MSIH STUDENT-TO-STUDENT GUIDE (SECTION 1)

Welcome to MSIH!

You are now a part of one of the most unique medical schools in the world.
Transitioning into a new school in a foreign country is not without its challenges,
and we hope this guide will help you with the process.

Questions or comments - please contact the 2018 Editors:

Hadassa Holzapfel (holzapfe@post.bgu.ac.il) and Samantha Krieger

(kriegers@post.bgu.ac.il)
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE:

The Student-to-Student guide is split into two sections to distinguish information that is helpful to know before
you depart from things that become useful once you’re finding your way around life in Israel.

Section 1 focuses on what you need to pack and arrange in advance to have a smooth arrival and avoid common
pitfalls. It is meant to be used in conjunction with several other important resources:

• Pre-departure Guide: the official guide sent by the school before you arrive.
• MSIH Student Handbook (2018-2019 edition): available online at msih.net.
• Student-to-Student Guide Section 2

Section 2 focuses on information such as transportation, travel, resources, restaurants, and grocery stores. It is
meant to be used as a reference as questions present themselves throughout the year rather than a text. Feel free
to read the parts relevant to you. It is also intended to be used in conjunction with other important resources that
you will receive in after your classes have started.

• MSIH Student Council Website

• The Unofficial Curriculum Guide: some insider tips on classes and how to prepare for them

As you go through your first year, keep track of any questions, issues or comments that you have; we can put
them in next year's guide to help future students. It's hard to believe, but pretty soon you'll be the experts creating
the 8th edition of the student guide!

Finally, as this guide has been developed by students based on our experiences, it's not official. Though we try, we
can't guarantee accuracy. That’s why we depend on you for corrections!

Sincerely,

Your 2018 Editors

Acknowledgements: A special thanks to those that came before us who were sources of advice, solace, and support during
our transition into Israel, and for warmly welcoming us into the MSIH family.

Adam Walpert ’14 – editor 2011/2012, Nathan Douthit ’16 – editor 2013, Morgan Clond ’17 / Max Migliore ’17 – editors 2014,
Cyan Mcfarlane ’18 – editor 2015, Shayne Greenberg ’19 / Chelsea Powell ’19 / Ruth Chadwick ’19 – editors 2016, Jenna Meyer
’20 / Rachel Gibbs ’20 – editors 2017
SECTION I: PREPARING FOR ARRIVAL

1. Overview of the Month in Israel

2. What to Bring
3. What Not to Bring
4. Permanent Housing
5. Weather
6. Electricity, Converters, and Adaptors
7. Computers and Tablets
8. Cell Phones
9. Arrival Logistics
10. Health Insurance
11. Immunizations
12. Banking and Finance
13. The Language Barrier
14. Adjusting to a New Culture
15. Care Packages
16. Appendix 1: Getting Settled Checklist
17. Appendix 2: Transport to and from the Airport
18. Appendix 3: Books and Other Resources for Classes
19. Appendix 4: Email, Phones, and Google Voice
20. Appendix 5: Beer Sheva’s Sport and Fitness Center
OVERVIEW OF THE MONTH IN ISRAEL
When you first arrive, you will likely be subletting a 2nd or 3rd year student apartment. This can either be arranged
via our Israeli liaisons [based on the preferences you list on the housing request form presented in your
matriculation package (received by email)] or directly emailing upperclassmen who have posted their apartments
on a google document posted in your Facebook group.

Beware that if you elect the liaisons to select a sublet for you, you may not know where you will be until a week
before you move! Also note that some of the apartments on the google document are available for a yearly rental.

Finally, the sublet apartments provide a temporary home base while you hunt for a permanent apartment. MSIH 2nd
and 3rd year students begin August 12th and will most likely want to sleep in their beds. Don’t worry, you won’t be
tossed out on the street. But you may have to be flexible with sleeping arrangements (i.e. sleeping on the couch) if
you haven’t found an apartment yet.

SUMMER COURSES
Your semester will start with the following activities:

● Orientation: You will have several days of jam-packed with meetings, tours, trips, and
introductions to various members of the administration and faculty.

● Emergency Medicine Course: an emergency skills course, similar to an American-style EMT

program, overseen by a physician and taught by upper-level Israeli med students (who are
amazing). Note: you will not receive any official EMT certification.

● Hebrew Ulpan: There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced ulpan groups that will be
determined by the teachers during the first meeting. Ulpan continues throughout the first semester.
There is an assigned textbook that you will buy at the bookstore on main campus (don’t worry about
purchasing it before you arrive). If you would like to bring other language textbooks or grammar
guides with you, you are welcome to. Fluent Hebrew speakers can place out of Ulpan by taking a
placement exam during the first week of orientation.

ISRAELI STUDENT LIAISONS

The school employs 2-3 Israeli student liaisons throughout the school year. The current Israeli liaisons are
Matan and Hadas (hadasbaram@gmail.com). However, you will meet your first year liaisons during orientation.
They are invaluable resources during the house-hunting process and navigating the Israeli banking system. It is
strongly recommended that you ask them to look over your apartment contract before you sign it. The liaisons
will keep regular office hours throughout the year, and you can go in with any questions that may come up
(housing, bills, need a Hebrew speaker, etc.). They are paid to work for the school so feel free to go in and use
their services!

PARTING THOUGHTS ON YOUR FIRST MONTH

• Stay positive
• Keep hydrated!
• Wear sunscreen
• Enjoy yourselves!

If you like, there’s a handy checklist in Appendix 1 called Getting Settled Checklist! It may give you a better idea of
what you will be doing your first month in Israel.
WHAT TO BRING
Beer Sheva is a sprawling city that has everything you will need for daily living. Pricing may be more expensive
and certain items may be sold only in certain stores. That being said, don’t waste suitcase space bringing things
you can obtain once you are here!

● Student visa: You must acquire this before you leave! Due to new laws, a tourist visa can no longer be
converted to a student visa. Follow instructions from administration. You will need to bring your
passport, an acceptance letter from the school, the visa application, the application fee, and two
passport photos to the Israeli Consulate in your area. Mailing applications into your region consulate is
also possible if you don’t live in area where you can physically go into the office. The same documents
are required and it must be sent from one of the accepted couriers (i.e. UPS). There are full
instructions on the Israeli consulate sites. Beware that receiving a visa might take some time, so don’t
wait until the last minute to start this process!

● Shekels: Currency exchange at an airport is expensive, but it’s an option in a pinch. It’s better if you
can have your bank order shekels for you before you leave (this may take several days). Some taxi
drivers, bus drivers, and train ticket machines won’t take a credit card. It is also fairly easy to use your
debit card at ATMs here in Israel (there is still a fee but the conversion rate is usually pretty good).
Bringing a bank-note is also an option, but you can also get some of your loan disbursement checks in
shekels to be deposited once you have an account here.

● Credit or debit card with no foreign transaction fees: Chase Sapphire, CapitalOne, Bank of
America and Charles Schwab are popular choices. US Credit Unions also may provide free
service.

