Adelsons donate $40 million to Birthright

Published on May 23, 2013

Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, donated $40 million to the Birthright Israel Foundation.

Love, Birthright style

Published on May 8, 2013

Now entering its 13th year, Taglit-Birthright Israel’s goal is to strengthen the Jewish identity of its participants and their connection to Israel. Yet the popular program also has provided a platform for untold numbers of young singles to form lasting, loving partnerships.

Mormon and Jewish interfaith marriage rates: Of temples and missionaries

By Mark Paredes
Published on May 4, 2013

The Birthright Israel flip side: Fewer high school students traveling to Israel

Published on April 17, 2013

With the summer travel season fast approaching, providers of Israel programs for teenagers are bracing themselves for what several say could be a season of historically low travel in a year unaffected by major security concerns.

Adelson to face courtroom cameras despite safety concerns

Published on April 4, 2013

Sheldon Adelson, a major benefactor of Jewish and Israeli causes, will face courtroom cameras in an upcoming trial despite safety concerns based on his views on Israel.

Local Birthright offerings feature niche trips

By Ryan Torok
Published on February 13, 2013

Registration began this week for Taglit-Birthright Israel, the program offering free 10-day trips to Israel for Jews ages 18-26 that was created to connect young people to their heritage. This year, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is co-sponsoring a variety of opportunities: With nine trips and room for 40 people on each, there are 360 spaces available, however many trips fill up quickly.

Taglit-Birthright Israel roundup

Published on February 6, 2013

Since its inaugural trip in the winter of 2000, more than 340,000 participants ages 18-26 have traveled to Israel for the first time through Taglit-Birthright Israel. The 10-day excursions have attracted people from 62 countries, bringing together Jews from virtually every cultural and socio-economic background in the Diaspora.

Home after Birthright

Published on November 28, 2012

Moledet means “homeland” in Hebrew, and it’s no coincidence that it’s been chosen as the name of a pilot program aimed at maintaining the passion of recent Los Angeles Birthright alumni following their return home from Israel.

Apparently, giving up on ‘distancing’ isn’t easy

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on November 1, 2012

Inaugural Brawerman scholarships awarded

Published on August 29, 2012

Five Los Angeles teenagers have been awarded $40,000 in college scholarships as part of the inaugural Brawerman Fellowship of the Geri and Richard Brawerman Leadership Institute. The fellows, who applied for the scholarships through The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, will receive their scholarship in four annual installments and will participate in a Birthright trip, several Shabbatons and four weeks of community service projects each summer.

Palestinian Diaspora discover their roots

Published on July 17, 2012

The participants gather outside the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s old city for a group photo. They look like any group of college students visiting Jerusalem on a summer trip. The photographer counts to three. “Free Palestine!” they yell in unison, and laugh.

Why a Jewish Democratic leader attacked Sheldon Adelson

By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
Published on July 10, 2012

The Israelis who would not support Diaspora Jews

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on June 28, 2012

Birthright Berlin

By Rob Eshman
Published on May 30, 2012

I’m a normal Jew. When I dream, I dream of Israel. When I have nightmares, I have nightmares of Germany.

Birthright trip for Crohn’s and IBD patients

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on February 23, 2012

Israeli parody of Taglit-Birthright Trips [VIDEO]

Published on February 1, 2012

Record number of Birthright groups lands in Israel

Published on January 10, 2012

A record number of participants in the Birthright Israel program arrived in Israel on one day.

Become Israel advocates, Netanyahu urges Birthright participants

Published on January 5, 2012

Israel's prime minister called on participants in the Birthright Israel program to become advocates to for Israel when they return home.

Adelsons give Birthright another $5 million

Published on November 30, 2011

Sheldon and Miriam Adelson are contributing an additional $5 million to Birthright Israel, which the organization says will move 2,000 applicants from waitlisted to traveling this winter.

Can young Jews give as good as they get?

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on November 9, 2011

On the last day of a Birthright alumni mission to Israel last year, participants got a taste of something that was not a part of their initial trip to Israel: a fundraising pitch.

Rebirthing birthright

By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
Published on August 17, 2011

Adelsons give $5 million matching grant to Birthright

Published on July 28, 2011

Philanthropists Sheldon and Miriam Adelson are giving a $5 million matching grant to Taglit-Birthright Israel.

Birthright Israel: As political as chopped liver

Published on July 19, 2011

Does Taglit-Birthright Israel have a political agenda? Questions about Birthright’s content have come to the fore, magnified by intense debate about Israel and, perhaps, as a consequence of the program becoming a rite of passage for Diaspora young adults. The questions are not new, and from the time the first planeload of participants landed in Israel, observers have been looking for the political agenda. But political agendas are more in the mind of the spectators than a part of the program itself.

