Taglit-Birthright Israel is a Jewish educational project which has become legendary throughout the Jewish world. The purpose of Taglit-Birthright Israel is to bring Jewish young adults from around the world closer to us, in order to fight assimilation and strengthen the connection between the Diaspora and the State of Israel. For most young participants, Taglit-Birthright Israel is an opportunity to discover modern Israel. Tens of thousands of Jewish students and young adults who are mostly detached from their Jewish identity and Israel get to see the country for the first time in an educational trip. This extraordinary experience enhances and enriches their Jewish identity and infuses vibrant energy into the Jewish communities around the world.
is an innovative initiative of the philanthropists Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt who, together with other leading Jewish philanthropists, have created a unique partnership with the Government of Israel and Jewish communities around the world (through the UJC, the Jewish Agency and Keren Hayesod). Thanks to the recent unprecedented donations of Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, tens of thousands of Jewish students who were previously on the waiting list, can now go on the trip.
Taglit-Birthright Israel's vision is to steadily increase the number of young Jew ages 18 to 26 traveling to Israel on an educational trip until at least a majority of the eligible cohort has been to Israel. The trips include touring the country for ten fascinating days during which they get to know the State of Israel and its people. The participants, who are mainly university students, visit important sites in the history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel and meet with their Israeli peers: university students and mainly soldiers from the IDF's elite units. The program also includes a visit to an important Zionist site, a site connected to modern Israel, one of the institutions for the commemoration of the Holocaust and, of course, Jerusalem (including the Wailing Wall). These young men and women return to their countries overwhelmed with emotional experiences and new discoveries about Israel.
Taglit-Birthright Israel is considered an extremely successful project.
Since it started in 2000, the project has managed to create a drastic change in the way the young generation in the Diaspora relates to Israel. The number of participants coming to Israel from over 50 countries is steadily increasing and has reached about 40,000 a year, a figure which is 2500% more than the number of those who came before the project was launched.
We believe that Taglit-Birthright Israel is especially important at a time when Israel is under attack by anti-Israel activists on university campuses all over the world. During their stay in Israel, the participants are exposed to Israel's positions and its daily reality and then upon their return they can explain these positions and this reality to their friends and community. The actions of these thousands of young enthusiastic "ambassadors" on campuses helps Israel balance the hostile, one-sided picture which is often seen on TV screens abroad.
Thousands of the project's graduates have decided to move to Israel and tens of thousands are active advocates for Israel on campuses all over the world.
The Israelis participating in the project –tens of thou sands so far -- report that it has strengthened their connection to Judaism, their connection to Jews in the Diaspora and has significantly increased their pride in the state and its achievements. IDF commanders have reported a significant increase in the level of motivation of their soldiers who participated in the program.
To date, the Taglit- Birthright Israel project has contributed over 1 billion shekels to the Israeli economy. Flights to Israel, hotels, buses, guides, staff, security guards, paramedics, shopping, meals, visits to sites, etc. turn Taglit- Birthright Israel to a leading factor in the Israeli tourism industry.
The project's importance was heightened in light of the cessation of all tourism entering Israel – including Jewish tourism –during and following the Intifada.
A team of researchers from Brandeis University conducted research regarding the impact of Taglit-Birthright Israel's educational journey to Israel. The findings speak for themselves:
After the trip 64% of the participants feel very connected to their Judaism (compared to 38% who felt this before coming) and 55% (compared to 22%) feel very connected to Israel following the trip.
Upon their return, the vast majority of students convey their desire to maintain their contact with the State of Israel, their tendency to lead a Jewish life significantly increased and they increased their involvement in their Jewish communities.