● Outlet adapters (and/or converters): the 4.0 mm type C europlug or the Israel specific type H
plug both work. (See Electricity, Converters & Adapters)

● Laptop: As a general rule, electronics are much more expensive to purchase in Israel versus other
countries. By the same token, if you’re a tablet person, bring your tablet.

● Cell phone: GSM (900/1800 MHz bands, tri or quad-band) compatible, unlocked, and capable of
accepting a SIM or microSIM card which you will purchase here. (See Cell Phones)

● Medications: While you will find Israeli versions of most routine things, some medications can be
challenging to get either because of the language barrier or the need to navigate the Israeli healthcare
system and get a prescription. That said, it’s not impossible, and your health insurance will let you
access many things at reduced cost, but while you’re finding a doctor and waiting for your health
insurance card to arrive, life can be easier if you have exactly what you want on hand.

● Favorite foods: If you know you’ll want them for a “rainy” day. Your favorite candy or specialty
seasonings (e.g. taco seasoning, chili powder, pumpkin flavored items) may be difficult to find in Israel. You
can buy ground coffee for pour-over, French press, or drip coffee, but it is only sold at specialty stores
(like Tiv Taam or Eden Teva Market).

● Electrolyte/hydration drinks: If you’re a fan of these, they are hard to come by in Israel and are
highly recommended for the warmer months (especially for house-hunting tours). It's easy to transport
the powders.
 ● Toiletries: You will be able to get Israeli/European versions of anything you need. However, if you
have a favorite specific can’t live without brand of mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, nail polish, make
up, deodorant, or toothpaste that you really love, you should bring a supply. Generally, all of the
above-mentioned items are expensive, come in small sizes, and have poor variety. However,
SuperPharm sells most popular brands.

● Sunscreen and razor cartridges (e.g. Mach3, Venus): These items are significantly more
expensive here. We suggest bringing a good supply of each. You'll definitely need the sunscreen!

● Warm clothes: Even though the weather is oppressively hot during the summer, in the winter it can
get quite cold, dropping down to 40°F (4°C) at night. (See Weather)

● Books: If you want to bring books to read for your leisure, for example travel guides, novels, etc. note
that English books are expensive here, but not impossible to get. (See Appendix 3). Do not stress about
bringing textbooks for classes (See What Not To Bring), except for First Aid.

● Bed sheets: especially a top sheet. Like many European countries, Israel only sells fitted sheets and
duvet covers. Mattresses are almost always full size (140x190cm European standard) or the smaller size,
which is between a full and queen mattress (120x180cm). American Full size sheets can usually be
stretched (they fall a few centimeters short) to fit local mattresses, and Queen size will fit for sure.
Sheet sets are very expensive here and have low thread counts (<200). Sheets/bedding in general is
much more expensive in Israel.

If you forget something, don’t worry, there are plenty of malls where you can buy whatever you need, and
your family can also send care packages. (See: Care Packages)

WHAT NOT TO BRING

● Printer: Don’t bring a printer. This is the exception to the rule that electronics are expensive.
Affordable printers can easily be purchased either at Office Depot, the student store, or the student
sale. Alternatively, many students do not own printers and simply use the printer services on campus.

● Lab coats or scrubs: There is no need to bring your own lab coat or scrubs. You will receive a card
from the school which you can use to get coats and scrubs from the machines in the hospital.

● Stethoscope or reflex hammer: You won’t need either item until 2nd year.
PERMANENT HOUSING
Searching for a place to live is challenging and there are many factors to balance when choosing your new desert
home. However, we have systems in place to make this easier on you. Check the Facebook page, MSIH
apartments: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/974877759231991/) On the page there is a spreadsheet
maintained by MSIH students. The spreadsheet lists apartments that are going to become available when
students move back to their home countries, or occasionally when students decide to change apartments for
whatever reason. These are convenient because, it is easy to ask questions, and sometimes you get good deals
on furniture and household items they are leaving behind. The liaisons will also arrange tours of available
apartments in each neighborhood. This is a great way to get to know Beer Sheva, and to get a sense for the
features and relative costs of typical apartments in each area. The liaisons are truly invaluable in this process and
will call landlords, arrange apartment showings, and check over your lease contract. Additionally, there are
multiple Facebook groups with available apartments and Ben Gurion students in search of a roommate that are
great options as well.

Searching for housing will be challenging, stressful, and it will take time, but it will work out.

Here are a few thoughts to make the process smoother upon arrival:

1. Spend some time now deciding what your priorities are in housing circumstances. Know what you want in
terms of price range, cleanliness, distance to school, roommates/single; all these specifications can help
the student liaison narrow down where you would like to live. You may not find something that fits all of
your specifications, but if you know your priorities you will probably be happy with what you find.
2. Roommates: Try to decide early on if you want to live with roommates or to live alone. A one-bedroom
apartment here will be cheaper than in most US cities but living with roommates will easily be half the
cost. Additionally, you may decide to live with Israeli or MSIH students. Consider the following:
• MSIH Roommates:
o Advantages: you will be supported by people who know what you are going through. If
you find Hebrew a challenge, it's nice to live with people who speak English. And your
classmates are generally awesome people.
o Disadvantages: you have the same schedule and study load as your roommates. You will
be around each other day in and day out.
• Israeli Roommates:
o Advantages: you may learn tidbits and integrate faster into the Beer Sheva culture, you
may even learn some Hebrew. They can help with landlord/apartment issues in Hebrew
o Disadvantages: cultural differences may cause problems. Medical school is rigorous and
may have conflicts with differences in schedule. Also, Israeli students are on a different
academic schedule from MSIH.
3. Make use of the student liaison apartment tours. They will be announcing tour times via email.
4. Be flexible. The quality of the apartments may or may not be what you are used to in the States. Go on
the tour to see what fits your comfort level. Here are some unique Israel/Beer Sheva apartment qualities:
• Bathroom: many don’t have a bathtub. Some don’t have a shower stall and the floor gets wet (a
squeegee will be necessary for the floor).
• Drying your clothes: Most people in Beer Sheva use standalone clotheslines to dry their clothes;
these are cheap and can be bought at any big store. To avoid your clothes drying like stiff cardboard,
use fabric softener.
o If your apartment does not have a washing machine, there are affordable self-serve laundromats in
the BGU Gimel and Dalet dorms (8 NIS to wash, 7 NIS to dry), and many laundry businesses that
 you can pay to wash, dry, and even fold your clothes (around 8 NIS per kilo of clothes). Bubbles
(Booyot) will pick up and deliver laundry: 086496037
• AC / Heater: most apartments have AC but make sure to check. Cost is ~ 1 shekel per hour to run
a single-room machine, more for central A/C. For best cost efficiency, don’t run the A/C below 25°C.
• Bugs: Cockroach spray and ant traps may be handy. Mosquitoes and pesky flies will also drive you
crazy during the warmer weather.
• Hot water heaters: All apartments have electric water heaters for colder days. Find out where the
switch is. It may take up to 20 minutes in winter to heat the water. Remember to turn it off when
you’re done (otherwise your electricity bill will go up). In summer, the water will be warm enough
without the heater if your building has a “sun boiler” (in Hebrew: “dud shemesh” (pronounced
duuuude)). Some buildings don’t have a dud shemesh and you’ll need to use the boiler even in the
summer, which can be expensive.
5. Landlords: Good landlords fix problems quickly and efficiently and will make sure you are happy living in
the apartment. Bad landlords have been known to avoid fixing problems in the apartment, sending shady
repairmen, etc. Most landlords fall somewhere in between. If you don’t speak Hebrew, try to find a
landlord who does speak English. There are a few landlords who own many MSIH-occupied apartments.
If this is the case, ask around about his/her reputation.
6. Signing the contract: Make sure an Israeli student liaison is present. They will help ensure you
understand everything written in the contract (which is entirely written in Hebrew). It is standard
practice for the tenant to write the landlord a large check called a “security check” that he cannot cash
without a court order (i.e. if you refuse to pay rent) and/or you may be asked to provide all of the post-
dated rent checks at the time of the signing. Though this is all very common, be sure to run all requests
by the student liaisons to make sure that everything is reasonable. Don’t rush into signing a contract. Be
aware that Israeli law is much more biased towards landlords than renters (as opposed to most US
laws). You should really nail down the specifics of the responsibilities in your contract before signing it.
7. Many students find apartment search websites helpful. Some are in Hebrew only but there is usually a
way to translate the page from Hebrew to English. Here are some websites that have apartment listings
(as well as furniture and other second-hand items):
• http://www.yad2.co.il/
• http://www.dirot7.com
• http://www.bgu.co.il
• www.madlan.co.il
• http://www.kangarim.co.il

