Israel Update, September 10, 2022
Greetings Israel Crew!
We are super excited about our tour and thank the Lord for all of you who have registered! At present we have 19 travelers registered, a few more whose registrations are in the mail (or will be soon), and a few more who are still contemplating.
Those of you who are registered apparently received a final bill this week. On that bill was included a $165 charge because we do not yet have 20 travelers registered. Please do not pay that $165, because we will do have the minimum number of 20 travelers; there remain just a few outstanding registrations that have not yet been processed. If you have paid that fee already, you should be reimbursed once our list is finalized.
Our registration deadline is fast approaching (Thursday, October 6).
Therefore, if you or someone you know is planning to join us, registration forms for those travellers will need to be submitted soon, so that there is plenty of time for them to be received and processed.
To register, simply print, fill out, and mail this registration form: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/598a6cb5be65941d21d3a3a7/t/6152aac8db8f7132b34b86d3/1632807626113/Raczykowski23+10+Day+Israel+Reg+Form+%28Rebook%29.pdf.
Or you can register online at RegisterNow.ittworld.com using the code "Raczykowski23".
We now have flight information:
(MCO = Orlando ... EWR = Newark ... TLV = Tel Aviv)
UA2162 04JAN MCO EWR 520P 813P
UA90 04JAN EWR TLV 1100P 420P (arriving 05JAN)
UA85 13JAN TLV EWR 1130A 245P
UA2161 13JAN EWR MCO 750P 1038P
Now is also a good time to look into the issue of insurance. While Israel is no longer requiring a Covid vaccine or any Covid testing, it is requiring visitors to have a health insurance policy with coverage for treatment of Covid-19. Your health insurance policy may cover this contingency already. You may want to check into that. Either way, however, it is very highly recommended that all passengers purchase a travel insurance policy. Imagine Tours and Travel recommends using Travel Guard (www.travelguard.com). I called Travel Guard personally, and they assured me that Covid coverage is included in any policy you buy from them that has medical coverage. They say you will receive a letter testifying to that effect with your policy. InsureMyTrip (insureemytrip.com) is also a useful website that searches the internet for the best and most reliable deals. Its search feature also has an option that identifies the best policies for Covid-19 protection.
I hope you are all getting as excited as I am, and we can't wait to take this journey with you! Have an excellent day, and please call text, or email me with any questions at 352-552-5359'.
Blessings in Christ!
Israel Update, July 8, 2022
Hello Israel Tour Crew (and those who are still considering going)!
As our journey draws ever nearer, and we have some good news to report and some information to pass along.
We are glad to announce that there are no longer any vaccine or testing requirements for any stage of the trip. What a blessing!
We want to invite you to a trip familiarization meeting on Sunday, July 24, at 5:00 p.m., at Bay Street Baptist Church. Everyone is welcome to join us, and we encourage you to bring along others who might be interested in the tour. We will have some information to present, and we especially want to answer any questions you might have. So, come with any curiosities or confusions, and we will do our best to provide useful answers. We will also aim to have forms and handouts available for those who need them. For those who are not in our area, we would love to add you to a conference call, so that you can participate in the meeting from home. If you would like to participate by phone, please let me know, and we'll give you a call when the meeting starts.
While Israel is no longer requiring a covid vaccine or any covid tests, it is requiring visitors to have a health insurance policy with coverage for treatment of Covid-19. Your health insurance policy may cover this contingency already. You may want to check into that. Either way, however, it is very highly recommended that all passengers purchase a travel insurance policy. Depending upon your personal risk factors and how extensive a policy you want, a travel insurance policy for a 10-day Israel tour generally costs somewhere between $200 and $600. I am not sure how the covid stipulation affects those rates, but it may add additional expense. (I am checking into that.) Before purchasing a policy, I would recommend calling the agency to make sure the policy meets the covid coverage requirements. Imagine Tours and Travel recommends using Travel Guard (www.travelguard.com). InsureMyTrip (insureemytrip.com) is also a useful website that searches the internet for the best and most reliable deals. Its search feature also has an option that identifies the best policies for Covid-19 protection.
