2.Mode of Payment and Refunds
Full room and board accommodations at Kibbutz Kfar Szold cost $570 per seven-night week ($520 for returnees); the final week of the dig is five nights and the cost is $410 ($370 for returnees). Every extra night costs $82. There is no refund if the volunteer chooses not stay on the kibbutz over the weekend or chooses to leave earlier than the pre-determined day of departure.
The cost for a double room (two people in a room) is $1600 per seven-night week and $1145 for the last, five-day week ($229 per night). Please note that there is limited availability of double rooms. A single room rate is available upon request, although availability is limited.
Costs for 2020 are as follows:
Weeks | 1+2 | 1+2+3 | 1+2+3+4 | 2+3 | 2+3+4 | 3+4 |
Total cost | 1140 | 1710 | 2120 | 1140 | 1550 | 980 |
Discounted Returnees Cost | 1040 | 1560 | 1930 | 1040 | 1410 | 890 |
Deposit | 570 | 855 | 1060 | 570 | 775 | 490 |
Balance | 570 | 855 | 1060 | 570 | 775 | 490 |
Discounted Balance for Returnees | 470 | 705 | 870 | 470 | 635 | 400 |
A deposit is required to guarantee your spot on the excavation. Full payment is required upon arrival at the kibbutz and is a pre-condition for beginning to dig.
**The room and board prices are for non-Israelis and are exempt from Value Added Tax (V.A.T.). For this reason, the kibbutz B&B office needs a scan or xerox of the photo and information page of your passport, as well as the entry slip given to you by passport control upon your arrival in Israel. Please give these two documents to the kibbutz office for copying upon arrival. A participant with an Israeli passport must add 17% V.A.T. to the costs.
Payment for Room and Board
1. Online
A deposit of half the cost of your room and board is required after you have submitted the registration form and have received an official acceptance email in response, usually within 72 hours. This email will include a link to the secure payment site at Azusa Pacific University. You may pay using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card. We do not accept American Express. After you have paid your deposit, you will receive an email confirming this and a statement about the amount of your balance. You may pay the balance at any time, but no later than the day of your arrival at the kibbutz. You can also pay your balance by check or cash when you arrive at the kibbutz.
2. Check
A deposit of half the cost of your room and board is required after you have submitted the registration form and have received an official acceptance email in response, usually within 72 hours. This email will include a link to the secure online payment site at Azusa Pacific University. However, you may also pay your deposit and balance with a personal check, cashier's check, or money order. Make the check out to "Azusa Pacific University" and write "Abel Beth Maacah" on the memo line. Mail your check to the following address:
Prof. Robert Mullins
Abel Beth Maacah Excavations
Department of Biblical and Religious Studies
701 E. Foothill Blvd.
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
You will receive an email confirmation once the check is received and deposited.
3. Cash
In certain cases, one may pay for room and board in cash U.S. dollars or the equivalent in Israeli shekels upon arrival at the kibbutz. Contact the expedition at 
for more information.
Payment of the Field Trips
If you are registered for the academic-credit program through The Institute for Field Research (IFR), the field trips are included in your tuition.
If you are not in the field school, but would still like to join the Sunday tours, you can pay for the one or both field trips on the scheduled day of the trip by cash or personal check to the excavation representative. Signing up now on the registration form does not commit you to going if you should change your mind.
Please contact us if you have any questions concerning the payment process.
Refund Policy
Refunds will be granted upon cancellation according to the terms in the table below.
If you do not show up for the excavation on the dates for which you have registered, or decide to withdraw after your arrival, or are expelled from the program by decision of the directors, we regret to inform you that no refunds can be given.
If for any reason we are forced to cancel your participation before the excavation begins (until June 27), you will receive a full refund.
Date of cancellation | Refund amount |
Until June 1 | Full |
June 2-6 | 50% |
June 7-13 | 25% |
After June 14 | None |
3. Scholarships and Financial Aid
A limited number of scholarships are available to team members who can demonstrate financial need in order to participate on the project. Priority will be given to students enrolled in a college or university (other than those registered for credit through IFR). Details about when and how to apply will be posted on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AbelBethMaacah) and/or can be obtained by writing to Prof. Robert Mullins at .
4. IFR Academic Credit Program
Academic credit for the Abel Beth Maacah Field School may be earned through the Institute for Field Research (IFR). Go to http://ifrglobal.org for more information, including costs. One can earn four semester hours for participation in the two-week program or eight semester hours for the four-week program. Credit is granted by Connecticut College.
See http://ifrglobal.org/program/israel-abel-beth-maacah/ for more details.
Scholarships are available through the IFR: http://ifrglobal.org/students/scholarships/
