NCSY/JSU is a proud RootOne Trip Provider. RootOne is an initiative that helps connect thousands of Jewish teens to Israel by lowering the financial barrier to participate in immersive summer trips to Israel and investing in the educational quality of those experiences.
RootOne voucher applications are not yet open for Summer 2025 programs. Voucher application availability varies from year to year. Once you apply for a trip that is eligible for a RootOne voucher, NCSY/JSU will communicate when the voucher application becomes available.
We are in the process of being renewed as a RootOne trip provider for the Summer 2025 season. All guidelines and information below are from Summer 2024, and we will let families know as soon as new information becomes available.
What are the eligibility rules?
Eligibility rules are determined by RootOne. For more information on Voucher eligibility, please visit their website. Eligible voucher applicants must identify as Jewish, and be currently enrolled in 9th through 11th grade. Teens must be citizens of the United States or Canada. If you have previously received a RootOne voucher, you are not eligible to apply again.
Voucher eligibility is not connected to financial need or merit. Additionally, applicants must be in good standing with NCSY/JSU, cannot be on probation, and/or cannot owe any funds to NCSY/JSU.
My teen is a 12th grade senior graduating high school in Spring 2025. Are they eligible to receive a voucher?
Yes! The RootOne voucher is open to graduating seniors for Summer 2025 trips.
If I have previously received a RootOne travel voucher, am I eligible to apply again?
No. If you have previously received a RootOne voucher, you are not eligible to apply again. Other NCSY/JSU and community scholarships may be available.
Are there any obligations in return for the grant?
$3,000 RootOne Voucher recipients must take part in engagement programming (~8 hours total) in the spring prior to travel, as well as complete a post-program confidential survey. Non-fulfillment of these obligations, cancellations requested after our final refund deadline, and/or removal from the program due to a Code of Conduct violation will necessitate repayment of the voucher to NCSY/JSU.
What programs are eligible for the voucher?
The voucher can be applied to all NCSY/JSU Summer Experiences in Israel, including connected programs that combine experiences outside of Israel (e.g., Europe + Israel).
Will I still be eligible for need-based scholarships or other grants?
Yes, you may receive the RootOne Voucher and still be eligible for other forms of scholarship from NCSY/JSU as well as other funding sources.
What am I financially responsible for if I receive the voucher?
Families are responsible for paying the balance in full minus any scholarship awards they are expecting to maintain a current account balance. If your family overpays for their teen’s experience—which results in an account overage—NCSY/JSU will refund your family (or funder) for your account overage by sending a check in the fall after account reconciliations have been completed.
You will only need to pay the program balance, minus any expected scholarship funding that NCSY/JSU is aware of. Please see the example chart below:
| Program Balance | RootOne Voucher | Amount Due to NCSY/JSU |
| $7,300 | $3,000 | $4,300 |
Will my teen be eligible to attend a Birthright Israel trip if they receive a RootOne voucher?
Yes! Receiving a RootOne voucher does not currently impact eligibility for Birthright Israel.
How are the $3,000 vouchers being funded?
The vouchers are funded by RootOne. Seeded by a generous gift from The Marcus Foundation and powered by The Jewish Education Project, RootOne provides major subsidies for trip participants (called RootOne vouchers), invests in elevating trip curricula and experiences, and works with its partners to create deeper pre- and post-trip engagement opportunities to help strengthen participants’ Jewish identities and connections to Israel before they begin college.
Additional information about RootOne Vouchers can be found on their website.
RootOne LLC, [a/is a] Delaware limited liability company, whose sole member is the Board of Jewish Education, Inc. d/b/a The Jewish Education Project, a New York not-for-profit corporation.
*NOTE* A completed voucher application does not guarantee approval. Voucher decisions will be at the discretion of RootOne.