The 26th ISST Congress - ISTA - The Israeli Sandplay Therapists Association

Dear Colleagues,

We are honored and happy to invite you to participate in our next international meeting- the 26th ISST Congress.

The Congress will be held from March 26^th to 30^st 2023 at the Ye’arim Hotel in Kibbutz Ma’ale Hachamisha, 15 km. from Jerusalem, in the beautiful landscape of the Jerusalem hills.

While choosing the theme of the conference, the original thought was to explore the meeting point between Eastern and Western ideas and culture. This convergence reflects the attitude of both C.G. Jung and Dora Kalff. It also has come to reflect the development of ISST which itself is becoming a fruitful encounter of therapists from both ends of the world in the growing divergent community of ISST. Holding the conference in Jerusalem, symbolically unites East and West. Jerusalem, has been considered to symbolize the axis mundi, the center and connection of above and below, of spirit and ground, as well as “the center of the nations, with countries all around her.” (Ezekiel 5:5) Jerusalem holds the tension and the meeting point or intermediate space of many opposites. Unexpectedly, the world has been changing since the beginning of 2020, with the pandemic of COVID-19. We found ourselves locked in the narrow space of our houses, and at the same time connected to the whole universe, east and west, north and south. East and West have experienced a common destiny which added a new context and significance to the title “When East Meets West” sharing a universal fate.

We are confronted now with Shadow aspects facing an invisible enemy that challenges us to encounter new horizons of creativity and renewal. The Pandemic has intensified some polarities: lockdown has meant isolation and loneliness as well as solidarity and new ways to connect with people; restriction and new ideas about what freedom means in the efforts to be safe and socially responsible; and confidence in the future has been challenged by heightened uncertainty about the present and the future.

We need more than ever, the opportunity to encounter with colleagues and with the healing energies of Sandplay. One expression of our “freedom” has been our urge to travel and to meet friends and colleagues again, in a safe and enriching environment.

With the hope of returning to normalcy, we invite you to send your proposals for presentations until July 1^st 2022. You are invited to explore the information provided about the conference venue and we will continue to update details about the conference and related activities and opportunities as they develop.

On the conference website we also opened a page for Sandplay images during the pandemic. We invite you to send us a personal sand scene from this past challenging period that reflects this peculiar time. In this way we can start a visual dialogue through the medium of Sandplay. Photos in JPG or PNG format, between 200KB and 1MB can be sent to isstcongress2021@gmail.com

Questions? Direct questions and inquiries to isstcongress2021@gmail.com

The Organizing Committee

Michal Troudart

Dr. Bert Meltzer

Dr. Robin B. Zeiger

Michelle Mendelowitz-Yuval

We invite you to submit a proposal for a presentation
in the congress.

If you are interested in presenting, please read the information In the Call for Presentations and submit your application and attachments by e-mail to isstcongress2021@gmail.com.

Deadline for submissions: July 1st 2022

Notification of Acceptance October 1st 2022

Registration

To register, please click on the relevant box below.

Please note you can choose to include the Gala Dinner in your registration fee.

Early bird

until 22.11.2022

$670

Gala Dinner Incl.

Registration closed

Early bird

until 22.11.2022

$570

Gala Dinner not incl.

Registration closed

REGULAR REGISTRATION

from 23.11.2022

$720

Gala Dinner Incl.

REGULAR REGISTRATION

from 23.11.2022

$620

Gala Dinner not incl.

*Prices include all taxes.

Fees for full participation include:

Participation in all sessions
Daily lunch, coffee breaks and light snacks
Printed material of the Conference
Entrance to Welcome Reception

Payment

Registration fees are payable in advance. In order to simplify the registration process, please complete the online registration form with your credit card details. Confirmation of your credit card payment, along with your registration confirmation, will be sent to you by email. If you do not receive confirmation of your registration within 14 business days after registration, please contact the Conference Secretariat.

