Hi all – I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day holiday weekend. As some of you might already know, three years ago I became a “Big Brother” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. With both of my kids being “grown up” at that time, I still wanted to be able to be a mentor to another young person who lived nearby.
With the organization, I was fortunate to be matched with a very shy and introverted 10-year-old Jewish kid named Steven. Steven lost his father due to a heart attack the year before our match and was having trouble with anger and adjustment issues. The week before our first meeting, he fell off his bike and fractured both of his arms.
My first reaction was something along the lines of, “man, how do I entertain a shy child with two broken arms?” My original plan of playing baseball and basketball with him went out the window. Luckily, going to the movies was an option.
Fast forward to today, we are still together and became best friends. We share a love for sports and, by me sharing my travel stories with him, I’m learning that he has also developed an interest in travel. During one of our recent travel conversations, he expressed an interest in visiting Israel, and I was determined to help him put together a plan for a future trip.
During my research, I came across an organization that offers free birthright trips to Israel. While Taglit-Birthright Israel has been around for quite some time now (I remember Angelina’s college roommate taking the trip), there are now two other birthright trips that are offered as a result of Birthright Israel – Greece and Armenia.
Before you all get too excited, let me start off by saying that the trip is geared towards 18-26 year old young adults. The rest of us have to wait for the next mistake fare like Angie and others took advantage off earlier this year. Angie loved Israel; however, she did not like the “El Al “ security experience one bit. Ask Angie to blog about it; it’s very interesting…
Now back to some more information about Taglit-Birthright Israel (taken directly from the organization’s website):
So what does the gift cover?
The Taglit-Birthright Israel gift covers round trip airfare (from designated cities), hotel accomodations, transportation, at least two meals per day and other associated land costs (such as admission to sites) for 10-day trips to Israel offered by approved Trip Organizers. Gratuities, personal purchases, and travel / medical insurance are not included.
Who is eligible?
The Taglit-Birthright Israel gift is open to all Jewish young adults, ages 18 to 26, post high-school, who have neither traveled to Israel before on a peer educational trip or study program nor have lived in Israel past the age of 12. Eligible individuals are those recognized as Jewish by the Jewish community or by one of the recognized denominations of Judaism. Applicants must also have at least one Jewish birth parent, or have completed Jewish conversion through a recognized Jewish denomination, and identify as Jewish while not actively practicing another religion. For even more information, see a full listing of eligibility guidelines.
Information about Birthright Greece can be found here. Additionally, information about Birthright Armenia can be found here.
Have any readers had a chance to participate in any of these trips? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience. If you have yet to participate or perhaps you’re not eligible yourself, I hope you know someone that can benefit from this post.
As an Italian-born dad, I believe everyone should one day see their heritage country because before you can go forward in life, you have to be humbled and see where you came from.
Happy Travels,
The Dad.
Hi Dad,
Both of my children took Birthright to Israel. One purpose of the trip is to solidify Jewish youth to Israel. It’s one thing to go to Hebrew school, it’s another thing to actually visit the places you’re learning about. I was 47 the first time I went. My kids were late teens.
Thanks for bringing this to the attention of people that may not have heard about this. it’s legit.
dhammer53
Yes, you’re right Dad. We’d love a post about the El Al security experience! :)
Speaking of the security experience… after participating in several of these (international long and short haul + domestic), I didn’t see any pattern with security. Male and female. Young or old. Single or husband/wife. Israeli/American/other nationality. 3 minute or 10 minute ‘interview’.
There seemed to be no rhyme or reason. Sometimes I was surprised by who was getting the long interview. It wasn’t necessarily the dark skinned Arab.
My advice for future EL AL flyers… better take that chip off your should before approaching security.
One story if I may. They questioned my Rabbi because he wasn’t wearing his kippa (head covering). That’s out of the ordinary, and this is what they’re looking for.
Their security locks in on any mismatch. I once watched them question a South American tourist because he could not explain where he would be staying, just some guy would pick him up at the airport. As they finished assuring themselves that he was no threat some people arrived to take him to a VIP Lounge. He was to be a guest of the Government Minister that was to pick him up at the airport.
I went on Birthright Israel last year with Yael Adventures (Startup Nation trip based on book of same name). It was the most incredible experience of my life!
Though I did have the “pleasure” of flying AeroSvit there…
I went on Birthright years ago and it was a great experience. For anyone that qualifies, it should be at the top of the list of things to do. We visited top notch sites, met a lot of great people and the price was right!
El Al security is pretty annoying but what can you do.
They’re probably considered one of the safest, if not the safest airline for a reason.
As of a few years ago, Malta had a similar program to connect with the young Maltese diaspora.
The establishment of the Israeli state, and the alleged Jewish “birthright,” involved the violent displacement of several hundred thousand indigenous Palestinians, and the destruction of hundreds of Palestinian villages. A Palestinian refugee population of nearly 7 million people is to this day excluded from returning to their lands by Israeli state discrimination.
In contemporary Israel — where approximately one-fifth of the population is Palestinian — the rights of citizenship (ezrahut) and nationality (le’um) are intentionally distinct. Palestinians born within the 1949 armistice line are considered citizens (and not nationals). Meanwhile a Jew born and raised in New York has a “birthright” to the Israeli state in Palestine, is considered a national, and can almost immediately become a citizen upon emigrating
Hi Dad,
Both of my children took Birthright to Israel. One purpose of the trip is to solidify Jewish youth to Israel. It’s one thing to go to Hebrew school, it’s another thing to actually visit the places you’re learning about. I was 47 the first time I went. My kids were late teens.
Thanks for bringing this to the attention of people that may not have heard about this. it’s legit.
For anyone trying to get the free trip to israel using the new birthright rules (or even the old birthright rules). I will be staffing the Sachlav trip this summer. Registration starts Feb 19th. You can register at http://www.birthrightisrael.com/VisitingIsrael/Pages/sachlav.aspx
If you email me at sachlav@yahoo.com I can get you registered early. Please make the subject “birthright”. There might be a flux of new registrants considering the new rules so my advice would be to register as soon as possible to get a spot. Good luck to all!!!