Birthright program sends young Jews to Israel on group trips, free of charge

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Participants, Ben Narynski, left, of Fullerton, Sara Gershfeld, center, of Fullerton and Gregg Sherman, right, of Costa Mesa listen to Jay Feldman (not in photo) conducting an orientation for Birthright Israel, a nonprofit organization funded by the Israeli government and American Jewish philanthropists.

Trips' goal is to connect participants to their ancestral homeland and the worldwide Jewish community.

By David Haldane, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Ben Narynski recently flew home to a place he'd never been.

"It's like a hometown to me," the Fullerton resident said of the country he traversed by bus with 39 other young adults and a medic carrying a gun.

Visible from the vehicle's windows were the olive orchards and fig trees of Israel, a land he grew up hearing about but had never before seen. The 24-year-old veterinarian is one of about 27,000 young Jews from 33 countries making the pilgrimage this summer free of charge. As a descendant of Hebrews, he said, "you have to visit at least once in your lifetime, and this is the perfect time. I feel guilty that I haven't been there before."

Organizers estimate that by September, more than 190,000 young people -- about 75% of them Americans -- will have made the trip as guests of Taglit-Birthright Israel, a program founded in 1999 to connect young Jews to their ancestral homeland and to the Jewish community worldwide.

This year the program, often known simply as Birthright, is redoubling its efforts in observance of the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding.

"We've tried to touch every Jewish community out there," said spokeswoman Deborah Goldberg, adding that "this is the biggest year we've ever had."

Birthright is the brainchild of, among others, Michael Steinhardt, a New York-based investor and philanthropist, who saw what he considered an alarming trend: the increasing disaffection of young, non-Israeli Jews from their culture and community.

"They typically stop their Jewish educations after their bar or bat mitzvahs," he said, referring to religious coming of age ceremonies performed at 12 or 13. "I decided to focus on the next generation of our people. If there is a miracle in our lifetimes, it's the birth of Israel. You can be Jewish and not visit there, but you're missing a lot."

The first travel groups embarked in the winter of 2000 at a cost of about $24 million. Today, Goldberg said, Birthright spends more than $90 million annually sending people on Middle East excursions underwritten by Jewish philanthropists, community organizations and the Israeli government.

The results have been important to Israel "both ideologically and strategically," said Gidi Mark, the program's Israeli marketing director and soon-to-be chief executive. In addition to contributing to the country's economy and bolstering its support among Jews worldwide, he said, Birthright marks the young nation's ascension as an "equal partner in taking responsibility for the future of the Jewish people worldwide."

The requirements for participants are few: They must be Jewish, be 18 to 26 and must never have been on an educational tour of Israel before.

Because growing demand is outpacing funding, Mark said, about 20,000 applicants a year are put on waiting lists, and half never make the trip. For those who do, however, the no-charge, 10-day excursions include airfare, food, hotels, lectures and visits to some of the country's most significant historical, religious and contemporary sites.

"We have very high educational standards," Goldberg said.

Each Birthright bus holds 40 participants, two staffers from their home country, an Israeli educational guide and an armed security guard trained as a medic.

One of the most important aspects of the tour, Goldberg said, is the involvement of Israeli peers -- usually soldiers -- who join "not as security, but as participants. It creates a personal connection. Many of them stay friends" long after the trip.

To avoid problems in a country sometimes marked by terrorism and armed conflict, Goldberg said, Israeli security forces track each Birthright bus. A few buses had to be rerouted during last year's conflict with Lebanon. Aside from that, she said, "the worst thing that's happened is kids catching the flu from each other [and occasional] broken arms, maybe from falling off camels."

None of which seemed to daunt the participants gathered with Narynski for a pre-departure orientation last month at the Jewish Federation Orange County's office in Irvine.

"There will be no free time, only structured free time," Birthright staffer Jay Feldman told the soon-to-be passengers of bus 909, which, he said, would be making stops at Jerusalem's Western Wall and Ben Yehuda Street ("like the Santa Monica promenade"), as well as museums, monuments and the port city of Eilat, to name just a few.

"My job is to make your trip as amazing at it can be," he said.

"Israel is not just for Israelis; it's a country for Jews all over the world."

That was one of the lessons gleaned by Rachel Blatt, 26, of Los Angeles, who went on an early Birthright trip in 2000. Now she works as assistant director of a temple religious school and hopes to be a rabbi someday.

"It made Israel real," Blatt said of the trip. "It felt so special to be in the same place that so many of my ancestors have been, to know that this is where most of your history takes place, to feel the connection to the place we pray about every day. Once you go to Israel, there's no turning back; you fall in love with it and everything is changed."