Here are a few Facebook groups:

• BeerSheva’s English Speakers

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/152837421417944/ Apartments in Beersheva for 1000 shekels per
room mate ‫ עד בבארשבע להשכרה דירות‬1000 ‫לשותף ח"ש‬
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/205317886171313/ Apartments for students in Beersheva ‫שבע בבאר‬
‫הסטודנטים דירות‬
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/130592653688128/ Apartments for rent in Beersheva between friends
before published listing
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/279135451973/ Apartments by word of mouth in Beersheva ‫שבע‬
‫בבאר לאוזן מפה דירות‬
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/170744879507/ Second hand furniture between students in Beersheva
‫שבע בבאר סטודנטים בין שניה יד רהיטים‬
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/204495279594116/
WEATHER
The weather in Beer Sheva varies greatly each season as well as day to today.

What to expect in the summer:

• Temperatures up to 42oC (108oF)

• A mixture of dry heat and humidity

What to expect in the winter:

• Temperatures drop to 4oC (40oF)

o While you may not consider this cold, some buildings are not heated or insulated.
o Many people use small space heaters but also bring warm clothing
• Rain storms, which may flood the streets
o You may want to bring/buy an umbrella and boots
• Sand storms
o Usually not a big deal but they last a few hours
o You will notice the change in the air (it will get cloudy and humid)
o Make sure to close your windows!

For climate information, including what to expect in terms of temperature and precipitation, refer to the climate
section on Beer Sheva’s wikipedia page: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beersheba#Climate).

ELECTRICITY, CONVERTERS & ADAPTERS

Israel uses 220V 50Hz power. The US uses 120V 60Hz. Nearly all modern devices including computers are
compatible with both voltages without the use of a voltage converter. To double check, look at the fineprint on
the power supply; if it says 100240V, 50/60 Hz, then you’ve got nothing to worry about. All you will need is a
basic plug adapter. If your device supports only 120V you will need a voltage converter.

Adapters that are compatible with the type C ‘Europlug’ with 4mm pins (not 4.8mm or 6mm pins) will work in
Israel, as will the Israel-specific type H. Please note that many “europlug” adapters available online may
mistakenly be for schuko plugs (the 4.8mm plugs compatible with nearly every european country). They aren’t
too difficult to find here, but it’s not a bad idea to bring one with you so you are ready to go when you get
here.

Adapters can be for either two or three prongs. It is OK to use a 2prong adapter on a 3prong laptop computer
cord. The notion that this will hurt the computer’s battery is a myth! Three prong adapters include a grounding pin
which may be more suitable (but not required) for laptop computers and other heavier duty equipment. Mac users
can get a special adapter that snaps right into their MacBook power adapter which most people find to be less
awkward than external adapters. See http://wikitravel.org/en/Electrical_systems for more about adapters.

COMPUTERS AND TABLETS

About half of the MSIH students use Macs, the other half uses PCs. Many students use laptops or tablets during
class to take notes directly on the presentations. Laptops and tablets (iPads, Asus, etc.) are great tools, though
we highly recommend buying them before coming to Israel. You'll pay HUGE import fees here (up to 30%)
whether you get them online and have them shipped in or whether you buy from a store here.
CELL PHONES
Bring a phone that is GSM compatible (900/1800 MHz bands, tri or quad-band), accepts SIM or micro SIM, and is
carrier unlocked. Handsets are notoriously expensive to buy in Israel, but service is extremely affordable.

It is possible to rent a phone from companies such as IsraelPhones and Talk’n’save, but these are notorious for
being expensive and adding on fees and taxes when you get the bill. Don’t get this plan. It’s easy to get a SIM
card!

Until you get a sim card, remember that you can use Wifi mode on your phone for email and messaging
apps like Whatsapp (Whatsapp is extremely popular in Israel).

There are a couple of ways to get a sim card:

• Mall kiosk / BUG store: they may ask for your Israeli ID number (Teudat Zehut), in which case you
can use your student ID (found on the top of your tuition statement if you don’t have your ID card
yet) or your passport number
• Mail order: you can sign up on the website and have the sim card sent to a house address or your
mailbox in the administrative building on the medical campus (called Caroline House, see address
below).

Your name
Ben Gurion University of the Negev
Medical School for International Health
Faculty of Health Sciences Caroline House 3rd Floor
P.O. Box 653 Beer Sheva, Israel 8410500

The major carriers are:

• Golan Telecom (www.golantelecom.co.il)

• Orange (www.orange.co.il)
• Pelephone (www.pelephone.co.il)
• Cellcom (www.cellcom.co.il)
• Hot Mobile (www.hotmobile.co.il)

When considering which carrier to go with, the key is to shop around and negotiate – the deals change frequently,
and reportedly the pricing is more flexible than they would have you believe. If you are unsure of the contract, be
pushy, ask for a copy, and ask a liaison to help you read it.

