“When a free Shabbat or a long break is coming up, I want to know where I (or my child) will sleep and eat and who's responsible, so I can plan ahead and not be stuck at the last minute.”
"In" and "out" Shabbatot
Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) runs from Friday before sundown until Saturday night. Programs usually split the year's Shabbatot into two kinds.
- An "in" Shabbat. Students stay at the program, or go on a group trip together, with meals and staff provided. Attendance is often required.
- An "out" Shabbat, sometimes called a free or off Shabbat. Students make their own plans. Depending on the program, the dorm and dining room may be open, partly open or closed.
The mix differs a lot between programs. Some keep students in most weeks. Others send them out most weeks and see it as part of the year.
Non-Orthodox gap-year programs often handle weekends differently, with apartments that stay open and optional activities. The same questions about meals and staffing still apply.
Where students go
- Relatives. If you have family in Israel, tell them before the year starts that you'd love to come. A standing invitation is the easiest plan there is.
- Family friends and people from your home community who now live in Israel.
- A teacher's or staff member's home. Many invite students, and some programs organize this.
- Friends' families, or a friend at another program that has an in Shabbat with room for guests.
- Host families arranged by the program. Many programs keep a list or have a staff member who places students.
- Staying in the dorm, where that's allowed.
Parents: make a list of every relative and friend in Israel, with phone numbers, before the flight. Message them yourself to make the introduction. Students are much more likely to call someone who's expecting to hear from them.
Plan early, including the trip back
- At the start of each month, mark the out Shabbatot and decide where you'd like to be for each.
- Ask your hosts early, by midweek at the latest. A week ahead is better, and holidays need more notice.
- If you have nowhere to go by Wednesday, tell the staff member in charge of placements. Don't wait until Friday.
- Check how you'll get there and when the last bus or train leaves. Public transportation stops on Friday afternoon, and earlier in winter. See getting around Israel.
- Plan the return on Saturday night and make sure it fits your curfew.
- Sign out the way your program requires, with the host's name, address and phone number.
How to be a good guest
- Confirm a day or two before, and say when you expect to arrive. Arrive well before Shabbat starts.
- Mention food allergies or dietary needs when you're invited, not at the table.
- Bring something small: a snack, a dessert, flowers or a note. If you bring food, ask the host what kosher certification they use.
- Follow the house's customs, including how they keep Shabbat and how people dress, even if yours are different.
- Come to meals on time, join the conversation and offer to help serve and clear.
- Send a thank-you message after Shabbat. Hosts remember who did.
The long breaks
Several times a year the regular schedule stops for a week or more. Yeshivas call the main breaks bein hazmanim (בֵּין הַזְּמַנִּים), which means "between the terms". Seminaries and gap-year programs have breaks at similar points, though the lengths differ.
- Sukkot (סֻכּוֹת), in the fall. In many yeshivas the break runs from after Yom Kippur to the end of the holiday.
- Chanukah (חֲנֻכָּה), in December. Some programs give a few days off or a shorter schedule. Many give none.
- Pesach (פֶּסַח), in the spring. This is usually the longest break, often starting a week or more before the holiday.
- Shorter pauses around Purim and Shavuot, depending on the program.
Here are the holiday dates for the next two academic years. Each holiday begins at sundown the evening before the first date shown.
- 2026-27: Rosh Hashana September 12-13, 2026. Yom Kippur September 21. Sukkot September 26 to October 2, followed by Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah on October 3. Chanukah from the evening of December 4 through December 12. Purim March 23, 2027 (March 24 in Jerusalem). Pesach April 22-28, 2027. Shavuot June 11, 2027.
- 2027-28: Rosh Hashana October 2-3, 2027. Yom Kippur October 11. Sukkot October 16-22, followed by Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah on October 23. Chanukah from the evening of December 24, 2027 through January 1, 2028. Purim March 12, 2028 (March 13 in Jerusalem). Pesach April 11-17, 2028. Shavuot May 31, 2028.
These are the dates as kept in Israel, where Pesach is seven days and Shavuot is one. Outside Israel each lasts a day longer, which matters if a student flies home. These are holiday dates only. The dates a program actually closes and reopens are set by the program, so get its calendar before booking anything.
Do the dorms stay open?
It varies, and you have to ask. Some programs keep dorms and a kitchen open through every break. Some close completely and expect students to leave. Some stay open with no meals and minimal staff. The answer can differ between Sukkot and Pesach at the same program, because buildings are often cleaned or rented out for Pesach.
Flying home mid-year
Many students fly home for Pesach. Some go for Sukkot or a family event, and others stay all year. Check these before buying a ticket.
- The program's exact last day and return day. Some programs strongly discourage leaving early or coming back late.
- Whether the program has a policy on going home at all, particularly in the first months.
- Visa terms. Make sure the student's visa allows leaving and re-entering Israel. See visas and paperwork.
- Cost. Holiday flights fill up and are expensive. Include it when you plan in paying for the year.
- Health insurance while the student is out of Israel. See health insurance and medical care.
What parents should ask about supervision
During breaks, a program's responsibility for students often changes. Ask directly, before enrolling if you can.
- Is the program responsible for students during breaks, or are they on their own?
- Is a staff member reachable by phone at all hours during breaks and out Shabbatot?
- Does the program know where each student is sleeping? Is sign-out required during breaks?
- Who helps a student who has nowhere to go?
- Are meals available for students who stay?
- What are the rules on overnight trips, hiking and travel within Israel or abroad during breaks?
- How will parents be told about the break schedule, and how far ahead?
You can line up the answers from different programs when you compare programs side by side. If a student finds the breaks lonely, that's common. See when things get hard.
Common questions
- What if my child has no relatives in Israel?
- That's very common, and programs expect it. Ask how the program places students for out Shabbatot and holidays, whether there's a staff member in charge of it, and whether students can stay in the dorm when they have nowhere to go.
- How far ahead should I ask a host?
- For a regular Shabbat, ask by midweek at the latest, and a week ahead is better. For holidays, ask several weeks ahead, because hosts fill up.
- Do students have to leave the dorm for Pesach?
- At some programs yes, at others no. It's one of the most important things to ask, because it decides whether the student needs a flight home or a place to stay for two weeks or more.
- Should we book the Pesach flight early?
- Get the program's official break dates first, then book. Booking against holiday dates alone can leave the student missing required days or stuck in a closed dorm.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Rules and dates change, so confirm with the program or the official source before acting.