We are tremendously excited to take this trip of a lifetime with you! Please let me know if you have any questions or if you know of someone who would like information about the trip. We have roughly 20 individuals signed up for our tour as of today, and there is plenty of room for more.
Israel Trip Update, May 24, 2022
Hi Israel Team! Good news to pass along:
Israel Drops Covid Requirements: As of May 21, 2022, Israel has become the latest nation to drop all COVID-19 entry requirements. The director of the Israel Government Tourist Office in London, Sharon Ehrlich Bershadsky, said: “This is the news we have been waiting for, for more than two years. It has been our highest priority to make the process of entering Israel the easiest it can be while responsibly looking after our passengers’ health and safety. With Israel joining many other countries in dropping all Covid restrictions, I am hopeful the travel industry has now reached a crucial milestone in this post-pandemic world.”
Israel’s New Entry Requirements: All travelers—regardless of their vaccination status—can enter Israel from May 21st without showing proof of vaccination, undergoing testing, or mandatory quarantine. Yay! Travelers are still required to complete a Passenger Locator Form at least 48 hours prior to their planned departure to Israel. But that is nothing new, as this form was entry requirement in pre-pandemic times. You can read more about it here: https://news.lindelatravel.com/2022/05/countries-recently-relaxed-entry-requirements/
Invite: Do you know someone who might like to travel with us? Please feel free to forward them this e-mail; the brochure and registration form are attached. Also, it is worth noting that, since our rates were locked before surging inflation and high fuel prices, it becomes a better-and-better deal by the day.
General Information
Passport: If you do not have a passport or need yours to be renewed, please take care of that right away. U.S. authorities are warning that processing time for routine passports could take up to 11 weeks: "We urge U.S. citizens considering international travel to check their passport expiration date early and if renewal is needed, to submit applications as far ahead of their travel dates as possible."
Travel Insurance: The time is drawing near to look into travel insurance, so I am researching options and will communicate the best of those options to you soon.
Deadline: If you have not yet registered for the trip, your initial $500 deposit can be sent in at any time by mailing in your registration form or by registering online at RegisterNow.ittworld.com using our Tour Code: "Raczykowski23" (enter the code without the quotation marks). For all travelers, final payment must be made in the form of a check at least 100 days prior to departure, which will be September 25, 2022.
Please know that, as our payment deadlines and travel dates draw nearer, we will meet in person (or by phone if needed) to make sure all of us get all of our questions answered and everything in order. Also, you can call me anytime at 352-552-5359.
Blessings to you in Christ! We can't wait to experience the journey of a lifetime with you in January!
Israel Trip Update, September 14, 2021
Thank you for your input regarding the rescheduling of our tour. Counting my wife and me, we have 16 presently signed up for the tour. So far, I have received votes from 12. Nobody seemed to have any direct conflicts with either set of dates, but here is how the votes went:
4 Votes for Monday, November 28 – Wednesday, December 7, 2022
6 Votes for Wednesday, January 4 – Friday, January 13, 2023
2 Didn't have a preference
Also, two who preferred January 2023 are teachers, and the November/December dates are a difficult time of year for them to miss. Therefore, if there are no objections, we will reserve our trip now for January 4-11, 2023. If you do have a conflict with those dates, please let me know as soon as possible, because I need to submit the new dates tomorrow.
Thank you! God is good, and this will all work out in His good time. Have a wonderful week!
Israel Trip Update, August 23, 2021
Hello Israel Team!
I am sorry I needed to reschedule the meeting at BSBC we had planned for this afternoon. I slept very little at Waterman Hospital, and I could barely keep my eyes open after the service this morning. I am feeling almost back to normal now.
At this point, the tour we had scheduled for November 29 - December 8, 2021 has been postponed and is awaiting new travel dates. Here is a list of dates I was given that will not increase the price of the trip (off-season rates).
Monday, November 28 – Wednesday, December 7, 2022 - As I understand it, these dates (or very similar dates) are basically the only "off-season" tour in the fall. Most fall tours are more expensive.
