For the disabled, Birthright trips are extra special Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK (JTA) -- Pamela Saeks thought her daughter Karly, who has
Asperger's syndrome, would never be able to go on Birthright Israel,
the program that offers Diaspora Jews free trips to Israel.
“For years she has been so frustrated that she can’t be like other kids and go on an organized trip to Israel,” Saeks said.
But in December, Karly will embark on a 10-day Birthright trip
tailored for individuals with Asperger's, a form of high-functioning
autism. The trip will take her from the shores of the Dead Sea to the
verdant plateau of the Golan Heights.
The trip is organized in partnership with Shorashim, an organization
aimed at strengthening ties between the Diaspora and Israel, and Koach,
the college outreach group of the Conservative movement. It will be the fourth Birthright trip suited to meet the needs of people with Asperger's. The Asperger's trip is one of a number of specially tailored
Birthright programs for those with disabilities. Birthright, which has
brought some 220,000 Jews aged 18 to 26 to Israel since its inception
in 2000, also runs trips for the hearing impaired, the developmentally
disabled and wheelchair users, and has had one trip for blind
participants.
By the end of 2009, at least 28 groups of people with special needs
will have traveled to Israel on Birthright since 2003, according to
Birthright.
The Birthright trips for the disabled visit all the major sites of a
typical Birthright trip, but changes are made to suit the participants’
unique needs.
Birthright: A tonic for the Jewish world Friday, October 30, 2009
New Jersey Jewish Standard
A new report out of Brandeis University not only reaffirms the inspirational effects of a Birthright Israel experience, it shows them to be long lasting. The 10-day trip to Israel is open to Jewish18- to 26-year-olds. According to the report, alumni who participated as far back as eight years ago continue to credit the experience with heightening their sense of connection to Israel and the Jewish people. Compared to age-equivalent non-participants, they are more likely to have become strong advocates for Israel, joined a synagogue or congregation, and married a Jew. But while a Birthright trip is limited to young adults, its full potential to energize the larger Jewish world has yet to be tapped.
"Amazing," "incredible," "fantastic" are common characterizations by Birthright participants about the experience. In fact, the new study, which was headed by Brandeis Prof. Leonard Saxe, shows that 73 percent of alumni felt the trip had been very much or somewhat "life-changing." Only 11 percent said it was not at all life-changing, which includes respondents who might have felt this way because they were already committed Jews.
The effects ripple far beyond the circle of participants. Upon return, a participant’s exhilaration often touches parents, grandparents, and anyone else willing to listen. Hearing a Birthright returnee has inspired many a friend and relative to visit Israel. So Birthright is also an indirect promoter of travel to the Jewish state.
Growing Birthright Israel should be a no-brainer Wednesday, October 28, 2009
By: Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson
JTA
The recently released study of the impact of Birthright Israel trips should be very welcome news for the Jewish people.
Ever since the release of the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey, experts have been seeking ways to maximize Jewish continuity. Quite simply, this new study, conducted by Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, shows that the Birthright Israel program represents a truly effective way to change the course of Jewish history.
Now that we have this research, increasing the number of Birthright Israel participants should become a top priority of Jewish philanthropy.
We cannot take credit for coming up with the idea for Birthright Israel, which offers a free 10-day trip to Israel for Jews ages 18 to 26; that distinction goes to Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman. Despite opposition from many skeptics, these visionary philanthropists persisted in making their creative idea a reality starting in 2000.
Birthright funders look to upbeat study to boost fund raising Tuesday, October 27, 2009
JTA
Titled "Generation Birthright Israel: The Impact of an Israel Experience on Jewish Identity and Choices," the study is based on interviews with some 1,200 young people who applied for Birthright trips between 2001 and 2004 -- two-thirds of whom went on the trips, the rest whose applications were denied. The survey compared the answers of the two groups.