Study: Birthright alumni better Israel advocates, marry Jewish

Published on March 17, 2011

The impact of a Taglit-Birthright experience is significant and lasts for years, according to a new study. Participants in the 10-day Israel trips are more confident advocates for Israel, are more likely to feel very connected to Israel, and are 51 percent more likely to marry a Jew than their peers who applied for but did not go on a Birthright trip.

Birthright gets record number of applicants

Published on February 23, 2011

Birthright Israel received a record-breaking number of North American applicants for its free, ten-day trip to Israel. The organization, which provides all-expense-paid trips to Israel for Diaspora Jews aged 18 to 26, received 40,108 applicants during the seven-day registration period ending Tuesday.

Storahtelling taps Isaac Shalev, ex-Birthright NEXT exec, as new leader

Published on February 8, 2011

Storahtelling has tapped former Birthright NEXT executive Isaac Shalev to become its next executive director. Isaac Shalev, who helped launched Birthright NEXT and served as COO to the official follow-up program for Birthright Israel, will assume his new post on Feb. 15.

Birthright launches effort to take back ‘Zionism’

Published on February 7, 2011

Birthright Israel has launched an effort to reclaim the word Zionism from Israel's detractors. The effort, launched last week in New York with speeches by Israeli U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren and Birthright funder Michael Steinhardt, drew several hundred alumni of Birthright Israel, the philanthropic effort that has brought hundreds of thousands of young Diaspora Jews on free trips to the Jewish state.

Birthright rejects J Street partnership

Published on February 1, 2011

Birthright Israel has rejected a proposed partnership trip with J Street, saying it no longer works with organizations with Israel-related political leanings. J Street had begun promoting the trip last week being organized by its campus arm, J Street U, in cooperation with Israel Experience, one of several tour providers used by Birthright. But Birthright said it nixed the idea for a J Street trip focusing on progressivism and social action when it was first presented months ago.

Israeli court sentences Birthright assailant

Published on January 25, 2011

A New Jersey man who assaulted a fellow Birthright Israel participant was sentenced to time served and community service. Jonathan Haft, 25, was convicted Monday in Israel of aggravated assault for attacking Sherry Kestenbaum, 23, also of New Jersey, last May. He was sentenced to to 2 1/2 months in prison and six months of community service. The prison time has already been served. Haft also was ordered to pay Kestenbaum about $55,000 in compensation, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Israel to ramp up Birthright investment

Published on January 6, 2011

Israel's government announced it would more than double its investment in the popular Birthright Israel program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the announcement Thursday night before 3,000 program participants in Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post reported. "My government will give more than double its investment in Birthright, and over the next few years we will invest more than $100 million in Birthright," said Netanyahu, according to the Post. "Together with private donations we can increase the number of people to 50,000 a year."

Get back to Israel after Birthright

By Dikla Kadosh
Published on May 28, 2010

So you’ve used up your free ride to the Jewish state through Taglit-Birthright Israel and you want to go back. Maybe you miss careening down the Jordan River or those warm nights strolling down the Tayelet Haas Promenade in Tel Aviv, or you want to spend more time exploring the Old City in Jerusalem.
Once you start looking for packages, however, it’s not unusual to encounter sticker shock: the average 10-day visit to Israel runs about $3,000, according to Israel’s Tourism Ministry. That cost can leave many young professionals feeling priced out of a return trip.

Birthright bringing 21,000 to Israel

Published on April 21, 2010

Participation in Taglit-Birthright Israel trips this summer has doubled from the summer of 2009, the group said.

At least 10 teens contract swine flu during ‘Birthright Israel’ trip

Published on June 17, 2009

Around a dozen participants on a 'Birthright Israel' trip contracted swine flu during their tour of Israel and were put under quarantine, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

Report: Communities Must Do More to Attract Birthright Alums

Published on March 23, 2009

Nearly 160,000 young Jews from North America have taken part in Taglit-Birthright Israel, a 10-day free Israel trip aimed at revving up their Jewish identities.

Jews by Choice bolster ties with first Israel mission

By Rachel Heller
Published on October 10, 2008

Orit: I went to Macao and it’s not Las Vegas!

By The Web Guy
Published on October 3, 2008

VIDEO: Rosh Hashanah (funny) (political) e-card from Taglit-Birthright

By The Web Guy
Published on September 21, 2008

The candidates reach out and apologize in the Rosh Hashanah tradition, blow a shofar, interrupt, smile, joke and yell, just like your family!

