generation. Stop the Taglit BS and make sure these soldiers are given the tools to ensure their continued living in Israel. We need them to stay in Israel, to make families and to continue to serve the Jewish people. Make sure they stay in ISRAEL. The 100M spend on Taglit is a waste...That money should go to ensure that former soldiers get the funds needed to further their education so that they continue to be in Israel. They need the skills to pay the bills.

...many of these soldiers might not have been introduced to israel in the first place. Some maybe, but you can bet that a significant chunk of them came on a taglit trip first, before making the decision to commit to their country.

You sound like a broken record...give it a rest...

why is that Chaiyellet starting to cut in a perpendicular across the backbone of the turkey?

I've read the commentary regarding ending the Taglit Birthright. While I am not sure of the budgetary ramifications, But, I do have some first hand insight... Both of my kids did Birthright in their freshman year of college here in the US. Both visitied at least once a year and sometimes more, every year they were in college. Upon graduation, my son made Aliyah and drafted just this past week into the IDF. He is totally focused and is about to serve some very serious duty. My daughter made Aliyah, in August and is just finishing Ulpan in December. She has met a Jewish young man and he intends to make Aliyah now as well. I write this note to say that without Taglit, my kids would not have had the exposure to Israel in order to make the journey home. If they had this program when I was their age, I may be there by now as well.

a failure. Yes there may have been a few who came to Israel because of it, however from a financial perspective it is a failure. The fact is most kids who do come to Israel to live, do so because they were exposed to a Jewish lifestyle and a Jewish education while they were growing up in the golus, my kids included. Those are the facts.. Taglit is nothing more that an excercise in tourism...For the Israeli government to sponsor it, is foolishness. The Israeli governments first priority must be to its own citizens...To serve and protect them. I will repeat it for those who are too dumb to understand...Taglit is a failure. To the Israelis..Make sure your own kids stay in Israel...They will eventually end up protecting you.Make sure your govenrments first priority is to you and your families...not to some kids from America to come and party there.

I just finished my time as a lonely soldier in the army... From my experience, most serving soldiers didn't do taglit before the army. There are a small number who do, but most had some alternative previous experience in Israel as kids. Taglit does however bring a great number of foreigners to Israel who don't serve in the army often because they are too old. I think it's a bit unfair to imply that their contribution and their experience in Israel is less legitimate than that of a soldier... I think serving is great, but it's not as magnificent as it's glorified to be either.

Spponsoring an American secular holiday for Jewish kids in Israel. Next it'll be Xmas.

1) It's a good thing to be thankful to G-d and not take things for granted. 2) It's a wonderful gesture to make these soldiers feel comfortable. 3) Naval Officer...there is more than one way to curve a Turkey. Incidentally, thank you and the hundreds of thousands of US and Israeli military personnel who make sacrifices to keep the world safe and secure for the free world! G-d bless and protect you all!

Yes habibi, many Christians do celebrate Christmas in Israel. At least they dont have to worry about being massacred by the locals like in your cuntry.

With Thanksgiving being celebrated by Jews??? It was a Pilgrim take on Sukkot.

I've always had the impression that is a kind of civic celebration mixed with a family get-together, but now so many talkbackers are mentioning a religious (Christian implied) side of the holiday, now I'm confused about it. Could some American reader please clarify it for me?? Thanks!

Thanksgiving is a "special" day set to the side to give thanks to Ha Shem. Since we, the Jews give thanks to Ha Shem each day, several times with many blessings, Thanksgiving is really not a Jewish holiday. We do eat Turkey and other things on the day, but don't particularly celebrate the day any different than any other day.

Happy to help. It is not a religious celebration, despite the fact that the Pilgrims were -- well -- rather severe in their religious beliefs. It is a holiday intended to celebrate bounty and good fortune. It has nothing to do with religion, beyond being grateful to one's maker.

I'm glad Michal has found a home away from home for the holidays. At the risk of being defensive, she uses just a bit of hyperbole when she says she never celebrated Thanksgiving in the U.S. I ought to know; I'm her mom.

Does anyone care that those Pilgrim fathers were religious bigots who persectued other Christians, or that their theology is based on their having replaced Israel? And the idea that most men arepredestined to eternal torment by G-d? Or that they quickly settled in to hunting the Indians and scalping the corpses to present to their elders for bounty? Thanksgiving is based on a myth. Ask the the Indians about a thanksgiving for being treated like soul-less animals by these "thankful" settlers!!

There is sufficient documentation from the time to corroborate the fact that there was a Thanksgiving in 1621. It did not become a holiday until President Lincoln declared it such, to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. Every president since has acknowledged it to be a national holiday. I agree with you about the Pilgrim fathers, though.

to survive the winter..Not everything has to do with religion... So what have you done for the Palestinians lately? They allowed you to steal their land..isn't that reason to give thanks to them? TATA

..let us ask whether the Pilgrims went so far as to "exterminate every single, living breathing thing", did they engage in comprehensive genocide, the deliberate extermination of numerous nations? The point is, there is bigotry inherent in "ethical monotheism", and one needs to go back to the root of "ethical monotheism" to understand where the bigotry comes from.

#1, 6: Al: you're a bitter, self-centered kvetch. Let others enjoy themselves in peace.