Tel Aviv University International students volunteering and support group

I want to learn it with someone  ULPAN TAU https://international.m.tau.ac.il/Intensive_Hebrew_Ulpan ULPAN off-campus On the internet there are a lot of providers! Ask recommendations for the best ones. At times it is more advantageous to learn off campus, because of the price or the easy reach of the physical place if you live in the city. Here's the website of TA municipality, which gives some options. Here's the website of a nice company with lots of options. Private mentors : They are spread across the internet or the boards around the University. Ask around, someone always knows one of these guys! Scholarship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (either Hebrew and Arabic) https://www.gov.il/en/service/scholarships_application_for_academic_studies_in_israel I want to learn it by myself Recommended textbook: "Hebrew with pleasure" available in the bookshops and in different languages.  Websites https://www.teachmehebrew.com/ https://www.hebrewpod101.com/ https://w...

 Being a newcomer in Tel Aviv is not so straightforward, especially when you start dealing with the issues from abroad.  First of all, once you manage to apply to a lab and to subscribe to the University, you should also be proactive in starting your research on accommodation and survival means for the very next days of your staying.  Basically, except for a few specific services, you need to be in the state to settle things down. The first necessary issues are the: -Visa-->check on our dedicated webpage   and TAU international official webpage   -bank account --> check on our dedicated webpage   -telephone company --> check on our dedicated webpage -insurance--> check on TAU international official webpage   It is extremely advisable to get the student/working visa before you come to the state, alongside the health insurance, necessary to get the visa. TAU international office will be completely available for assistance (check on  http...

 Dear all, with a large amount of pleasure, we announce that we had the first meeting of the Research Student Senate Committee, a group of graduate students (PhD and Post-doc) willing to actively contribute to the issues relating to the international students of TAU. Our focus is to bridge the institutional body of TAU and the single foreign researcher, to boost the sense of community, to provide activities and events that will open your mind and body to different cultures and to the local culture as well, in the attempt of an easy and pleasant integration in Tel Aviv. Today we spoke about what are the difficulties of the students before their first arrival in Tel Aviv, the housing problems, the organization of social activities, the reachability of services such as the insurance and the telephone companies. Now, we will meet once in a while and we will be your advocates, so feel free to reach us out on the Whatsapp group or on our email address for anything that you think it ...

LAST UPDATE(28.09.22): the visas expiring in this period are automatically elongated till the end of November 2022. This automatic extension DOES NOT entitle the multi entry stamp, which needs to be required via the Visa request form , linked below. Note that the ministry of interior does not accept anymore private appointment scheduling, therefore the appointment must be taken by going through TAU international office. Dear TAU community , We hope this email finds you well. As many of you know, The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently on strike, meaning some Israeli consulates/embassies around the world are not issuing visas, and the Ministry of Interior in Israel is overwhelmed by visa requests. We are aware of the inconvenience this causes our incoming and current students, and we are working hard to try and find solutions to each case. In order to provide support, we are collecting information from our students and scholars, regarding their visa situation. If you are ...

As you might know, the visa situation is still uncertain and there is no expected date on which there will be some normalization. Nevertheless, here we present some issues and their answers, according to the interview we did today to Tamar, one of the responsible people for the international students. My visa is about to expire, what should I do? At this moment, the current guidelines state that your visa can be ELONGATED for other 3 months. The elongation is automatic, there is no need to take action or to go to the Ministry of the Interior. Probably a SMS will notify you of the elongation of the visa on the behalf of the Ministry. IMPORTANT: in this case, you are not entitle to the multiple entry mode, which means that once you leave Israel, you will need a new visa to return. I am travelling in the next months, and my visa is expiring. What should I do? In this case, knowing in advance that you will need a Multiple entry permit, you need to schedule an appointment at the Ministry of...

* the information provided below is taken literally from the file "driving_license_conversion_instructions_updated" from Weizmann institute Can I drive in Israel, provided that I have a license?  It is possible to drive in Israel with a valid foreign license for a period of up to one year from the date of the first entry into Israel.  After the year ends, it is not possible to drive with the foreign license, and therefore if you wish to drive in Israel the license must be converted within 5 years after your first arrival.  If 5 years have passed since your first arrival to Israel (even for a short period) you will be required to pass a driving conversion test. What happens if I drive with my license after 1 year? If you are driving with your foreign driver’s license at a time when you are forbidden to drive in Israel, the law defines you as one driving without a driver’s license who may be prosecuted in court and who may even face time in prison or be disqualified from g...

