Albright Resident Guide
Albright Resident Guide
Table of Contents
Absences
Residents who plan to be away from the Albright during their stay, to please declare your absence here.
Building Access
Please see the letter from Naual Herbawi, our hospitality manager and housekeeping coordinator, for the pedestrian gate access code, building access code, and your keys.
Permission is required park your car at the Albright or register your phone for the vehicle gate. Please contact Jamie Fraser to arrangement access.
If you have difficulties accessing the pedestrian gate, press the button on the gate during business hours or get in touch with Naual Herbawi to open the gate. You can email her at naualherbawi@aiar.org or call/WhatsApp her at this number: 052-679-9843.
Please keep all doors and gates closed and locked.
Contact
Street Address
W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research
26 Salah ed-Din Street
Jerusalem 9711049
Telephone
972-2-628-8956
Fax
972-2-626-4424
Institutional Email
albrightinstitute@aiar.org
Please note that mail and packages can take 2 weeks to a month to arrive and may be stopped at customs and subject to VAT.
Letters and packages arriving by regular post can be sent to the institute’s P.O. Box:
W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research
P.O. Box. 19096
9119002 Jerusalem
Letters and packages arriving by private carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.) can be delivered to our street address (see above).
Wifi
You may access the internet using our wifi networks: Albright_2.4 or Albright_5, using the password Megiddo1. Ethernet access is available in rooms and at some library desks. Be advised that some devices may not work when connected to our ethernet ports. Please consult the documentation for your device or operating system for instructions for connecting to WIFI and ethernet networks.
Meals
At the Albright, guests on the meal plan receive half board, which includes a self-served breakfast and a full dinner prepared by our kitchen staff.
Breakfast: The residents’ kitchen is adjacent to the dining room. You will find coffee, cereal, milk, butter, eggs, jams, and pita bread available for breakfast. You may use the Chef’s kitchen to prepare breakfast, but please contact Chef Hisham for instructions on how to use the stove top to avoid problems with the pilot light.
Lunch: Residents are responsible for their own lunch, though they are welcome to dinner leftovers in the fridge in the residents’ kitchen. Residents must practice good food safety and reseal food (plastic wrap is available on the kitchen counter if the existing wrap tears). Do not leave serving utensils in the food when you are finished serving yourself. The residents’ kitchen is closed after 1:00 pm so the kitchen staff can prepare dinner.
Dinners: For those on the meal plan (guests with hostel rooms or apartment guests who have purchased dinners), dinners are served in on the first floor of the north wing of the building. You can access this wing using your key for the main building. It is mandatory to notify Chef Hisham Jibreen if you cannot make it to dinner. Please use the sign out sheet in the dining room or email Chef Hisham no later than noon the day of the dinner (earlier notification is welcome and appreciated, especially before dinners for major events).
Coffee and Tea: Coffee and tea are available at all times for residents.
Library
The library is available 24/7 for residents. The online catalogue may be accessed here, and the card catalogue is located on your right as you enter the library from the foyer. For a desk and orientation to the library please fill out this form. Any further questions may be addressed to the head librarian, Emily Johnson. For more information, see also the library webpage: aiar.org/library
To suggest an addition to our library collection, please submit a request using this form.
Finances and Billing
Please visit or contact our finance manager, Nadia Bandak, to pay for your room, meals for guests, merchandise or to compensate the Albright for archaeological services or field trips. You may also contact her to receive invoices or receipts. Her office is located in the main building on the left after you enter into the main door.
Reliable ATMs may be found nearby at the Mercantile Bank or at HaPoalim Bank
Maintenance
For any maintenance concerns, contact our maintenance manager, Ashraf Hanna.
Laundry
The laundry room is located in the basement of the north wing, immediately below the kitchen. The door can be opened with the main building key that you were issued with your room key. There is a dedicated washer and dry for residents which are located nearest to the door. The other machines are for staff use only during business hours. Outside of business hours the staff machines are available to residents if they are not in use. Please change your loads promptly (try setting a timer on your phone). If you do not want someone else to move your load for you, please leave your contact information on the clipboard on the stainless steel counter above the resident washer. Residents may use the ironing table when it is not in use by staff, and a clothesline is available just northeast of the laundry room. Please do not leave clothing on the line after it is dry so other residents can use the clothesline.
Operating the Washer and Dryer
- Purchase the detergent of your choice (contact Naual Herbawi if you need to borrow detergent when you first arrive). We recommend liquid soap to avoid clogging the washer with dry soap.
- Pull out the drawer on the top left of the washer and put your soap in. Be careful not to put in too much soap. The soap channel in the drawer is clearly labeled. Make sure to change the flap in the soap to the proper position for liquid or powder detergent. Close the drawer (see figure 1).
- Press the on button to turn on the washer.
- Set the dial to 20 min load, or to another setting appropriate for your clothing if you have a larger load or special items.