Wednesday, January 4 – Friday, January 13, 2023
Monday, January 9 – Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Tuesday, January 10 – Thursday, January 18, 2023
Wednesday, January 11 – Friday, January 20, 2023
Dates in early- or mid-November 2022 are also a possibility, but there would be a moderate increase in the rates, because those dates are no longer off-season). Dates that include Thanksgiving would probably involve a significant increase. Also, the closer to Christmas, the higher the rates and the larger the crowds. Late January and early February also involve a small increase in cost.
All the dates above honor our original rates. Imagine Tours recommends we travel on Monday, November 28 through Wednesday, December 7, 2022, and among the dates listed above, those are most likely to have the best weather, but all of those are great options. If you would like to see more dates and rates, let me know, and I'll gather more information.
Lord willing, will get this journey worked out soon and will be able to take an amazing trip without complication. God is in control, and that is good to know! We can plan a time to meet together in person sometime soon... perhaps when Covid slows down a bit. Thank you for your patience and perseverance. And thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Blessings in Christ!
Israel Trip Update, August 23, 2021
Greetings Israel Crew!
These are crazy days, to be sure. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we await the right opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime.
I write to you today with two purposes:
1.) I want to recommend that we reschedule our trip for a date in the latter half of 2022.
Our tour has qualified for Israel's Pilot Tourism Program. That program has, I believe, been suspended for the time being, but (as discussed in the previous email) it is expected to be reinstated after the Jewish holidays in September. This circumstance is the main reason why our present payment deadline (for our current travel dates) has been extended until September 15.
As you may recall, this pilot program includes multiple Covid-19 tests (one before leaving, one upon arrival, and one before returning). Receiving a positive test requires the traveller to quarantine in Israel, which, of course, would be a major bummer (to say the least).
I mostly liked the sound of travelling under the pilot program when I had confidence that vaccinated people were extremely unlikely to contract covid. However, as we are now seeing across the nation (and even in our own congregation here at BSBC), many fully vaccinated people are nevertheless contracting Covid-19 and receiving positive tests. The vaccine does seem to be mitigating symptoms and helping those individuals recover more quickly, for which I am thankful, but it is obviously not preventing positive tests nearly as well as we might have hoped or expected.
Since so many vaccinated people are nevertheless testing positive, I think the risks of travelling under the pilot program stipulations are probably too high. Rescheduling for a future date seems to me to be the wisest option. Lord willing, this covid craziness should be significantly lessened, if not gone altogether, by the autumn of 2022, and we will hopefully be able to travel then without threat of quarantine. Payments in that case would not be due until 100 days before that new date (whatever that date might be).
2.) In order to get your opinion about this suggestion and also look ahead to potential dates in 2022, I am thinking about having a quick (socially-distanced) gathering at Bay Street Baptist Church this Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Would that be enough time for you to grab lunch and then come to the church for a short meeting and perhaps a tasty treat? (I can probably get Mary Rose to bake us something.) By then, I should have more information about possible dates and any additional costs that may or (hopefully) may not be involved. For those out of state, we can put you on speaker phone if you like... but, sorry, no baked treats for you.
Please let me know what you think about the suggestion to reschedule (for a second time), and let me know if the proposed meeting this Sunday would work for you. Thank you!
You guys are the best, and I praise God for you!
Blessings in Christ!
Luke
Israel Trip Update, July 28, 2021
Greetings Israel Team!
Rick Ricart, the President of Imagine Tours and Travel, has just returned from a tour of Israel. He sent me a report about his trip; it is very informative and encouraging. According to his report, the prospects of our trip taking place as scheduled (November 29-December 8) still seem quite good. It appears as though travel restrictions are somewhat lighter for tourists who come as a travel group with a professional tour company. I am forwarding his report to you (below). Of special importance is the attachment "Appendix C," which outlines the conditions and stipulations regarding entry into Israel in this covid era. Rick also provides some very helpful information and links regarding travel insurance. I am very interested to hear your response, both to Rick's report and to "Appendix C."
I will do my best to pass along to you every bit of information I receive over these next few weeks as our decision deadline approaches. We have a fantastic group, and I can't wait to visit Israel with you whenever the Lord allows!
Note: I have copied and pasted Appendix C at he end of this update (after Rick’s report).
Blessings in Christ!
