General Information about the Country

• Climate
  Israel has a Mediterranean climate with a pleasant spring season (warm to hot in the day, chilly at night), with dry and hot summers. Temperatures in Jerusalem in March average 16 (night) to 25 (day)° Centigrade, 61 to 77° Fahrenheit, but can go up to over 30° C or 86° F. From June to  September temperatures during the day may average about 30° C and more, dropping to 18 or 19° C the night.
  


• Country Dialing Code
  +972
  


• Currency
  The Israeli currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). The exchange rate varies and so you will need to check the current exact exchange rate (for example at http://www.xe.com/ucc/)
  
  You can use international credit cards or cash cards for withdrawing Shekels at Israeli ATMs. Major credit cards are acccepted at hotels (please check) and usually also at restaurants and larger shops. Credit cards also are accepted at hospitals (please check). Payment in Dollars  or Euros is often possible, but you may get a bad rate. It is advised that you do not change a large sum of money at the airport, because the commission you are required to pay is very high. Money changing shops with good rates exist within walking distance of your hotel.
  


• Electricity
  220 V, 50 Hz.

• Food and Water
  Breakfast boxes will be handed to you in the morning at your hotel to bring with you to the site. Make sure that your hotel is aware of your dietary needs (e.g. kosher food or vegetarian requirements).  The food provided at Beit Shmuel is kosher.
  
  There are numerous restaurants and places where you can get snacks in Israel. Most of the restaurants in West Jerusalem are kosher; snacks are mostly of the fallafel- and hummus- variety. Plenty of fresh fruits are available in Israel, but need to be washed well or peeled before eating.
  
  Water from the faucet is potable, but your stomach may react badly to it, so if you are sensitive you are advised to drink bottled mineral water. At the excavation, water will be provided, but you might want to bring your own bottle of mineral water in addition.
  


• Flights
  There are direct flights from most major Asian, Canadian, European and US cities to Israel`s main international airport Ben Gurion, close to Tel Aviv. Be sure to get to the airport well in advance of your flight (nowadays three hours), as the security checks can take up a lot of time.
  
  On registration, along with the confirmation, you will receive a written invitation to the excavation. Please print it out and show it the the security personnel at the airport. This invitation will also provide the telephone number of one of our staff members, whom the security personnel are welcome to call to confirm details.
  


• Health
  Because Israel is a western country, with excellent medical facilities and with world renowned doctors, it is unlikely that you will fall ill. But to be on the safe side please check with your doctor which vaccinations he or she might recommend.
  
  Most countries have an official website that advises their nationals regarding vaccinations or health precautions that they recommend for different parts of the world – check to see if your country suggests certain shots.
  
  Please let us know if you have any kind of allergy, chronic disease, back problems, etc., that we should be aware of and which might affect you during an excavation. Any information we receive from you will be kept in the strictest of confidence. This will not necessarily exclude you from participating. Even if you find yourself unable to do the heavy work at an excavation like pickaxing or carrying buckets, there are a lot of interesting and challenging tasks that will need to be done! So, for your own safety and enjoyment, please let us know.
  


• Insurance
  As a team member, you will be required to arrange your own health and accident insurance. Please note that none of the institutions or persons organizing the excavation, or participating in it, may be held financially responsible for accidents that might occur to participants. Please send a photocopy of your insurance card or policies to us along with your registration form, otherwise we will not be able to accept your application.
  


• Language
  The official languages of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic. English  is widely spoken, and occasionally French, German and Russian.
  The main language at the excavation will be English.


• Religion
  The Holy Land is a center of Judaism and Christianity and Islam. There are several synagogues close to Beit Shmuel. Christ Church holds services on Saturday, since we are working on Sundays, but one can attend church in the afternoons.
  
  Please remember that modest dress is required if you visit religious sites or neighborhoods. Modest dress implies covering your shoulders, midrift, thighs and knees. In some cases you will need to have a head covering or skullcap.


• Security
  The Middle East can sometimes be a dangerous place, but places like Jerusalem are relatively safer than some urban locations in the States or in Europe. What you see on television does not necessarily correspond with real life. Hence, although one can not ignore the fact that there are dangers, this should not prevent you from considering coming to the dig. Safety issues will be dealt with by members of our staff on site, and we will indicate to you various places, modes of transportation, or gathering places which we can advise you about.


• Time Zone
  UTC/GMT +2 hours
  


• Transportation to Jerusalem
  You will be arriving at Ben Gurion Airport International Airport. The easiest way to get to Jerusalem and to your hotel is to take a Nesher sherut (service) taxi, a minibus seating 10 persons, which will bring you all the way to your doorstep. The cost from the airport to your hotel in Jerusalem is 45 Shekels. The Nesher sherut taxis only leave when they are full, but since Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, you should not find any problem in getting there any time of night or day. Another possibility is to take a private taxi, but this could cost you anything from 200 to 250 Shekels. For private taxis, you should always agree on a price before you set out, and always ask for a receipt.


• Visa
  When entering Israel your passport needs to be valid for at least a six month period. Citizens of most EU countries and from the US will receive an automatic three-month visa on arrival. You can find a complete list of the nationalities which do not require a visa for Israel at http://www.israel-embassy.org.uk/web/pages/visa.htm. For more details, please contact a local Israeli Embassy.
  
  If you have been to Arabic countries (apart from Egypt and Jordan) and have a stamp in your passport, you may undergo extremely tight security checks. You might want to check with your local Israeli Embassy to see whether this will be a problem, or whether you should get a new passport. If you intend to visit Arab countries after being in Israel, we would advise you to get a separate slip with your visa stamped on arrival in Israel which will be attached to your passport.


• What to bring with you
  Since you are going to be on an excavation, we would suggest clothing and accessories appropriate for the digging experience. The most important thing is to keep hydrated!! Bring your own, personal water bottle, that can be refilled, and remember to drink regularily; not just when you are thirsty. You also need a good hat, with a wide brim. You also should have a pair of working boots going over your ankle, if possible. Sneakers are acceptable, sandals absolutely not! As for other working clothes, bring something you feel comfortable in but don`t mind getting thoroughly dirty. Long trousers are a better protection, but some people feel comfortable working in shorts too. We will be digging in Jerusalem, and groups of people will be passing by, so think about apropriate clothing. Bring a strong, high factor, sunblock. Perhaps bring your own personal working gloves and kneepads.
  
  Think about additional sets of clothes, a warmer set of clothes would be advised for the spring nights of March, and shorts and t-shirts  for the summer months. Keep in mind that there are a lot of religious sites in Israel, and that these require that you wear modest clothing, i.e. no shorts or bare shoulders.
  
  Don`t forget your camera and sunglasses.