 From the suggestions we caught in the chat, people recommend these following places: 1) איי לאב פון - רמת אביב  (I love phone - Ramat aviv) Tel: 077-652-2222 https://maps.app.goo.gl/uacrxScPWgg8YFHW9 2) צ׳יינג׳ יגאל רמת אביב” “CHANGE MONEY” Tel: 03-643-7746 https://maps.app.goo.gl/JEyv2GCt67thtFTz6 3) Inside the Ramat aviv mall, there are stand in the main corridors who can sell sim card as well Also, as stated in the 2022-2023 student's handbook (officially from TAU office)   TAU international office can offer you upon arrival a FREE SIM CARD charged for 10 days, with options for discounted profiles starting the 11th day. You can come to our office upon your arrival and collect it as soon as you enter campus, no need to schedule in advance (office hours are 09:00-15:00). And also, they recommend: Providers for International Customers: these companies may be slightly more expensive, but they cater specifically to short- and long-term international visitors. Some of them ...

 Any problem encountered with a computer belonging or connected to the university, should be addressed to the Computer division: WEBSITE:  https://ihelpdesk.tau.ac.il/ WHATSAPP: +972 55-240-8888  The website needs to be accessed by your TAU credentials and it is likely to be in hebrew. By clicking on the menu icon (up left), there will be four options. By clicking on the first one, you can change your details, among which the language you prefer. After the fields of the telephones, there is the Language option (שפה ). By changing it to "American" (אֲמֶרִיקָאִי), you will be able to use it in English. Each Faculty, then, as an internal division to contact: LIFE SCIENCES: lifeguard@tauex.tau.ac.il or  03-6407841.  The office is located in Sherman 117. Other faculties: if someone can share this information, we would be happy to update this page!

 In this period, travelling has become easier corona-wise speaking. Nevertheless, there are still some regulations and situations in charge that you might pay attention to. The check-in in Ben Gurion Airport in August is very slow due to the vacation period! The security check is so much accurate that you can take up to one hour to pass it through. I personally took an airplane on August the 1st and I was asked to open all of my cabin luggage, remove all of the items and having them checked with the probes (which takes long time). While leaving Israel, nothing specific is required, but when coming back, you are asked in the Airport of the State where you come from to fill the following form before boarding the plane. https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/ Once in Israel, everything flows without major challenges. An SMS from the MoH could be sent to you, recommending (not mandatory) to take a PCR test as soon as possible (not in the Airport).

You can find the security guidelines in case of attack by clicking or copy-paste this link:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mYYzRD_HNfunmuN2qA0sLM0p2m1vuvpX/view?usp=drivesdk   We recommend to keep it easy (don't panic)  and to follow carefully the guidelines. The madrichim are available for any help. Generally, they give guidance and update us with the situation whenever there is something dangerous happening as they monitor constantly the military and environmental situation in Israel. In case you need to monitor the situation yourself when rockets come about, you can Download the smartphone app Tzofar - Red alert Download for Apple Download for Android Also, check on the National Emergency Portal and its Apps, by clicking on this link .

 Dear Students and Faculty, I would like to apologize for the inordinate time it may have taken me to get back to you. Over the past months, issues relating to visas and insurance became extremely complicated due to a combination of factors, including the prolonged strike at the Israeli foreign ministry that limited the availability of consulates around the world, as well as the toll Covid continues to take on administrative efficiency in all offices we work with. Our most important priority is to support you as members of our community. In order to be able to address each request that came in, and to make sure none are left unattended, I would ask you to please do the following: 1) For both visa and insurance queries, please read carefully the updates included at the bottom of this email and follow up on the instructions relevant to your case. 2) In case you cannot find an answer below, or you need help with a more specific issue, please email me again (visains@tauex.tau.ac.il), a...

INSTRUCTION FROM 2022-2023 TAUi Online Handbook Student ID All students and researchers at TAU have an identification card and a personal ID number.  The ID number is required to login to all of TAU systems and to activate your TAU email account.  ID numbers for internationals are generated automatically by the TAU administration systems. You will  receive your ID number shortly before your program or upon your arrival (depending on program). Student cards are issued automatically to all students in TAU International degree programs, up to the  Master’s level. PhD students must fill an online form after arrival, and the card will be prepared within 1-2 weeks.  The form currently exists only in Hebrew; you are welcome to visit us at the international office so we can help you fill it out. Postdoctoral fellows can issue an ID card by filling out this form and sending it to the Research Students Study Abroad students will receive their ID cards upon arrival, during...

Dear TAU International community,   We hope that you are all doing well! We realize that many of you are currently struggling with different procedures regarding your visa. The purpose of this email is to clarify the current situation and guide you on the next steps in order to receive/extend your visa, whether you are in Israel or abroad. Please read these instructions carefully and follow them as they appear. Know that we are here to support you and are constantly working on making the processes quicker and easier for you. Visa Extension in Israel As many of you already know, all visas that were valid in March 2022 were automatically extended for 6 months, without exceptions. The extensions were updated in the Ministry of Interior systems, and it is not necessary to have them stamped on your passport while you are in Israel. If you are planning to go abroad and come back, you will need to get an official proof of the extension on your passport, this proof is called “re-entry perm...

