The Israel Birthright for Jews

Me in Israel a long time ago

The modern state of Israel has been a refuge for Jews around the world since it came into being officially in 1948. For many young people, it has also been a place to go to get a feeling for Judaism itself. Since 2000, Birthright Israel has led groups of young people ages 18 to 26 on ten-day trips of the Holy Land--at no cost! More than 300,000 young men and women have enjoyed the program so far.

It's a valuable experience to go to Israel. I went at 21--the target age for these travelers. I went through a different program, where you live on a kibbutz (communal farm) for a period of time and work. My program was an "ulpan," specially designed for immigrants, where you learn Hebrew in the classroom for half a day and work on the kibbutz the rest of the day. I didn't spend ten days--I was there for ten months! But, for the young folks taking one of these trips, it sounds fantastic.

URJ Kesher is the official trip organizer for Birthright Israel. Take a look at the itinerary and you can see that it hits all the high spots and gives a fine overview of the country for the visitor. You see not only visit the holy sites of Jerusalem but experience night life in the modern city of Tel Aviv, swim in the Sea of Galilee, float in the Dead Sea, sleep overnight in a Bedouin tent, climb historic Masada and visit the Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial.

I'd love to go, because there's much that I missed in order to stay on the farm and make food for the animals and practice my Hebrew lessons. Every Jew should experience Jerusalem, and there is much about Israel that will be very different from home and exciting. I got to feel a little more what being an American was all about (If you're not from the U.S., what being from THAT place is like). Israel is unique. Check out a sample trip itinerary here.

In a time and place where it's easy to grow up knowing little of your Jewish heritage and not understanding the importance of Israel, ten days can make a big difference.