Of the 500 or so interviewed who are now married, 72 percent who made the trip married Jews, while 46 percent of those who did not married Jews. This means that Birthright participants were 57 percent more likely to marry within the faith, according to Len Saxe, the head of the Cohen Center and the researcher who oversaw the survey.
When the study’s results were presented publicly on Monday at a Brandeis-owned building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the head of the Boston federation hailed Birthright as the only successful recent big idea in the Jewish community.
"People are looking for the next big thing; we ain’t finding no other big thing at this level," said Barry Shrage, the CEO of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston.
Brandeis University Releases Research on Impact of 10-Day Educational Trip to Israel Monday, October 26, 2009
Press Release
The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University released "Generation Birthright Israel" today, a research study attesting to the profound and long-term impact on alumni of the Taglit-Birthright Israel experience. The study, which focuses on the early rounds of the 10-year-old project, documents participants' strengthened connection to Israel, their greater sense of belonging to the Jewish people, and their increased interest in building Jewish families.
Since its launch in 2000, the Birthright Israel organization has provided free educational trips to Israel to 220,000 Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26 from around the world. This first ever long-term study of the program shows that it is achieving its original objectives of closing the gap between Jewish young adults in the Diaspora and Israel, and strengthening participants' sense of Jewish identity.
"In ten short years, Taglit-Birthright Israel has inspired a generation of young Jews to reconnect with Israel and the Jewish community," said Gidi Mark, CEO of Taglit-Birthright Israel. "With tens of thousands on our waiting list, we are well on our way to establishing an educational trip to Israel as a rite of passage in the Jewish life cycle. That's going to be the story of our second decade."
Gidi Mark, CEO of Taglit-Birthright Israel, does not mince his words when he emphatically states that after 10 years of providing free trips to Israel for young Jews from around the world, the organization has made it "cool" to be Jewish.
"When we started out, the initiative was based on promoting Jewish continuity," begins the 50-something Mark, who before taking up the Jewish identity challenge, spent his years working for the Foreign Ministry. "At that time we had been witnessing a distancing of young Diaspora Jews not only from the State of Israel but also from their communities. Based on various research studies at that time, our primary aim was to reconnect the younger generation through an Israel experience."
That concept was coined prior to the December 1999 launch of birthright israel's first 10-day trip here. Nowadays, says Mark, despite initial opposition and in contrary to its cynics, the unique program "has created a buzz among young Jews that it's cool to be Jewish and it's cool to have Jewish friends."
For many of those that come on the trips, he says, "it's the first time in their lives they have ever met such a large group of young Jews."
"It's hard to really believe it until you see it, but in many respects birthright for some is a gathering place, a synagogue, a Jewish community center all experienced for 10 days," he says, adding that in combination with social media such as Facebook, the effects of the birthright experience continue long after the trip ends. "Today we have thousands of groups on the Internet allowing participants to keep in touch with one another between their visits."
Jewish Marriage Tied to Israel Trip Monday, October 26, 2009
The Wall Street Journal
A new study found that rates of marriage outside the faith were sharply curbed among young Jews who have taken "birthright" trips to Israel, a development that could hearten Jewish leaders worried about assimilation.
Fears of shrinkage among the American Jewish population heightened after studies in the early 1990s showed that more than 50% of Jews were marrying non-Jews, potentially making it more difficult to pass the religion on to offspring. Most estimates of America's Jewish population place it a little higher than six million, although some demographers have argued it is higher. The U.S. census doesn't track people by faith.
Over the past decade, Taglit-Birthright Israel, a U.S. nonprofit founded by Jewish businessmen, has sponsored nearly 225,000 young Jewish adults for free 10-day educational tours of Israel as a way to foster Jewish identity. The program is also supported by the Israeli government.
While past studies have found that trip participants return with a greater appreciation of their Jewish roots, a study to be released Monday by Brandeis University researchers is the first to suggest that the trips also affect marriage behavior. Its results showed that 72% of those who went on the trip married within the faith, compared with 46% of people who applied for the trip but weren't selected in a lottery.