 The university allows any PhD/Post-Doc student to apply for travel funding from the various advertised scholarships but also entitles each graduated STUDENT (regardless if they are Israeli or International) to use up to 1000$ as personal fund for travelling for conferences and activities related to their research. Please, refer to the following people for further information: Noga Weiss – Exact Sciences, Law faculties, 03-6406217, nogaweiss@tauex.tau.ac.il  Ronnie Navon Lipshitz – Engineering and Humanities faculties, 03-6406129, ronnienl@tauex.tau.ac.il  Dvora Melamed – Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Management faculties, 03-6406132, devorame@tauex.tau.ac.il  Liat Savyon – Medicine, Arts and Foreign Relations faculties, 03-6408632, liatsa@tauex.tau.ac.il  Linked here below there are the forms in English (both needed): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KPyZ-wZNpATBpT-mmDEf34a-_hzFSlgB/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RCIyrRFiaoWFUF5cwABPngwB...

 Each PhD adnd Post-doc is virtually entitled to be a TA in TAU, though there is some bureaucracy to be taken into account: It is favorable if your PI supports your intention to be a TA or asks for it. Frequently, it is required to be fluent in Hebrew but there are some exceptions. Being TA in TAU requires you to have a working visa. This means that you need a formal letter from TAUinternational Visa Office in order to change the visa. Your candidacy goes through the secretariat of the faculty and only when you get accepted you can move to change the visa and to set the paperwork that accounts for the new position. As a student, you don't pay taxes on your scholarship but you do pay taxes on your salary as TA (it is said to be 10%) Further info are here in this PDF --> see link How to monitor the payment for the salary: log into mytau and click on "personal information" and subsequently click on "Hilan Net" link (for courses Hilan-Net attendance and salary)....

 Here you have some tips and information to apply for the Schengen Visa, which includes all of the European countries and the other ones who have signed the Schengen agreements. Official Link:  https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/ The following notice is updated to May 2022 Foreigners need a Schengen visa to the enter the Schengen region.  For a visa application, you need to apply to the embassy of the country where you will spend the maximum time during the trip, irrespective of the point of entry. Eg. If you have a 7 day trip and you plan to spend 3 days in France and 4 days in Italy, you need to apply to the Italian embassy for the visa. The application procedure, time, cost and specifics usually vary for each embassy. You need to look up the exact details on their website/contact them via email. Usually, you'll need:  Flight tickets,  Travel insurance,  proof of accommodation  bank statements showing sufficient financial capacity + additional stuff. d...

First time coming to Israel If you are about to land or just landed in Israel, it is wise to get from your country hundred shekels or dollars. Alternatively, at the baggage pick-up room towards the exit of Ben Gurion Airport there is an ATM where you can get a sum of Shekels while waiting for a bank account.  What it is needed TIN number ( what is a TIN number? ) Passport Home country ID number you might be required to show proof of acceptance at the university and financial means to sustain yourself in Israel before you get your first scholarship/salary Choosing the bank Once you are settle down, it's time to open a bank account, the most important thing to make the rest of the bureaucracy work! WARNING: as of today, many banks accept their customers upon an appointment! Make sure you have your spot reserved. Names of the most popular banks: Bank Discount https://www.discountbank.co.il/DB/private Useful info: to transfer money outside Israel it is necessary to go personally to th...

Dear Campus Community, During the past week, a number of extremely worrying events occurred on campus and its surroundings. On Sunday, there was an assembly of Arab students at Entin Square to mark Nakba Day (off-campus). This assembly rapidly turned into a violent event, wherein extremists from both sides of the political barricade took part. This event, which was under the responsibility of the police, ended with the arrest of three Arab students. These events ignited further violent behaviors. In this way, an extremist group arrived at the environs of the students' dormitories on Tuesday night, called out racist slogans against Arabs, and dispersed only after reinforced police forces arrived on site. In parallel, the social networks were flooded with expressions of hate and incitement.Tension between Jews and Arabs is, unfortunately, not rare in Israel. Far be it from acceptable to us that this tension will become commonplace on campus. We are proud of Tel Aviv University being ...

 Official link  https://corona.health.gov.il/en/abroad/arriving-foreign-nationals/ Another link:  https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/airports/ben-gurion/notifications-and-updates-during-covid-19/

  Welcome to the first TAU international Volunteers-managed blog! This blog has been created to give complementary information to the graduated students of TAU and to create a community where we can share thoughts and information. This blog is not affiliated to any of the TAU services or bureaucratic apparatus and it is meant to be an informal tool where people can be updated, alongside the Whatsapp group and the informal word-of-mouth. Each student or post-doc is more than welcome to approach and participate in the creation of this blog, acting as a volunteer (with a little basic commitment) but also as an user, where they can collect any sort of information. All of the content posted on this blog is under the responsibility of the person who wrote it and posted it. UPDATE 06.11.23  Guidelines for the WhatsApp group  1.Respect & Kindness: Treat all members with respect and kindness. Be mindful of your tone and language.  2. Stay On Topic: Keep discussions releva...