Israeli Intensive Program Registration

.כדי לגשת לגרסה העברית של דף זה, לחץ על אנגלית בפינה הימנית העליונה ובחר בעברית

In order to access the Hebrew version of this page, click on "English" above and select "Hebrew."

About Encounter’s Intensive Programs

The Intensive is a program for a select cross-section of Jewish leaders grappling with the Israeli-Palestinian reality in general, and specifically following October 7th events and the war that followed them. The experience includes membership in a cohort of colleagues, pre- and post-travel programming, and a four-day trip to East Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Through cohort support and ongoing staff engagement, Encounter strengthens Jewish leaders to activate their own leadership once they return to their home communities.

 

What This Program Is & What It Is Not

In our experience, it is helpful for us to clarify what this program is and what it is not for participants in advance, as many people have preconceived notions of what a program bringing Jews to meet with Palestinians might be. Please do not hesitate to follow up with questions or let us know if anything below is not clear.

This program is a unique opportunity to:

• Encounter the stories, political experiences, life perspectives, and views of a diverse array of Palestinian leaders and community members, face-to-face.
• Listen to and learn from Palestinians, while witnessing a brief snapshot of their lives.
• Listen to, and learn from our group, and from one another.
• Dialogue (before, during, and after travel) with fellow Jewish leaders who, like you, are concerned with the future of the region and of the Jewish people.
• Participate in a vital and missing but non-comprehensive program designed to complement Jewish and Israel education, not replace it or serve as a substitute to existing educational programs.

We are inviting you to learn about Palestinians’ lives and experiences from Palestinians themselves, in their own voices and in their own communities. We are also inviting you to encounter various Jewish perspectives from the experiences of your cohort members. We ask you to hold what you hear alongside what you already know about the conflict, and alongside what you will continue to learn after this program. We are explicitly not asking you to abandon what you already know or believe about the conflict.

This program is not:

• Formal dialogue between Jews and Palestinians.
• An attempt to provide a neutral or all-encompassing perspective on the conflict.

 

Presence:

In order for this program to be successful and allow a deep process in a short time, we ask your full presence during the 4 days of the seminar including the nights.
Participation in this program requires you to pay a 2000 NIS that will serve as deposit , and will be fully returned to all participants who successfully complete the program as detailed in the participation agreement attached at the end of the registration form. After completing the registration and fillany approving your participation you will receive an email with additional information about the program and the pre-program preparation.

For your information, completing this form takes approximately 15 minutes. It is impossible to save the form before completing it. In the part where you are asked to write short essays, we recommend that you save your responses on your computer, to avoid loss of information in case of a technical problem.

 

We are grateful that you are considering accepting Encounter’s invitation to join a Leadership Seminar.  

Our priority is your safety and well-being.

The nature of Encounter’s work can generate emotional discomfort, and there may be risks associated with taking part in our program if you suffer from a mental health condition.

Out of an abundance of caution and care for your safety and well being we recommend, and in some cases require, prospective network members to:

Consult with a mental health professional regarding your participation in this experience and get sign off that you are cleared for participation 
Consider delaying your participation until a further date if this life moment is not one in which you feel confident in your capacity to take part safely from a mental health standpoint.

If you have been diagnosed (formally or not) with, or suspect that you may have, a mental health condition (including but not limited to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, or other stress-related disorders), if you have been experiencing significant stress in your life, or if you are grieving for any reason we urge you to delay your participation until a time you are confident you are resilient enough to enter into what might be an emotionally triggering experience. 

In no uncertain terms: Encounter’s staff are not mental health professionals. We are neither trained nor equipped to diagnose or treat emotional discomfort, nor to provide professional mental health support. 

Encounter staff and Encounter Programs assumes no liability or responsibility for mental health issues that network members may experience as part of joining this experience. 

By registering, you affirm that you have read all of the above and that you believe you are mentally and emotionally fit to join this program. You acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your mental fitness for this program and you have cleared and discussed this with the relevant people in your life including but not limited to your medical and psychological health providers and people closest to you. 

If you accept all of the above, sign here that you release Encounter and each of the organization's team members, members of the board, speakers, and suppliers from responsibility regarding your mental state following your participation in the program. 

I, the undersigned , on behalf of myself, my agents, heirs, executors, and assigns hereby knowingly and voluntarily agree not to sue and agree to release Encounter Programs, all related corporations, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensees, subsidiaries, consultants, independent contractors, insurers, representatives, heirs, assigns, and affiliates (collectively the "Organization" or “Encounter”) from any and all liability, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, including property damage, personal injuries, or other claims, arising from or in connection with my voluntary activity while participating as a Program Participant in Encounter’s field program(s).  I am voluntarily participating in the field program(s), intensive(s) and/or meeting(s) and travelling to various areas within Israel and surrounding areas of the Middle East (the “Field Programs”).  My participation in the Field Program(s) is not related to employment and I am a Program Participant solely on a voluntary basis.  Such participation may include my travel through and presence in dangerous areas.

I AGREE TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY RISK, KNOWN AND UNANTICIPATED, OF BODILY INJURY, EMOTIONAL INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO MY VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN THE FIELD PROGRAM(S).

• I agree that I am a voluntary Program Participant and I understand the potential risks associated with my participation in the Field Program(s).
  
  
• I agree that any time spent as a Program Participant is completely voluntary.
  
  
• I agree to abide by all rules, guidelines, policies or codes of behavior, as required by the Organization.
  
  
• I agree that through this form, I voluntarily agree to assume all risks associated with my activity as a Program Participant and my participation in the Field Programs.

I agree to indemnify and hold harmless Encounter from any loss, liability, damage, or cost it may incur arising out of or related to my voluntary activity as a Program Participant whether caused by my negligence or otherwise. Should Encounter, or anyone acting on its behalf, be required to incur attorneys’ fees or costs to enforce this Agreement, I agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs.

AT THE TIME OF CONSIDERING OR EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT, I WAS NOT AFFECTED OR IMPAIRED BY ILLNESS, USE OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR OTHER SUBSTANCES OR OTHERWISE IMPAIRED. I AM COMPETENT TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT.

I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT, ASSURANCE OR GUARANTEE BEING MADE TO ME AND INTEND MY SIGNATURE TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

We are excited that you will be joining Encounter's Israeli Leaders Program. In order to confirm your participation, we ask that you read and agree to the following.

Before completing this page, please download and review:

• Terms of Participation & Cancellation Policy
  
  
• Safety & Security Appendix
  
  
• Code of Conduct

Participation in all components of the Encounters seminar is mandatory and consist of:

• Two preparation sessions before the trip (face-to-face meeting in Jerusalem and a virtual meeting), reading preparation, holding a telephone/virtual meeting, and completing a preliminary survey for the trip.  

• Four-day seminar in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, from Monday morning to Thursday evening, requiring full participation without departure or absence.

• Two summary and processing meetings (virtual meeting and face-to-face meeting in Jerusalem), a group follow-up meeting in Jerusalem about 8-months after the program, and completion of a feedback form.