Read the full report (PDF) from the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University
Birthright experience a high for Seattle-area participants Thursday, September 10, 2009
JTNews
By now, Cody Solomon is back home on Bainbridge Island and has delivered the message in person that he asked me to convey to his parents, Julie and Robert, on his behalf: "Mom and Dad, you have to come. I’d fly you here if I could. I want you to experience Israel, too."
Cody was one of 40 young men and women from the Seattle area who visited the Jewish State last month, courtesy of Birthright Israel, the program that provides free 10-day trips to young Jews, ages 18 to 26, from around the world.
I met Cody, who is entering his senior year at the University of British Columbia this semester, in Tel Aviv one afternoon where he and the others in his Birthright group were extolling the trip, explaining how it has opened them up to the land, people and state of Israel, and to each other.
That’s the idea behind Birthright, launched almost a decade ago by a small group of American mega-philanthropists, and joined by the Jewish Federations of North America and the State of Israel in a $100-million-a-year project that to date has brought more than 220,000 young people to Israel.
Beyond showing young adults the sites, the organizers are seeking to strengthen the sense of love of Israel, support for the state of Israel, and commitment to Jewish peoplehood among the participants, most of whom are visiting the country for the first time.
Israel Trip Works to Connect Young Professionals Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Jewish Exponent
What's one of the most "powerful" and "awesome" Jewish-identity experiences for young professionals these days?
According to Valerie Weisberg, Justin Drew, Dan Segal, Jessica Rutstein and Lauren Economou, it was their first trip to Israel with peers from Philadelphia. They traveled throughout Israel with 35 other young Jewish professionals from June 21 through July 1 on an all-expense-paid program co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Taglit-Birthright Israel.
While the majority of the participants live in the Philadelphia area, most did not know each other before their 10-day bus tour of Israel began.
"The people made this trip for me!" said Dan Segal, 24, a resident of Old City. "Their friendships and our experiences together are the reason why my ties are strengthened -- not only to those on our bus, but to my religion and the Jewish people as well."
The Power Of The Circle: the Next Phase in Jewish Philanthropy Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Jewish Week
Rochelle Kleter never pictured herself as a philanthropist. The first-generation American, born to parents who grew up in the Ukraine, had a hard time finding her place in the Jewish community. "I was one of the only Jewish kids in the public school system" in East Hanover, N.J., she said. "I didn’t know what it meant to keep kosher for Passover. And when I took Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur off as personal days, I was made fun of."
Yet two months after participating in a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip, Kleter, a financial analyst with Citibank, enrolled in a crash course on Judaism. She learned to read Hebrew and recently had a bat mitzvah at the age of 25. After discovering her faith, she says, she wanted to give back, to practice the mitzvah of tzedakah. But she didn’t have much to give and she didn’t want to go it alone.
So she joined Birthright NEXT’s Young Philanthropist Committee, a group of 20 Birthright alumni who each contributed $250 to a communal giving pot (previous YPC groups gave a minimum donation of $500, but the amount was lowered due to the tough economic climate). Birthright matched the combined $5,000, effectively leveraging the individual $250 contributions into a sizeable $10,000 donation.
Birthright trip makes an Israel believer Saturday, August 15, 2009
Jewish Review
...The trip included a Jerusalem traditional Shabbat experience at the kotel, historical lectures, hikes, swimming in the Red Sea and Sea of Galilee, floating in the Dead Sea and free nights at Israel dance clubs. One Portland area woman celebrated her bat mitzvah on top of Masada and three Portland area men celebrated their bar mitzvah at the kotel.
Maharg isn’t the only person from the trip who wants to return to Israel.
Beaverton resident Melissa Statham and her new best friend, Racheal, one of the Bukharains, also want to return to the Jewish state.