- Press start. There will be a pause between when you press the button and when the washer begins to fill. Wait 15 seconds after pressing start before attempting again.
- Record the time to the end of your wash cycle and set an alarm on your phone to return to the laundry room.
- When the washer finishes, remove your clothes from the washer promptly when the cycle is complete.
- If you need to use the dryer, open the dryer and remove the lint trap. Press the button on the top of the lint trap to open it up and ensure there is not any lint inside. Lint can be disposed of in the trashcan below the porcelain sink on the east wall. Put the lint trap back into the dryer (see figure 2).
- Check the water reservoir. Our dryers do not expel moisture through a vent; rather, they collect it in a water reservoir located on the top left drawer of the machine, analogous to where the detergent drawer is on the washer. Completely remove the reservoir from the dryer and dump it out in the laundry room sink. Slide it back into the dryer (see figure 3). Warning: failure to empty the lint trap and water reservoir will very likely leave you with damp clothing.
- Deposit your clothing into the dryer.
- Select the appropriate setting for your clothing. You may selected a specific duration by using Timed or you may increase the heat by selecting the “sun” icon.
- Press start to begin your drying cycle. Set a timer to return to the laundry room.
- Remove your laundry from the dryer when it is finished. Remove the lint trap, clean it, and insert it back into the dryer for the next person.
- Remove the water reservoir and dump your water. Replace the reservoir, and you’re finished.
Copying, Scanning, and Printing
Visa Procedures
Fellows from visa exempt countries (e.g. USA & Canada) can come for three months with an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL). Apply 72 hours in advance of booking your flight here: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/. Fellows staying for more than three months should apply at least two weeks before their 3-month period expires, perhaps earlier if the two-week period includes holidays. Fellows and residents can apply for an extension at the Ministry of the Interior in west Jerusalem, a short ride from the Albright on the light rail. Residents who travel outside of the country during their time at the Albright may gain additional time upon returning to Israel. Any extensions are granted at the discretion of Israeli authorities.
Please see in the link below general instructions for further information about extending tourist visas –
https://www.gov.il/en/service/request_for_extension_tourisem_visa_or_visitor_visa
SIM Cards
SIM cards are available at Ben Gurion Airport, in most Jerusalem cellphone shops, and there is a GolanTelecom store available in our neighborhood at this location.
Animals
For the health and safety of our residents and staff, pets are not permitted at the Albright.
Mandatory: Do not feed the stray cats at the Albright. Stray cats are prolific in Jerusalem, and we do not want to attract them or distract them from hunting rodents. It is inhumane to care for a cat for a few weeks while you are visiting and abandon it when you return home.
Please report sick and injured animals to AIAR staff.
Transportation
Taxis:
We recommend Hatem: 052-568-5547 (available on WhatsApp; has access to AIAR vehicle gate)
It is 300 ILS for a one-way trip to or from the airport. It is normal to tip 10-15%.
To get a taxi using the Gett app, please check their policy about taxi cues and booking in advance: https://www.gett.com/il/airport-en/
Rental Cars:
Many residents use Eldan for their car rentals. Eldan vehicles are not normally insured for the West Bank, but you may inquire with them for additional coverage. Check the benefits of your credit card—you may have rental insurance already.
Train to and from the Airport
The train from Yitzhak Navon Station in Jerusalem (across Yafo St. from the Central Bus Station) to Tel Aviv stops at Ben Gurion Airport. Check the timetable here: https://www.rail.co.il/en. Tickets may be purchased at the airport from a kiosk. It is also possible to purchase a train ticket in advance with your RavKav card or by other apps (e.g. Moovit).
When you exit baggage the claim on the arrivals level, take the door to the right, beyond the money changers, to find the entrance to the train platform. Ticket kiosks are available there.
Visiting Tel Aviv or TAU:
If you’re visiting Tel Aviv or Tel Aviv University, we recommend taking the train using the instructions for getting to the airport. Stay on the train and get off at the appropriate stop in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv University has a dedicated stop. After exiting the station, take the stairs up toward the university, follow the street until you reach a traffic circle, follow another stairwell up to a TAU parking area and you’ll find a gate onto campus. Bring photo ID and an invitation letter or email to get on campus.
Airport Shuttle (Sherut):
“Nesher” Sherut is a shared taxi (typically a van with 8-9 seats) that will get you to various destinations in Israel, including to and from the airport. This service runs 24/7, including on Shabbat. You can board a sherut taxi by exiting the airport at the arrivals level and walking out the door. The Jerusalem sherut taxi is usually parked at the end of the sidewalk on the right. It will typically not leave the airport until it is full or all riders agree to pay extra to leave early. Payment is in cash (should be 64 ILS) when you arrive at your destination. If they do not recognize the address, tell them it is near the American Colony or the District Courthouse and navigate them from there.
