Have a Question? We're Here to Help!

We totally understand that joining a trip to the other side of the world is a big deal, and we want to reassure you, and make you feel safe. Hundreds of Jews like yourself have joined Justifi and had an amazing experience.

We have put together most of the questions they have asked before applying, confirming, and the trip itself. (Trust me, there have been plenty) so why don't you poke around? See if your questions have been answered, and in case they haven't please email us at office@justifi.org and we will get back to you!

 
  • Justifi Trips
    • What is the application deadline?
      • Justifi trips are filled on a rolling basis and participants are accepted on a first-come, first-accepted basis. Historically, trips have filled up 4 weeks prior to the start date, so we recommend applying as early as possible to request your spot. Your spot is confirmed by paying a deposit for the trip of your choice.
    • Does Justifi offer scholarships?
      • As a small non-profit organization, we unfortunately do not have any need-based scholarships that we can offer to you, but are happy to help you raise funds by using tools like GoFundMe.com (See our fundraising page for details). Just like your friends who run marathons, bike races, or take up their own cause, you too can fundraise for your program to offset the trip costs. Some participants report that it makes the experience more rewarding knowing that they needed to work a bit to make the program a reality.
    • Is there a Jewish component to the trips?
      • Justifi proudly welcomes Jews of all backgrounds and we maintain an environment that is open and accepting of all people. We offer opportunities to celebrate Shabbat together as a community and have regular conversations and seminars on tikkun olam (building a better world), inner calm, personal growth, and Jewish values.
    • Can Justifi help me with my flights?
      • International flights are generally NOT included in the trip program cost and participants are responsible for their own transportation to that country. This allows participants to arrange their own travel to arrive early, stay later, find great deals, and even book their flights using points and frequent flyer miles. For some travelers this can be a point of stress, but, don’t worry, Justifi has a recommended travel agent that we work with who can help arrange travel for you. Each destination has its own arrival instructions that will be sent to you upon acceptance.
      • Beyond that flight ticket, Justifi takes care of the rest: all the other transportation costs between countries (including flights) are included in the program fees. Note that acquiring a Visa in advance (if necessary) is your responsibility.
    • Do I need to purchase travel insurance?
      • All Justifi Trip participants are required to purchase travel insurance that covers them in the event of injury or hospitalization while abroad.
    • Do I need a travel visa, vaccinations, or COVID-19 certification?
      • You are responsible to arrange and pay for any relevant visas. Check out Visa HQ for further information on visas.

      • We're not doctors so we can't give specific advice on vaccines, so we recommend that participants follow the health guidelines set out by the CDC and to speak to your personal health care provider.

      • Detailed pre-trip preparation instructions including details pertaining to COVID-19 testing and certification will be sent to you upon acceptance to the program which will cover any country-specific requirements.
        • If your destination requires a negative result from a PCR test in order to enter the country, you will be responsible to schedule and pay for this test on your own prior to travel.
        • If your itinerary requires a PCR test prior to returning home, Justifi will make scheduling arrangements and cover the cost of this test.
    • How large are the trips?
      • Trip size may vary, but generally our programs are between 10 - 20 participants and include 2 - 3 members of staff.
    • Who staffs the programs?
      • Each trip is run by trained Justifi educators and facilitators. Along with our back-office team, we've scoped out the best places to stay and have worked tirelessly to design a program that is both exciting and meaningful for you. In addition, we have local staff in each country to help with the ins-and-outs of daily life.
    • What is the cancellation policy (refund schedule)?
      • Your trip deposit is refundable for 48 hours while you look at flights, after which point it is non-refundable. If your plans change and space allows, we will happily transfer your deposit towards a future trip of your choosing, subject to a $150 rebooking fee.

      • Final trip payments are due two months prior to travel (unless a payment plan has been arranged) are not refundable. The best way to protect yourself against unexpected travel conflicts, emergencies, or trip interruption is to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes a CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) policy.

      • In the unlikely event that Justifi needs to cancel your trip or change program start dates in a way that makes it impossible for you to participate, we will refund your entire program cost or accommodate you as best we can onto another Justifi program of your choosing.
  • Justifi Vistas
    • Is Justifi Vistas for me?
      • We're seeking bright, talented, and idealistic Jewish young professionals and college students between the ages of 20 - 38 who are working or studying remotely and have a sincere interest in exploring the world. We LOVE people from diverse backgrounds and experiences and believe that everyone – from analysts to artists, software engineers to graphic designers, and CPAs to entrepeneurs – have something important to offer on our programs. We'd love to meet you for an interview and learn more about you. Ultimately, it's the unique quality and character of our participants that make each trip such a thrill.
    • What is the fee structure and exactly how much does Vistas cost?