The experience was so profound, Blatt said, that last year, when Birthright announced an alumni contest called "Let My Parents Go," she submitted a video that won spots for her mother and father on a parents-only trip that leaves this month.

"I'm so excited for them," Blatt said.

All of which encourages Steinhardt, who said he's deeply gratified by having helped birth a program well on its way to becoming a "rite of passage."

"It's begun to change a generation," he said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-be...story?track=rss

[alienlovechild 75]

For those who do, however, the no-charge, 10-day excursions include airfare, food, hotels, lectures and visits to some of the country's most significant historical, religious and contemporary sites.

Nice deal. I wonder if people can fake being Jewish for the free trip. How do they prove someone isn't Jewish?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

For those who do, however, the no-charge, 10-day excursions include airfare, food, hotels, lectures and visits to some of the country's most significant historical, religious and contemporary sites.

Nice deal. I wonder if people can fake being Jewish for the free trip. How do they prove someone isn't Jewish?

Good question. I think traditionally, you're Jewish from the your mother's side.

[JanaknJanet 0]

I have a client of mine that has a grandson that is currently on the trip.

He never grew up Jewish.. even tho heritage wise he is.. via he mothers side..

He went off to college.. failed at that.. then became a clerk at a local market in the town where he was living..this past year he met a girl.. she is of a strong Jewish family.. in order for him to continue dating this girl.. he returned to his heritage.. never ever.. knew anything of it until he met this girl... a year later.. he is on this trip to Isreal..

I am happy for this young man.. once was going down the wrong road.. quitting everything he ever tried to do... was heading down the road of TT lifestyle.. until he met her..

Now.. looking to the future.. is returning to Univ. to study Business.

This opportunity changed his life.. as did the young girl.. they both made the trip together..

I dont recall what proof was needed for him to prove his Jewish ties.. his grandmother just told me .. it was his mothers side of the family.. since the gentlemans father was her son.

I think it is important for all young adults to travel.. OUTSIDE the USA before they settle down.. . I just wish there were more opportunities for those that cannot afford to do so.. like this program..

Taglit-Birthright Isreal website

Q. Who is eligible?

A. 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; or if either parent is Jewish AND the applicant does not actively practice another religion.

edited to add link

Edited July 12, 2008 by JanaknJanet

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

oh noes a head start class for zionism!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Sounds like a good program.

[samantha_lou 0]

A girlfriend of mine just got back from doing one of these trips, and had an amazing time! She was gone for quite a few weeks, and she did like an exchange trip and stayed with a family for some of the time as well as going to a whole ton of different places. I know it was a pretty packed out itinerary, but her photos were amazing and she got to see so much!

[sereia 0]

I went on a birthright trip over four years ago! I really don't know how they would know you're jewish or not. They never asked for any proof...but seems like a pretty tacky thing to fake just to get a free trip. I think its a great idea and was an amazing time!

[Sassy1natl 0]

That's nice... I wonder if there is a birthright program for Denmark? Feels like a good time of year to explore my family heritage.

[Imua 0]

I have a client of mine that has a grandson that is currently on the trip.

He never grew up Jewish.. even tho heritage wise he is.. via he mothers side..

He went off to college.. failed at that.. then became a clerk at a local market in the town where he was living..this past year he met a girl.. she is of a strong Jewish family.. in order for him to continue dating this girl.. he returned to his heritage.. never ever.. knew anything of it until he met this girl... a year later.. he is on this trip to Isreal..

I am happy for this young man.. once was going down the wrong road.. quitting everything he ever tried to do... was heading down the road of TT lifestyle.. until he met her..

Now.. looking to the future.. is returning to Univ. to study Business.

This opportunity changed his life.. as did the young girl.. they both made the trip together..

I dont recall what proof was needed for him to prove his Jewish ties.. his grandmother just told me .. it was his mothers side of the family.. since the gentlemans father was her son.

I think it is important for all young adults to travel.. OUTSIDE the USA before they settle down.. . I just wish there were more opportunities for those that cannot afford to do so.. like this program..

edited to add link

I agree 100% especially if a young person has a chance to actually immerse themself in a different culture by staying with a family, being forced to learn the language, etc. rather than staying in a dorm with other Americans and partying every night. Unfortunately since most young Americans rush to college immediately after high school and exit with tens of thousands of dollars in debt, it is harder and harder to take the time and go travel. Also in America we don't have the custom of taking a 'gap year'.

Edited July 15, 2008 by Pattu Rani

[almaty 19]

a great idea....applause