Have a question that’s not in here? Feel free to contact us.
Have a question that’s not in here? Feel free to contact us.
“Where will I stay? Is there wifi and a laundry room?” These questions and more are answered here in full detail.
Ages 21-32.
If it’s a good fit in every other way, we won’t hold your exact date of birth against you. After applying, there is a personal phone interview where we swap questions and find out together if this program is right for you. If you are under 20, please do not apply but keep us in mind for the future.
We are a non-denominational organization offering Jewish identity programs with an emphasis on community service, nature, hiking, and spirituality. Our alumni walk in all streams of Jewish life and you can read a few of their stories here.
A typical day starts with a community breakfast and a discussion of the day’s newscast and current events in Israel. You’ll either set out on an all-day hike, trekking and exploring the majestic scenery of Northern Israel (including waterfalls and ancient Jewish communities) or getting involved in a meaningful community service activity and an evening seminar or workshop on issues of Jewish spirituality, traditions and values, Kabbalistic art, and other subjects of interest. You’ll experience a traditional Shabbat in Tzfat with local Israelis, which is unparalleled and world-renowned. You are also given free time to explore the cobblestone alleyways of Tzfat on your own and meet the neighbors.
The exact schedule varies based on the needs of the community (volunteer projects), group size and weather conditions. You’ll receive a copy at orientation on your day of arrival. Check out this sample schedule for an overview of what an average Mountains & Mystics Retreat looks like.
*Schedule is tentative and subject to change without notice
You can never have too many shoes, but that doesn’t mean you need to bring all of them with you on your Israel journey.
Click here for the list and details of what to pack (and what not to…).
Thanks to Livnot’s generous supporters we are able to offer our one-week Mountains & Mystics program for as little as $250. Tuition includes accommodations, 2 meals/day, hikes, activities, and workshops.
Full price | $750 |
Subsidies and scholarships | -$500 |
Actual cost to you | $250 |
Livnot U’Lehibanot works hard to acquire funding that allows us to subsidize this program. However, in cases where local Jewish Federations or other sponsoring organizations provide Livnot with a scholarship in the name of a specific participant, those funds will be used to cover the full program cost. Any additional funds after deducting the full program cost will be made available to the participant.
Every participant must have emergency medical coverage for the duration of the program. If you have your own policy from abroad, please provide proof of coverage. Otherwise, you will need to fill out additional forms and pay for insurance upon arrival to Tzfat (cost is $20/week). This policy covers accidents, injuries and illnesses, but not pre-existing medical conditions. View the full terms here.
Livnot U’Lehibanot (pronounced: leev-note oo-leh-hee-bah-note) is Hebrew for ‘To Build and Be Built.’ The name refers to the physical volunteering and creative learning process on which all of our programs are based, which is that you can best discover and build up yourself by helping and building up others. We bring this philosophy to life mostly through volunteer activities with local Israelis and community bonding with your fellow participants.
Yes, Livnot U’Lehibanot is a tax deductible organization in Israel: Seif 46 File #: 580069912. American Friends of Livnot U’Lehibanot is a 501(c)(3) tax deductible organization: Tax ID #: 13-3500786
Our programs are geared for a slightly older, young adult, crowd. Check with your local Jewish Federation for ideas on suitable Israel programs.
We work in cooperation with many other non-profit and social service organizations in and around Tzfat to volunteer as a group where help is most needed. In the past 42 years, we have been renovating apartments of the disabled or disadvantaged, creating green spaces, working in food/clothing banks, absorption center for Ethiopian immigrants, preserving 16th century archaeological discoveries, the senior living center, child development center at Ziv Hospital, and much more. Participants do not pick individual projects, rather we work in a group, as a team, in the places that most need our help during the program dates.
Stumped the FAQ? Great! We love questions. Write to us here.