Payment of registration fees should be made in USD for all participants by credit card only.
We accept the following: Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Cancellations

Cancellations can be made at any time in writing to the Congress Secretariat. If you find it necessary to cancel your reservation completely, please notify the Conference Secretariat immediately. All cancellations must be electronically mailed.

Registration Penalties

Cancellations received up to January 1^st 2023 – 90% refund from registration fee.
Cancellations received up to February 28^th 2023 – 50% refund from registration fee.
No refunds after March 1^st 2023

Accommodation Penalties

Cancellations received up to December 1^st 2022 – 90% refund from total reservation amount.
Cancellations received up to February 1^st 2023 – 25% refund from total reservation amount.
No refunds afterFebruary 1^st 2023

Show

Online Congress

The early bird fee for the online congress has been extended until 22.12.2022

Early bird

until 22.12.2022

$570

REGULAR REGISTRATION

from 23.12.2022

$620

Fees include:

Online participation in all the presentations in real time.
Access to video recordings of all the presentations for a month following the conference.

For the Application for a Reduced Registration Fee for Online Participants Click Here

Contact Us

Email: isst@kenes-events.com

Fees for full participation include:

Participation in all sessions
Daily lunch, coffee breaks and light snacks
Printed material of the Conference
Entrance to Welcome Reception

Payment

Payment of registration fees should be made in USD for all participants by credit card only.
We accept the following: Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Cancellations

Registration Penalties

Cancellations received up to January 1^st 2023 – 90% refund from registration fee.
Cancellations received up to February 28^th 2023 – 50% refund from registration fee.
No refunds after March 1^st 2023

Accommodation Penalties

Cancellations received up to December 1^st 2022 – 90% refund from total reservation amount.
Cancellations received up to February 1^st 2023 – 25% refund from total reservation amount.
No refunds afterFebruary 1^st 2023

You can make a reservation on the registration form

Ye’arim Hotel

The Ye’arim Hotel is situated in Kibbutz Ma’ale Hachamisha which is located in the Judean Hills with breathtaking views of the city of Jerusalem and its surrounding hills. The hotel maintains a fine balance between past and present and is designed to connect people to nature.

Staying at the Ye’arim Hotel you will experience an intimate atmosphere with your colleagues in the clear mountain air and tranquility of the view. The hotel’s professional staff is familiar with every aspect and detail of the culture and nature in the surrounding areas, promising guests a stay surrounded by nature in a unique and charming ambience.

The hotel also has a pampering spa with a heated, covered swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi and spa treatments. Meals are served in the Ye’arim Hotel’s meticulously kept dining room, which overlooks the breathtaking landscape of the Jerusalem Hills.

The Surrounding area

Located just off the Tel Aviv- Jerusalem highway enables visitors to the area easy access to both cities. Jerusalem offers in infinite number of attractions including the souks of the old city and the historical attractions holy to all religions.

Staying at the hotel, guests can enjoy the surrounding nature trails of Mt. Adar and Ma’ale Hachamisha. Kibbutz Ma’ale Hachamisha was founded In the Jerusalem Hills in 1938, as part of the Tower and Stockade settlement development method in pre-State Israel. The verdant landscape, clear air, pine trees and long rows of grape vines are your invitation to get out in nature, and enjoy the scenery.

Hotel cost

The cost is for a room for 4 nights, 26-30/3/2023

Check-in: 15:00 | Check-out: 10:00

Single room

B&B

$660

tax will be added for local participants

Single room

Half Board

$725

tax will be added for local participants

Double room

B&B

$730

tax will be added for local participants

Double room

Half Board

$800

tax will be added for local participants

If you wish to make any changes to your reservation, please contact the congress secretariat.

All rooms come with mini-bar, mini safe, cable TV, coffee/tea set.

For information about the hotel please click here

How to get there

From the airport

Most international visitors will arrive at Terminal 3. After passing through immigration and customs visitors exiting the terminal have a few transportation options to get to the hotel.

