My daughter wants to spend a month in Israel with her friends, I'm not sure if I should let her go?

Question

My daughter really wants to travel to Israel with her two Israeli friends and their family. She's 11 and we're not Jewish, but she's become best friends with these two Jewish sisters whom she goes to school with and their family is from Israel. She keeps begging me about going there with them, and I'm just not sure if I should let her go or not because of potential dangers. I know the family is nice, but their house in Israel is in one of the Israeli occupied territories. Do you think it would be safe to let her go?

Answer 1

OH MY GOD.

You cannot let her go.  Warning signals are blaring.  Danger Danger Danger.

Answer 2

If it were my daughter I would not let her go, not at 11 years of age.  Maybe I am overprotective but there are too many dangers out there and you will not be there to protect her if anything happens.

Answer 3

if i were you, i will NOT make her go.. no matter how begging she make..

its like allowing her to spend a month in the most dangerous places ever you have been seen..

plus she's still too young to travel alone..

you didnt mention where are you from, but i just wanna tell you not to approve.

Answer 4

its safe to go! why do you think so many people make aliyot (immigration) and so many tourists visit israel? No one is going to want to go on vacation to a war zone.  its not like the media portrays it. yes tehre are dangerous areas but jews dont live there and dont go there. she will have the time of her life. the country is beautiful and fun

Answer 5

What you mean "occupied territories?" This could mean anything.  Specifically, what town?

I agree though with K in Him and Sheila.  It has nothing to do with Israel, it is just the girl is young to be away from her mother.  So go with her!  :)

The safest towns are under complete Israel control.  So what town you talking about that you could both go to?

Answer 6

Israel's amazing and totally safe and I'd give it one big YES! But at 11? How long are they staying for? Because if it'll be really hard for the girl if it were a month or something. But like a week? Yeah, let the kid go. She'll come so educated, you'll be put to shock.

Answer 7

I really think it comes down to how much do you trust the parents.

Personally, I'd do it only if they were like a "second family" and I'd know they'd treat her as if she was their own daughter.

Also, Israel might be strange for her. Away from her other friends and family for a month in an environment she can't be independent in, might be tough for her.

Answer 8

I spent a year there, as well as visiting several other times. Israels' security is tight. There are armed military personnel everywhere. I mean everywhere. I felt very safe, & never had any problems.

Look at these 2 daughters. They're fine, right? They grew up in Israel, right? The girls' family is fine. Let your daughter go. Israel is a country I would encourage anyone to visit if they get a chance. Your daughter will owe you her eye teeth afterwards!! I hope you allow her to go, & I wish her all the best.

Answer 9

I guess I started too young.  Made my first alone bus trip at 10.  Different world then.

If the family you are sending her with is trust worthy then letting her go would be the biggest experience in her young life.  She will never forget it.

all depends on the supervision, if she can accept that she is one of the kids and has to mind, yes.  If she is one of today's do as I please kids and you go to h**l, then no.

If the parents are organized and in control yes.  If like most too busy with their own vacation to watch the kids, no.

If a bull frog had wings he wouldn't bust his butt when he hops.

If , if , if,~!!!!!

Answer 10

Since you have not provided the name of the town, I cannot tell you whether or not that specific town is safe from Arab rockets and snipers.

However, even if her friends resided in Tel-Aviv, I would still advise you NOT to send your daughter to Israel by herself.

As a mother, I would want to accompany my child on such a trip, especially such a young and impressionable child!

Answer 11

Israel is a safe place to visit, no worries there. On the other hand, I'd never send my 11 year old overseas with another family. Wait until she's older, even as young as 16 is ok with adult supervision.

Hope that helps.

Answer 12

i wouldnt let my daughter go at 11 without me bc she is too young to go anywere. if she were older i would have no problem

Answer 13

yes, it's safe.

what you call occupied territories is simply a jewish neighborhood, and they are well guarded and well protected. anything can happen anywhere, including the states, as you well know. israel is no more dangerous than any US neighborhood.

it's a big tradition in judaism to invite houseguests to visit. some scholars say that was the real sin of soddom and gemorrah, inhospitability.

it would be an adventure for her, a great one.

Answer 14

11 and you will let her out of your sight.?

She is too young.

My vote: NO

Answer 15

i think that she is young, so no

and there is no problem let her go even if you are not jewish.

the people who come to visit israel dont enter to arab places cuz it is not safe... but all the other places in the country are very safe.

israel is a holly place dont forget.... every time  come to us people from other religions...

and we love everyone you are welcome to visit here with your family and dont worry about the safe.

Answer 16

why on earth would you give your daughter away from 11 years old to some family you hardly know(?) in a country far away.

And why don't you just say what the name of city or town is they live in, so we can better answer whether it is really dangerous or not.

But if you believe the place is occupied, then why even bother to ask other people if it's safe or not?

strange mother you are.

Answer 17

Which city do they live in?  "Israeli Occupied Territories" does not tell us much.  You could be referring to Hebron, which is pretty dangerous, but some people would use that phrase to refer to Tel Aviv.

I probably would let her go.  I assume the two friends she would be going with know how to get to Israel, or are traveling with an adult.  I don't see why your daughter couldn't go with them.

I do admit that I was more lenient with my daughter than many people are.  She flew alone for the first time when she was five.  This upset some people I knew, but it was fine.  (I dropped her off at one end, my parents picked her up at the other end.  Where could she get lost on a non-stop flight?)

There are dangers everywhere, but you still have to live your life.  Before I went to Jerusalem for a year, everyone asked "You're moving to Israel?  Aren't you scared?"  When I got there, many Israelis asked "You're from New York City?  Aren't you scared?"

Answer 18

Hi Jane,

For the exact reasons I did not allow my oldest daughter to visit Israel. She is sixteen and she wanted to go on a cruise with her school in Israel.

Greetings

Answer 19

id say no to letting her go, you can never trust somebody anymore. Too many crazy people out here in the world today. Wait until she gets about 17 until  you let her go somewhere for a month especially out of the country.

Answer 20

Dont let her go,you dont know enough about this family except that their "nice" .And that their house is in the occupied territories should tell you enough about their politics that in fact their not very nice and believe that palestinian people are inferior to themselves and its ok to steal their land.Ive met these people before and theyll waste no time in brain washing your daughter to their belief system.

Answer 21

If she is going with a family, she would be safe.

Answer 22

My vote is NO.

11 years old is still too young to be without a parent, especially for a month.