What is Birthright Israel?

If you’re wandering through the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, you’re guaranteed to run into at least one or two groups of young Jewish tourists from across the world all experiencing Israel for the first time.

Though Israel is rich in tourism, what sets this ten-day trip to Israel apart is that it’s all completely free. Seems too good to be true? Think again.

Thanks to a group of philanthropists, Birthright Israel has provided free trips to over 750,000 participants from 68 countries. The trip aims to help reconnect eligible participants with their Jewish heritage and inspire a return to Jewish pride and continuity.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:34 The Jewish continuity crisis
01:07 Accessibility of visiting Israel
01:24 Could every Diaspora Jew get the gift of a trip to Israel?
01:46 Determining the logistics of Birthright Israel
02:11 Guiding principle #1: Show don't tell
02:31 Guiding principle #2: Make it fun
02:46 Guiding principle #3: No strings attached
02:59 Guiding principle #4: Be the captain of your journey
03:44 The introduction of themed trips
04:02 Option to extend return flight
04:09 Impacts of Birthright Israel
05:09 Birthright Israel statistics
05:39 Other Diaspora communities take note
05:53 It's not too good to be true

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Let’s connect:

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Executive Producers:
Michael Maling
Adam Milstein
Barry Skolnick

Co-Executive Producers:
Russell Greenberg
Gloria Kaylie
Andy Lappin

Gold Level:
Koum Family Foundation
Robyn & Russell Greenberg
Harvey & Gloria Kaylie Foundation
Crain-Maling Foundation
Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation
Skolnick Family Charitable Trust

Bronze Level:
Susan & Marc Sacks
Meryl & Sam Solomon

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Image and footage credits:

– Berman Hebrew Academy/YouTube
– Charles And Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
– Cottonbro/Pexels
– Gavi Lazan
– HRYMX/Flickr
– IDF/YouTube
– Israel Free Spirit/YouTube
– Israel Outdoors
– Jacob Katz/Vimeo
– Marc Squire/Vimeo
– Mayanot
– Mel Baena/YouTube
– Michal Matzov/YouTube
– QeNa OnliNe/YouTube
– Rabbi Alan Haber
– Shoshanah/Flickr
– Steve Fitzgerald/Wikimedia Commons
– Taglit-Birthright Israel
– The RAD adventure show with host Bald Bearded Bruh/YouTube
– UF Hillel
– UJA-Federation of Greater Toronto
– UJA-Federation of New York
– US Embassy Jerusalem
– VIDitEO/Vimeo
– World Economic Forum
– Zionist Federation of Australia

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About Explainers: From ancient Jewish traditions to the modern State of Israel, we explain it all. Diving into anything and everything related to Jewish culture, history, and even religion.
Understand Jewish holidays, Israeli politics, Jewish diasporic communities, and more. Learn about Judaism in pop culture, debunking myths about Jews, and explore obscure Israeli landmarks. We’re asking questions as basic as “What is the Talmud?”, and as obscure as “How did hip-hop boost Kosher wine sales?”, and everything in between.

About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.

#birthright #taglit #israel

[alex-qdof]

As is said of social media:"If it's free, you're the product."

[wargriffin]

I wonder if anyone had the reverse realization when they went. They got to see the Holy Land they've heard so much about growing up, and they leave thinking "this place is an overpopulated desert, I'm glad we left."

[ohmyflippiningod]

I went on my birthright trip almost 10 years ago. Being able to to really see the places I'd only heard about in stories as a kid made Judaism so much more real to me, it made me feel a connection to my roots that I never had before. As well, it was the only time I could look at a random passerby and say "that guy is Jewish just like me". It meant more to me that words can easily express.

[aamartin]

All for free??! When Palestinians aren't allowed the right to return to their own land?? Wow!! Could this be?! Too evil to be true, more like it.

[grainofsalt]

Meanwhile Palestinians are living under apartheid next door. Gross

[alexgopala]

Can anyone not believe that Israel is a colonial ethnostate now? 💀

[allankamen]

I'm Jewish. My daughter is 17 but her mother is not Jewish. Her mother is Chinese and she was living in China until very recently. She is moving to Canada now to complete her high school.

I've gone many times with my daughter to Chabad in Shenzhen and Hong Kong and she enjoys going with me. Sometimes she would even go alone, especially on holidays.

Would she be able to enroll in Birthright Israel?

[shadowrealm]

Can a Muslim participate in this trip.

[BilgemasterBill]

If you're an American Jewish kid considering taking a little break or even "gap year" or doing a whole backpacking "grand tour" (and maybe not just of Israel) before, during, or after college, this Birthright program is a gift.