Golan is by far the most popular and offers three basic plan types. The plans and prices change frequently, but
there is basically a 9.99 NIS limited plan, and unlimited plan for 59.99 NIS, and an in-between “promotional”
plan for 39.99 NIS. There is an English version of the website, the coverage is great, and the rates are
competitive. There is no annual contract, so you can cancel or upgrade or downgrade at any time, however
there may be a one-time fee to downgrade (was about 70 nis as of this writing). The promotional plan and the
unlimited plan allow you to have up to two virtual international numbers (“My International Number”). For
example, if you get a virtual Canadian number, your family in Canada can call you for the same price as if it was
a local call. You can currently get virtual numbers for the USA, Canada, and many other countries (check the
website for others).
ARRIVAL LOGISTICS
We highly recommend planning to arrive in Be’er Sheva at least a week in advance. This will give you time to
settle into your temporary housing, open a bank account, make sure you have phone service, get over jet lag,
and go grocery shopping. It is very difficult and stressful to try and acquire all these things while in class since
your days will generally be full from 8am until 5pm. We know that it’s difficult to say goodbye to friends and
family at home, but it’s also important that you’re ready to go once orientation starts. As with everything else
in this guide, make the decision that is most appropriate for you

Liaisons can pick you up at the station in Beersheva and take you to your sublet apartment if they’re aware of
when you are planning to arrive in Beersheva. Make sure you have their contact information so that you can
communicate with them. However, the north train station is very close to the university, and most apartments
are an easy walk from there.

There are detailed instructions about taking a train or taxi from the airport to MSIH in Appendix 2: Transport To
and From the Airport. The train is very reliable and affordable (about 30 NIS one way), but check to make sure it
will be running when you arrive .*** With this option, you will take a train to Tel Aviv, and change trains at the
station ‘Tel Aviv Hagana” to one leaving for Beersheva. If you love buses, you can take a bus from Tel Aviv to
Beersheva for a similar price. Pricier options are to rent a car one-way (about 250 NIS), or take a private taxi (at
least 500 NIS, cash only), but rental/taxi may be worthwhile if you have a lot of stuff and/or have someone to
share the ride with. Train schedules in English can be found here: http://rail.co.il/EN/Pages/Homepage.aspx. There
are three main bus companies in Israel, Egged, Metropoline, and Dan. Their schedules can be found at
http://www.egged.co.il/eng/, http://www.metropoline.com/, and http://www.dan.co.il/ english/. Google Maps and
the free app Moovit also do a good job of providing bus and train routes and times.

Shabbat: Public transportation and most shops, stores, and restaurants shut down from Friday afternoon at
about 3 pm until Saturday late evening about 8 pm in observance of the Sabbath. Getting to Be’er Sheva will be
considerably more difficult (and expensive) if your plane lands between noon on Friday and sunset on Saturday.

Holidays: When the country is observing a Jewish holiday, the country operates on a Shabbat schedule (meaning
things will be closed either the entire day or until sunset). Double check that when you arrive to Israel it is not on
a holiday to avoid waiting at the airport for several hours. Most likely you won’t have this issue when you arrive in
the summer, but it never hurts to check and it also a good thing to keep in mind if you plan trips throughout the
school year. (And also, good to know so you don’t get stuck with an empty fridge and no stores or restaurants
open for four days.)
HEALTH INSURANCE
You are required to have health insurance while you are a student at MSIH. Most students have Harel Yedidim
health insurance and choose the Prestige option. When you arrive in Israel, you will get a packet of information
telling you what the insurance does and does not cover. If you get sick before receiving your insurance card, you
should still be covered. With Harel you will have to pay in full year by year and renew before the end of the policy.

You can have US insurance alone, but only if it covers everything that might happen in Israel. You will need to send in
proof of this coverage to the school before you arrive. Please keep in mind that most insurance plans are not
international! Additionally, the Israeli socialized medical system is not set up for private US insurance and using it
will be virtually impossible. Even paying out of pocket will be a major hassle in Israel (not to mention that you’ll
have to get reimbursed from your insurer back in the US afterwards). It’s a recipe for disaster. Because of all this,
the school strongly recommends that students take Harel insurance.

Should I keep insurance in the US if I am on the Harel plan? Many people have asked this question, and there is
no easy answer. It is good if you can (via a parent or spouse) but the cost is prohibitive for most students. Your
plan in Israel is comprehensive and will cover all emergencies and basic primary care. If you are young enough
(usually under 26) with a working parent you can still qualify as a full-time student dependent on most insurance
plans.

Side note: Harel also offers a policy for protecting your personal belongings.

During the first days of orientation, there will a be a representative from Harel-Yedidim to discuss Health Insurance coming
in to speak to MSIH students. Be sure to attend this meeting for information and questions/comments/concerns!!

STUDENTS WITH PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Preexisting conditions are NOT covered under Harel unless you qualify for their preexisting condition policy,
which will be significantly more expensive, but possibly no worse than American health insurance. If you
develop a chronic medical issue while in Israel, Harel will continue to cover issues arising from it, but only if you
sign up in advance to be on their plan for all four years. Blue and White (travel insurance) will not cover ANY
preexisting condition, even if your regular Harel plan does, so be aware of this and make sure you have a
strategy for health insurance over summer and vacations.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
If you plan to travel outside of Israel during breaks, you can purchase coverage for that time through Harel’s
First Class plan. The travel insurance mostly covers emergencies and students should be aware of what is and
is not covered before purchasing the insurance. First Class will not cover ANY preexisting condition, even if
your regular Harel policy covers it. If you have anything that could be considered a preexisting condition or
are coming to Israel with a spouse/family make sure to check details beforehand.

IMMUNIZATIONS
The school requires you to have specific immunizations as a medical student. You should receive a list the
necessary vaccinations from Gaby Koren. Please contact her if you have questions (gaby@bgu.ac.il). You can get
any of these tests and immunizations once you are here, but they are not covered by Harel/Clalit insurance. If
you use forms from your U.S. doctor as proof of vaccination, know that you will need to request ‘quantitative’
lab work to test the levels of your titers. Israel requires the quantitative levels of titer, unlike most American
forms that simply list vaccinations as ‘yes or no.’
Speaking from experience, obtaining these required immunizations is incredibly annoying once here. There are
forms that will be filled out by the nurse here, and it’s helpful to have all of these vaccines (including polio
booster, Hep B, etc.) completed beforehand will save you a lot of frustration. Again, quantitative titers are
required for Hep B, which must be specifically requested.
BANKING AND FINANCE
Warning: Opening an Israeli bank account may be a frustrating process. Stay calm and you’ll get through it!

Reasons you need an Israeli bank account:

• You will likely need to pay rent and other bills with Israeli checks or a bank card
• You will likely need to provide Israeli checks to sign your apartment lease
• Most cell phone companies require an Israeli credit card to buy a plan
• Cashiers are less suspicious of an Israeli card (though using other cards in stores is not usually an issue)
• Some of the train ticket machines will only take Israeli bank cards or cash

It takes a few days after opening your account for checks to arrive. Therefore, we recommend that that you try
to open an Israeli bank account sooner rather than later. Bring your student ID, two other forms of ID, your
phone number, and address to open an account. Sometimes, you may have to be aggressive (persistent) to get
service.

