Frequently Asked Questions
What is BJE March of the Living Program and who participates
in this experience?
BJE March of the Living is part
of the single largest Jewish educational program for teens in the world. The March brings thousands of Jewish teens
from all over the world to Poland
for the week surrounding Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) and then to Israel, for a week surrounding Yom Haatzmaut (Israel
Independence Day).
What is the program fee and what kind of financial aid and
grants are available?
The fee for this unique program,
including round-trip travel from Los Angeles, room and board, tuition and
varied social and cultural programs is $5,795.* This is a subsidized rate,
through a generous grant from the Jewish Federation. Please note that financial
assistance is available from various sources. The BJE March of the Living
experience is available to all Jewish teens, regardless of their family’s
financial status. There are individual subsidies
and grants, as well as need-based assistance available. Please check the box indicated in the on-line
application if you would like to receive more information.
What are the dates of the trip?
The dates of BJE March of the Living
2012 are: Departure from the U.S.A.:
April 16th and return from Israel: April 30th, 2012**
For whom (at what grade levels) is BJE March of the Living
appropriate?
BJE March of the Living is open to
students currently in grades 11 and 12.
Be aware that this program requires emotional maturity due to the
subject matter.
Does BJE March of the Living conflict with the 2012 AP
exams?
AP exams are scheduled to take place
from Monday, May 7th to May 18th, 2012. They do not conflict with the 2012 March of
the Living.
How do I apply for BJE March of the Living?
Potential BJE Los Angeles participants must apply online. Each delegation’s forms and procedures are
specific – please do not register or apply through any other delegation’s
website or through the March of the Living International office website,
otherwise participant’s risk their applications being lost or misplaced.
How do I get excused from my public school classes to
participate?
Contact Monise Neumann for a letter that can be given to your school
counselor that details the BJE March of the Living experience. If there are
further questions, a school official can contact her directly at (323)
761-8613.
Is security a program concern?
Security and safety are a high
priority throughout the March.
What religious practices or expectations are there; is the
food Kosher?
The program is set up to accommodate
the religious needs of all its participants. All food in Poland and Israel is certified kosher.
What are the requirements for acceptance to this program?
Completed application and all
supporting documentation which you will receive, i.e., medical forms, releases
and standards of behavior; plus a letter of recommendation, a personal
interview and the student’s attendance at ALL
Orientation Sessions that will take place in the months prior to the trip, must
all be received or completed as will be indicated, in timely fashion.
Acceptance to BJE March of the Living, upon completion of these requirements,
is at the discretion of the Program Director.
What kind of staffing is provided?
The staff accompanying the students includes
doctors, social worker/psychologist, educators, counselors, and Holocaust
survivors.
What is the itinerary for the program?
The itinerary varies, but typically
includes a week in Poland
visiting Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz and Birkenau,
Majdanek and Lublin.
The week in Israel, commemorating Yom Hazikaron (Israel Memorial Day) and
celebrating Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day), includes visits to places
of historical and contemporary significance.
Is this a really depressing trip?
We have found that visiting the
sites in Poland, while filled with emotion, is also quite uplifting and
affecting in very positive ways, because there are thousands of Jewish teens
from all over the world experiencing it together. A mental health professional accompanies
the group. The Israel portion of the trip is
powerful and inspiring, and students come away from BJE March of the Living
knowing that they have experienced a life-changing event.
Will I still be eligible for Birthright Israel if I
participate in BJE March of the Living?
You can participate in the
Birthright Israel
Program when you are between the ages of 22 – 26 years old.
If I have additional questions or concerns, whom should I
contact?
You can contact Monise Neumann, Director, BJE March of the Living,
at (323) 761-8613 .
You may also contact either Maya Cohen at (323) 761-8611, or Linda Taylor at (323) 761-8635 .
*Cost is subject to change
up to 5%.
**Subject to slight
modifications.