"How can someone not want to go back?" Statham asked. "I felt so comfortable there and made friends with the soldiers that were with us. And I love the style, and the people and everything about it... I just belong there."
My Birthright Experience: A Message To A Generation Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Jewish Journal-Boston North
Few experiences in life can profoundly influence the mind of a stubborn 26 year old; Birthright Israel was one of those for me. I am the grandson of Holocaust survivors, a birthright in itself, and my exposure to the atrocities that occurred 70 years earlier have shaped my core values and beliefs. As a child I attended Yeshiva, however through the years I became less observant and until recently began to lose touch with my Jewish heritage.
On June 2, 2009, I embarked on a 10-day journey through Israel that changed my perspective on Judaism and my identity as a Jew forever. I will turn 27 in November and had it not been for a dear friend, I never would have been notified of a last minute cancellation and opportunity to travel on the trip of a lifetime.
Birthright Israel was established 10 years ago and in that timeframe they have taken more than 220,000 Jews, ages 18-26, to Israel from countries including America, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and others. Most participants learn a great deal about their heritage, but I am still not convinced how much they retain and implement once they return back home.
Alumna Jamie-Lynn Sigler discusses her Taglit-Birthright Israel experience on E!'s "Chelsea Lately" Friday, August 7, 2009
E!
Taglit-Birthright Israel alum, and "The Sopranos" and "Entourage" star Jamie-Lynn Sigler stopped by Chelsea Handler's "Chelsea Lately" on E! to discuss the latest season of the hit HBO show...and her Taglit-Birthright Israel trip! Go to 4:30 in the video to hear her talk about the trip.
Just to clarify, there is no Bar/Bat Mitzvah requirement to go on Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. In fact, many participants who haven't celebrated a Bar/Bat Mitzvah decide to celebrate it while in Israel! Additionally, the Birthright Israel Foundation was not directly harmed by the Bernard Madoff situation.
Students explore their Jewish heritage, meet Israeli peers Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Inside Gallaudet
The Taglit-Birthright Israel program brings together Jewish people from two worlds. For the ninth year, Gallaudet students have helped to add yet another element to this learning experience. In addition to exposing young American Jews to the Israeli community, the American Sign Language/spoken English trip in June made it possible for 40 deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing participants to share their respective cultures and experiences - both among themselves and with their Israeli peers.
Jewish college students across the country can take advantage of the program’s free 10-day trips, but only the students on this particular trip had the opportunity to communicate in multiple visual and spoken languages.
"Hillel goes to great lengths to make the trip fully accessible to deaf and hard of hearing participants, who might not have been fully included in Jewish life growing up because of communication barriers, or who simply want to know more about their heritage," said Paula Tucker, director of Gallaudet Hillel, the organization for Jewish life on campus. Each year, Tucker helps to select applicants and coordinate logistics stateside. Hillel selected staff members who were fluent in ASL and two ASL/English interpreters.
Birthright leads to a journey of self-discovery and pride Monday, July 6, 2009
San Joaquin County Recordnet
As a journalist, one of the first things I learned was to be skeptical of things that sounded too good to be true.
A free trip to Israel certainly fit that description.
Yet that is exactly what I recently returned from, and it was a journey that, although free, was priceless in so many other ways.
I first learned of Taglit-Birthright Israel, the umbrella organization that puts on the trips, a few years ago when some of my Jewish friends from college went on the trips and came back raving. Even so, I never seriously looked into it myself. Israel wasn't a place high on my list of travel destinations, and it didn't seem like the safest vacation spot if you just followed snippets in the media.
However, as I got older, I found myself more and more warming up to the idea of connecting with my heritage. I started checking out the Web site birthrightisrael.com, where I learned how "Taglit provides the gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26, in order to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people." Sponsorship comes from private philanthropists, the Israeli government and Jewish communities.
