The term “au pair” is French for “on equal terms with”, and working as an au pair will usually be an enriching experience since your relationship with your host family will be based on mutual respect and love of children and family life. Au pairs are generally females between 18 and 30, but there is nothing to prevent young men from being au pairs and in fact this is becoming more and more common. As an au pair you do not require any special qualifications (as a nanny would) or any special psychological training. An au pair's duties normally include taking care of the children, perhaps a pet, doing light housework such as vacuuming and dusting, as well as helping with preparation of meals. You will usually have to pay for travel costs to get to your host family and any necessary language classes yourself.

As far as au pair work in Israel specifically is concerned, it is rumoured that live-in helpers are often exploited by their employers. Whilst this is hard to verify objectively it is true that you will be expected to do a lot of evening baby-sitting and a good amount of serious house work. The good news is that au pair work in Israel is relatively well paid, the standard starting wage being in the region of 600 euros per month. You should receive a day-and-a-half off per week, although this may not be consecutive. Sometimes you’ll be given a week’s holiday after ix months. If you work for a year there’s a good chance your host family will pay for your trip home. Be prepared to learn how to keep a kosher kitchen. You will usually have to provide proof of full health insurance and an HIV test certificate.

Au pair jobs are regularly advertised in the Jerusalem Post and other national and local newspapers. Au Pair International at 2 Desler St, Bnei Brak 51507, Israel, + (0) 972-3-619 0423, is a placement agency for full-time nannies and housekeepers of all nationalities. Hilma’s Au Pair Intermediary. Mrs. Hilma Shmoshkovitz, P.O. Box 91, 75100 Rishon-le-Zion, Israel, 011-972-3-965-99-37, hilma@netvision.net.il, is a well-established Israeli au pair and nanny agency.

In exchange for your time your host family should:

There are also several very comprehensive websites that can help you if you're interested in doing au pair work in Tel Aviv:

• http://www.greataupair.com/
• http://www.nanny-agency.com/
• http://www.newaupair.com/
• http://www.israelnanny.com/