climbing steps. All this and just being out in the heat require a fair amount of effort. It’s also important to remember that the trip is exciting and can bring up a lot of emotions, and this will affect your energy level.

If you don’t currently exercise, consider beginning a program to increase your stamina. If you have any health problems, consult your physician about the itinerary, and make sure to discuss any concerns with our trip leader, Jessica Ochs!

Of course! There are many opportunities to shop nearly every day. Every dollar you spend infuses capital into the Israeli economy.

Momentum purchases Israeli health insurance for all participants during the scheduled trip dates. If a participant arrives early or stays after the Trip, they are responsible for extending the health coverage at their own expense. In addition, Travelers Insurance is required for all participants in case of trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost/delayed baggage, flight delays, and more. 

For large purchases, you can use your credit card, but in the shuks (local markets), cash is king, and will allow you to haggle for a better price—a time-honored tradition in Israel!

The easiest way to get cash is to use your bank card at an ATM. (NIS, New Israeli Shekels). The fees will vary, but not by much. If you choose to use ATMs, it’s vital that you notify your bank before the trip to avoid your card being frozen by ATM transactions in Israel.

Also, remember that fees are charged per transaction, so you should take out larger quantities less frequently. Money changers are available in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to change cash into shekels.