Jewish Scene
Demand soars for Birthright trips
Ynetnews
Published: 25.02.11, 13:37
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. salma should go and welcome these people
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (02.25.11)
they are going to be her neighbors for years and years to come.
2. ^^^
shlomo ,   beit shean, israel   (02.25.11)
3. what taglit brings?! what shoes?! tis my tax shekel that....
israeli   (02.25.11)
brings these youngsters over. May I suggest that they doublecheck whether or not these young people are actually eligible! 1. are they Jewish? 2. have they never I mean really never been to Israel before?
4. Zionism, a badge of honor
dshap ,   Miami, USA   (02.25.11)
For any parents of Birthright candidates. Both of my children are Birthright alum. My daughter (eldest) has also led 5 or 6 trips since her first trip. She is now 26 and is in the process of completing her Aliyah ppwk. with intention to make Aliyah in June. My Son, came back from his 1st trip ready to leave college, make Aliyah, and join IDF. I convinced him to complete his degree, he did. On Feb.1 the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, my son who is my mother's (herself a holocaust survivor), made his Aliyah . A Political Science/Mid East Studies major, he is intent on protecting our people, in his homeland, by serving in the IDF. I could not be more proud of my Zionist kids. I only wish Birthright had been around when I was young. Who knows where I might be now?
5. Sign up! Everybody's a Jew when the trip is free. Pay, pay!
Michael ,   California, USA   (02.25.11)
6. when usa is going to offer free flights and stay for
joe ,   kfar saba israel   (02.25.11)
isreali youths? never and by the way when i was 18 years old i was never offered to visit holly land for free!!!! and now i have to pay for these people the free trips what come out from my pockets as taxpayer madinat israel juzpanit like any other country squeezing its citizens incomes!!!!!
7. #6 & #3
Debbie ,   Haifa, Israel   (02.25.11)
1) There is a screening process for all youth that come on birthright. 2) They could have been here but not on a youth trip. 3) For every nis that our gov't pays our country brings in like 5 nis 4) birthright helped our tourism when others weren't coming. Why don't you check your fact before you start writing stupid stuff
8. #4
dennis ,   MARL TON, NJ   (02.26.11)
#4. Thank yopu for sharing this info with us. I too wish that Birthright was around when I was a kid.. I eventually made aliyah, and loved every second. Long story.. your story inspires me to consider contributing to this worhty cause, and getting others to join me in support this worthwhile endeavor.. My two kids both went on Bright. our daughter married an Israeli she met in college, but lives here in the US. Our son also is making his roots here. Obviously Im glad they're close by and safe, but if they would have chosen Aliyah (my wife is Israeli, BTW), I would have been proud as heck.....
9. debbie
dennis ,   NJ usa   (02.26.11)
Debbie: thanks for your great reply. This is one of the best investments that the Govt ever could make. Like Ben Gurion once proclaimed to Americans: "don't send us your money, send us your youth". that, BTW, helped to inspire my Aliyah 34 yrs ago....
10. taglit
sas ,   israel   (02.26.11)
it's for free. the americans will go anyplace for no money. a waste of our money as these people have NO interest in Israel at all. they want something to do and not sit at home. taglit people OPEN UP YOUR EYES and FACE reality. screnn the candidiates in a better and more serious way. make them make some commitment towards israel. I do not know what - but think of something.
11. Avoid hotels they use
Gavri ,   Lahsa Tibet   (02.26.11)
Some weeks ago I was in a hotel in Tiberias where groups of Taglit were staying. They kept us awake during all the night, in one word a nightmare. The kids are most welcome here but let them use accommodations where they don't bother other people
12. taglit
debbie ,   israel   (02.26.11)
TO DSHAP, MIAMI It's never too late. What's wrong with now?
13. Birthright
MG ,   Israel   (02.26.11)
I've heard mostly positive things about these trips, but I have also heard some negative things too. One problem is that quite a few of these young people are not Jewish at all. Maybe they had one Jewish grandparent or something, but they themselves are not Jewish. This is not good.