Taxi

Licensed taxi stations are available along the sidewalk on the ground floor. Another option is to use Nesher tours which is a direct taxi service from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem at a fixed price of 67 NIS per passenger. Please check out their website for to book your journey and further details: http://www.neshertours.co.il/en/taxis-from-ben-gurion

Bus

From the airport take bus number 485 to Jerusalem Central Station and then bus number 187 to Hotel Ye’arim

Train

The train can be taken directly from Terminal 3 to Jerusalem Train Station – you will then take bus number 187 to Hotel Ye’arim.

Explore Israel

For such a small country you will experience such a wide variety of landscapes short distances away. Israel is a true example of “beautiful things come in small packages”. Israel is packed with history and religion with an abundance of surprising gifts on the way, and many museums. No matter how little time you have in the country there is a lot you can do within a short drive from the Congress Hotel.

Northern Israel

Israel’s lush green northern region is ideal for leisure, history and nature-focused travelers. It has a wealth of Christian holy sites including the Mount of Beatitudes and Capernaum; the port city of Haifa with its “hanging” Baha’i Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic cities of Acre and Caesarea and the boutique wineries of the Galilee region. Escape to Safed with its old city street and Kabbalistic influence or the city of Nazareth with its Middle Eastern charm. The Golan Heights offers breathtaking views of the region and is abundant with archeological sites and scenic treasures. Israel’s northern region offers activities for travelers of all tastes and interests.

Central Israel

The dynamic city of Jerusalem is home to holy sites for the world’s three major monotheistic religions but just a short drive away you will find the very different city and cultural metropolis of Tel Aviv. Jerusalem offers both a religious and spiritual experience but will surprise all visitors with its modern cultural and culinary experiences. A short drive away from your hotel visit nestled in a peaceful valley between mountains and hills, surrounded by the beauty of natural groves, is one of Jerusalem’s most picturesque neighborhoods – Ein Kerem.

Southern Israel

Israel’s southern region is an ideal travel destination for adventure and outdoor-focused travelers. You can visit Beersheba, known as the Capital of the Negev, and the Bedouin settlements around. Not so far away you can float in the saline-rich Dead Sea, explore the 2,300-year-old ruins of Masada; take a jeep tour of the one of the world’s largest naturally formed crater, Ramon Crater, or swim / snorkel / dive amongst the tropical fish and coral reef of the Red Sea city of Eilat.

FAQ – Israel

Travel documents & visas

The two mandatory travel documents for anyone traveling to Israel are:

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of your arrival in Israel. If it’s not, make sure to renew your passport before traveling to Israel.

You must also have a valid departure ticket out of the country within 3 months, unless you have a longer-term visa before you arrive.
Israel has visa exemption agreements with many countries for visits of up to 90 days. Check out whether you need to obtain a visa to visit Israel here.

Visa regulations depend on your nationality and country of origin. We suggest you contact your local consulate for full and official instructions on the specific visa regulations and application procedure that apply to you.

Once in Israel

Israel has a Mediterranean climate with long, hot, rainless summers and relatively short, cool, rainy winters. The most comfortable time to visit Israel is in during the Spring months (March, April and May) when temperatures are on average in the low 20’s. Some days can be hotter – its always advisable to apply sunscreen and wear a hat.

In general, Israel is a progressive and relaxed country, and casual clothing is suitable for almost any setting. Jeans, t-shirts, shorts, and comfortable shoes are ideal for most situations. The congress attire is also casual dress. For those travelers who plan to visit religious sites such as churches, mosques, and the Western Wall, it is advisable to avoid short skirts, short shorts, and sleeveless shirts. Women should cover their shoulders, knees, and chest when visiting these sites. If visiting Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth or other cities with religious attractions, it’s best to bring long, lightweight layers to cover up and adjust to comfort level.

Hebrew and Arabic are official; English is widely spoken, as, to lesser degrees are Russian and French

220 volts AC, 50 cycles. An adapter is necessary (usually 3 pronged)

New Israeli Shekel (NIS). 100 Agorot make up 1 Shekel. See here for exchange rates. Exchange facilities are available at the airport, in major hotels and in major cities. It is advisable to have shekels before leaving the airport.