Luke
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rick Ricart <rick@ittworld.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 1:47 PM
Subject: IMPORTANT ISRAEL information enclosed ... Brief overview of my recent visit to Israel
To: Rick Ricart <rick@ittworld.com>
Dear Friends,
I just returned from spending a week in Israel and had the opportunity to experience Israel first-hand for the first time since Covid-19 took place back in March of 2020. For myself and my wife Amy who joined me it was quite an emotional trip for us since we are used to travelling to Israel 3 to 4 times in a year.
When we arrived in Israel, we were met by our airport representative after deplaning who escorted us to the customs agent where we showed our papers (completed forms required for the Israel Ministry of Interior and Health that are required to be completed online 24 hours prior to your departure into Israel and proof of a negative PCR test completed no more than 72 hours prior to your departure to Israel) and our passports. After securing our luggage, we were escorted to the PCR testing area, which is required for all travelers entering Israel, and completed our PCR tests. When completing your online documentation you are prompted to pre-pay for your PCR test that you will take upon arrival in Israel. A barcode is provided that will be scanned by the test administrators and you will be asked to show your passport for identity. The test was efficiently administered and then we were escorted out of the airport to our transfer vehicle which drove us to our hotel in Tel Aviv.
Upon arrival at our hotel in Tel Aviv, we checked in and went to our room. We had previously arranged to have a nurse come to our room where our serological test was administered to show we have the antibodies for the vaccine. This took just a few minutes. We were told we would need to quarantine the remainder of the day in our hotel. We could have gone down to the dinner buffet if we chose, but we needed to remain in the hotel. After travelling for 10+ hours, we were already starting to feel the effects of travel and we were happy to have an excuse to take it easy. We had dinner sent to our room, called it a night and headed to bed. The next morning we awoke to receiving a text that came during the night saying we had tested positive for the antibodies from our serological test and no longer had to quarantine. In addition, we also received the negative result from the PCR test taken at the airport. We went to breakfast like normal and then started our day of touring!
I’m sharing this journey with you so that you can have a first-hand account of the new process for travelers coming into Israel. I’m hearing from group leaders that they will only travel when things return to normal. Really though, what is normal? If nothing else, we need to learn from our history. Twenty years ago September 11th changed our world and the way that we travel. As a result we have TSA security checks, liquids in 1-qt baggies, delays making it through security and longer lines just to get to our flights. We have adjusted and complied with all of these measures without question. Now, Covid-19 has changed our world and the way that we travel again. For international flights we are required to have a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours prior to departure. There are no exceptions to this. Due to a flight cancellation we were pushed 2 hours outside of the 72-hour window. We had to go and receive a new PCR test prior to the airline allowing us to check-in for our flight which we were able to accomplish with minor inconvenience. All this to say, be aware of your 72-hour window and know where you can go if something happens outside of your control to your original flight plans.
The good news is that the incoming tourism Pilot Program has been extended indefinitely since there was no evidence in recent months that incoming groups caused any health risks to the population. Their trial pilot has been extremely successful and Israel is very organized and well prepared for tourism returning.
Our office is frequently asked, what are the required protocols for entry into Israel for individuals and/or group travel, and they are the same? As I write this, I am reminded that all travel protocols are subject to change, but as of today, these are the requirements. Israel is requiring proof of vaccination for ALL travelers 12 years of age and older for the remainder of 2021 and it looks like for all of next year as well. Israel will also require a negative PCR test and a serological test upon arrival and one more prior to your departure, return back to the USA.
I’m enclosing what the estimated prices quoted to us today, which are subject to change and could be slightly different closer to your actual time of travel.
PCR Test that is required upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, 80 shekels, approx.. $25 USD per person
Serological Test (finger prick), this is done upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, results should be given within 20-45 minutes, 127 Shekels, approx.. $40 USD per person
PCR Test that is required when the group is leaving Israel to return back to the USA, this will be arranged for the group at their hotel, 48-72 hours before the groups departure approx.. $80 USD per person (this price may be reduced in the future) and needs to be prepaid to imagine Tours & Travel before departure. These again are all approximate costs, subj. to change and should actually decrease.
