Most people who have never heard of Birthright/Taglit are blown away when they hear of it. A free 10 day trip to Israel…how is that possible?! Is it actually free? Whats the catch? To put it simply, Birthright is a not-for-profit organization that fully sponsors trips to Israel for young Jewish adults. Roundtrip flights, accommodation, transportation, tours/activities, and 2 meals a day are all included. There are a few requirements to qualify; such as identifying as Jewish (or at least having one Jewish grandparent) and being 18-32 years old. The purpose of the trip is to send young Jews from all over the world to Israel in order to diminish the growing divide between Israel and other countries. It’s also to strengthen the sense of a worldwide Jewish community and show Jews that they always have a home in Israel. The founders of Birthright believe in this mission so much that they have funded over 800,000 trips with the help from 30,000 donors, Jewish Federations, and the government of Israel.
You are only allowed to do the trip one time but loophole! you can basically go again if you become a staff member. So all of the photos below are from my time as a participant in 2019 but I will make a separate post detailing my experience as staff in 2022.
To get on a trip you just need to apply online and the rest is smooth sailing! In recent years they’ve added a theme to some trips so you can choose which style fits you best. Some themes include a culinary focus, historical, outdoor adventure, arts etc. They even have trips for people in certain job backgrounds so you can network and meet people in your field. Each trip has roughly 30-40 participants and is divided by age group so you should only be on a trip with people around your age. There are two staff members (one male and one female) that travel with you from your home country. Then there is an Israeli tour guide, bus driver, and security guard/medic that is with you the whole time. There are a few extra participants that get added to the trip that really makes Birthright unique. Depending on your trip type there will be five to eight Israelis (either currently in the army or in University) that join you on the trip. They really make the whole experience special because they make you feel like you are not just touring Israel but actually getting to know people your age who live there. It’s also a unique perspective for them to travel with Jews from a different part of the world and see Israel for the first time through their eyes. I’m still friends with some of the Israelis that were on my trip back in 2019!
So whats it like actually being on the trip? It’s honestly a complete whirlwind of new people, beautiful hikes, long bus rides, insane food, early mornings, and of course a bit of partying. Every trip is different depending on the vibe of the group and the tour organizer. I went with the Jewish Federation of LA so my trip had mainly people from LA on it and everyone got along really well! Since you are all together 24/7 for 10 days, the group tends to get super close. You all share hotel rooms as well so there is truly no escaping the madness. If you are an extreme introvert, this trip might not be the best option for you. It’s a lot of socializing, high energy activities, and late night/early mornings.
It should also be said that this trip is not religious and you do not need to believe in God or celebrate Jewish holidays etc to enjoy it. Many people on my trip were half Jewish and still celebrated Christmas. Others had never identified with being Jewish but knew their grandparent was and wanted to learn more about that side of their family. Some had family in the Holocaust and wanted to honor them by being in the country that was created for Jews without a home to return to. Some people just wanted a free vacation. Whatever your reason is for signing up, I promise you will leave Israel with a different reason for wanting to return.
The trip begins with meeting the group at the airport and everyone’s favorite activity…icebreakers!! After surviving the obnoxiously long 15 hour flight, the real trip begins. You will load the bus and begin your tour of Israel! Each itinerary fluctuates and changes but they all make sure to hit the best spots like visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem, floating in the Dead Sea, rafting down the Jordan River, caring for Camels in the desert, and partying in Tel Aviv. My trip also included wine tasting in the Golan Heights, hiking Mt. Carmel, drinking Bedouin tea by a campfire, honoring the past at the Holocaust Museum, a graffiti tour of Tel Aviv, and so so so much more. It’s a jam packed 10 days that will leave you needing a vacation from your vacation. You are also allowed to extend your return flight and travel elsewhere after Israel or just stay in Israel for longer. I would say about 50% of the group chooses to extend!
I honestly couldn’t recommend this trip more. I think its such a nice overview of Israel and really leaves you wanting to come back and explore it on your own. Something that made the biggest impact on me was getting to be in a country filled with Jews where I was finally in the majority. Being a Jew at home I’m a minority and constantly having to answer peoples questions about what Hannukah is and why those men wear the funny hats. Being in Israel feels like coming home. It feels like I’m part of a bigger Jewish community that completely understands all the holidays, songs, and traditions I grew up doing. Israel will always have a very special place in my heart and whenever I have the opportunity to go back, I will in a heartbeat.
Israel gets a really bad reputation in the media and I think its not fair to judge a country or a people without going there yourself and making your own informed decision. Birthright is not a political organization and does not try and persuade participants into believing one side of the conflict or the other. Its only purpose is to show you the beauty of Israel and hope you come back one day. There are tons of other programs after having done Birthright that can get you back to Israel at a subsidized rate. Programs like Onwards or Masa are both great options for staying in Israel for a few months to a year at a time. I did Onwards directly after Birthright and stayed in Tel Aviv for 2 months doing an internship with a film production company. I’ll make another post on that (in 4-6 months when I get less lazy). I hope this post gave you a little insight into Birthright and if you are thinking about signing up for a trip, do it!!
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