Skip to main content

Despite COVID-19, Israel allows foreign yeshiva students to enter country

After a weekslong battle, foreign yeshiva students will be allowed to enter Israel with lenient quarantine requirements.
An Israeli police officer, dressed in protective outfit, speaks to a Yeshiva (Jewish educational institution for studies of traditional religious texts)student, in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak on April 2, 2020, during a control to insure that social distancing measures imposed by Israeli authorities meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus are being respected. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

For the past month, the first thing Avi Steiner, 17, from Toms River, New Jersey, did when he woke up in the morning was to check English-language Israeli news sites on his phone. Steiner was eager to find out about any updates in Israeli policy on the entry of students with foreign citizenship to study in Israel. The tension unsettled his days for many weeks, but at the beginning of this week, it finally happened — with only a few hours’ notice, he got on a plane to Israel

“My suitcase had been packed for two months," he said in conversation with Al-Monitor from his quarantine location at a hotel near the Dead Sea. “I’m part of a group of several dozen students. Only on Sunday did they tell us we have a flight to Israel, and when I heard I was giddy with happiness. I was sure that it was lost. For months I didn't sleep or eat regularly because of this — but now, when I see the Dead Sea from my window, I know it was all worth it.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.