Israel is requiring each traveler to sign and agree to Appendix C Declaration by a Tourist and Consent to the Conditions of Entry and Stay in Israel & Appendix D (see attached PDF forms), the second form is the name of our office partner in Israel to handle the filing of the papers on the travelers behalf and a copy of each travelers Passport and copy of each travelers vaccination card, which is required for entry.
Proof of health insurance coverage when in Israel is also required. Travel Guard offers many trip insurance plans, so you can pick & choose the amount of coverage you wants specific to your needs: https://www.travelguard.com/travel-insurance/plans For someone wanting the minimal coverage but to ensure they have some Health Insurance when traveling overseas, the Pack & Go Plan is a very good value plan without breaking the wallet: https://www.travelguard.com/travel-insurance/plans/pack-n-go The travelers can choose whatever coverage they desire as well as the company they wish to use for trip health insurance, we work with and recommend Travel Guard as they have provided good service to our travelers over the years. That being said we have no preference as to whom they choose to work with, provided they have health insurance coverage when they travel.
Unfortunately, unless Covid disappears entirely, it appears that the requirement of proof of vaccinations will stay in effect for the remainder of 2021 and well into 2022. We cannot predict the future, as everything is subject to change and what travel protocols are in effect today, could be entirely different six month or more from now, as everything is subject to change for travel between now and the end of next year).
My recent trip went exceptionally well and I’d go back to Israel tomorrow! If you have any questions, please feel free to email them to me and either I or someone else in our office will get back to you in a timely manner. I would recommend taking whatever portion of this email you prefer and feel free to share it with your travelers sooner versus later, so they can have time to prepare for their trip and the above new protocols for entry / exit into Israel now and what they will more than likely look like for travel in 2022. If anything changes, and if Israel later decides to remove the proof of vaccination requirement in the future, our office will advise you immediately.
Best regards,
Rick Ricart | President
Honor God I Impact Lives I Enrich Faith
imagine Tours & Travel, LLC
509 W County Rd. 540A
Lakeland, FL 33813
WEB: www.ittworld.com
TEL: 863-709-9208
SOCIAL: facebook | linkedin | twitter | youtube | instagram
Appendix C
Appendix C: Declaration by a Tourist and Consent to the Conditions of Entry and Stay in Israel
I ___________________ the holder of passport number ________________, hereby declare that:
I have been vaccinated against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and that I am in possession of a vaccination certificate.
I am aware of the fact that a condition for entering Israel is the purchase of an insurance policy that covers treatment for COVID-19.
I am aware of the fact that a condition for entry into Israel is a negative result of a PCR test, conducted up to 72 hours prior to the aircraft taking off for Israel.
I am aware of the fact that a condition for boarding an aircraft flying to Israel is to fill out a health declaration 24 hours prior to the flight, on the website of the Israeli Ministry of Health and that I must provide, in the declaration, the mobile telephone number of the Israeli travel agent that is responsible for my group while in Israel.
I am aware of the fact that when I enter Israel, while still at the airport in Israel, I will have to undergo a PCR test, for which I will have to pay in advance.
I am aware of the fact that in order to avoid going into isolation in Israel, I must undergo a serological examination, at my expense, at a location that will be coordinated by the travel agent, and that I must go into isolation until a positive result is obtained and an isolation exit permit is issued.
I am aware of the fact that in the event that I obtain a negative result in the serological examination, when arriving in Israel and / or during my stay in Israel, I must update the travel agent and go into isolation immediately. I also am aware of the fact that the stay in isolation will be at my expense and in accordance with the directives of the Israeli Ministry of Health.
I am aware of the fact that in case I have one or more COVID-19 symptoms or if I obtain a positive result on a PCR test, when I arrive into Israel and / or during my stay in Israel, I must update the travel agent and go into isolation immediately. I also am aware of the fact that the isolation will be done at an official Corona hotel or in accordance with the directives of the Israeli Ministry of Health and that the stay in isolation will be at my expense.
Israel Trip Update, July 24, 2021
Greetings once again, Israel Team,
Thank you for responding to last week's update about our 10-day tour of Israel and the travel guidelines now surrounding it. Of the 15 individuals presently in our group (there are also a few others who may still join) 11 have been vaccinated already, two plan to be vaccinated soon, and two are still uncertain. Among those who have been vaccinated or plan to be, there was total agreement about keeping our current travel dates (November 29-December 8), if possible.