Pay close attention to the hours before you go. Many close for an inexplicable siesta between 1 and 4, and then
open again for evening hours from 4 to 8 on certain days. By the way, the bank has been known to restrict the
number of new MSIH students who can open new accounts at a given time so 40 of you can’t show up at once.
Although bank hours vary (see below), ATM (Hebrew: caspomat) machines work 24/7.

A free student account can be obtained at all banks with proof of study and/or student ID.

Important: When you choose a bank, the branch you walk into to set up your account will be your home
branch. The significance of this is that if you sign up at a Leumi in Tel Aviv, you won’t be able to get service at a
Leumi in Beersheva, even though they’re owned by the same company.

Here are some of the banks you can choose from:

• Bank HaPoalim: A branch is located on the main campus and an ATM machine at the Metsada entrance
to Soroka. You can use these ATMs with any bank’s cards (not exclusively HaPoalim). In

the beginning of the school year, bank representatives are ready to help you open your account (many speak
English). At times, the slow pace and lack of good customer service can be frustrating. Other branches: Rager
Ave near the courthouse, Old City (HaHalutz), Merkaz Oren in Dalet.

o Hours: Sun, Tues & Weds: 8:30 to 13:15 ; Mon & Thurs: 8:30 to 13:15, 16:00 to 18:15
• Bank Leumi: Most customer friendly bank, with locations close to campus. Also popular with MSIH
students. Make sure you ask for a free (student) account – 2011 was the first year that international
student accounts could be opened at Beer Sheva branches, so not all employees may know this is
possible. Branch locations: Metsada / Tchernikovsky in Merkaz HaNegev Mall (behind Yellow gas station,
100 meters from the Metsada entrance to Soroka), 11 Rager Ave (corner of Ben Zvi St. near central bus
station), 90 HaHalutz (Old City).
o Hours: Sun, Tues & Weds: 8:30 to 14:30; Mon & Thurs: 8:30 to 13:00, 16:00 to 18:15
• Other Banks: Mizrahi Tefahot, Bank Yahav both have branches in Merkaz HaNegev behind bank Leumi.
Ask about free student accounts.
 Credit cards:

o No Fee American Banking: CapitalOne, Chase Sapphire and certain American Express cards do not
charge foreign transaction fees.
o All other American credit/debit cards will charge a fee totaling 13% of all transactions and possibly
a local access fee or ATM fee.
o Charles Schwab, USAA, and certain other U.S. banks may offer accounts that reimburse you for
international transaction fees so that you can use your American ATM card in an Israeli machine
without paying any fees.

Currency Exchange: Israeli banks and exchange houses at the airport will charge commission and use an
unfavorable exchange rate. There are some currency exchange kiosks around town (in addition to tons in Tel
Aviv and Jerusalem) that offer good exchange rates and no commission. In particular, there is one off of
Henrietta Szold in Beersheva that we recommend. For large sums (more than $500) the post office in Israel will
exchange USD and other currencies for shekels without fees (smaller sums cost a few shekels per $100), but
the wait can make it look like the line for space mountain. The post office on the BGU campus is hard to find
but has much shorter wait times than the larger post office on Ragar (where the wait is so long it has a
refreshments stand). Some order shekels at their home country’s bank before they leave. Some bring USD cash
to the post office first to exchange it, and then deposit it into the bank. Some use their home ATM card to
withdraw shekels, and then deposit the shekels into their Israeli account. Depending on your bank in the US,
you can also do a wire transfer of shekels or dollars to your Israeli account. Be sure to check the fees and
compare exchange rates to avoid surprises.

Deposit of foreign cheques: Give yourself one month for the check to clear. Also, many banks can keep your
account in either shekels, U.S. dollars, or both. If you want to deposit a cheque from the U.S., you can keep it in
USD, avoid exchange charges, and receive interest for it. Some students have run into problems when
attempting to do so and so it is not recommended.
THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
There is no other way to put it, the more Hebrew you can use and understand, the easier your life will be.

Keep in mind that you will only get what you put in. You shouldn’t plan to rely on ulpan to be your only means
of learning. Depending on your current fluency level, you may need a considerable number of hours of self-study
to reach a conversational level. This will become extremely important during your clinical rotations when patient
doctor interactions are conducted in Hebrew and you want to know what’s going on. Unfortunately, by the same
time that the importance of learning Hebrew becomes apparent, it will also be a lower priority than say, learning
medicine and preparing for the USMLE. Use your time during first year to its fullest potential to learn as much
Hebrew as you can.

Learning the alphabet and numbers before you get here is a great idea. Many people in Israel speak English, but
not everyone does, especially in Beer Sheva. People appreciate it when you speak to them in Hebrew; a little goes
along way! As far as languages go, Hebrew is tough but not impossible. Learn to conjugate verbs, add some vocab,
and you will have a lot more fun talking to locals.

Hebrew websites and emails from BGU may seem daunting, but Google Translate is a lifesaver.
Translate.google.com will translate many (not all) text, webpages, and PDFs from Hebrew into English. Even more
convenient is the Google Chrome web browser, which can detect foreign languages and automatically translate
them: http://www.google.com/chrome. You can install the translation addon for Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

The most effective system of language learning for a given individual can vary a great deal from others. It’s a good
idea to talk to a number of people about what resources worked for them and try different approaches to find
something you like.

• Basics: Pimsleur Hebrew 13 (most frequently recommended by MSIH students)

• Duolingo (free app)
• Colloquial Hebrew by Zippi Lyttleton and Tamar Wang
• Modern Hebrew for Beginners by Esther Raizen (excellent workbook plus online video tutorials)
• Let's Learn Hebrew Picture Dictionary by Marlene Goodman
• Hebrew in 10 minutes a day by Kristine K. Kershul
• Modern Hebrew Vocabulary Cards: Academic Study Card Set www.hebrewpodcasts.com: free mp3
downloads of beginner/intermediate Hebrew audio lessons.
• Grammar: 501 Hebrew Verbs by Shmuel Bolozky
• Learn Hebrew Today: AlefBet for Adults by Yedwab and Bogot
• Hebrew Reading and Writing Self Taught by Fern
• Margolis Hebrew Verb Tables by Asher Tarmon and Ezri Uval
• Rosetta Stone
ADJUSTING TO A NEW CULTURE
Israelis are known for being brutally honest and pushy. People will shove you out of the way to get a seat on the
bus, no one waits in line, and waiters/store clerks may ignore you until you ask for service. Their actions can
seem rude at first until you get a grasp of the culture here. It’s important to keep an open mind and not to take
it personally. You may even find yourself appreciating, for example, that the waiter isn’t rushing you to pay the
bill.