        This program has 3 fees:

        1. Deposit and Registration ($3500)
        2. Health Service & Insurance ($1000)
        3. Destination Fee (differs per country):

        Fee

        Due Date

        Amount

        Non-Refundable Deposit

        Upon acceptance

        $500

        Registration Fee

        2 months prior to travel

        $3000

        Health Service & Insurance Fee

        2 months prior to travel

        TBD

        Turkey Destination Fee

        2 weeks prior to arriving in Turkey

        $3000

        United Kingdom Destination Fee

        2 weeks prior to arriving in the UK

        $3250

        Rwanda Destination Fee

        2 weeks prior to arriving in Rwanda

        $2600

        United Arab Emirates Destination Fee

        2 weeks prior to arriving in the UAE

        $2900

        Israel Destination Fee

        2 weeks prior to arriving in Israel

        $3250
    • Do I need to participate for all 5 months?
      • There is a 3 consecutive destination minimum to join Justifi Vistas. You'll only need to pay the Destination Fees for the countries you visit but the Registration Fee cannot be lowered. Also note that we plan on adding additional countries (after Israel)... stay tuned!
    • What happens at the end of the 5 months?
      • We plan on adding additional countries (after Israel) and you are invited to continue your journey onward with us! The only additional fee will be the Destination fees of each new country of approximately $3000.
    • Does Justifi offer scholarships?
      • As a small non-profit organization, we unfortunately do not have any need-based scholarships that we can offer to you, but are happy to help you raise funds by using tools like GoFundMe.com (See our fundraising page for details). Just like your friends who run marathons, bike races, or take up their own cause, you too can fundraise for your program to offset the trip costs. Some participants report that it makes the experience more rewarding knowing that they needed to work a bit to make the program a reality.
    • Can Justifi help me with my flights?
      • International flights to and from the initial destination are NOT included in the trip program cost and participants are responsible for their own transportation to that country. This allows participants to arrange their own travel to arrive early, stay later, find great deals, and even book their flights using points and frequent flyer miles. For some travelers this can be a point of stress, but don’t worry Justifi has a recommended travel agent that we work with who can help arrange travel for you. Each destination has its own arrival instructions that will be sent to you upon acceptance.
      • Beyond that flight ticket, Justifi takes care of the rest: all the other transportation costs between countries (including flights) are included in the program fees. Note that acquiring a Visa in advance (if necessary) is your responsibility.
    • Do I need a travel visa, vaccinations, or COVID-19 certification?
      • You are responsible to arrange and pay for any relevant visas. Check out Visa HQ for further information on visas.

      • We're not doctors so we can't give specific advice on vaccines, so we recommend that participants follow the health guidelines set out by the CDC and to speak to your personal health care provider.

      • Detailed pre-trip preparation instructions including details pertaining to COVID-19 testing and certification will be sent to you upon acceptance to the program which will cover any country-specific requirements.
        • If your destination requires a negative result from a PCR test in order to enter the country, you will be responsible to schedule and pay for this test on your own prior to travel.
        • If your itinerary requires a PCR test prior to returning home, Justifi will make scheduling arrangements and cover the cost of this test.
  • General Questions
    • When was Justifi founded?
      • Justifi was founded in 2009 by Rabbi Jamie Cowland and his wife, Ilana Cowland. Since then, we have run more than 75 programs and engaged over a thousand participants.
    • Are Justifi trips safe?
      • Justifi has been running safe, exciting programs for Jewish college students, young professionals and other adults since 2010 and consider the safety of our participants, staff and partners to be our highest priority. COVID-19 has presented unique challenges around the world and Justifi operates under the strict guidelines of each of our host countries. While there is, of course, some inherent risk in any travel activity, we take ample precautions to follow best practices on the ground to ensure the safety of our participants.
    • Are the trip costs tax-deductible?
      • Although we are non-profit organization, your trip expenses do not count as a "charitable donation" and are most likely not tax-deductible.

      • If you spend time working during a Justifi program, it may be possible to "write-off" some of the costs as business expenses just as you write-off the expenses of your home office. Contact your accountant for more information.

      • Many of our participants choose to independently fundraise portions of their program costs using tools such as GoFundMe. Because these campaigns are managed independently by the participants to cover their program fees, we are not able to issue tax receipts to your donors.

      • Disclaimer: As non-professionals in the matters of taxation, we cannot offer specific advice in these areas and this information should not be used as the sole source for making personal tax-related or personal financial decisions. Please consult a professional if you have additional questions.

FAQS ABOUT DESTINATIONS:

Justifi programs are for Jews of any denomination who strive to practice Tikkun Olam, by building a better world, not simply imagining one. Our trips provide the opportunity for Jews to move beyond apathy or feelings of outrage into real time solutions for issues facing our world.

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