[DigitalAndInnovation]

The fact it is called "birthright" but it is anything but... wow.... I mean just ask somone what it took to do this.... it is false advertising and it is gatekeeping.

[musicat]

I went on birthright... it was just tourist attractions and I hated it. Years later I went back and volunteered as an assistant English teacher for 10 months. It was definitely something that made me appreciate Isreal.

[mhm]

I don't know if things have changed, but 15 years ago I had a non-religious relative over for Shabbos while she was on Birthright. I found out that they were trying to scare her into not coming to us for Shabbos and even called her on Shabbos day and threatened that if she did not come back to the hotel immediately they would kick her out of the program. She was hysterical and in tears. I had to calm her down and explain to her that there was no way for her to get a taxi on Shabbos from where we lived without taking an Arab taxi (which would be extremely dangerous at the time) and that I assured her that they would in no way kick her out of the program because they'd get in trouble.
After Shabbos she went back and low and behold the whole Shabbos no one had thrown rocks or spit on her like they tried brainwashing her into believing. Not only that, we didn't even try to force religion on her like they said we would. Shock of all shocks, they did not kick her out of the program. Hmmm.
To end off, two years later her younger sister came on Birthright and her older sister recommended that she come visit to us as well. To my knowledge, as of today neither of them are religious, but both know that any time they come to Israel they have warm religious relatives that will gladly have them over... No strings attached!

[ltheanine]

I will convert to judaism to go on this trip. How do I sign up

[NaProbablyNot]

Birthright was one of the best experiences I’ve had. It’s been 15 years since I went (yikes time flys).

[professorrosenstock]

I use to really love Israel and was recommended to go on Birthright. However, I'm a Black Jamaican and was rejected.

[RKM]

