Elevate your hospitality game and deepen your love for Israel! Join us in an extraordinary mission by opening your home to Israeli travelers while sharing the love of Jesus.
Host Israelis is a tight-knit community of Israel-loving believers who graciously host Israelis as they travel around the world. As hosts, you offer your home at no cost to your guests, making a meaningful and positive witness of the gospel.
Host Israelis is a ministry of Chosen People Ministries seeking to bless Israel through the simple gift of hospitality. Most Jewish people come to faith through the witness of caring Gentile believers. (You can watch testimonials from Jewish believers at ifoundshalom.com.)
God called Gentile believers to make Israel envious of their life in Messiah.
“. . . salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make [Israel] jealous” —Romans 11:11.
Our desire is to facilitate this calling by connecting Israelis and followers of Jesus through hospitality. Gentile and Jewish believers in Jesus who love the God of Israel through the Jewish Messiah are God’s greatest instrument in bringing about the salvation of Jewish people.
“And so all Israel will be saved” —Romans 11:26.
Our prayer is for all Israelis to recognize and receive Jesus as Messiah through the witness of hosts in our network.
YOU DO NOT NEED SEMINARY TRAINING OR THE GIFT OF EVANGELISM. YOU SIMPLY NEED TO SAY “YES” TO THE LORD, OPEN YOUR HEART AND HOME, AND ALLOW GOD TO LOVE HIS PEOPLE THROUGH YOU.
If you cannot host now, we invite you to consider making a gift toward Host Israelis and help us grow the network and reach more Israelis with the gospel.
If you experience any difficulties donating online, please contact our office at
1-888-293-7482 for assistance.
All donations are processed through a secure connection, keeping your information completely confidential. Chosen People Ministries is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
FAQs
Can I apply even if I‘m not sure I’m ready to host?
Yes! If you have questions before you apply, click here to schedule a 30-minute phone appointment to ask us all your questions. If you apply and decide later that you’re not ready or have to suspend your hosting, that’s not a problem. You can suspend your hosting at any time. Rest assured, nobody will show up on your doorstep unannounced! Your address will not be public.
How frequently am I expected to host?
It’s up to you. You are in full control of your schedule and are not obligated to say “yes” to every request. Many new hosts start slow until they gain some experience and are better able to gauge their comfort level. In any case, Israeli travelers understand you have a real life and are usually very gracious even when you are not able to receive them.
How long will Israelis stay in my home?
It’s up to you. The typical stay is somewhere between 1 and 3 days, or longer by arrangement. Some hosts have found it helpful to underpromise and overdeliver. These hosts will promise their guests one or two nights and then decide later to offer more days once they’ve had a chance to meet their guests. Usually this works out well, but again, you’re in complete control of your schedule and what you’re comfortable with.
Do Israeli travelers undergo a background check?
No, but we do take other precautions to screen travelers before giving them access to our network of hosts.
We verify the identity of Israeli travelers. They are required to upload a photo of themselves and also a photo of their passport. We compare the two to ensure that they are who they say they are (like TSA screening at the airport).
We recommend that you “meet” your guest before giving your address. We recommend that you schedule a brief (10-minute) video chat on WhatsApp with your prospective guest before giving them your address and agreeing to host them. This is also a great way to break the ice and start building a friendship!
We plan to share this network by word-of-mouth. Rather than publicize our network to the general public in Israel, we plan to spread it by word-of-mouth through our staff, friends, and ministry partners in Israel. We believe this offers some protection and a better outcome.
In the end, we take some precautions, but we cannot make any guarantees.
Do I need to be able to speak Hebrew?
No. Most of your Israeli guests will be proficient in English. Those who are not are usually traveling with someone who is. If you host multiple guests, you’ll notice that most will speak to one another in English when you’re present, as a courtesy.
Am I expected to provide kosher meals?
No, you’re not expected to provide any meals, let alone kosher meals. Although it’s not an expectation, we highly recommend you offer coffee or a meal if you can. These are some of the best times to connect with your guests. Also, it’s very bonding to cook a meal together. Let them teach you an Israeli dish or teach them a local dish, it will be a very rewarding experience. Guests who keep kosher will not expect you to so that’s not something you need to worry about. Like you would with any guest, it would be considerate to ask if they have any dietary restrictions. You can follow their lead from there.
Will Israelis come to my little town?
Maybe! You might be on the route from one destination to another. Israelis spend months in the US and will venture way off the beaten path for an experience. We would encourage you to put yourself on the map and see what happens!
Is a couch good enough?
Unfortunately, no. You must have a private room to offer your guests. If you don’t have a private room, let’s talk about your setup. Your home should be safe and comfortable. Access to WiFi is strongly encouraged as your guests will want to communicate with family and make further travel plans using the internet. Access to laundry is not required, but would be a real blessing to your guest.
Do Israelis know that we’re believers in Jesus?
Yes! The website and mobile application Israelis will use to find hosts on our network states clearly that hosts are believers in Jesus who love and want to bless Israel through the gift of hospitality. In addition, our hosting network will spread by word-of-mouth among Israelis. They will tell their friends about this network of Christian hosts who love Israel and give them a free place to stay during their travels!
Will there be training on hospitality and how to share my faith?
Yes! Although, hosts are expected to provide a safe, clean, comfortable and welcoming environment for their guests; nothing more. If the Lord prompts you to share the Gospel or discuss faith-related topics, by all means do so. Once you are approved as a host, we will provide host training videos as well as a follow-up online seminar with a live trainer and a handful of your peers (other new hosts undergoing training). We want you to succeed as hosts in becoming a sweet aroma, a winsome witness of the Lord and his goodness. We are praying for you in your calling to make Israel envious for your life in Messiah (Romans 11:11).
