General Info | Travel Tips | Jerusalem Tips | Directions to Kibbutz Gal-on | Brochure

Travel Tips Volunteer staff will need to purchase a 5 or 6 inch triangular Marshalltown trowel to use when excavating at Tel Zayit. Please adhere to the size and brand. You should be able to find one at your local hardware store. Don’t come without it! One of the best pieces of advice anyone can give you regarding international travel is to pack light! Less is often more, especially when it comes to clothing—remember, you’re the one who will have to carry what you bring. One medium to large suitcase should hold everything you’ll need. You will be allowed two carry-ons and a maximum of two checked bags. Each checked bag weighing over 70 pounds will incur an extra charge (normally a minimum of $75), which you will be responsible to pay at the airport, so don’t over pack! It would be wise to bring a day-pack as a carry-on, so that you can keep valuables such as your camera, wallet, passport, etc., with you while traveling, but also so that you will have something small in which to take a change of clothes for overnight weekend trips in Israel. Bring a change of clothes and any prescription medication in your carry-on, in case your luggage gets lost! If your health insurance does not cover you in Israel, you may purchase travel insurance at a very reasonable cost (around $100) for the length of your trip, but you must do this at the time you purchase your airline ticket, so plan ahead. The easiest way to access cash in Israel is by means of your ATM card. Alternatively, you may use the cash advance option on your credit card (deposit money in your credit card account prior to leaving for Israel to avoid high interest rates and cash advance charges). We strongly encourage you to prepare for both possibilities. (FYI: Banks will charge a fee for cashing Traveller’s Cheques; wiring money is slow and a hassle; personal checks are not universally accepted; and the excavation does not cash checks!). While the money spent on weekend travel, souvenirs, snacks, etc., varies from person to person, we recommend bringing at least $250 for personal expenses, including snacks at the kibbutz, laundry fees, etc. Bringing cash in small denominations will allow you to exchange only as much money as you need to at any given time and thereby take advantage of fluctuating exchange rates. Dollar bills are also handy for tips and emergencies (bring about 20 of them), and using U.S. currency or credit cards at hotels (for weekend travel) will save your paying the Value Added Tax. Sheruts (service taxis) sell seats at a fixed price or on an individual basis. These are also inexpensive and run frequently to and from the airport and between major cities. A sherut ride between the airport and Kibbutz Gal-’on costs $40–$50 (more on shabbat) split by the number of people in the sherut. Rental cars are readily available but can be quite expensive. The water in Israel is generally safe to drink and uncooked fruits and vegetables are safe to eat, but it isn’t uncommon for travelers there to come down with a case of the infamous shilshul (diarrhea). Bringing along some Immodium AD may help you get where you need to go! Israel runs on 220/240 volt current, so you’ll need to bring an adapter/converter kit for any small electrical appliances (blow dryer, curling iron, electric shaver, etc.) that don’t have a voltage switch. Make sure you get the correct prong shape and configuration for Israeli outlets. Please do not bring expensive jewelry, as the potential for it to become lost or stolen is significant! It’s a good idea not to dig wearing rings with gems set in them—leaving them at home is wisest. As a general rule, do not bring valuable items that would need to be insured. Simply stated, the weather will be hot. Still, you should bring at least one pair of long pants and a lightweight jacket or sweater. (You’ll find cotton and other breathable fabrics most comfortable.) Long pants and skirts are appropriate when visiting religious sites, and women should bring a large scarf to use as a shoulder or head covering. You may not be admitted without appropriate attire! The kibbutz will launder your clothes for you at a cost of 6 sheqels per kilo (about $3.00 per pound—$5.00–$10.00 per week). You may choose to wash lightweight items in your bathroom sink, in which case you should bring some laundry soap (Woolite or the like). Volunteers will need to bring a towel (or two) and washcloth. The kibbutz does have a large swimming pool, so one towel for showering and one for swimming could serve you well. If you have a chance to do some preliminary reading, check out some of the most recent issues of Biblical Archaeology Review, which includes wonderful photography and articles written for the lay person. The excavation will supply you with a syllabus, including reading and writing assignments, if you are registering for academic credit through Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Remember to leave your contact information with a friend or relative at home: Kibbutz Gal-’on Guest House and Seminar Centre, Doar Na Sde Gat, Israel 79555 (kibbutz office phone: 011-972-8-687-2410; youth hostel: 011-972-8-687-2548; fax 011-972-8-687-2677). Inform them that packages (not letters) will be difficult for you to get in Israel—and that you’ll have to pay to receive them! Also let them know that Israel is seven hours ahead of U.S. eastern daylight time (noon in New York is 7:00pm in Israel).   What To Bring Clothing and Accessories ___ Broad-brimmed Hat (a must!) ___ Sunglasses (a must!) ___ Digging shirts (1 long-sleeved) ___ “Dress”* shirts ___ Digging shorts ___ “Dress”* shorts ___ Long pants ___ Digging sneakers** ___ “Dress” shoes ___ Sandals ___ Underwear ___ Cotton socks (7 pairs) ___ Light jacket/sweater ___ One semi-dressy outfit* ___ Lightweight robe/cover-up ___ Bathing suit ___ Large scarf ___ Belt ___ Gardening gloves (optional) ___ Inexpensive jewelry & watch ___ Money belt/fanny pack   * In other words, to wear when not digging (dress in Israel is generally casual—no jackets or ties needed, men!) **Volunteers will not be permitted to dig barefoot or wearing sandals. You should bring shoes that have a flexible, durable sole, with uppers that breathe. Ankle support can also be helpful. Hiking boots are hot and heavy! Toiletries ___ Sunblock (a must!) ___ Hand/body lotion ___ Towel/washcloth (2) ___ Toothbrush ___ Toothpaste ___ Dental floss ___ Mouthwash ___ Retainer ___ Shampoo ___ Conditioner ___ Soap/body wash ___ Plastic flip-flops/water shoes (to wear in the shower) ___ Anti-perspirant ___ Hairbrush/comb ___ Hand-held mirror ___ Blow dryer ___ Curling iron ___ Fingernail clippers/scissors ___ Razors/electric shaver ___ Shaving cream ___ After shave ___ Q-tips ___ Blistex ___ Makeup ___ Hairbands/barrettes ___ Woolite ___ Feminine supplies ___ Immodium AD ___ Aspirin ___ Tums/Alka Seltzer ___ Cough drops ___ Decongestant/Antihistamine ___ Prescription medications ___ Vitamins ___ Bandaids ___ Body powder ___ Kleenex ___ Ear plugs ___ Eyeglasses (recommended over contacts for field work) ___ Eyeglass prescription (in case glasses or contacts need replacing in Israel) ___ Contacts ___ Contact cleaning items ___ Safety pins ___ Sewing kit Sundries ___ Trowel (a must!) ___ Camera/film (film is available but expensive to buy in Israel!) ___ Notebook ___ Paper ___ Blank book/journal ___ Pens/pencils ___ Textbooks/Bible ___ Pleasure reading materials ___ Day pack ___ Adapter kit ___ Travel alarm clock ___ Pocket knife ___ Address book ___ Stationery/envelopes ___ Keys ___ Small flashlight   Documents and Finances ___ Airline ticket(s) ___ Driver’s license (for photo I.D.) ___ Passport ___ Letter of introduction ___ Student I.D. card ___ Medical insurance card ___ ATM and credit cards ___ Cash ___ International phone card   P.S. 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Ron E. Tappy, Project Director Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Sponsor 616 North Highland Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 E-mail tappy@fyi.net     Phone: 412-441-3304 x2126    Fax: 412-486-0776 The Zeitah Excavations 2000 © All Rights Reserved