More Jewish teens attacked in Paris, Adelson gives $30 million to Birthright

Published on September 11, 2008

Three Jewish teenagers were attacked in the same Paris district where another Jewish teen was beaten severely in June.

The latest pledge consists of a $20 million contribution for 2009 and $10 million for 2010, said Michael Bohnen, president of the Adelson Foundation, in a news release Tuesday announcing the gift.

Calendar Girls Picks and Clicks Aug. 30-Sept. 5: Painting, a benefit, jazz, flies

By Dikla Kadosh and Danielle Berrin
Published on August 28, 2008

Butt flag fever, Orthodox crawl, what to expect, propaganda

Published on July 31, 2008

" . . .A single written word can be a very powerful tool in educating and liberating, but it can do quite the opposite as well. . . ."

Parents cash in on kids’ Birthright

By Julie G Fax
Published on July 18, 2008

Jenny Meyer was feeling guilty, and she was willing to use that guilt to get what she wanted -- a free trip to Israel for her parents

Extending the Birthright privilege

By Julie G Fax
Published on July 17, 2008

Birthright's success in awakening a connection to Jewish heritage and Israel is unprecedented in American Jewish life. The number of alumni continues to multiply and their enthusiasm is infusing new energy into American Jewry

Birthright Israel, sex and the column

Published on June 12, 2008

" . . . It is wishful thinking by the writer that Obama's chance to be president has been torpedoed by his past association with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. McCain and the writer want us to focus on this guilt by association nonissue, rather than on Obama's own actions and words and the terrible political and economic conditions our beloved country has fallen into under the Bush/Cheney regime . . ."

Free at last!

By Rob Eshman
Published on June 5, 2008

Last Sunday night in an amphitheatre outside Jerusalem, I had a flash of insight into how to get disaffected Jews excited and involved in Jewish life: Make it free!

MUSIC VIDEO: Michelle Citron—‘I Gotta’ Love You Rosh Hashanah’

Published on September 7, 2007

A musical New Year's greeting from the Rosh HaShanah Girl and Taglit-birthright-israel

Real life comedy at the flea market in Jaffa, Israel

Published on August 10, 2007

Here's all we know: A wacky college student on a Taglit-birthright trip to Israel found a kindred spirit at the flea market in Jaffa . . .

Requests Swamp Israel Trip Program

By Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Published on February 23, 2006

Birthright Israel has received many more applications for its upcoming trips than it has spaces available. Approximately 14,000 young Jews applied for 8,000 spots in the program's spring/summer trips this year in just the first 12 hours of registration Feb. 8.

Do ISM Activists Exploit Birthright?

By Gaby Wenig
Published on January 20, 2005

When Vicki Kaplan's Birthright Israel trip finished, the Los Angeles native wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Kaplan definitely wanted to stay longer in Israel, so she extended her ticket, but the politically active college student wasn't sure where she should take her activism.

Avi Chai Grant Saves Birthright

By Dina Kraft
Published on February 26, 2004

Since the program began, it has brought some 60,000 Diaspora youth between the ages of 18 and 26 to Israel for free 10-day guided trips of the country. For many, it is their first trip to Israel. Only youth who never before have been on a peer tour of the country are eligible to participate.

World Briefs

Published on September 18, 2003

World Briefs

Students Seek Identity in Israel

By Rachel Brand
Published on April 3, 2003

Rhonda Van Hassalt's concerned father offered her $1,000 not to go to Israel. Although the money would have been enough to send both Van Hassalt's and her boyfriend to Europe for winter break, it wasn't Europe that was tugging at her heart -- it was Israel.

Community Briefs

Published on September 19, 2002

Birthright Israel hopes to send 1,000 participants this winter despite violence in the Middle East.

Israel Bound

By Rachel Brand
Published on February 21, 2002

Birthright is an umbrella organization which is the result of a partnership between the Israeli people and government, local Jewish communities, and leading Jewish philanthropists. It provides funding for the trip and sets up the basic guidelines, such as standards and security policies.

Hillel Students Return From Israel 2000 Trip

By Beverly Gray
Published on January 27, 2000

Last year, when philanthropists Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman decided to give the gift of Israel to thousands of young Jews, skeptics wondered whether there would be any takers.

Embracing Diaspora

By Tom Tugend
Published on December 2, 1999

The old-time Zionist religion had it that the only good Diaspora Jew was the one who made aliyah and settled in the ancestral land.