BAYIT, a new initiative of the Eye Squad, pairs North American students spending a post-high school year in Israel with Anglo host families. These pairings promise to make the “year in Israel” experience richer and more comfortable for the students while giving the host families the opportunity to open their homes and give visiting students a taste of “regular” life in Israel. Students turn to their BAYIT families for Shabbat and holiday hospitality, and the families become an integral element of the support network so vital to the students’ Israel experience. Host families are screened prior to assignment, and the Eye Squad provides them with the tools needed to support their BAYIT students.

Who: North American and other Anglo students studying in Israel after high school, including youth in yeshivot, seminaries, and other post-high school “gap year” programs; North American and other Anglo families who have moved to Israel.

What: A “buddy” program wherein each student is matched with a host family. The family will open their home to the student for Shabbat and holidays on as as-needed basis, depending on the needs of the particular individual.

Where: Warm and welcoming homes throughout Israel.

When: Ideally, students will be matched with host families at the beginning of the academic year (Elul) prior to or immediately upon their arrival in Israel, but students will be able to join the program at any time. These pairings will last throughout the entire year (or student’s stay in Israel), and we expect that participating families attempt to schedule a Shabbat with their students within the first month of the pairing.

Why: To provide students with an additional level of support during their time studying in Israel, in keeping with the Eye Squad’s mission of “keeping an eye out” for this vulnerable population.

How Does a Student/Family Join the BAYIT?: Contact Ariella Perry, Coordinator of the BAYIT Program: BAYIT@eyesquad.org




The Hotline



Within Israel: *9111

From
North America:
866-550-4EYE