FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

We have listed below some answers to questions; do also contact us if you need additional assistance.

How do I find a place where/people with whom - to spend Shabbat or any other Jewish Holiday?

Simply look up a JewishVine host in the area you are interested in and get in touch to arrange it. The host will then let you know how observant his/her household is, how many people he/she can accommodate and whether he/she is available to host on that particular date.

What commitment am I making by signing up as a host?

By signing up as a host you are simply saying that you are potentially willing to provide a friendly environment to Jewish people who are passing by your area and have nowhere or no one to spend the holidays with. Any potential guest will have to get in touch with you first (either via JewishVine messaging, e-mail or telephone) and approved by you before an agreement is made. Of course if you are not available on that particular date, or simply wish to spend that particular holyday with your family only, you are free to decline and the guest may try contacting another member instead.

How do I sign up as a host?

You simply need to login to your account, click on the "profile" tab and then the "places" tab below. You will see a link: "click here to add a new place" which will take you to a form where you can enter any relevant information about the Place to Stay you wish to offer.

How safe is it to host or visit people I have never met before via JewishVine?

Like any new encounter in life, you never know who you will end up becoming good friends with and who you will dismiss. However, as far as safety goes, Jewishvine recommends that unless you know someone directly or through a friend, you always make sure that the person you are about to meet is a JV –approved member. Also, if the member you are contacting has made previous JewishVine encounters, it is helpful to look at the member’s feedback that has been left on his profile.

What is a JV-approved member and how can I become one?

Meeting a JV-approved member means that the host or guest you are about to meet has allowed the JewishVine team to conduct a background check on him/her. This is an optional step to become a member but is required to become JV-approved. Background checks involve a conversation with the JewishVine staff and some positive feedback from the team. In addition, the JV staff will get in touch with the member’s local Jewish community administrator in order to make sure that the member is affiliated with a Jewish organization and familiar with its existing members. To become one JV-approved, simply ask click the “Become a JV-approved member” button on your profile and provide the JewishVine team with an e-mail address or telephone number in order for us to get in touch.

How do Project forums work?

The project forums area is free to use and ran by you, the JV members. It is a great way to let the JV community know abut a project that you would like to start or have already started. There, you are able to talk about it, receive feedback and raise awareness on issues that are important to you. It is also a powerful tool to get more people involved in any charity work you might want to undertake.

What Restictions are there for Uploading Photos?

Each photo uploaded must be 2.5M or less in size. If your photo is larger than this, we suggest using one of the many FREE online Image Resizer Tools available.
Each Member can upload up to 20 photos.
Projects: If you are in charge of Moderating a Project you will be able to upload a further 20 photos per Project.