General Notes:

• Israelis may ask very direct questions such as how much you pay for rent, your age, what religion you
are, or what you think about a political issue. These are normal topics to discuss casually.
• Don't be afraid to speak your mind. Being too polite, too indirect, or too effusive with compliments can
be perceived by Israelis as disingenuous behavior.
• Israelis may not register that you mean no (ie, no you don’t want a fifth helping of dinner) until you say
“that’s enough!” rather than indirect phrases like “that’s good,” or “that’s okay.”
• Israelis sometimes have very loud, heated conversations that appear to be very serious. Just when you
think someone is going to throw a punch, one of them will shrug and say “b’seder” (which means good
or ok) and they will immediately revert to being friends and carrying on cheerily.
• At restaurants, you may have to flag down your waitress to order food or ask for the bill (cheshbon).
• Be mindful of your interactions with religious Jews and Muslims and do your best to preserve and respect
their modesty. If you are a man, do not touch a religious woman, and vice versa this includes handshakes!
When you visit religious communities, dressing modestly (covering your knees, elbows, and clavicles)
may help to ensure everyone’s comfort.
• Outside of the religious community, you may notice people crowding your personal space. People may
stand very close to you on the bus or in lines.
• With the blunt honesty, comes a deep sincerity. Israelis are often more than willing to go out of their
way to help with certain things, like making sure you have a place to eat on Shabbat (I’ve been invited
over and eaten with tons of strangers), helping you get where you’re going (someone gave me 50 shekels
when the train wouldn’t take my card) or comfortable accommodations (when the hostel ran out of
blankets, a hostel employee borrowed one for me from a friend).
• Israelis take a relaxed approach to work, and you may have to be insistent to have an issue resolved. I
know someone who was trying to buy a train ticket and was told “Hang on, right now we are eating
cake.”
• Israelis often don’t perceive political correctness as important. When you observe or experience racism,
harassment, or antagonism to foreigners, don't hesitate to talk to the minority affairs representative (see
“Minority Affairs” section). If you reach out to your classmates, you are likely to find that they are
struggling with the same issues.
• If you are female, you may get unwanted attention from local men,. You will notice this particularly when
walking or running on your own or with other women. It is fine to ignore them or tell them directly that
you want to be left alone. This may seem rude, but directness is culturally acceptable, and they won’t be
surprised or insulted by your response. If you ever feel threatened, don't be afraid to make use of
emergency numbers.
CULTURE SHOCK
The experience of adjusting to a new culture can be a rollercoaster. The theory behind culture shock holds that
visitors/immigrants go through a series of phases (that we may or may not have mixed up with the five stages of
grief):

1. Denial: You are so excited to be in a new place, that the cultural differences don’t affect your daily life.
2. Anger: You wonder what possessed you to come to a new country for 4 years. You get frustrated
with the annoying cultural differences.
3. Bargaining: Cultural differences become increasingly apparent. You try convincing yourself that you
made the right choice in coming to medical school so far from your core support system.
4. Depression: You realize that you left behind some of your favorite people, places, relationships. You
feel lonely and start counting the days until you next see people in your other life.
5. Acceptance: You feel more comfortable. You are able to come to terms with the cultural differences.
You start to enjoy Beer Sheva and wonder what your life would be like if you decided not to come. You
begin to appreciate the cultural differences and begin to somewhat feel integrated into the culture.

These phases may take months or even years to develop, and everyone experiences them in their own ways.
Some people may feel adjusted after just a few weeks or months while others will take longer to feel at home
here. Regardless of your initial adjustment period, don’t be surprised if, later in the year, you find that you are
still working things out. Most MSIH students will aim to make it to phase 3. Don’t worry if it takes a while, and
don’t hesitate to lean on other students for support!

HELP WITH TRANSITION

Each year, the second years set up a mentor mentee match! Your mentor can be a great resource for many
things, including how to cope with culture shock. Your mentor volunteered because he or she wants to help
you! Upperclassmen have tons of advice, so don’t be afraid to ask anything. If they don’t know the answers,
chances are they know someone who does. Remember, though, that any individual’s advice is biased (for better
and for worse) by their own personal experiences. Don’t be afraid to take in multiple points of view and then
make an informed decision that seems best for you.

MINORITY AFFAIRS
What is "minority affairs"? The term “minority affairs” at our school is context specific. When we say
“minority” we are referring to students with issues that are not common to the majority of students in Beer
Sheva. Of course, this means everyone is in some way a minority. And that’s okay! In fact, it helps build
understanding and keeps the door open for all students.

Even if we all are going to the same medical school, living in the same city, we are going through very different
experiences. Some experiences, like experiencing the holy sites in Jerusalem as a Christian or a Hindu, are
different but easy to share. However, other experiences, like the often-thorough security checks and having to
redirect your way to home because you feel uncomfortable walking a certain route, are more difficult to talk
about. We, as the Minority Affairs are here to assure that your issues are heard. If you have any questions,
comments, or concerns please feel free to reach out to us.

Casey Garret (class of 2021) – casey@post.bgu.ac.il

Maya Gabal (class of 2020) – gabelma@post.bgu.ac.il

Nico Razon (class of 2019) – dominict@post.bgu.ac.il

CARE PACKAGES
If you are feeling homesick or you forgot your favorite blanket, your friends and family can send you packages!
Shipping rates vary, but often they are quite expensive.

Important: If you’re receiving care packages from home, make sure that the sender indicates on the package “Gift
no commercial value.” This can save you considerable customs fees! Packages valued at >$50 or over 5 kg (11
lbs) may be charged fees anyway and the post office may hold your items hostage until you pay.

It’s best to ship items to your mailbox at Caroline House address (address below) as a staff member will
normally be on hand during business hours to accept packages if a signature is required. You will then be
notified by email from Anat Zer, the MSIH School Assistant, of the package’s arrival.

Your name

Ben Gurion University of the Negev

Medical School for International Health

Faculty of Health Sciences

Caroline House, 3rd Floor P.O. Box 653

Beer Sheva, Israel 8410501

APPENDIX 1: GETTING SETTLED CHECKLIST

Getting Settled: a checklist of things to do

❏ Get a bank account as soon as possible so you can pay rent for long-term housing

❏ Set up cell phone/SIM card

❏ Get student ID card activated for the gym/pool

❏ Make sure your BGU email works! In the first few days of school

❏ Find an apartment/house As soon as possible, ideally within 1 month of your arrival

❏ Set up home (cleaning supplies, furniture, etc.) Many items can be purchased for
cheap at the AMSA sale, so you may want to hold off until then! Also, Super Stock behind the
Avisror apartments on Yaakov Cohen has everything you could ever want (and not want).

❏ Set up internet when you get an apartment. You may have to wait a few days!

Liaisons can help.

❏ Transfer utilities to your name: Call into each company after choosing your new home

❏ Buy school supplies whenever you need them

❏ Buy books: don't buy much until after the AMSA bookroom opens and may want to
wait to hear recommendations from profs/students

❏ Set up Arnona 50% discount Wait for instructions from the Israeli liaisons. May take
until October (when Israeli students return to campus)
APPENDIX 2: TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT

Train to Beer Sheva: This is an easy journey requiring one transfer. Double check times at http://rail.co.il/en.
Enter the train station at the airport (ground level) and purchase a ticket to Beer Sheva for 29 NIS. Board the
train going to Tel Aviv (terminus could be Binyamina, Haifa, Nahariyya, or others). The train will always be going
away from Modi’in Center. Get off at the 1st stop, (12 min.) at Tel Aviv HaHagana Station, cross the platform,
and board the train to Beer Sheva. Make sure it is a train to Beer Sheva (it will say it on the side of the train or
you can just ask someone) since a few different trains will use the same track. Usually, but not always, the Beer
Sheva bound train leaves 6 minutes after your arrival at HaHagana station, from Track 1.

