AMIIE does not promote one particular approach to Jewish religious and ritual practice. We address and honor each individual school's philosophy for an authentically Jewish experience that will meet help students to grow Jewishly. Israel means "one who wrestles with God". AMIIE seeks to help its students grapple with their own personal relationship with God in a pluralistic, Klal Yisrael atmosphere. The program's pluralist atmosphere respects the religious and spiritual needs of all students and does not promote any Jewish denominational point of view. Shabbat observance is optional and there is no travel on Shabbat. AMIIE adheres to Halacha (Jewish Law) in all the aspects of the program.  We therefore do not travel on Shabbat or do anything in our programming that violates Halacha.  Shabbat observance on a personal level, however, is optional and students may choose to be as observant as they wish. In addition, on Shabbat we refrain from writing or playing musical instruments in public areas and in the context of the program.

During the many years of our operation, AMIIE has partnered with a variety of community, non denominational (or trans denominational) and pluralist day schools. Additionally it has developed and successfully ran programs for every movement's teen division, including: USY HIGH for young leaders from the United Synagogue Youth (Conservative Judaism), The Eisendrath International Exchange Program (a Reform semester in Israel program), a Solomon Schechter Day School and Orthodox Day Schools.

Kashrut
All food associated with the program in Israel must be certified kosher. The dining room on campus has a Mashgiach. Together with the partner school we'll decide what guidelines, if any, students will be given about observing Kashrut during free time.

Tefillah
Tefillah should have a significant role to play in the program. AMIIE allows the school administration to determine the frequency and nature of worship services. Our experience has shown that some schools prefer daily Tefillah while others emphasize Shabbat with occasional weekday prayer. Other schools include Mincha service (in most cases Mincha-Ma'ariv services are conducted only on tiyulim). Depending on group size, some schools offer students alternative study and experiential activities during time set aside for Tefillah (Biur Tefillah). Our staff is trained to help make the prayer experiences educational and significant, while the partner school personnel often oversee the ritual aspects of the trip. A similar policy is in place for Hamotzi and Birkat Hamazon.

Shabbat and Holidays
Shabbat in Israel allows students to experience this holy time in a manner often different than Shabbat at home. All groups spend at least one Shabbat in Jerusalem, usually ushering in the Shabbat Bride at the Kotel. Shabbat tefillah can take several forms, including a group prayer experience or the opportunity to visit several different types of worship communities on Shabbat morning.
Because of the rich Jewish holiday calendar, every school trip to Israel usually overlaps at least one holiday celebration. AMIIE will work with the partner school to design a celebration most suited to the group.

Spirituality
In addition to many opportunities to celebrate religious rituals, AMIIE also provides students with unique spiritual moments that can only be experienced in Israel. Among many such special moments are: singing "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" at sunset on Mt Scopus as the city of Jerusalem is viewed for the first time, a moving personal visit to the Kotel, a sunrise Shacharit service on Masada in the world's oldest Bet Knesset, studying Kabbalah in the ancient alleyways of Tzfat, Mincha-Ma'ariv service at sunset in Tzfat, an introspective discussion by the grave of Rachel Blaustein, the famous Poetess, along the shores of the Kineret, joyously celebrating Shabbat in the streets of Jerusalem , reflecting on the Holocaust at Yad Vashem, hiking and star-gazing in the Negev desert and singing Hatikva in Israel's Independence Hall. These and so many more personal and group spiritual moments are all integral components of the journey that the students take at AMIIE.