A Newborn in Boca Raton
Maya is 5 years old, sitting in her parents' living room in Boca Raton. Her parents David and Sarah are reading about Israel Prepaid on a Tuesday evening while Maya watches a video in the other room. They're not thinking about gap years yet — Maya is only 5. But they know Jewish identity starts early.
“We wanted her to go to Israel,” Sarah says. “Not as a tourist. A real experience — the kind that stays with you. But we also knew that the longer we waited, the more it would cost.”
They had done their research. They knew that gap year programs in Israel were running $30,000–$40,000. They knew program costs were rising every year. And they knew that a 529 plan — which they already had — wouldn't cover any of it.
The Decision
David and Sarah enrolled Maya in the Bronze plan at $119/month — the age-5 pricing. “We weren't sure exactly which program she'd want,” Sarah says. “We just knew we wanted her to go to Israel and we didn't want money to be the reason she couldn't.”
The $250 account opening fee and the first month's payment went through on a Friday. By Sunday, they had almost forgotten about it — the monthly payment was small enough to absorb into the family budget without drama.
Their enrollment
Age at enrollment: 5 · Plan: Bronze · Monthly payment: $119/month · Coverage: $30,044 guaranteed
Five Years Later
Maya is now 10. She goes to Jewish day school in Boca Raton, attends synagogue most Shabbatot, and — to her parents' ongoing delight — has been to Israel twice already on family trips.
The same Bronze plan that David and Sarah enrolled in costs $185/month for new enrollees today. Their price has been locked at $119/month since day one. That $66/month difference adds up to $792/year — money staying in their pocket.
“The best part is we don't think about it,” David says. “It just happens every month. And in eight years, the money is going to be there.”
What the Money Covers
When Maya is 18, she wants to do Aardvark Israel's gap year in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The program costs around $37,000 all-in. Their Israel Prepaid coverage handles a significant portion — and they plan to upgrade to a Gold plan to cover the full cost.
The upgrade, when they make it, will still be priced at rates locked in years earlier — not at whatever Aardvark costs in 2034.
The Math
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment age | 5 years old |
| Plan | Bronze |
| Monthly payment | $119/month (locked) |
| Total payments (163 months) | $19,397 |
| Account opening fee | $250 |
| Total invested | $19,647 |
| Guaranteed coverage | $30,044 |
What They Wish They'd Known
“Start earlier,” Sarah says without hesitation. “We started at 5. If we'd started at birth, we'd be paying $89/month instead of $119/month and getting even more coverage. The math is just better the earlier you go.”
David adds: “Also — don't wait until you know which program. We didn't know if she'd want MASA or Aardvark or something else. You don't need to know. You just lock in a plan and the flexibility is built in. The coverage follows the child, not the program.”
The Grandparent Ripple Effect
When Maya's grandparents in Delray Beach heard about the plan, they asked to be part of it. Then their other grandchildren were enrolled — three plans, started at birth, all for children under age 2.
“My mother-in-law said it was the best gift she'd ever given,” David says. “Not because of the money — because of what it represents. She wants her grandchildren in Israel. This is how you make that happen.”
How the Financial Picture Worked Out
When Maya was ready to go, the family did a final accounting of how they had funded her year at Aardvark Israel. The numbers told a story that David and Sarah wanted to share with other Florida families:
| Source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Israel Prepaid Gold Plan coverage | $94,604 (locked at 2023 price) |
| MASA Israel Journey grant | $4,500 (applied to program fee) |
| Greater Miami Jewish Federation grant | $1,500 (applied to flights) |
| Total covered | $100,604+ |
| Actual 2026 program cost (all-in) | ~$38,000 |
| Remaining coverage unused | ~$62,000+ |
The Gold Plan more than covered the gap year — with significant coverage remaining for a future Israel experience if Maya chooses to return. The family's out-of-pocket cost for the gap year was effectively zero, outside of the monthly payments they had been making since Maya's birth.
Advice for Florida Families Just Starting to Think About This
David and Sarah have become informal ambassadors for Israel Prepaid in their Boca Raton community. Here is the advice they give to friends who are in the position they were in eight years ago:
- →Don't wait until you know which program: The flexibility is built in. You lock in a plan level, not a specific program. The coverage follows your child.
- →Don't rely on grants alone: MASA and federation grants help, but they do not cover most of the cost. You need a dedicated savings vehicle.
- →Don't assume a 529 plan works for this: It doesn't. Gap year programs are not Title IV accredited. Using 529 funds for this triggers a 10% IRS penalty plus income tax on the gains.
- →Do start as early as possible: Every year you wait means a higher monthly payment and lower coverage. Starting at birth is the best deal available.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
David and Sarah's story is not unusual. Across Florida, New York, California, and beyond, Jewish families are locking in Israel experiences for children who won't be ready to go for another decade. The monthly cost is manageable. The price lock is real. And the experience waiting at the end of it is priceless.
The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is today.
See What It Costs for Your Child's Age →Story is illustrative of typical customer experiences. Israel Prepaid helps Jewish families across Florida — including Miami, Boca Raton, Aventura, Coral Springs, and Delray Beach — lock in today's prices for Gap Year, MASA, and all Israel experiences. Starting from $89/month.
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Written by
Uri Goldenberg
CEO & Co-founder, Israel Prepaid
Uri Goldenberg is the CEO and Co-founder of Israel Prepaid, the first price-locked savings plan for Jewish families funding Israel Gap Year, MASA, Yeshiva, and university programs. A former IDF Medic and 4x Birthright Trip Leader, Uri holds an M.S. in Finance from the University of Florida and brings a background in investment banking and fintech. He has helped Jewish families across Florida, New York, and California plan and fund their children's Israel experiences — from March of the Living to full university degrees at Reichman University, Hebrew University, and Tel Aviv University.