New organization will connect, assist post-birthright Jewish professionals Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Jerusalem Post
A new venture being launched Thursday aims to perpetuate connections forged on Taglit-Birthright Israel trips and provide professional assistance for young Jews looking to begin their careers in business and entrepreneurship.
Almalinks, co-founded by American Max Bronstein and Israeli Tomer Sapir has partnered with Taglit-Birthright Israel, and will organize networking and mentoring opportunities these aspiring businesspeople.
More than 300 people are signed up for the Almalinks launch to be held Thursday night at IDC Herzliya. It will include a reception and speeches by the founders, Israeli government officials and businessmen and entrepreneurs.
The idea for Almalinks began to form after Bronstein, now pursuing a master's degree in the United States, and Sapir, a technology entrepreneur in Tel Aviv, met on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip in 2007. Bronstein was a participant and Sapir was one of the IDF soldiers traveling with Bronstein's group.
"Before that trip, I didn't know what Birthright was about," Sapir said. "After five days, I started to understand this trip and how it makes people change and understand their Jewish identity."
"And to Jerusalem your city, return in mercy, and dwell in it as you have proclaimed."
Nathan Cardinell, a native Tucsonan, has spoken the words of this traditional prayer as far back as he can remember.
The impassioned wish came true recently, as Cardinell became the first person in his immediate family to go to Jerusalem. Not only did he go to Israel, but he went for free.
Cardinell is one of several young Jewish Americans with ties to Tucson to participate in the Taglit-Birthright Israel program, which provides free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18-26.
The goal of Taglit-Birthright Israel, an international non-profit organization founded by a group of Jewish philanthropists, is to reconnect Jewish young people with the historical foundations of their faith.
In 10 years of operation, Taglit-Birthright Israel has sent more than 200,000 young Jewish adults to Israel. This year alone it's sending 25,000, between summer and winter trips, an estimated 20 from Tucson.
Arriving a tourist, leaving a "witness" Friday, June 26, 2009
Cleveland Jewish News
On a recent balmy Shabbat afternoon in Jerusalem, I watched four American college students become b’nai mitzvah. I was surprised to find young Jewish adults experiencing their first personal connection to Judaism so late in life.
Unlike those teens, I already felt close to Judaism after numerous years devoted to religious school, Jewish day camps, and a Jewish youth group. I did not go on Hillel’s Greeks Rush Israel Taglit-Birthright Israel trip to discover my personal connection to religion; I went to discover my personal connection to Israel.
Canadian team goes for hockey gold in Israel Thursday, June 25, 2009
Canadian Jewish News
Until this year, Danny Schwartz didn’t know hockey was played in Israel. He’d never heard of the Canada Centre in Metulla, or that Israel had a national team in 2005 that won Division II Group B gold at an International Ice Hockey Federation championship...
...Nevertheless Schwartz, a native of Dollard des Ormeaux, will be one of 22 Jewish Canadians - mainly from Quebec and Ontario - making up Team Canada’s senior men’s roster when the team faces off July 5 against Israel at the Israel Ice Hockey Federation’s World Jewish Hockey Championships in Metulla...
...Although Schwartz was not aware before this year of hockey in Israel, he and "almost all" of the Montreal players have been to the Jewish state before, mostly as part of Birthright Israel trips, which Schwartz went on at age 18.
"You feel at home once you’re in Israel, so to play our national sport there is going to be extraordinary," he said.
More than just another meeting Monday, June 22, 2009
Jerusalem Post
...Over the past few weeks and continuing long past when the dust settles from the JAFI gathering, a series of other, possibly more important, meetings of a different sort continue. That is the meetings of the well over 8,000 North American Jewish young adults participating in birthright and follow-up programs with their Jewish roots and the land of Israel. Birthright israel reports that there was record registration for the 8,000 free trips this spring and summer (35,000 applicants). Research has shown that birthright trips are having an impact in stemming the alarming trend of alienation from both Judaism and Israel in these North American Jews who represent the future leadership in the Diaspora.