No immunizations are required for travel to Israel. Health facilities are widely available across the country, with many hospitals being global leaders! Doctors are also widely available, and a high proportion speak English. Like any other country with a hot climate, the abundance of sun is a gift and a risk, so make sure you take precautions to protect yourself.

For COVID-19 immunization policy and regulations we will have more details when we approach the date of the conference.

GMT +2 Hours

Shabbat is the one day of the week when travel in Israel is harder. Public transport is very limited and with exceptions, impossible. This reduces your options to taxi, “sherut” or car hire (which should be collected on Friday and returned on Sunday). Trains don’t operate at all, however, between sun-down on Friday and sun-down on Saturday.

Tap water is safe to drink across Israel, although bottled water is widely available as an alternative.

+00 972

Most international cell phones will work in Israel, although it is often worth renting a cell phone or Israeli Sim card as this reduces the cost significantly.

Police (mish-ta-ra) 100;
Medical emergency (Magen David Adom /MDA/MADA) 101;
Fire (me-kha-bey esh) 102

Israel is very technologically advanced. Wireless networks can be found up and down the country, everywhere from restaurants and cafes, to hotels, and even Ben Gurion Airport. The standard rate for wi-fi in Israel is between 10 and 15 NIS per hour. It is, however, free in many places, including many cafes and Ben Gurion Airport.

In Jerusalem, some sections, mostly of the city center are covered by the Jerusalem WiFi project, whilst a similar project is underway in Tel Aviv. If you don’t have a laptop of your own, internet cafes can also be found across the country, whilst most hotels, from city hotels to kibbutz hotels have computers available to guests, often for free. Getting online is not a problem in Israel.

Taxis in Israel are very common and popular forms of transportation. Cheap by European standards, taxis in Israel are widely available and are generally safe and modern cars, with helpful drivers. Within cities, drivers must use the meter (“moneh”) unless they agree a fixed fare with the passenger, whilst inter-city, taxis have fixed fares. There are surcharges for calling a taxi (5 NIS approx), for luggage (4.6 NIS a piece approx) and for hailing a taxi at Ben Gurion airport (5 NIS approx). Night rates have a 25% surcharge, and there is a starting fare of NIS 11 in cities. There is often an additional surcharge for taxis taken on Friday and Saturday during Shabbat.

It is best to agree on a price with the driver at the start of the journey (preferably after consulting with the hotel staff or with local people what is considered a reasonable price) and if in doubt to insist that the meter is used (drivers have to do this legally, however, will often try to persuade you not to). When riding with taxis in Israel, it is not customary to tip the driver. Prices are set accordingly, and a tip is not expected or necessary towards the driver. It is also convenient to get a taxi to and from Ben Gurion Airport. Here there are fixed fares and a dispatcher who organizes the process.

Generally, taxi apps are really the best way for tourists to take a taxi in Israel. Firstly, prices are linked to the app and automatically at the meter rate within cities, and a fixed price list out of town. The apps all work in English, and the drivers are generally better, being rated by customers and more service orientated. Because of the competition in the market, none of the main taxi-apps in Israel charge to order a cab. One of the best and most widely used taxi apps in Israel is called Gett Taxi. This app can be downloaded in the app store both inside and outside of Israel, and works in English, offering quick and efficient taxi service while in Israel. Another Taxi app used locally is called Yango, offering a similar taxi and rideshare service.

Sheruts – are shared taxis which run across Israel. Generally, 9- or 10-seater mini-buses, Sheruts run both between cities and within cities, and are a popular means of transport especially between the airport and major cities as they can deliver you direct to your destination.

Questions?

Questions and inquiries regarding the professional content, lectures and submission of proposals and of Sandplay images should be directed to the Conference Organizing Committee at isstcongress2021@gmail.com.

Questions and inquiries regarding the conference venue, accommodation and registration should be directed to the Conference Secretariat at isst@kenes-events.com.