Train from Beer Sheva to the airport: Buy the 29 NIS ticket at either the Beer Sheva Central or North
University stations. Ride to Tel Aviv HaHagana. For the second train you walk across the platform and wait
for the train heading towards Modi'in Center. (You’ll probably see other airport-bound passengers with
luggage boarding this train.) It will be one stop to Ben Gurion Airport. In total, it should take ~2 hours
from Beer Sheva to the airport. There is one train per hour, so be sure to give yourself enough time. If you
have an early morning flight, the train from Tel Aviv Center Savidor runs all night. Note: none of these
times apply to Shabbat, since there are no trains running.

Bus: There is a brand new early hours airport bus line #469 with the following route Beer Sheva> Kiryat Gat>Ben
Gurion Airport>Arlozorov Tel Aviv and back the same way. From Saturday - Thursday all year at hours From
Beer Sheva 00:00, 01:00, 02:00, 03:00, 04:00 From Tel Aviv 00:30, 01:30, 02:30, 03:30, 04:30

Taxis: 350-500 NIS between the airport and Beer Sheva. Cash Only. There is a guy, Yaakov, who takes 380 NIS
+/ 20 on Shabbat, day and night. Call in advance to arrange transportation to or from the airport. His number is
0522966667 or 0542566790.

Rental Cars: You can do a one-day rental, driving from the airport and returning the car to Beer Sheva. This
costs ~ 250 NIS including gas and $27 airport fees.

On Shabbat: Getting to or from the airport on Shabbat can be quite a hassle, but is possible via sherut to Tel
Aviv, then taxi (total ~90 NIS), or taxi straight from Beer Sheva. You can also rent a car since the airport offices
of rental car companies are open 24/7.

***Remember to factor Shabbat and Jewish holidays into your travel plans when booking airline tickets***
APPENDIX 3: BOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR CLASS

1. AMSA BOOKROOM
You'll notice that well over $1,000 dollars is generally budgeted for books each year. We're happy to report that
you won’t need to spend anything near that amount partially from the use of the AMSA bookroom, and other
student led initiatives. Located on the 6th floor around the corner from the 1st year classrooms, this is where
students sell their old books at discounted prices. Many titles are available, but popular titles sell fast.

• The room will be open a number of times at the start of the year and generally once a week
throughout the year. You'll receive an email informing you of the first date.
• Don't buy anything until you check here first!
• If the supply of popular titles is limited, the book room will institute policies to allow everyone
access to at least a few cheap books.

Contact: Alita Teitz - teitz@post.bgu.ac.il

2. MEDICAL LIBRARY
Most course textbooks are available at the medical library. Many of them are not worth buying as you will only
use them during the actual course and not for the boards. Generall,y a few copies are kept in the library and
some are only available for a few days’ loan while others can be taken out for weeks at a time. This is a great
way to save money especially considering that you won't be able to read through multiple 800-page textbooks
when you start studying for the USMLE.

3. LOCAL BOOKSTORES
There are a couple of new bookstores nearby: on the main university campus connected to the Aroma café, and
there’s also a small Steimatsky’s branch just inside the Metsada entrance of Soroka. The campus store has many of
the medical texts you might need. The staff is friendly and speaks English. They can order any title for you (medical
or not). You will receive a 10% student discount when you show your ID.

4. ORDERING BOOKS ONLINE

Occasionally you won’t be able to find the exact book or the newest edition you want in Beer Sheva. In these
cases, go to www.bookdepository.com, which operates much like Amazon but has free shipping to everywhere in
the world. The prices are a bit higher than on Amazon, but the free international shipping usually makes up for it.
Books, which should be sent to your mailbox at Caroline House, usually arrive about 7 days after you purchase
them.

INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS
You'll notice many books here have the words international edition on the cover. Most major publishers put out
US and international versions of each book. Often, international editions are cheaper and are required by law to
have the same content and pagination. Don't hesitate to buy them. Online Editions or PDFs In the past, classes
have chipped in for or found free online versions PDF versions of books. More information will be provided on
this when you get to Beer Sheva.
IMPORTANT MSIH STUDENT-RUN WEB RESOURCES
There are a few important student websites with which you should familiarize yourself.

● https://sites.google.com/site/msihstudents/Home

The Student Council’s website, when it is kept up to date, has MSIH events, academic information, global health
resources, restaurant & business directories, bus routes, etc. There are multiple links to websites for train
schedules, campus cinemas, and free stuff on the right side of the home screen. The site is just underwent a
major renovation and has a ton of information about the school, current and past student group activities, and
so much more!

FILESHARING
Some professors and lecturers are notorious for failing to provide the most updated versions of the lecture slides
in a timely fashion. To combat this, previous classes have used various methods to acquire and distribute updated
material. Classes have used Google Drive to supplement BGU’s official class resource website, Moodle. It is also
advisable to set up a private Google site or doc or a private Facebook page with everyone’s email and/or phone
number, so the class can easily contact each other from the beginning. Resources of textbook PDF files, review
book files, and various study guides have traditionally been passed down from class to class.
APPENDIX 4: EMAIL, PHONES, AND GOOGLE VOICE

EMAIL SETUP
For more email setup info, see www.bitly.com/pictureguides, or wait for a more complete shared resource once
you arrive in Israel.

First, if you need to change the language of your @post.bgu.ac.il, click on settings (gear icon in the top right
corner, first item in the menu), and the language dropdown box should be the top setting.

To set up forwarding, from the settings page, click on the ‘Forwarding and POP/IMAP' tab. In the top section,
click ‘Enable forwarding’ and then press the ‘Add a forwarding address’ button. Follow the instructions there,
which may require confirmation from your other email address. Afterwards, the setting should read ‘Forward a
copy of incoming mail to [your address] (in use) and mark BGU’s copy as read.’

If your personal email account is Gmail, you can take advantage of something called ‘Plus addressing.’ When you
instruct your @post account to forward your message to your personal email, (say, example@gmail.com), add
the text ‘+MSIH’ to your account name. Thus, you will instruct your @post account to forward mail to
example+MSIH@gmail.com. Later, when you log into your personal Gmail account, you can create a label for
anything that was sent to example+MSIH@gmail.com and you will never get a miscategorized message, nor will
it ever accidentally go to spam (if you choose ‘never send to spam’ in the filter creation dialog). You can use this
feature for anything, not just MSIH. Useful to avoid spam. More info:
http://www.wikihow.com/UsePlusAddressinginGmail

Gmail also allows you to treat your account as a POP client, which your personal email account can go into and
‘pull’ email out of your BGU account, but this is not recommended because it requires username/password sync
and because there is up to a 120 minute delay in retrieving your messages.