As of last week, traveling on those dates seemed very likely and quite encouraging. As was posted in the previous update, Israel's pilot program for tour groups was very successful. Consequently, tours have resumed in the past few weeks, and those tours are going very well.
However, because of the recent uptick in covid-19 cases, both globally and in Israel itself, the authorities there are presently considering a new tightening of travel restrictions, by which all people who enter Israel would be required to self-isolate for at least 4 days. Of course, if self-isolation or any kind of quarantine becomes a requirement, then we will have to select new dates in 2022. If, on the other hand, the situation does not worsen and travel to Israel remains as it is today (or better), then our current travel dates should work wonderfully.
Both Imagine Tours and I are keeping a close eye on relevant events as they unfold, so that we can get you the best information as quickly as possible. I apologize again for the confusion and uncertainty that covid-19 has inflicted upon our travel plans, but I thank the Lord that all of you are safe and well, and I praise Him that each of you has demonstrated such kindness, patience, and flexibility.
If we are able to keep our present travel dates, then final payments will be due on or before August 31. Therefore, I will do my very best to make sure we have a concrete plan in place at least 10 to 14 days in advance of that deadline. Also, if unworkable travel restrictions happen to be imposed after we confirm our current travel dates and make payments, Imagine will move our tour to a subsequent date in 2022 and apply any payments that have been made to that tour. If we end up rebooking the tour before any additional payments have been made, then the deadline for final payments will be extended until 90 days before those new travel dates (whatever they might be).
So then, to reiterate, we are currently planning to travel to Israel on November 29 and return on December 8, as that is the simplest plan, the consensus of our group, and some great dates to be there. However, with covid concerns once again increasing, this plan may very well need to be changed. If so, then by God's grace, we will make a wonderful new plan for 2022.
In either case, God is sovereign, and I am confident that we will be blessed to wait on whatever He has in store.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and please stay tuned for additional updates.
I love you all, and I am praying for you and for our time together in the Holy Land!
Blessings in Christ,
Luke
Israel Trip Update, July 16, 2021
Greetings Israel Team!
I imagine that you have been at least somewhat anxious to receive an update about our upcoming trip to Israel. So have I. This week, the Israel Ministry of Tourism published its first significant update in many months. Rick Ricart, the President of Imagine Tours (our travel company), sent me the update, and I have copied and pasted his email to me below. At the end of the copied update, I will provide a few thoughts and options to gauge your preferences going forward.
Here is the update:
__________
Dear Friends,
I wanted to send you a brief update on tourism for Israel, Jordan & Egypt as well as Europe. Amy and I will be leaving this coming Saturday for Israel, so we can provide you with first-hand knowledge of what’s happening in the way of tourism, safety protocols in Israel and what you can expect when you travel in the future with your groups. We will be meeting with our office partners in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, seeing our friends in Bethlehem, visiting hoteliers, owners and managers as well as inspecting some of the hotels, restaurants we use and recommend. We will be meeting with some of our guides, visiting some of the sites and more. We will be able to share with you first-hand, what’s happening in Israel, is it safe to travel and what to expect when you and your group travel in the future.
In addition, I will be sending out updates from Israel, short video clips as we travel throughout the country. If you are on Facebook, I’d like to invite you to “friend request/follow” me at Rick Ricart or imagine’s Facebook page at ittworld to ensure you are seeing our updates/posts.
Below is a brief update received from the Israel Ministry of Tourism for your review. YES – Israel is open and groups are traveling. The past 6 to 8 weeks have been the trial pilot period which was for the Israel Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Health to test the protocols for travelers entering Israel as well as to ensure the safety of the travelers and eliminate the spread of Covid. So far the trial pilot has been a major success, with over 39,000 tourists that have visited Israel in the past six weeks. Israel is scheduled to reopen for groups outside the trial pilot program starting this August. However, that being said, in my 28+ years in the travel industry, most groups don’t travel in August as it’s too hot.
Imagine Tours & Travel groups are scheduled to start traveling this September, as not only Israel is open for tourism, but so is Europe: Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Egypt, Turkey, Ireland, Scotland, the UK and the rest of Europe.
