By Lauren Mennen

What is Birthright?  A free trip to Israel for Jewish young adults  Funded by Jewish philanthropists and Israeli Government  Must be between the ages of 18 and 26  Must have at least one Jewish parent  Walk away from this trip with new friends, a newfound appreciation of Judaism, knowledge of their religion’s history and ancestors, and a priceless experience

Do you have to be religious to participate?  NO; two types of Jewish people: practicing and non-practicing  Those who practice are religious, those who don’t, aren’t  BOTH types are encouraged to participate  It will help non-practicing Jews appreciate their religion and inform them more about Judaism

Goals of Birthright  To diminish the division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world  To strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to Jewish history and culture  Over 230,000 have participated from 52 countries  Reaches its goals by:  Taking them on a 10 day journey( with helpful tour guides) around Israel visiting historical landmarks, touristy spots, clubs and restaurants, etc.  Israel is about the size of New Jersey, but there are infinite amounts of sites to see

Destinations  Tel Aviv-Jaffa  Historical sites and famous sea promenade  World’s oldest port, and city from which Jonah left  Rabin Square  the site where Yitzhak Rabin (the Prime Minister) was assassinated in 1995  Israeli Independence Hall  sometimes they are asked to read the Proclamation of Independence while visiting

The Jaffa Port Israeli Independence Hall

 Jerusalem  The capital of Israel  The Old City  Southern Wall  Walkways underneath the Temple Mount  Western Wall  The center of Judaism’s spiritual existence The Temple Mount- where the world expanded into its present form and where God created Adam The Western Wall- constructed around 19 BCE by Herod the Great

 Northern Coast  Ancient Roman structures  City of Haifa Haifa, Israel

 Southern Coast  Camel rides in the desert  Swimming in the Dead Sea  One of the world’s saltiest bodies of water  Because it is so salty, it is impossible to sink

How can you be selected for this trip?  Must fill out an application online on a specific registration day  For Winter sessions, you register in the Summer, and vice versa  Far in advance because thousands apply at a time  Questions about why you’re interested, what Judaism means to you, etc.  After the application, only some are chosen for interviews  After an interview, it is still possible to be waitlisted

 “This is a great opportunity for all young Jews, and I strongly encourage all to apply. We want everyone to be proud to be Jewish.”  “We look for individuals who are religious, but at the same time we encourage those that aren’t to apply for this trip. It is very important that they have a decent background of their religion.” –One of the trip leaders and a rabbi, Steven Weinberg

Birthright Alumni  Liz Mennen  Went with the University of Michigan in December 2009  Describes her experience as “unreal”  Never religious or a practicing Jew, but now feels more connected to Judaism  Favorite part was going to Israel’s Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem  “It was my favorite part because it really helped me to solidify a personal connection to the land of Israel, more so than some of the other parts of the trip. The stories and testimonies we heard I could connect to, because I undoubtedly have ancestors with similar experiences. I really enjoyed the design of the Museum, and all of the symbolism and wisdom in the structure,” Mennen said.

 She was able to get Batmitzvah-ed on the trip  The normal age for getting Batmitzvah-ed is 12 or 13, and you have to go through years of Hebrew School  “I just had to learn to recite the Hebrew prayer you say when the Rabbi is about to take out the Torah. I also had to write a short speech about why I wanted to get Bat Mitzvah-ed in Israel.” Riding a camel In front of the Western Wall

 Eric Solomon  Went with Rutgers University in December 2009  Describes his experience as “amazing”  Feels that he “came back more cultured as a world traveler and a Jew”  He isn’t a practicing Jew, but feels more connected to Judaism now  “I feel that I somewhat fulfilled a cultural duty and I now understand the importance of Israel to the Jewish people.”

His picture of Temple Mount Touching the Western Wall Swimming in the Dead Sea

Another benefit of Birthright…  Opens up appreciation for our own country  “It made me realize how lucky we are to live in a country like America. One of the soldiers showed me videos on his phone that he took himself of bombs going off in Gaza, and he thought it was no more uncommon to see such a thing than something like a deer crossing the road. Another soldier, a female who I grew to love, told me that when she was growing up in Jerusalem there were bombs at her elementary school and some of her friends were injured. Things like that make you realize what you take for granted,” Liz Mennen said.

Closing Statements about Birthright  Widens young Jews’ perceptions of Judaism and the real world  An opportunity to meet Israeli residents, soldiers, and students like themselves  All young Jews should strive to go on this trip before they reach the age limit  An unexplainable experience that will enlighten those who aren’t that religious