Sending mail – you can also set up your personal Gmail account to ‘send mail as’ your school address. This is
useful since you are supposed to use your school address for any school related communication. For
instructions on how to do this, see: http://mail.google.com/support/ bin/answer.py?answer=22370

You may have to choose ‘use Gmail’s servers’ in step 5, as the other setting is blocked by BGU. Note that when
you change your password (BGU will require you to do this once a year), you must manually update your ‘send
mail’ password in Gmail.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT CELL PHONES

GSM is the technology that the phone uses to communicate with the network, and in the States, AT&T and
Tmobile are GSM, not Verizon or Sprint. Unlocking means that the cell phone can accept a SIM card from any
network. Usually, if you got your cell phone from the phone company, it will be locked to that company’s network.
Many companies back in the States will unlock a phone that you’ve had for a while (usually after your contract
ends). Although it’s becoming increasingly difficult, many iPhones from the states can also be unlocked by unofficial
means (aka Jailbreaking; talk to a hacker friend). **If your iPhone is jailbroken/unlocked, DO NOT
AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE the software/iOS in iTunes, since this will relock the phone, or, even worse, break it
completely**. Once you arrive, you can buy a contract or payasyougo SIM card from any of the major carriers, or
get one from IsraelPhones.

CDMA phones (from Verizon and Sprint) will not work with Israeli carriers, except the iPhone which can be
unlocked for international use. (In other words, Verizon can unlock your iPhone to use with a SIM card for
 international providers while keeping it locked against other American providers like AT&T and Tmobile. You
can use your CDMA phone in Israel if you keep your American carrier and make the big $$$$. You can also
purchase unlocked phones directly from many phone manufacturers (or, for much cheaper, on eBay). Cell
phones in Israel only work on 900/1800 MHz. In North America, phones work on 850/1900 MHz, although the
vast majority have 900/1800 MHz capabilities. You definitely want to double check that your phone isn’t
restricted to 850/900 MHz because that will not work at all here. Finally, Israel does not yet have a 4G network,
so even if you get a 4G phone, it will only work at 3G speeds here for the time being. 4G service is expected to
start at the end of 2014.

As of writing this, the recommended Israeli provider is Golan, which offers unlimited data, text, and phone calls
(including international phone calls) for ₪69/month or without data for ₪1030. Go to golantelecom.co.il, pick a
phone number, and they mail you a dualpurpose SIM/microSIM card OR a nanoSIM (for iPhone 5) (which costs
₪40). On occasion, Golan even offers promotions for a month or two of free service. Other students have
used Orange, Cellcom, or Pelephone.

Multiple cell phone companies in Israel offer plans that include unlimited calling to the US and Canada (and
several other countries) for a low monthly fee. Without one of these plans, calling direct internationally on
regular phones and cell phones can be very expensive ($1.00 to $6.00/ minute) so we don’t recommend
directdialing internationally. If you insist on using a regular phone, the best way to save money is to use a calling
card with a local access number, Google Voice, Skype, or any of the multitude of apps and services currently
available.

If you must call directly (expensive!), here is how you should dial the number: A) From USA to Israeli cellular:
0119725xxxxxxxx; Within Israel: 05xxxxxxxx. B) From USA to Israeli land line: 0119720xxxxxxxx; Within
Israel: 0xxxxxxxx. C) From Israel to USA: ***1xxxxxxxxxx. (where *** is 012, 013, or 014) The land line area
code in Be’er Sheva is 8. If you see a 7digit local number, you must add 08 first.

To sign up for a long distance package with the phone company, you will have to contact one of the three major
companies (Smile: dial *012; Netvision: *013, Bezeq: *014) they offer plans such as 20 NIS/month for 100 minutes
to the US. Once you sign up, make sure you dial that company’s exchange when calling (see dialing instructions).
Note that you can call directly without a plan from Smile, Netvision, or Bezeq, but it will be very expensive.

GOOGLE VOICE
If you setup a Google Voice phone number before you arrive in Israel, you can give an American phone number
to friends & family that will ring your computer for free. Like Skype, but 100% free. You can download an
iPhone app called Talkatone that will forward Google Voice calls to your phone (Google won’t forward
internationally directly).

For voicemail, Google Voice is free and great. It will give you a US-based phone number where people can
leave messages for you, and you’ll get an email with the message (transcribed and audio). Sign up at
http://www.google.com/voice/.

You can also port (transfer) your old cell phone number to Google (for a small fee), so people won’t even have to
update your contact information. Additionally, you can download an app called Talkatone to your smartphone or
tablet; this will forward your Google voice calls directly to your phone/tablet for free! Note: Google Voice initial
account setup must be done in the US.
APPENDIX 5: SPORTS AND FITNESS IN BEER SHEVA SPORTS CENTER

Located close to the Faculty of Health Sciences campus, on the north east corner of Arlozerov/Ben Gurion
Ave. The center has two 25 meter lap pools, one of which is indoor/covered and one outside (great exercise
option during summer heat), a leisure pool, sauna & steam rooms, basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts,
locker rooms, equipment/ clothing shop, and a (crowded) weight room with exercise machines. Entrance to all
the facilities, except the weight/exercise room, is free for students. You will need to swipe your BGU (blue) ID
card to enter the facility. If your ID is not yet printed or activated, tell the attendant you are a new student in
the Columbia program – they should have a list.

Weight/Exercise Room Membership: To gain access to the weight room, you will need a doctor’s note
stating you are ‘physically fit’ (and a list of the machines you may use) – this may be easier to obtain from your
home doctor before arriving in Israel, but you may get it here at the student clinic on BGU main campus as
well. You have to pay ~400 NIS for the year; if you want to use it before October 2013, you must pay an
additional summer fee that’s ~300 NIS. In order to get membership, you’ll receive the proper form from Gaby
in your Caroline mailbox, so keep your eyes peeled! She usually sends an email as well. Then you must take this
form to the post office on campus to pay (verify the summer hours, cash only) and then go to the gym
manager’s office to hand in your documentation.

The Sports Center is open seven days a week, though hours vary (for example, it closes early Friday and
Saturday, opens at noon on Sunday). When you first arrive in July you may need to activate your student card,
which can be done at BGU in the main student center in the basement.

You can also pay for membership at a couple of private gyms in Beer Sheva. There is one (Great Shape,
colloquially known as Discogym) in the BIG, and Holmes Place, a UK based chain, has just opened a luxurious
new complex with top of the line exercise machines, weights, classes, and a pool, off of David Tuviyahu Avenue.
There is another at the Leonardo Hotel. These may be good options for spouses or visitors who cannot access
the BGU Sport Center.

Sports Equipment: There are a few local stores that have sports equipment for you to purchase, like free
weights (measured in kilos), yoga mats, soccer balls, tennis gear, and even punching bags. Some
recommendations are HaAluf Sport located in the BIG (the same lot as Eden Teva). Dance gear, such as
ballet/jazz/ballroom shoes and leotards can also be purchased at Aluf HaSport.