Shsssh secret I went on a Taglit trip and I ain't even Jewish. After Hurricane Katrina, I and quite a few students from New Orleans evacuated to Boston. I am a hyperpolyglot who took Hebrew, and I ended up living in Brookline. While at UMass Boston I was involved with some student life(Gay and Lesbian, Pagan, etc) but one of the Jewish kids wanted to set up Hillel so I joined and ended up a treasurer and since I spoke some Hebrew (ani yachol medaberikit ivrit) and could explain Israeli politics to outsiders, Hillel loved it. Having a gay, pagan gentile who lives in a Russian/Jewish city was pretty cool. Being socialist and being in charge of the money, that was a progressive Jewish organisation. When 2006 rolled around, I needed to do my study abroad for my degree. I looked at Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Israël and Québec. My requirements were language focus, gay friendly immigration(in case I ended up with a local), etc. I had visited the Netherlands and Belgium in Jan 2006, Québec during Spring Break, but I was looking at Vrij Universiteit Brussel for Nederlands als tweede tal and français comme langue seconde courses. Tel Aviv interested me, and I mentioned it to the President in passing. As final exams rolled around, I was given a Taglit ticket in my name and told go visit Tel Aviv University campus. I had to arrange my own hotel, in Tel Aviv but my first days were at some place out by the airport. I was also 27 but prez told me to STFU and keep my personal info to a minimum as they wont know I ain't Jewish but to speak Hebrew on the flight and at the airport. So, I went. Now my group was 35 to 40 in size, but they knew I was bailing after first night there. We left on a thursday evening and arrived just after noon and got into the hotel before Shabbos with the automatic elevators, bagels, pita and hummus and of course wine. When I met the kids in my group, when they knew I was heading into town they bummed along and the shuttle driver happilly took us. These were 18 and 19 year old Jewish or JewISH kids. They wanted to see Tel Aviv. At my new hotel, I dropped off my bags did a pre-checkin for next day and went out pub drinking with a few of the boys who came with me, while the two girl cousins went shopping. I was teaching the boys to pregame but not drink too damned much. Of course it was a smorgasborg of 3 totally different jewish boys. Seth Rogan Jr from Chicago, Skaterboy but rapper from Boca, and the tall skinny blond boy from Utah who was on a year sabbatical before taking a sports scholarship at BYU but wanted to delve into his Jewishness and party before he goes to college. Two girls were two cousins one from New York the other California. Blond boy went 'shopping' with the girls and met up with the rest of the boys later. Of course rapper boy with a Jewfro and Seth Rogan Jr hung out and drank a bit, lamenting the absence of the two cousins. I clocked blondilocks the Jewish jock boy. So I joked with them both "trust me, you dont need to worry about him". As Saturday evening became darker, we walked along the beach got some weed and then proceeded to Offer Nissim's Club TLV. The girls began to realize, I was not on their team, at all. Sesh vodka redbullim bavakasha. "Are you like mossad?" No, I just speak Hebrew, I lean in, got a secret "I ain't even Jewish" as our drinks arrive I pay in Shekels but put an American 20 dollar bill down the speedos of the server boys' pants. The girls squeeled "I knew this was a gay club" and I said no, it's mixed but most of the guys are well dressed and gay. And we drank our vodka redbulleem, the girls wanted to dance. "So, you're like gay?" Um, yeah. Seth Rogan Jr keeps talking to me, while Skaterboy rapper boy goes and tries to dance with the girls, he was actually pretty good. I cant dance but I drag blondilocks and Seth Rogan Jr to the dance floor with me, and shake our tuchuses (tucheem). We go back to the table with more drinks after our two or three song work out. Rapping skater's confidence knocked down a notch, Seth Jr's increased. Blondilocks was reserved and quiet, as I tell him, you're going to be going to BYU so, have fun now cos you wont be able to drink, dance, unless it's manishevits at Hillel. And eventually he tries to get up on the chair and try to take his shorts off. And we laugh, as pretty & jocky as he was, he had no rythem. I saw his nice underwear, and I knew he was mine but not right away. I even joke that the Mormons might make him wear special underwear. I had my eyes on both rapping skaterboy & blondilocks but blondilocks was finally coming out of his shell. I learn that after Israël he's going to do a language course in Spanish in Monterrey in Northern Mexico, I tell him my brother lives there while switching to Spanish. Asi, que vas hacer a BYU mas que el futbol y basketball? He says "obtener una educacion de cualidad Ivy League casi gratis". But i keep probing "pero que vas hacer con una novia o un novio, por mínimo cuatro anyos de 'celibacy'". And he laughs. "I guess I'll have to fool them the way you fooled us into thinking you were Jewish". I make a crude joke about me being circumcised and he says, "secret, I'm uncircumcized" and my response was "hot" and made him blush. The two others were out dancing on the dance floor and paying attention to the girls. To lighten the mood, we turned to the 4 on the dance floor and eventually joined them. Way late we leave the club and blazed a joint, discreetly as we walked to my hotel around sun up. I bribe the Russian night auditor to let us crash in a vacant but 'dirty' room before I can check into my clean room before noon on Sunday, which is Israeli monday. We crash for morning powernap and get out before official check out time. The PG13 version, is I of course did hook up with blondilocks that monday afternoon, before sending him on his way before nightfall to rejoin the group on their scheduled tour. I was there to visit University of Tel Aviv, not the tour. I say, you know they're gonna gossip about you, right? He says "who cares?". As he gets dressed to head out, oh, and "I'm not gay, maybe bi". And I say, "ok, but why didn't you go after their girls?" And he says without missing a beat "they're both too skinny, no butt, and both are kinda like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richy. And I say but they both have nice boobs and he said "yeah that's true". He ended up marrying a Mexican girl during his language year in Monterrey and dragging her to live with him in Provo. Last I heard they're still married. Both of other couples did eventually hookup. One couple married. I almost attended Tel Aviv University for a year but Hezbollah bombs cancelled those plans. I visited Haifa, Nazareth, the Knesset and attended gay pride Tel Aviv. The only one of my hamesh haverim ehudim amerikanim shelim, I've kept up with was rapper Skaterboy turned music executive in Nashville who's worked with some big names. He was married, had a kid did the Jews for Jesus thing for while before coming out. I met up with him in Nashville in 2015 for Chrismahanukwanzica. Hooked up with him too. Oh, he was Ashkenazi and a Cuban. He's still in Nashville and he's worked with some huge crossover artists. He's a ecclectic music nut like me.

[Jimmy_in_Mexico]

But what if I am 54 years old and desire to go? Is it available for me? I would be willing to work in Israel if allowed to go

[lindadavis]

I found out that I'm 50% Ashkenazi Jew, and British roots. I lived 60 years not knowing what I was. So, I did the DNA test. I did a further search and found many Medical doctors and Nurses. Dentists, and other professionals in my heritage. I thought all of mylife I was an American Indian. No truth to it. I did the test twice. So, I am more knowledgeable about my ancestry. How cool?

[braydon]

In only costs the lives of Palestinian children

[YgalPerez]

As a man that have done more than 5 birthright trips (from the staff side) I can only recommand you to try the experience, before it become to late for you.
The only thing you are asked for, is to pay a 250$ caution for the trip.
And at the end of the trip you have two options.
a) ask for your money back.
b) give the money to help build trips for futures participants in the program.
(the trip worth way more than 250$ trust me)
And no, this is not to good to be true. Israel won a lot from this program. Economicly and politicaly.
This is a win-win situation for everyone.
So for everyone that read this comment, book your trip now. we are waiting for you in Israel😉