Birthright Israel is such a great program that some young people have tried to steal their way onto the trips.
Let me explain.
Birthright Israel was conceived in 1999 by a group of visionary philanthropists as the ultimate “engagement” program, that is, an opportunity to reach young people who would not otherwise be attracted to a Jewish activity. We’re not talking about day school alumni, yeshiva graduates or youth movement members who have been to Israel on peer-group programs. Birthright Israel was designed as a fun, free vacation for the vast majority of Jewish young people ages 18-26 who have not visited Israel. Organizers hoped that once participants visited Israel and spent an intense, 10-day experience with fellow Jews, they would return home and continue their involvement in the Jewish community.
In the last four years, Birthright Israel — a collaboration of philanthropists, Jewish federations and the government of Israel — has brought more than 48,000 young Jews to Israel from around the world. The trips are administered by tour agencies who recruit the participants, screen them and make all the logistical arrangements. Hillel is the largest provider in North America.
Participants in Hillel Birthright Israel programs have been exposed to everything Israel has to offer, from a bone-rattling Jeep tour of the Golan Heights, to the sites of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, to Bedouin hospitality in the Negev. In addition to introductory tours, Hillel offers trips for photography enthusiasts, outdoorsy types, political junkies and even young journalists. We expect to bring thousands this December.
The program has succeeded fabulously. As someone who has been involved in the program since the first trip, I have met dozens of young Jews who have been turned on to their Jewishness for the first time — often quite against their expectations. I have seen these young people return home to become student activists, Hillel leaders and even Jewish communal professionals.
But don’t just take my word for it. The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University has studied the profound impact this program has had on thousands of students. The center studied participants one month, three months and 12 to 15 months after the trip ended. Among the conclusions: Participants had a stronger sense of Jewish identity, were more likely to want to marry a Jew and raise their children as Jews, and were more likely to feel it was important to remember the Holocaust, to care about Israel and to support Jewish organizations.
With such a strong track record, it’s no wonder that young people would be eager to participate — even in violation of trip rules. So it was earlier this year that a handful of would-be birthrighters were sent home upon arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport when it became obvious that they were not qualified for the trip. This was not a Hillel-sponsored trip, so I can only surmise the circumstances of their infraction and detection. Imagine the surprised look of an Israeli passport inspector when she found several Israel stamps in the passport of a student taking his “first” trip to Israel. Cunning is not a prerequisite for participation.
Was it right to send these stowaways home? You bet.
While I am sensitive to their heartfelt desire to return to Israel, they tried to take resources that should properly go to qualified participants. Birthright Israel trips are for first-timers — it says so in all the literature, including the application form. They are not intended to give young people a free trip to revisit their old haunts or to spend time with their Israeli friends and family. There are many other programs that enable young people to spend significant amounts of time in Israel doing important work at relatively little cost. Livnot U’Lehibanot, Magen David Adom and other groups offer important volunteer programs that are listed on Hillel’s Web site — www.hillel.org
Birthright Israel works because so many people invest themselves in the program, from the Hillel professionals who recruit the students to the philanthropists who support it. No one is more concerned about the effectiveness of these trips than the philanthropists. These are not Jewish communal hobbyists. These are men and women who work closely with Jewish professionals to build programs and who hold these professionals accountable for their success. Oh boy, do they hold us accountable. They invest many, many hours of their lives and millions of dollars of their resources in a network of programs that include Birthright Israel.
Nothing better demonstrates the philanthropists’ commitment to Jewish young people than the time they spend with Birthright Israel participants and students. In my experience, Birthright Israel founding philanthropists Edgar Bronfman, Charles Bronfman, Lynn Schusterman and Michael Steinhardt have spent more time with Jewish college students than just about anyone else in the Jewish world.
Birthright Israel has had an impressive impact on the Jewish community, but it is not the singular answer to the Jewish educational needs of our young people. Jewish civilization is too profound to be absorbed fully in a 10-day trip. Love gained in 10 days is infatuation, not commitment. But education and commitment must start somewhere and Birthright Israel has proven to be a wonderful way to start.