14. Gavri, they are no different than our kids in Cyprus...
Israeli @#3 ,   Jerusalem   (02.26.11)
kids will be kids and when they are unescorted they tend to become a herd and misbehave and get really loud! So on this point I am actually willing to defend these kids as they are no different from Israeli kids on vacation in Cyprus!
15. # 1
Birdi ,   Israel   (02.26.11)
ROFL. Good one Mike.
16. # 4
Birdi ,   Israel   (02.26.11)
Hopefully you will be able to join your kids & make aliyah yourself.
17. #6 Debbie in Haifa I'm doing the math as per your comment...
Israeli @#3 ,   Israel   (02.26.11)
"Low-balling" the figure let's say it costs the Israeli taxpayer USD 1000 (about NIS 3,500 to 4,000) to bring in each kid, put them up and provide guards and food for them. You are saying that for each of those approximately NIS 3,500 the Israeli Government (presumably you mean the Israeli economy) gets the kids to spend 5 times that much or about NIS 17,000 (which is about USD 5000) per kid. My question to you is: If each kid can afford to spend USD 5000 why is it that Israeli taxpayers need to spend USD 1000 to bring them here? Is that correct or did I somehow misunderstand you?
18. Debbie in Haifa @#7
just me ,   right here   (02.26.11)
Dear before you ask others "why don't you check your fact(s) before you start writing stupid stuff"? You really ought to check your facts before putting them up...amongst other things you wrote "Birthright helped our tourism when others weren't coming" Um...no...incorrect my dear...brithright trips pretty much dried up during the intifada and the second Lebanon war. so....you were saying?
19. JStreet, with all its purported "love" for
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (02.26.11)
Israel, does not participate and would not participate. Quite the contrary, it would view Birthrite as an attempt to cloak over the "injustices" committed here. No, JStreet loves its donour, George Soros, a Jew who made money off the suffering of the Jewish people when he was a teenager in Europe during the Holocaust. Birthrite, on the other hand, actually shows what Israel is all about, its historical hardships and ultimate purposes for the Jewish people. It is extraordinary how many Jewish youths become actively involved with the Jewish state after one such trip. The real anti-Israel entity in the USA is JStreet.
20. Jersey Shore----Tel Aviv Shore
Al   (02.27.11)
The benefit of these freebie trips to discover ones roots is debatable at best. In one article we read of those who bitch they dont get enough welfare, in this one we read of how Israel sponsors trips for American kids to discover Israel. You cant make this stuff up. The government obviously doesnt have a clue as to what its doing.
21. TAGLIT ALLOWS FREE TRIPS FOR NON-JEWS!!!
andy ,   orlando   (02.28.11)
Most Israeli taxpayers are unaware of the fact that free trips are also given to non-Jews who only have a Jewish father and a non- Jewish mother (see their website FAQs for eligibility) I thought the whole point was to only encourage Jewish people to emigrate to Israel?!
22. Agree with Debbie #7 and other ynet Birthright supporters
Abraham ben Jacob ,   Canada   (02.28.11)
Birthright brings a lot of young Jews to Israel where they can get a real feel for the country in a personal way and to identify with Israelis. Many believe that It is far better for Israel and these young people to learn first hand truths about Israel and relevant issues. When these young Jews go home they are usually more pro-Israel and carry a good message about Israel in contrast to what they may have previously subjected to. This kind of positive message about Israel that they bring home with them is invaluable and hard to measure only in dollars.
23. #17. The "payback" is not measured by maths or calculaters
Abraham ben Jacob ,   Canada   (02.28.11)
The "paybacks" may come in future return visists by these young people once they do have the monetary means to return to Israel. Also, the positive message spread by these returning young people encourages others to tour Israel and spend money like tourists.
24. taglit
das ,   israel   (02.28.11)
IT IS FOR FREE! THE AMERICANS WILL DO ANYTHING FOR NOTHING. AS SOON AS THE SITUATION CHANGES THERE - THESE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE AND NEVER RETURN. The average American Jew has NO interest in israel and does care at all what happens here.
25. taglit
fcd ,   israel   (02.28.11)
americans are great at eating off other people when things get bad.......
26. #24: This is exactly what Taglit is trying to
Vardina   (04.25.11)
change.
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