Last month, we welcomed 39,000 tourists as part of our ongoing pilot program to let vaccinated groups enter the country. We are on track to open to vaccinated FITs (individual travelers) in August if all continues to go well. In the meantime, Israel continues to improve as a destination for tourists. Scroll down to read an article highlighting new experiences for visitors and a fascinating ancient discovery at the Western Wall.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yael Golan
Consul, Regional Director, Southern Region USA
Israel Ministry of Tourism
The following requirements are still needed for entry into Israel:
Israel is requiring proof of vaccination, either your vaccination card or certificate of vaccination for entry, along with…a negative PCR test: https://www.smartertravel.com/pcr-test-for-air-travel/
The airlines will require at time of check in, proof of a negative PCR test for all international travel, and the PCR test is required within 72-hours prior to travel. This is a test you can have done locally where you live, often referred to also as a rapid test, to show you don’t have Covid and are healthy.
Israel will not permit anyone to enter without proof of vaccination and we believe this will be for the remainder of 2021 and into the first half of 2022. If someone does not want to be vaccinated, they will not be permitted into Israel, unfortunately at this time, the Israel Ministry of Health is not allowing any exceptions.
Whatever you read today may look completely different in a few week or a few months. We will provide you with the most current information as of today, however please keep in mind that this could and more than likely will change as each month passes. With the easing of travel requirements comes change and what may be required today, may not be required tomorrow.
I’d like to thank you for your trust in imagine and for your business. I’d like to ask you for your prayers for Amy and I as we travel to Israel next week, that our time in Israel will be fruitful, for the opportunity to share God’s love & grace with those we are in contact with, as well as for safe travels. I look forward to sharing additional updates with you from Israel the week of July 17th.
Thank you,
Rick-
__________
In summary, it is looking quite certain that our trip can take place as scheduled, if we desire, but only for travellers who have received the Covid-19 vaccine and who appear at the airport with a negative Covid test that is no more than 72 hours old.
I do not know how many of you have received the vaccine, but I know there are at least a few in our group who have not. I, for one, have not received it, but I am happy to take it for the good of our group (even though I have read that the side effects of the vaccine can be very severe for people who have recently had the virus, which my whole family -- except Kolt, who has been vaccinated -- had just a couple of weeks ago).
Final payments are due by August 19, so we have about a month to decide what we want to do. As I see it, we have the following two basic options:
1.) We can travel on our currently scheduled dates (November 29 - December 8). Those should be great dates to be in Israel, and I imagine the crowds will be especially low this year. However, as much as I hate to say it, if we retain those dates, it appears that those who wish not to get the vaccine will not be able to make the trip with us. I am sorry about that, but the Israel's Ministry of Tourism seems adamant about vaccines. If you do not wish to be vaccinated (which I completely understand), there is a chance I can get your full $500 deposit refunded ($200 is refundable for sure, and I will see what I can do about the other $300).
2.) We can try to reschedule the trip for a later date, when life has further returned to normal and the vaccine might not be required. Rick mentioned in the update that the vaccine requirement will likely persist at least through the first half of 2022. So, in that case, our travel dates would probably be pushed back into the fall of 2022 (and even then there is no guarantee that the vaccine will not still be required, but there is a good chance it won't).
If you don't mind, please let me know what you think about these options (or perhaps you have a third option to suggest). You can call me, text me, or simply respond to this e-mail. My cell # is (352) 552-5359. Once I get a better idea about your preferences, I will schedule an in-person meeting to discuss the next steps.
I rejoice in the Lord that you have chosen to make the trip. I feel terrible about the many complications that have arisen, but I suppose there is nothing any of us could have done to change them. God thankfully remains sovereign, and I have every confidence that He will use even these strange circumstances for good. Also, I want to thank all of you for your kindness and patience over these many months. In my humble opinion, you truly are the greatest Israel travel group ever. I look forward to hearing your responses to the options presented above. Most of all, whenever the Lord allows, I look forward to taking an incredible trip with you to what I think you will agree is the best historical tour and vacation on planet earth.
Blessings in Christ!
Luke