Never thought I’d be asking, but how do people afford it?

amother

OP ↓

Fri, Nov 15 2024, 1:59 pm

Every time I see a post asking how people afford things, I think of the obvious answer that clearly they have more money. For whatever “luxury” is in question. But I don’t consider it a luxury to send my son to yeshiva in Israel. I feel it’s a necessity and I don’t know anyone in our circles that hasn’t done this. We BH make a very decent amount of money although in today’s economy everything is a struggle. My husband has an arrangement with his employer where they help with tuition. That’s with asking for huge breaks. But the part we’re really struggling with is airfare. Every ticket is close to 2k in the busy seasons. Even if we can save a few hundred with a stopover, it’s still prohibitive. How does everyone afford this? From what I read on this site, many people make a lot less money than we do. But everyone I know sends their boys to learn in Israel. What am I missing?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Nov 15 2024, 2:04 pm

sequoia wrote:

Have you tried Lot Polish Airlines?

Is that reliable right now? I’m nervous to book anything other than el al, because he has to be back in yeshiva and can’t use the excuse of canceled flights.

↑ sequoia

Fri, Nov 15 2024, 2:07 pm

amother OP wrote:

Is that reliable right now? I’m nervous to book anything other than el al, because he has to be back in yeshiva and can’t use the excuse of canceled flights.

So book the flight for him to be there one day before he has to. If he misses his connection and has to stay overnight in Warsaw, he’ll still be there on time.
They give you vouchers for a hotel.

Or make sure it’s a longer connection, like four hours. Anything over two hours should be fine.

They’re reliable overall, it’s a great option for transatlantic flights.

amother

Forsythia

Fri, Nov 15 2024, 2:14 pm

Do not book anything besides el al. Other airlines with connecting flights will allow you to book but cancel suddenly. Your child can get stranded as a jewish teen in a Farren country.
You only need to book one ticket. To go to yeshiva and back. You don't have to bring home for succos and pesach with you visiting for chanuka. If you can't afford it skip all those extra trips

amother

Diamond

Fri, Nov 15 2024, 2:18 pm

Honestly, the answer is that u know in advance and u plan for it. The boys usually know when they're planning on going and so u juggle expenses prior to that or right after so u can pay it off.

amother

Poppy

Fri, Nov 15 2024, 2:41 pm

If this is a priority to you, just send him but don't bring him home for Pesach. A one-time ticket for 2k shouldn't be a deal breaker if you're already able to figure out tuition and living expenses.

Amelia Bedelia

Fri, Nov 15 2024, 3:34 pm

sequoia wrote:

I wouldn't send a teenager to Israel with a stopover, especially a first time traveler or if he's traveling alone.

Bnei Berak 10

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 12:38 pm

Planning in advance is the only answer.
Dates of yeshiva zmanim don't change that much.
When I was in tourism long time ago people booked their hotels a year in advance for Pesach.

amother

Trillium

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 1:54 pm

amother Forsythia wrote:

Yup. I and about four other girls from sem did not go home for Pesach. Our parents could not afford to bring us home. We stayed and we did our own thing and went around, we spent a bit of money on attractions but mostly we stayed with relatives (including each others' relatives) and we just did not go home. It was a really great Pesach break, actually. And I'm still here nearly two decades later.

One of the other girls actually could have gone home but chose to stay, the rest of us didn't have that option but were happy for added company. We all had a great time.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 6:25 pm

Bnei Berak 10 wrote:

Planning in advance is the only answer.
Dates of yeshiva zmanim don't change that much.
When I was in tourism long time ago people booked their hotels a year in advance for Pesach.

What you’re saying makes sense, but what if I don’t have the money in advance..

amother

Springgreen

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 6:55 pm

1. I'm going against the grain to say that yeshiva in Israel isn't a necessity. I was the one the bochurim came to for shabbos meals and the stories they told about what they got up to were hair raising. Even some boys from "top" yeshivas.

2. If it is a necessity, you book tickets way in advance, because that's when prices are cheaper.

3. Echoing others not to bring him home if you can't afford it. There are even boys who stay over the summer if they will be in yeshiva for more than one year.

4. Don't give him unlimited spending money. Give him a budget and stick to it.

chestnut

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 7:12 pm

If someone can afford the tuition, the ticket is a small change compared to it.
He can work the year(s) before to save for the ticket and pocket money (summers, bein hazmanim, evenings)

amother

Amaranthus

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 8:08 pm

sequoia wrote:

It's not a matter of missing the connection, it's that they could cancel altogether and leave you with nothing.

Happened to me this summer. They cancelled due to the war, but only the day before even though the war situation had been ongoing for a while. There were no tickets left to be had anywhere at any price (ok actually there was like one first class seat on one Elal flight for around $9000.) bh x1000 a malach of a travel agent chartered a plane for the yeshiva students who were in that situation. It cost a lot more than lot but it got them to Israel for the zman.

Elal all the way for us now.

amother

↑ OP

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 8:40 pm

chestnut wrote:

If someone can afford the tuition, the ticket is a small change compared to it.
He can work the year(s) before to save for the ticket and pocket money (summers, bein hazmanim, evenings)

We can’t afford the tuition! My husband’s employer pays it… arranged into his salary. And we make well over 200k… feel like I must be missing something. We’re just not making it.

amother

Cerise

Sat, Nov 16 2024, 8:47 pm

Cc points. You’ll feel it a lot less even though you’re still spending money. Find a cc that has a good points system sometimes when you first open a cc they give higher rate so use that for all your expenses and collect as much points as possible.