You can call 077-3169024 to arrange a Sherut to pick you up from the Albright to catch your flight. There are usually many pickups, so your taxi may arrange to pick you up earlier than you might expect for a normal taxi. Naual can also arrange a Sherut for you. If there is a problem with your pick up, call a taxi driver for the fastest way to the airport.
Rav-Kav Card:
The primary transportation card used in Israel is called a Rav-Kav card. You can purchase an “anonymous” (i.e. a card that isn’t registered to an individual and isn’t eligible for certain discounts as a result), load it with money, and use it on buses, light rail, and trains. Train tickets may required a special contract to be loaded at a kiosk at the train station. You can also use the app or website to load special contracts. Phones with NFC readers can interface with cards and load funds electronically without a kiosk. For more details, visit: https://ravkavonline.co.il/en/
Moovit App:
You can pay for most public transportation using the Moovit App. It allows you to pay for multiple riders, so you may find it useful if you have a family or do not wish to load funds onto a Rav-Kav card. For more details, visit: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/moovit-public-transit-tracker/id498477945 or moovitapp.com
Health Insurance
Residents at the Albright are fully responsible for their health and well-being while in Israel. It is recommended that you secure health insurance coverage during your stay. Health insurance for tourists may be purchased here (other options are available): https://www.yedidim-health.co.il/tourists.
Consulates & Embassies
We encourage all foreigners to register with their Consulate or Embassy in Israel. Please see here for information for US citizens that may also be applicable to those from other countries. Please also see the travel advisory issued by the US Department of State for up-to-date analysis of the security situation.
US Citizens can sign up for the STEP Smart Traveler Program, a free service that keeps you informed by email of any changes to the security situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, and offers assistance in cases of emergency.
US Citizens should familiarize themselves with the Embassy’s US Citizen Services, which includes emergency assistance and passport services.
Emergencies
If You are the Victim of a Crime
Contact the local police to report the incident and get immediate help, and be sure to request a copy of the police report. You can also then contact your Consulate or Embassy if necessary. US Citizens can follow the State Department’s instructions as detailed here and consult the US Citizen Services – Emergency Assistance section on the US Embassy’s website. Please consult Albright staff for any help you may need as well.
In Case of Medical Emergency
Notify the director, assistant director, or another staff member immediately. The standard procedure is to go (with passport and credit card) to the emergency room at Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus, approximately a 7-minute ride from the Albright.
Be sure to keep the hospital receipts for submission to your health insurance company for reimbursement. Make sure you ask for a copy of your records in English.
In cases in which the person cannot be moved from the Albright premises, the Magen David Adom Emergency Service (101) should be called and a staff member informed.
For non-emergency medical care, you can go to the Clalit clinic near the Damascus Gate and ask for Dr. Hanna or Dr. Nora, who will see Albright residents for 150 ILS without insurance. Click here for the location.
Public Service Sirens
An air-raid siren is a continuous, ascending and descending tone. These should not be confused with drills and memorial sirens, which are monotone. Drills are conducted annually.
On Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) a monotone siren is sounded, usually at 11:00 am. On Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron) a monotone siren is sounded on the eve at 20:00, and at 11:00 am on the morning of the day itself.
In Case of Fire
Occupants should leave the building as calmly as is appropriate for the situation.
Meeting Area: Rear Parking Lot, east of the Institute.
In Case of Rocket or Missile Attack
In case of a siren signaling a rocket or missile attack, go immediately to the bomb shelter (see figure).
All buildings in Israel are required to have a designated bomb shelter (mamak or mamad). If you hear an air-raid siren, go immediately to the shelter. Supplies and instructions will be provided there depending on the type of emergency.
Primary designated shelter is Library Basement Compact Shelving Room; water, a radio, flashlight, first-aid kit, and other essential supplies are in place.
In Case of an Earthquake
If you are inside a building and feel that the earth is trembling under your feet, go quickly to a safe place according to the following order of priorities (taken from the website of the Israel Home Front Command):
1. Open space – If you can get out of the building within seconds, get out and go to an open area (especially if you are in a one-family home or ground floor apartment).
2. Secure space – If you can’t get out of the building quickly, enter the secure space (Mamad). Leave the door open.
3. Stairwell – If you can’t get out of the building quickly or to the secure space, go to the stairwell and if possible, descend to an exit from the building.
4. Only if you can do none of these things, take shelter under a piece of heavy furniture or sit on the floor next to an interior wall.
Emergency Information Resources
For information during an emergency or on how to prepare:
www.ynetnews.com under “updates” section; during quickly-changing situations, offers updates in real time
Emergency procedures information on the website of Israel Home Front Command: http://www.oref.org.il/10631-en/Pakar.aspx
Jerusalem Municipality facebook page
Emergency Contact
Please fill out this form to give us your emergency contacts or any other information we should have in case of an emergency.
